Shimla, India: General Information

Shimla used to be the summer capital during British rule in India and English people used to caqll it the queen of hill stations. Presently it is the capital city of the northern state of Himachal pradesh and one of the most visited hill-stations in India. Millions of tourists flock here during summer months to get some respite from the scorching heat.

Located in the lap of North-west Himalyas at an altitude of about 22oo mts. vacation in Shimla can be enjoyed by watching the scenic beauty of the place, panormic view and Deodar and Oak clad mountains.

It is a very popular holiday-retreat during the summer months and is well-known for its Victorian architecture, which is reflected in certain areas of the Mall and The Ridge. It is also a famous holiday spot for honeymoon.
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Shimla derived its name from the word 'Shyamla' which means Goddess Kali whose temple existed in the dense forests that covered the Jakhu Hills in the early 19th century. British people named it as Shimla and since then the name has prevailed.

How to reach Shimla-

Shimla is well connected byAir, Railway as well as by road but by far the most convenient, cheaper and gratifying option would be to reach there by train through Kalka Shimla toy train.

Reaching Shimla by Air-
The nearest airport from Shimla is Jubbarhatti airport but it receives only a few flights and all from Delhi. So, reaching here by plane is not a convenient option as you have to first reach Delhi and from there to Jubbarhatti .Apart from this there are not many flights operating between Delhi and Jubbarhatti ,so, may have to wait for some time.

Chandigarh offers far better options. Many flights from all major cities of India arrive and depart from Chandigarh and so it is far better option than Jubbarhatti.From Chandigarh you can reach Shimla by a bus, or by hiring a taxi or through Kalka Shimla toy train.

Reaching Shimla by Train-( Kalka -Shimla toy train)
The nearest broad gauge head is Kalka.From Kalka to Shimla you can travel by toy train.Kaka is about 90 kms away from Shimla and it takes about 5- 6 hrs for a 90 km journey by toy train.In the way the train passes through more than 100 tunnels and passing through the deodar clad mountains and springs feels like you are in heaven .I would recommed travelling by toy train if you are planning to travel to Shimla.Kalka Shimla toy train route has been recently declared as the world heritage site.

Schedule of trains from Kalka to Shimla

Train No.	Train Name	Kalka	Shimla
1KS Passenger	Kalka Shimla Passenger	04:00	09:20
241 NG Superfast	Shivalik Deluxe Express	05:30	10:15
251 Mail	Kalka Shimla Mail	06:00	11:00
255 Express	Himalayan Queen Express	12:10	17:20

Reaching Shimla by road-
Shimla is well connected to nearby places in the state as well as outside state by road.Regular buses from Delhi, Chandigarh, Dharmshala, Dalhousie, Dehradun, Ambala etc. arrive and depart Shimla.The distance of some important places from Shimla are as follows-

Chandigarh- 117 km,
Kullu- 220 km,
Manali- 260 km, Delhi- 343 km,
Pathankot- 380 km,
Ambala- 151 km,
Chail- 43 km,
Dehradun- 240 km

Where to stay in Shimla-

With more than thousand hotels it is easy to get an accommodation in Shimla which suits your need and pocket.But it will always be advisable to get your hotel booked before hand through any travel agent or by internet. If possible try to find a hotel near Ridge or Mall road as these places lie in the heart of the city and are almost equidistant from most of the places of tourist interest in Shimla.Lakkar Market, which lies down the Mall road can be a very good alternative to these places if in case you are not able to find a hotel near Ridge or Mall road.

Eating out in Shimla-

Most of the restaurants and other eating places in Shimla and offer a variety of cuisines like north indian ,south indian and western also .But if you are looking for some local recipes then options are very limited.A few restaurants near Ridge and in the outskirts of the city offer some local cuisines.
The food is generally hygienic and tasty and it is nice to enjoy some nice food in the lap of nature with a very good atmosphere.