Shimla, one of the most popular hill stations in the country is the capital of the North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Britishers made Shimla as summer capital during their rule. Shimla represents the romantic scenes of snow-capped mountains to the mind of anyone. It is no wonder that in the recent past.
One can have the best time here with adventurous activities like camping and trekking, especially in the summer. Viceregal Lodge is one of the most famous museums present to admire English architecture.
Indulge in Shimla’s open squares, marketplaces, and hot street food at the roadside stalls on Mall Road and The Ridge. Shimla is also home to the largest ice skating rink in the world. Winter sports lovers can have an amazing time here doing ice skating, skiing, and other winter sports during their vacation in Shimla.
- Viceregal lodge
Viceregal Lodge, also known as Rashtrapati Niwas is located amidst pine trees and flowering plants. The lodge is inspired by the Jacobean Revival architecture from Britain. It took almost 8 years to build the lodge. It was finally completed in 1888 at a cost of INR 36 lakhs at that time. This mansion is built on Observatory Hill and is spread over 110 acres and is constructed using pine and cedar trees.
The viceregal lodge was Initially occupied by Lord Dufferin for his official residence. In 1965, the palace was given to the IIAS (Indian Institute of Advanced Studies). Some other parts of it are currently occupied by Himachal Pradesh High Court, CPWD (Central Public Works Department), and Himachal Pradesh University.
Many tourists visit Viceregal Lodge and it is open to visitors from 10 AM to 5 PM on all days except Mondays.
- Summer hill
The hill station, Shimla is actually a group of 7 hills, of which Summer Hill is one. Summer hills also known as Potter’s Hill have an altitude of 2,123 meters.
On this hill, you will find tall deodar and cedar trees, adding beauty to the slopes. This place is even beautiful In the winter as the slopes and trees are covered with snow.
Summer Hill is also noteworthy because it has also produced some great personalities in the nation. Personalities like Amrita Sher-Gil, modern Indian art, and Rajkumari Bibiji Amrit Kaur, a freedom fighter and India’s first Health Minister. Even Gandhiji is known to have resided here for a long time.
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- The Ridge
The Ridge is a large open area that once actually used to be a ridge between two of the seven hills that form Shimla. Underneath this ridge, there are water tanks that supply water to all of Shimla and have the capacity to store up to a million gallons of water.
The ridge is considered as one of the top places to hang out in Shimla especially in the summer months of April, May, or June, where the summer festival is held at The Ridge for a few days. The Ridge is full of food stalls, cultural dance and music performances, flower shows, fashion shows displaying ethnic Himachali clothing, and even sports competitions.
Some other tourist attractions near The Ridge are an 18th-century church, a library, and the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar (the first Prime Minister of Himachal Pradesh).
- Green Valley
Green Valley is located on the way to Kufri from Shimla. Green Valley is a lush getaway that offers amazing views of the hills. One can also visit the apple orchards that has delicious Himachali apples that are famous world wide.
You can also have an adventurous experience by ziplining across the mountains to witness stunning views. You can also try other adventurous activities like bungee jumping, rope-climbing, monkey-bridging, free-falling, or go-karting in this area.
- Kufri
Kufri is another hill station close to Shimla which is at 9,000 feet above sea level. On top of the hill station, there is Mahasu Peak from where you will clearly be able to see Kedarnath and Badrinath.
Nature lovers can witness mountain animals and birds in the Himalayan National Park which is open on all days from 10 AM to 4 PM, except Mondays. Kufri is one of the few places in India where you can do sky diving. There are also some relaxed activities for those who don’t like adventures like tobogganing which will let you slide down a snow-capped peak on a sled. One can also get a short yak ride in Kurfi
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