Shimla " Queen of Hill Sattions "

Introduction

The British loved the town for its heavenly climate, scented pines and rhododendron forests, green pastures and snowcapped peaks. They dotted it with grand buildings and beautiful mansions. Come summer and the entire government officers, menial staff, files and cabinets would troop here. And Shimla became the Summer Capital of British India. The tradition continues even today, though unofficially. As the mercury begins its upward climb, the plains people too head northwards to Shimla for a reprieve from the sun. This mother of all hill towns finds something to offer everyone honeymooners, adventure enthusiasts, nature lovers, and those with a colonial hangover.

Quick Facts about the City
Location: At an altitude of 2,159 m above sea level, Shimla is in the southern part of Himachal Pradesh. The town is surrounded by forests of oak, pine, fir and rhododendron.
STD Code: 91 (country dialling code) and then 0177.

State
Situated in the North-west Himalayas, Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It was once famous as the Summer Capital of "The Raj"- during the British rule. Himachal is one of the smaller states of the country and holds the 17th rank in the list of States and Union Territories of India.Other major towns are Solan, Dharamsala, Kangra, Mandi, Kullu, Chamba, Hamirpur, Dalhousie and Manali. The western Himalaya lies in the north and east and the smaller Shiwalik (or Shivalik) range in the south.Himachal Pradesh has five major rivers: Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, Beas and Yamuna.

General Info & History
AREA: 5131 sq. km
POPULATION: 7.22 lakh
ALTITUDE : 2,130 m above sea level
TEMPERATURE : Between sub zero in winters and 30 C in summer. Through out the year.
CLOTHING : Light Woollens/Heavy Woollens

HISTORY
Shimla is the Capital Town of Himachal Pradesh. It was formerly the summer capital during the British Rule. The town of Shimla is built over several hills and connecting ridges. The important hills are Jakhu(8050 ft), Prospect Hill (7140 ft), Observatory Hill ( 7050 ft), Elysium Hill (7400 ft), and Summer Hill (6900 ft). There is a great controversy over the origin of the name Shimla. The name Shimla was derived from 'Shyamalaya' meaning blue house said to be the name of house built of blue slate by a faqir on Jakhu. According to one version Shimla takes it name from 'Shamla' meaning a blue female another name for Goddess Kali. The place was on the Jakhu Hillside, there was a temple of Goddess Kali. In 1864 Shimla was declared as the summer capital of India. After Independence, Shimla became the capital of Punjab and was later named the capital of Himachal Pradesh. In 1903 a rail line was constructed between Kalka and Shimla. Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties, one can think of. Dwelling on a panoramic location, the hilly town is surrounded by green pastures and snow-capped peaks. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by the structures made during the colonial era create an aura, which is very different from other hill stations. Bulging at its seams with unprecedented expansion, Shimla retains its colonial heritage, with grand old buildings, among them are the stately Viceregal Lodge, Charming iron lamp posts and Anglo-Saxon names. The Mall, packed with shops and eateries, is the centre of attraction of the town, and Scandal Point, associated with the former Maharaja of Patiala's escapades, offers a view of distant snow clad peaks. In 1946 leaders of the Indian nationalist movement came to Shimla for a crucial conference that paved the way to Independence. Shimla’s legacy of British control has left in somewhat of Aesthetic anomaly: an Indian town, a state capital, no less that looks and feels like a village in Northern England.

Best Season to Visit
Shimla can be visited throughout the year, as each season has its charm. The snowfall during the winters attract many tourists and accommodation can prove to be difficult. In the summers one can escape from the scorching heats of the plains and can enjoy the cool breeze at Shimla and in its vicinity. In summer, Shimla has the attraction of excellent walks and treks against the backdrop of the scenic beauty of wooded ravines, flowers and pines. Mall of Shimla becomes alive once again with tourists strolling and shops tastefully decorated and various exhibitions, craft fair etc. organised at locations on the mall. In winters, it is home to winter-sports and an ice-skating carnival. Today, Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and a favorite for filmmakers who wish to incorporate its scenic romanticism in their movies. Shimla is a stark example of the diversity that India offers to tourists.

Climate
Winter are cold and chilly winds from the upper Himalayas makes the place really cold. Around Christmas or last week of December Shimla gets snowfall. Temperature varies from 15 -27o C in Summers and in winters its in the range 0~17 o C.

Temperature
Summer - Max.28°C, Min.15°C
Winter - Max.7°C, Min.-4°C
Rainy - Max 22°C, Min 12°C
Autumn - Max 20°C, Min 7°C
Spring - Max 20°C, Min 11°C

Local Language: Himachali (Pahari), Hindi and English

How to get there
AIR
Nearest airport to Shimla is at Jubberhatti, 26 km from Shimla. It has connecting flights to Delhi and Kullu. The nearby Chandigarh airport is, however, more handy as it is connected to all the major airports in India. Following is the schedule of flights from and to Shimla:
Jagsun Airlines
Flight No. From To Departure Arrival Days of Week
JA221 Delhi Shimla 8.40 AM 9.40 AM Tue, Thu, Sat
JA221 Shimla Kullu 10.00 AM 10.20 AM Tue, Thu, Sat
JA222 Kullu Shimla 10.50 AM 11.20 AM Tue, Thu, Sat
JA222 Shimla Kullu 11.40 AM 12.40 PM Tue, Thu, Sat

ROAD
Shimla is well connected by road with Kalka, Chandigarh, Ambala, Delhi, Dehradun, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Jammu and other towns of Punjab and Haryana. Following are the road distances from Shimla to major cities of India:
Place Distance (Km.)
Kalka 90
Chandigarh 117
Delhi 370
Ludhiana 220
Dehradun 240
Kullu 240
Manali 280
Kalpa 260
Narkanda 64
Mandi 156
Dharamshala 280
Nahan 140

Taxi services are available on a seat- basis between Shimla, and Kalka. There is deluxe bus service between Shimla and Delhi. Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation also runs deluxe buses between Shimla and Delhi.

TRAIN
Shimla is connected by a broad gauge line up to Kalka. From Kalka to Shimla, a narrow gauge line covers 96 kilometers, of track. The journey by train, which takes about six hours, crossing 103 tunnels is one of the finest ways of enjoying the scenic beauty. There is another option for a fast train Shiwalik Express or a delightful ride in the Rail Car.

The Rail Car takes about 4 hours. Kalka has direct rail connections with Delhi, Calcutta and Amritsar

Local Transport:
For local transport, buses, jeeps and cars are available on hire.
Taxis/Cabs
Take a tourist taxi from the airport to the city (Rs 450; taxi fare from the city to the airport is much lower (Rs 300). The drive takes about an hour.
Prepaid Taxi Association - Ph# 2658892,Vishal Taxi Operators Union - Ph# 2657645, Kalka -Shimla Himachal Taxi Union, ISBT - Ph# 2658225
Buses
Travelling by bus is also quite convenient. ISBT is located on the circular road (Cart road), a kilometer from the lifts and downtown. Passengers on inter-state buses disembark at Victory Tunnel.
Deluxe coaches are operated by the state transport corporations of Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh from and to Delhi and Jaipur, via Chandigarh. Private bus companies also run Deluxe coaches on the Simla- Delhi and Shimla- Manali routes. In summer, the HPTDC runs deluxe and A/C Coaches from Delhi, Dharamsala, Manali and Chandigarh.
Rent A Car
Kufri (6 points) Rs 300/-, Naldehra (4 points) Rs 300/-, Kufri- Naldehra (10 points) Rs 500/-. Local Rs 300/-, Chail- Kufri rs 700/- Tattapani - Naldehra Rs 700/-. Narkanda - Kufri Rs 700/. Transfers Kalka Rs 560/-, Chandigarh Rs 800/-, Delhi Rs 2,550/-, Ambala Rs 1,200/- Manali Rs 1,800/-, Dharamsala Rs 2,000/-

Accomodation
Shimla is full of Hotels and Restaurants and there are around 500 hotels in and around Shimla. So accommodation is no problem in Shimla but to be on safer side one should book accommodation in advance for stay in Shimla, especially during the peak seasons of summer and Christmas.

Few of the hotels to name are:

• amar palace
• ashiana regency hotel
• ashoka hotel
• barowalia resorts
• basera
• bharari regency
• blue diamond
• bridge view
• brightland hotel
• camp potters hill
• chapslee hotel
• east bourne resort spa hotel
• flora hotel
• green land
• gulmarg hotel
• himland hotel
• honeymoon inn hotel
• amber hotel
• asia the dawn hotel

Festivals
Bharara Fair (May)
Held in village Bharara near Kumharsain, Lord Koteshwar is taken out in a procession and goats are sacrificed in his honour. The fair is a cultural fiesta and Natti dances are performed.

Summer Festival (May)
A series of cultural programmes including local folk songs/dances mark this festival held in the famous Ridge Ground.

Lavi Fair (November)
A purely commercial fair held in Rampur, the shepherds of Kinnaur sell their goods here before migrating to warmer climes for the winter. It's a good opportunity to pick up woolens, dry fruits and herbs.

Winter Sports Festival
Shimla is the only place in Asia to have a natural ice-skating rink. Ice-skating normally begins in early December and continues till February. The competition is interspersed with fancy-dress shows, dances and lively music.

Religious Places
Christ Church & St. Michael's Cathedral : Built in 1846-1857, Christ Church is the second oldest church of Northern India. The Church overlooks the ridge and is one of the landmarks of Shimla. The clocks on Christ Church were added later but none of them are functional now. The Church's exquisite beauty comes with the stained glasses that are fitted on its windows . You can discreetly have a look inside the church, or attend English-language services every Sunday during the tourist season . The town's other important churches are St. Michael's Cathedral and Roman Catholic Cathedral, which is just off the Mall

Jakhu Temple : Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, this temple is at an altitude of 8048 feet above sea level near the highest point of Shimla ridge. It offers a panoramic view over the surrounding valleys , out to the snowcapped peaks, and over the town itself. The temple is a 45-minute walk from the Ridge, one can also hire pony or taxi to visit temple.. Jakhu is a vantage point for witnessing the changing skyline as the sun rises or sets.

Sankat Mochan : On Shimla-Kalka road at a distance of around 5 KMs is the famous "Lord Hanuman" temple. Situated at an altitude of 1,975m, it commands an excellent view of Shimla town. Temple has beautiful campus and Langar is held every Sunday.

Tara Devi : On Shimla-Kalka road this holy place is accessible by rail, bus and car (11-km). From the station / road - one can visit the temple on foot around 5 km walk among dense forests. Temple is accessible through motorable road also and its around 20 KMs journey from the town. Situated on top of a hill that faces Shimla, the temple offers panoramic views of Shimla town and surrounding hills. A thick forest of oak and rhododendron surrounds it. It is famous picnic spot.

Kali Bari : The temple is situated near to The Mall and its 5 minutes walk from The Mall.The temple is dedicated to Shyamala Devi (Shimla is named after this goddess), an incarnation of Goddess Kali. Temple faces heavy rush during Diwali and Durga Puja as many Bengalis visit this temple.

Attractions
The Mall : All visitors to Shimla inevitably walk down the Mall, the main promenade that runs along the top of the ridge-a busy shopping area with old colonial buildings, souvenir shops and restaurants. At the top end of the Mall is Scandal Point, a large open square with a view of the town-a favourite rendezvous for visitors and the local people. Overlooking it is the elegant Christ Church with its fine stained glass windows. The labyrinth of Shimla's bazaars spill over the edge of the Mall.


Viceregal lodge : Housed in the Gothic splendour of the Viceregal Lodge is the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, India's premier academy for higher research.


Himachal State Museum : Very close to the Institute, in a colonial building set in spacious lawns, is the museum. It has collections of Pahariminiatures, stone sculpture, local handicrafts, textiles and embroidery.

Jakhoo Hill : Hill, Shiml's highest point, is rewarding for there are superb views of the town and its surroundings. At the top is an old Hanuman temple.(2Km).

Annandale : Hill, Shiml's highest point, is rewarding for there are superb views of the town and its surroundings. At the top is an old Hanuman temple.(2Km).

Glen : A pretty picnic spot beyond Annandale is located in the thickly Wooded Glen , beside a sparkling stream.(4 Km).

Summer Hill : The quiett and lovely suburb of summer Hill has secluded, shady walks and charming views. It was here that Gandhiji stayed on his visits to Shimla, in the elegant Georgian mansion that belonged to Rajkumari Amrit Kaur. Summer Hill is located on the Shimla - Kalka railway line.(5 Km).

Chadwick Falls : Just beyond Summer Hill is the 67 m waterfall, cascading into a deep gorge. The Falls are best seen after the monsoon.(7 Km).

Prospect Hill : A 15 minute climb from Boileauganj, Prospect Hill is another favourite walk and vantage point with breath taking views. There is a little temple to Kamna Devi on the top of the hill.(5 Km ).

Sanjauli : A serene location with delightful walks, Sanjauli is ideal for a tranquil weekend. There are fine vistas and the lights of Shimla and Chail can be seen twinkling at night. On the other side, Mashobra and Naldehra are visible. (3 Km)

Daranghati Sanctuary : This sanctuary located in the upper area of the Shimla district has an undisturbed forest area with plenty of wildlife-monal, tragopan, koklas and khalij pheaseants and musk deer, ghoral and thar. There is a network of bridle paths in the sanctuary. Visitors are advised to seek assistance from the forest staff posted at Dofda and Sarahan. The area is ideal for those who love to trek.

Shopping
There is an enormous range of goods that Shimla has to offer. This includes handicrafts, wood and metalwork, shawls, pullovers, local tweeds, caps, Tibetan carpets and pickles, jams and squashes. Shimla is the best market for the handicrafts of Himachal Pradesh. Woollen and pashmina shawls, decorative items, handmade shoes, dolls, woollen caps, carved wooden sticks, toys and other items made form wood are made in Shimla itself and are on sale in the Lakkar Bazar. Tibetan jewellery and trinkets are found in the small Tibetan shops near the Ridge.
The best shopping area in Shimla are The Mall, Lower Bazaar , Tibetan Bazaar and Lakkar Bazaar. Himachali Shawls, Pahari Cap, Pullovers handicrafts and toys etc. The day today items can be purchased from the shops in the lower bazaar. The Tibetan Market is famous for imported goods mainly electronics goods and fancy items.

Specialty of the District
Shimla is famous for its Scenic Beauty , Apples & Wooden Craft . Among special dishes Sidku or Sidu is very famous in upper Shimla hills. It is a thick fermented Roti of wheat flour with paste of opium seeds ( afimdana) mixed with either gur or salt added to it which makes it very delicious. It is always taken with home made pure ghee. Patandey are made of very thin paste of wheat flour and are eaten with dal and ghee or kheer.(made of rice and milk).

Activity for Kids/ Sports & Recreation
There are very few places in the world as richly endowed as Himachal Pradesh with its geographical diversity. Shimla is situated in the Shivalik range of Himalayas with combination of low lying hills to gigantic mountains. Shimla district is full of thickly populated pine trees and small rivulets, rivers in deep gorges and placid mountains lakes, mountain sides draped in snow, and green alpine meadows, all form a part of this immense spectrum. And the possibilities for a wide range of adventure activities is enormous. There are day-hikes by the thousand, and trek routes follow trails that last couple of days or can even extend over few weeks. These vary from gentle walks over easy terrain, to grueling expeditions. There is skiing, heliskiing and ice-skating. there is the thrill of paragliding and the test of stamina with mountain-cycling. You can go camping and fishing and play golf or take a safari by car, jeep or on motorcycle. All you have to do is make up your mind and select your own activity. No special training is required for most things, age is no consideration and all you need is reasonable level of fitness. Equipment, training and instructors are available. And then, all this comes at a fraction of what it would cost elsewhere in the world.

Trekking Routes :
Shimla to Kullu over the Jalori Pass (3300 m)
Shimla to Kullu via Bashleo Pass (3250 m)
Shimla- Rohroo- Sangla
Sarahan to Sangla.
Shimla to Hatupeak
Shimla to the Shalipeak,
Shimla to Churdhar
Shimla to Chail,
Shimla to Junga
Shimla to Tattapani

Fishing :
Acclaimed as the best sport fish in the world, both Brown and Rainbow Trout are found in the Upstreams of Pabbar river in Rohru, 110Kms from Shimla. There are several spots ideal for fishing. Chirgaon has a trout hatchery and other sites are - Seema, Mandil, Sandsu, Tikri and Dhamvari all are within 5 to 25 km of Rohru .. Mahseer Fishing is available at Tattapani 46 km from Shimla. The licenses for fishing at Pabbar can be had from the Officer of Fisheries stationed at Chirgaon.
No fishing is allowed during the following seasons:
Mahseer : 1st June to 31st July (General water)
Trout water :1st November to 31 January.

Skiing : Skiing is possible at Narkanda and Kufri (January–mid-March). HPTDC organises ski courses of 7 days and 15 days duration at Narkanda. One can get himself registered with the HPTDC for the course and all the facilities of equipment, lodging and boarding are provided.

Golf : At Naldera, 23 km. from beyond Shimla is one of the oldest golf courses in India. The course, whose topography is absolutely natural, was originally placed by the British Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, at the turn of the centuary. He was so enchanted by the spot that he named one of his daughters 'Naldera' after the spot. This is a par 68, nine hole course which is regarded as one of the most challenging in the country. In the repeat nine, the yardage some - what increases. The links are maintained by Himachal Tourism and accommodation is available at Hotel Golf Glade. There are other hotels in the private sector near Naldera.

Ice Skating : The Shimla ice-skating rink has the largest open-air area with naturally frozen ice in this part of the world. The Ice Skating Club has already celebrated its Diamond Jubilee.
Ice-skating normally begins in early December and carries on to February. Clear skies and low temperatures provide series of uninterrupted sessions. There are two sessions every day, in the morning and in the evening depending upon the frozen ice on the ground . The hanging balloon on the Municipal Building adjacent to scandal point works as signal , wheather the skating is going to held on that day or not. Membership is available for the season as well as for shorter terms and even for single sessions. Skates are available at the rink.Fancy dress carnivals, 'gymkhanas' ice-hockey and dances enliven every season.

Camping :The best way of enjoying a tour to Himachal Pradesh is setting up a camp to explore the vast beauty of nature. you can put up your own tent or take shelter under the roof offered by any of several camps that are situated in various parts of Himachal Pradesh. These camps offer accommodation, catering and lot of other activities.Most of these camps offer best quality services. Himachal Tourism has camps in Distt. Shimla at Mashobra and Baldian near Shimla.
Jungle Walks, Obstacle Course, Rock Climbing at Shoghi 18 kms before Shimla and 3 kms off the national highway, a picturesque forest drive through oak and rhododendron forests, takes one to Park Woods, Shoghi. Enjoy rock climbing, burmah bridge, dry river crossing, spider web, jungle walks, camping.

Important Getaways :
FAGU (22 Km) 2450 m: On Hindustan-Tibet Road. It has enchanting views. Himachal Tourism runs the Hotel peach Blossom.

NARKANDA (60 Km) 2708 m: On the Hindustan Tibet road, Narkanda offers spectacular views of snow ranges. An uphill trek through Deodar woods leads to Hatu Peak (8 Km). Ancient temple of Hatu Mata is alive with skiers. HPTDC runs Hotel Hatu and in winters short skiing courses are organised.

KOTGARH (82 Km) 1830 m: Motorable, bifurcation from Narkanda (18 Km) Land of apples and apricots.

RAMPUR (140 Km) 924 m: On the Hindustan Tibet Road. Once the capital of the Princely State of Bushahr, the town is situated on the banks of Satluj river, Big Commercial Centre and famous International Lavi fare which is held in November every year, Dumgir Buddhist Temple, Padam Palace, Raghunath Temple, Ayodhya temple and Narsingh Temple, are worth visiting. Himachal Tourism runs a tourist Complex and air conditioned Cafe, Satluj.

SARAHAN (176 Km) 1950 m: On Hindustan Tibet Road from Jeori Sarahan is (17 Km) with spectacular view of Srikhand range. Sarahan has the majestic Bhimkali Temple. Himachal Tourism runs Hotel Shrikhand. Saharan is the gateway to Kinnaur. A Pheasant Breading Centre and stadium are worth visiting.

KHARAPATHHAR (85 Km) 2673 m: Motorable on Shimla-Rohru road. A famous religious shrine Giriganga is 7 Km on foot or by jeep. HPTDC Tourist complex Giriganga Resort under construction.

JUBBAL (90 Km) 1892 m: Headquarters of the erstwhile Princely State, Jubbal has a superbly maintained Palace which was designed by a French architect in the 1930 and is remarkable mix of European and indigenous styles.

HATKOTI (104 Km) 1400 m: Motorable on shimla-Rohru highway. Famous for ancient temple of Mata Hateswari in the midst of paddy fields on the right bank of the Pabber river. HPTDC runs Hotel Pabber here.

MASHOBRA (12 Km) 2148 m: Motorable on Shimla-Naldehra road. Surrounded by thick forests and offers ideal walks. Goddess Durga temple is worth seeing.

CRAIGNANO (18 Km) 2149 m: Motorable on Shimla-Naldhera road, Ideal picnic spot with lawns and garden.

NALDEHRA (22 Km) 2044 m: Motorable On Shimla Tattapani road. this is a nine hole golf course. It was designed by the British viceroy, Lord Curzon who was so enchanted by this place that he gave his daughter Alexandra, Naldehra as her second name. Ancient Nag temple is also situated here. Himachal Tourism runs Hotel Golf Glade here.

TATTAPANI (65 Km) 680 m: Motorable on Shimla-Mandi Highway via Naldehra. Tattapani has hot water springs having sulpher contents, also Hindu temples and Shiv Goofa at Saraur (4 Km) are worth seeing places

CHINDI (94 Km) 2010 m: Motorable on Shimla-Mandi highway via Tattapani - A beautiful place in Karsog Valley. Himachal tourism's tourist Resort is opening shortly. One can also visit famous mahunag Temple (18 Km). Mamleshwar mahadev Temple (13 Km) Kamaksha Devi temple (19 Km) Pangna Killa/temple (8 Km) and Shikari Devi Temple (18 Km).

Nightlife/Entertainment
Long after-dinner walks on the undulating roads and a few hotels serving drinks are the only signs of nocturnal life. However, from Christmas to New Year, evenings are much more fun, with all-night parties, plenty of bubbly and good music. Shimla has many lounge bars in the city. Like a lot of the other cities in India, you'll find some of the best bars in the 5-star Shimla hotels.

Woodville Palace Resort Hotel
Raj Bhawan Road Shimla,
Himachal Pradesh 171 002
Located in between Raj Bhawan and the Chief Minister's House, 22 km from the Shimla Airport, 4 km from the Shimla railway station, and 3 km from the Shimla bus stand.

Springfields Hotel
Opp. Tibetan School,
Chhota Shimla Shimla,
Himachal Pradesh 171 002
Springfields is the only garden hotel of the town with ample parking and overlooks a valley and the Snow Clad Choor Dhar mountain range, 17 km from the Jubbal Hatti Airport, 6 km from the Simla railway station, and 5 km from the Simla bus stand.

Moon Palace Hotel
Fingask Tourist Estate,
The Mall Shimla,
Himachal Pradesh 170 001
Located On the Mall, Drive in excellent view, 25 km from the Jubbal Hatti Airport, 1 km from the Shimla railway station, and 1 km from the Main bus stand.

Moon International Hotel
Near Secretariat,
Chotta Shimla Shimla,
Himachal Pradesh 170 001
Located Adjoining Secretariat, near Governor house, 25 km from the Jubbal Hatti Airport, 2 km from the Shimla railway station, and 2 km from the Main bus stand.

Travel Tips

• Wear a comfortable pair of shoes. And if you are taking one of the more rugged paths, then something with a good grip at the ankles is recommended.
• On the nature hikes do not leave the trail or spur, unless you are very sure of where you are going - distances and directions can be deceptive. The Shimla hills do not have poisonous snakes except the banded krait and these are rarely, if ever, encountered. It is also suggested that for these trails, the services of a guide be engaged.
• A crowd of porters may besiege you at the bus and taxi stand. If you don't need their services, keep an answer ready to ward them off. They also work as agents for hotels, so check out the place for you.
• The steep climb from the Mall to where most of the hotels are located can be very strenuous, so accepting the services of a porter can be a good idea -- but keep track of them as they walk very swiftly.
• Carry light woolens for the summer and heavy woolens for winter.
• Avoid green salads, uncooked food, and unhygienic water to save you from Traveler’s Diarrhea which is a common problem.
• Carry sunscreen with minimum SPF 20 to escape sunburn.
• Travelers from yellow fever areas are required to have an inoculation certificate. Prior inoculation for poliomyelitis is recommended.
• Cases of mugging, theft and worse aren’t completely unheard of but by and large serious crimes against travelers are few and far between.
• If you lose your passport, lodge a First Information Report (FIR) at the local police station and contact your embassy.

Dining Out
Shimla is much too commercialised to serve anything traditional. The hotels all have restaurants serving varied cuisine. You will find several eating joints in the Mall. Devicos is a multi-cuisine restaurant, serving north Indian, south Indian, Chinese and Continental. Baljees is ideal for breakfast or a quick lunch while shopping at the Mall. Chinatown predictably serves Chinese. The Park Cafe, at the east end of The Mall has a bar. Its milkshakes are worth an order. A good bet for Continental cuisine is Lutyen's Room at Springfield's (opposite Tibetan School, Chotta Shimla). If you want to dine in style, then the Cecil awaits you with its long list of wines and finger-licking fare.

Important Landmarks
Viceregal Lodge
Shimla houses some historic buildings and sights and they make for interesting and leisurely viewing. Housed in the gothic splendour of the Viceregal Lodge is the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies. This is a must see in Shimla. You can enter this splendid building and a guide takes you around to some of the important rooms on the ground floor. (Open from 10:00am to 5:00pm; Entry Fee: Rs 20/-)

Shimla State Museum
The Museum, which was opened in 1974, has tried to project hill-out and the cultural wealth of the state. Housed in a colonial building and set in spacious lawns, the museum has a collection of Pahari miniatures, bronzes, stone sculpture, carvings and also costumes, textiles, local handicrafts, embroidery and jewellery of the region.

Pre- Historic Gallery
At the entrance of museum, the visitors can have a view of some fiberglass models of extinct wild animals which were used to roam in the Shivalik hills, million of years ago. In the gallery, some stone tools and fossils are on display, which show the development of technique of tools.

Wood-Carving Gallery
Here one can find the display of wood carving and panels retrieved from the old- age temple and houses of state. There is a fine display of masks, which are still used in various religious and cultural festivities. The gallery serves as a living example of traditional wooden art of Himachal. Apart from this Some stone sculpture of Himachal are also on display.

Archaeology Gallery
The sculpture from different parts of India are displayed here. The themes, styles and material of these sculptures provide us with a good perspective of the cultural life of the various regions and provide a comparative study of art for research. Apart from this, some terracotta's of Maurya, Shunga and Gupta period and pottery shreds of proto- historic period are also on display.

Himachal Archaeological Gallery
Gallery has a unique collection of stone sculptures from different parts of the State which reflects the artistic skill of the regional artists. The sculptures of Simhavahini Durga from Hatkoti, Surya from Kullu, Vishnu and Lakshmi from Nirmand, Kartikeya from Karsog and Nidhi from Kangra are among the displayed sculpture.

Photographs Gallery
In up-stair one can find the display of photographs of important monuments of Himachal Pradesh. The photographs depict the hill architecture.

Himachal Pradesh University
The Himachal Pradesh University, a premier institution of teaching and research in the country, was established on 22 July 1970 by an Act of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly. The University is situated nearly 5 km away from the town, at Summer Hill, a quiet suburb of Shimla in the vicinity of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. Its beautiful surroundings present a panaromic view of snow peaked mountains and are ideally suited to pursue higher learning amidst rhododendron, silver oak, pine and deodar forests. The campus is spread over an area of about 200 acres. The various teaching departments, library, offices, residential complexes and hostels of girls and boys are housed in aesthetically designed buildings matching with the hilly terrain and climate.

Annandale
Developed as the playground of Shimla, Annandale is 2-4 kms. from the Ridge at a height of 6,117 ft. It is a favourite spot for cricket, picnics and the princely game of polo.

Prospect Hill
A popular picnic spot, the Prospect Hill offers excellent views of the surrounding country. The Hill is a 15-minute climb from Boileauganj and is located at about 5 km west of Shimla. The hill at an altitude of 2,155m offers a spectacular view of the area. There is a little temple to Kamna Devi on the top of the hill.

Emergency Contact No
Telephone Services
Trunk Booking 180
Trunk Enquiry 181
STD Complaint 2802089/2620000
Telephone Directory Enquiry 197
International Trunk Booking 2652200
Complaint Regarding Billing 2802844/2652810

General Emergency Numbers
Police 100
Fire department 101
Ambulance 102

Fire Stations
The Mall 101/2658976
Chotta Shimla 2623269
Boleauganj 2830664

Railways
Shimla/Railway Reservation 131/2652915

Police Help
Police Assistance 2812344/100
Police Control Room 2657430
Police Station Sadar 2652860
Police Station Chhota Shimla 2620954
Police Station Boleoganj 2830193
Police Post, Lakkar Bazzar 2655376
Police Station, Dhalli 2841377
Traffic Police 2652217

Police Officials
S.P.Shimla 2656535
Additional S.P.Shimla 2652497
Police Lines Kathu 2805264
Police Lines Bharari 2807084
Control Room 100/2800100
Reporting Room 2812344
Wireless Control 2623058

Hospitals
IG Medical College and Hospital 2883319
IGMC (Snowdon) 2654092
KNH (Lady Reading) 2625097
Indus 2841401/2841401
Sanitorium 2652800
Deen Dayal Upadhayay (Ripon) 2654071
Blood Bank (IGMC) 2803073
Blood Bank (Ripon) 2658940

District Administration
Deputy Commissioner Shimla 2653535
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Rural) 2657009
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Urban) 2657007
Duty Magistrate Control Room 2808200

H.P. Govt. Secretariat
Control Room 2622204

Cinema Halls
Revoli Theatre 2658067
Ritz Theatre 2652413
Shahi Theatre 2803035

Airlines
Jagson Airlines
City Office 2625177
Airport (Jubbarhati 2736835/426675

Railway
Enquiry 131

Information offices
Tourist Information Centers (Govt)
Shimla: Department of Tourism & Civil Aviation
Shimla - 171001
Himachal Pradesh,
India
Tel: (0177) 203346, 3517
Fax: 203346, 4973

H.P Tourism Development Corporation
Ritz Annexe,
Shimla-171001
India
Tel: (0177) 203294
Fax: 203434

Himachal Tourism Information Centre, Shimla
Tel: 91-177-214311, 78302
Fax: 91-177-212591

Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation
Marketing Office,
The Mall,
Shimla - 171001
Tel: 0177-2652561, 2658302
Fax: 0177-2652557

Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation
Government of Himachal Pradesh,
Block 28, SDA Complex,
Kasumpti,
Shimla - 171009
India
Tel: (0177)-2625864/2625924/2625926
Managing Director
H.P Tourism Development Corporation (Marketing Office)
Ritz Annexe,
Shimla - 171001
India
Tel: (0177) 2658880
Fax: 2652206

Business Hours of Shimla
Timing of Public and Private Offices
Public and private offices: 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Mon. to Fri.); some open on Saturdays, but all are closed on Sundays.
Shops Timing
Shops: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Mon. to Sat.)
Post Office Timing
Post offices: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Mon. to Fri.); 10 a.m.-12 noon ( Sat.)