Pause the Moment- I am in Shimla, The Queen of Hills
The trip was a great travel ride, all thanks to the weather which was really pleasant with winters just seeping in.
The Ridge, the Mall road of Shimla is the heart of the city.
It is one of the active commercial areas of this place. Automobiles were not allowed and hence we had to walk.
The Ridge is a wide-open street located on the side of Shimla Mall Road. The Ridge has everything, from shops selling some exclusive monuments to the spectacular view of the snow-capped mountain. It is famous for a lot of things, but best known for shopping.
The traditional outfit of Himachal Pradesh
The flat platform on the Ridge road becomes a point of activity in the evenings as people gather to visit the Scandal Point. It offers a divine view of the magnificent sunrise and sunset.
Shimla has a lot of stories to tell, some legends and more heritage, but all equally exciting. Begins at the appropriately named ‘ Scandal Point’ where legend has it that the Maharajah of Patiala was exiled from Shimla after an intense argument with the Viceroy (some stories say he ran away with the Viceroy’s daughter) and was eventually exiled from Shimla -giving this spot its name in 1892.
Run to Lakkar Bazaar for wooden gifts
It took my heart at the very first sight. A stroll through the Lakkar Bazaar or the Tibetan market has gifts at bargain prices. The nearby Gaiety theatre is also a rich cultural heritage and worth a visit. I bought the key-rings and a memento.
Trekking to the top of Jakhoo Temple is the best activity you can do in Shimla
Jakhoo Temple is located at a height of around 2,455 m above sea level. Trekking is a popular activity for tourists to reach the top. It takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to get to the peak. Though the activity is easy during other seasons, it can get a bit tiring during summer. It has Lord Hanuman’s footprints engraved on marble, paintings, and statues of Lord Hanuman and Lord Ram. The pious chants (or Bhajans) and the ringing of bells fill up the entire complex.
The grand Viceregal Lodge, also called Indian Institute of Advanced Study
The Majestic Viceregal Lodge also called Rashtrapati Niwas is like a mini-museum of British colonial rule and houses a collection of ancient antiques and photographs from that period.
It is the most historically significant and architectural impressive building of the region that makes for a pleasant half-day outing. The Viceregal Lodge was the summer residence of the Indian Viceroy, the British Raj leader who governed the whole of the Indian subcontinent between 1888 until 1946. Within the Viceroy Lodge, many significant decisions from this era about India were devised, discussed, and agreed upon.
For visitors, the Viceregal Lodge is an elaborate Mock-Tudor stately home that is surrounded by immaculately maintained gardens. Only a few of the staterooms can be visited as part of a brief tour as the building has been transformed into an advanced university complex. Viceregal Lodge is located 2 km west of Shimla on the summit of Observatory Hill, which provides wonderful panoramic views over the region.
Snow: Capture Memories and enjoy
Playing in the snow, rolling, dancing, and clicking pictures is another best thing to do for creating your own album of ‘ Shimla in winter photos ‘. Making ice-balls and throwing it on friends is something that I will hold forever.
Shimla apart from being an ideal despite skin burning summers is a perfect place for enjoying the peaceful environment and vaporous beauty donated by Mother Nature. People love visiting Shimla for refreshing their hearts and minds and enhancing their innate skills.
For a normal person, Shimla is truly nature’s delighting wonderland and one can enjoy in the world of immortal beauty and cooling environments.
Happy travels!
Originally published at https://sakshimishrablogs.blogspot.com.
