From a Group of small hamlets prior to 1815 to becoming the state capital of Himachal Pradesh in 1971, to the present day town, with a mix of old British architecture and modern brand stores, Shimla has come a long way.
The British made Shimla its summer capital in 1864 primarily to escape the summer heat of Calcutta. Imagine transporting all the offices and tons of documents so that the officers in charge of the administration of India can work in cooler climes. Shimla (originally written as Simla) was a just a few houses and a temple till 1816 when the British took over India. In 1822, the first brick house was built by Captain Kennedy. There were only 30 houses in Shimla in the year 1830 and grew to 1140 houses just the very next year.
Bagai, I. (2017). Shimla.
Today Shimla is called the Queen of the Hills and is one of the most famous tourist destinations in North India. From being shown as a romantic getaway in the 70s era of Bollywood, it still captures the attention of newlyweds and couples alike.
Best time to visit Shimla is between March and June and then in September-October. If you prefer cold weather and snow, then December to February is the time for you.
You can travel to Chandigarh, the nearest fully functional airport, and from there catch a cab. Another way is travelling to Kalka from Chandigarh by cab or bus and then catching the Toy train to Shimla.
Shimla does have an Airport and it is serviced by Air India from New Delhi but the services can be erratic. The flights often get cancelled and depend on weather conditions.
Due to the rich history of the town, this is a must visit place for everyone. Learn the history, meet the warmest locals, try the local cuisine and sit on the ridge and bask in the sun for hours at an end.
Built in 1898 by the British, the Kalka-Shimla rail route is an engineering marvel. It's a 2'6" wide Special Gauge railway system, also known as the toy train route. This route has a total of 107 tunnels and 864 bridges.
It's a 45-minute drive from Chandigarh to Kalka where this train service originates. It traverses a mountainous route overlooking beautiful mountains and valleys. If you are lucky, you can also see many children who go to school in small huts near the railway line. They are super friendly and will wave at you. Due to the bad conditions of the highway, this train is the best and most comfortable way to travel to Shimla (especially for those travels who get car sick in mountainous roads).
The Barog tunnel is the longest tunnel which is about 1143.61 m (1.2 km) long. The train stops there for lunch and takes a break for the oncoming train to pass.
Bagai, I. (2017). Shimla.
This railway was declared as UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE on 8th July 2008.
Every traveller visiting Shimla or Himachal should take a trip on this train as it can be a once in a lifetime experience. The slow train going across the Himalayas reminds you of the times gone by when the British used to travel by this as there was no highway at that time. So travel by First Class or Executive Class as you get a proper seat (soft and comfortable). In the second class, you will be jammed with about 4 more people on the same wooden bench.For couples, travelling to Shimla for their honeymoon, I recommend travelling by Shivalik Queen. This is specially made for honeymooners, with elegantly furnished coupes, wall to wall carpeting and big windows.
Looking at the other mode of travel to Shimla, highways in India are dotted with small eating places called “Dhaba”. A visitor will taste the authentic food of that region in these small "Restaurants".
Kalka-Shimla highway is under construction making the road from two lanes to four lanes. Its utter chaos in some sections due to this. Businesses on the side of the highway are being shut down or moved to another location as the road widens.
I saw this small dhaba on the side of the road and ventured in to see what the owner is selling. The board reads: "Chicken Pakora, chicken ramen, boiled eggs, omelette, fried eggs and soup available here."The owner complained about the shoddy and slow construction work that has killed off little business he had with all the restaurants popping up around him. His shop has been here for about 24 years and for the first time he has seen a loss of customers. I had fried eggs and toast and trust me, they were the tastiest snack I have had all this trip!
Travel Tip: The dhabas are a good place to have a snack or a proper meal. The owners are friendly and if the place is big enough, the servers are even friendlier. They are curious to know what you do and where you from, so please talk to them as learn something new about a place. Also, if you have a sensitive tummy, visit the dhabas which are either big in size or brightly lit with lots of people. Their food is safer but bit more expensive in comparison but at least your trip won't be spent searching for a fully equipped for emergency John!
Bagai, I. (2017). Shimla.
Shimla is a town full of British architecture which is still in use to this very day. Many structures have been restored to its former glory, many are under renovation and many are left ignored. Take a walk around the town to see the British architecture, and feel what it was like in in the early 1900s.
People who walk past it and often ignore this dilapidated structure. But it was an employment office when it was in use until the late 80s.
This building has seen many prayers at its entrance as potential candidates went to get registered for a job. Thousands of people must have gotten their dream job and hundreds left disappointed. The history, the joy, the sadness of those times must have seeped into the foundation, it's a structure that would have told countless stories of the past, only if it could speak.
Bagai, I. (2017). Shimla.
Travel Tip: Shimla is a small town; the best way to get around town and the places of interest are walking distance. If someone comes up to you and asks you if you want a car, or a guide (being a tourist spot) please avoid as they will fleece you. Search all the places for yourself as you don't want to fall into a tourist trap. Take a walk on the heritage route, as it is full of old British buildings that are still being used today.
Try to avoid the chain restaurants in town as they are the same old all across the country.
Visit old restaurants like Fascination, which is right above Baljees on the Mall road. Amazing food and probably the best cup of tea you'll have in the city.
Established in 1986, Hainault Public School, is located in the heart of Shimla. It is also one of the very few schools which have a playground for students as the terrain is totally hilly. As a kid, my dad sent me to this school as my previous school had moved its campus. Most of my fondest childhood memories were in this very school.
Bagai, I. (2017). Shimla.
I recently went back to meet the Principal /owner of the School, Ms Aditya Kumari, as I myself was a student of this school for four years.
I met her parents who are the erstwhile King and Queen of the former State of Jubbal now part of Shimla District. Sad news awaited me. The family has taken a decision to shut down the school. The king told me that since the parents demand pick-up and drop facilities, not many kids are enrolling into the school The school sits on a sealed road which means it is not open to motor vehicles. (Parts of central Shimla are kept free of vehicles except those of police and emergency services.).Unfortunately, after so many years of service, they are going to close the school down permanently. They started this school as a goodwill gesture to the society. They never took any profits from the school, plus in time of need, they are funding the school out of their own pocket. Being the kindhearted person the King is, they are going to run the school for one more Year, with just the kids from 12th class. This is so that they are at ease during their exams and they don't have to search for a new school.
It was a humbling experience meeting the Royal family of Jubbal. I never realised that the King would be so patient and polite to talk to. Hospitality is on another level entirely. In my life I have met celebrities, well-known dignitaries and businessmen, but never met someone who was soft-spoken, yet engaging to talk to, minus the ego.
Travel Tip: Forest road walk from Beads Chowk to Mall road is one of the most peaceful walks. You'll be surrounded by Cedar trees, singing birds and none of the traffic and pollution. The stretch between Hainault Public School and Mall road is one of the most picturesque walks. You can view the road entering Shimla, the TV tower, Institute of Advanced Studies, the train station and many more houses. Sunset can be especially beautiful.
KEEP TRAVELLING! CHEERS!
Bagai, I. (2018). Shimla- Travel to the Queen of the Hills. [Blog] Available at: http://www.iceleopardimaging.com/blog.html [Accessed 26 Mar. 2018].