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A temple dedicated to the Goddess existed in the early 19th century in the thick forests of the Jakhu Hill in Shimla. Hence the name. The hill station is situated at a height of 7238 feet and covers an area of 18 square km.
Places of Interest in Shimla -
The Mall - Like every major hill station Shimla too has a Mall Road, which is the nerve center of the town. Complete with well stocked shops, banks, clubs, hotels and restaurants, the mall has two main meeting points called Scandal Point and The Ridge.
Shimla State Museum - The museum is a treasure trove of local arts and crafts. It has a great collection of miniature Pahari paintings and a good variety of costumes, ornaments and artifacts.
Christ Church - This church is the second oldest church in north India. Inside it has beautiful stained glass windows each signifying different virtues like faith, hope, charity, fortitude, patience and humility. The church is located on the Ridge.
Jakhu Hill - Located at a distance of 2 km from Shimla is Jakhu Hill. It is the highest peak in the area with a height of 8000 feet above sea level. On top of the hill is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The surrounding area is heavily infested with monkeys.
Summer Hill - At a distance of 5 km from the Ridge lies the township of Summer Hill. This calm and mellow area is 6500 feet high on the Shimla-Kalka railway line. This is the ideal place to escape to away from the hustle and bustle of central Shimla. While here, you can tour the campus of the Himachal Pradesh.
Annandale - Annandale is also referred to as the 'playground of Shimla'. At a height of 6117 feet, close to the Ridge, many games like polo and cricket are organized here.
Tara Devi - In the Hindi language Tara means star, so as the name suggests Tara Devi is a hill that gets its name from a temple dedicated to the Goddess of the Stars, which is located here. Tara Devi is located a mere 11 km from the Shimla bus stand. The area is also the headquarters of Bharat Scouts and Guides.
Sankat Mochan: Another popular Hanuman temple is located at Sankat Mochan. The temple affords a picturesque view of the city below.
Places of interest near Shimla -
Mashobra - Located at a distance of 13 km from Shimla, Mashobra is an amalgamation of beautiful picnic destinations. It is also one of the sites of the annual Sipi fair held in June.
Kufri - Kufri is synonymous with winter sports especially skiing. The peak season for the sport is January to February. The HPTDC winter sports club is well equipped with the requisite equipment. Kufri also has a zoo which is another major attraction. Kufri is at a height of 8600 feet above sea level and at a distance of 16 km from Shimla.
Naldehra - If the corporate golf is your choice of sport then visit Naldehra. A mere 22 km from Shimla, it boasts of a nine hole golf course. It is also one of the hosts of the annual Sipi fair.
Chail: No trip to the Shimla area is complete without a visit to Chail. Located 45 km from Shimla, Chail is a wonderland of glorious scenery. It also boasts of the highest cricket pitch in the world. Due to its wooded surroundings, Chail is also home to many species of birds and mountain deer.
A not to be missed experience is a ride on the toy trains that ply between Kalka and Shimla. These trains pass through 105 tunnels and heavenly scenery. Once the station of Solan has passed you can see the fairy tale lights of Shimla, which is a sight straight out of a Christmas card.
The magic of Shimla lies in the fact that there is no best season to visit. Depending on your preference each season offers a variety of experiences to the visitor. Spring is the time of new beginnings and a plethora of blooms both wild and cultivated fill the countryside. Summer is the time when most tourists come to escape the heat and dusts of the plains due to the cooler climes. The monsoons are ideal for romantics with swirling mists and hot cups of tea. The winter is the time of snow, which transforms Shmla into a white wonderland.
Shimla is well connected by air, road and rail with all parts of Himachal Pradesh, and the neighboring states of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi.
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