“shimla- The Queen Of The Hills”

By Author: Flin Martyn
Total Articles: 235
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Shimla is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Shimla is the capital of Himachal, India. It was a British summer capital in the colonial past. Tourism is an important and one of the main sources of income for the town.

As a tourist destination Shimla has a number of places of interest for tourists. The Mall is the main shopping destination of Shimla. It has many restaurants, clubs, banks, bars, post offices and tourist offices. The popular Gaiety Theatre is also situated there. People can enjoy leisurely walks here and also shop and eat in the many restaurants and bakeries. The most famous among them is Trishul bakery which is known for its pastries. The Ridge and Scandal point are the two main meeting points at the Mall. Christ Church located in the Ridge is the second oldest Church in Northern India. The stained glass windows make the Church a very popular destination. The Shimla State museum is also worth a visit to understand the history and culture of the place.

There are various fairs and festivals that can be enjoyed by the tourists. The Bhara fair is held in the Bharara village near Kumharsain ...
... and people of all castes and creed participate. The fair is held on the 1st of May. It is being celebrated from ancient times. Devta Koteshwar is brought in the fair and goats are sacrificed in its honour as a mark of respect. The fair is cultural and recreational and 'Natti' dances are performed and Hindola rides are also offered. Lavi fair of Rampur is the most important fair. It is a commercial fair held on the 25th of November. The Summer festival is held every year in the month of May at Shimla. It is a cultural function with performance of local folks, cultural program by school children and daily performance by some famous personality. It is held on the ridge ground. Shimla is blessed with a natural ice skating rink and it is open for use from November to February.

Ancient temples with unique architecture are also worth a visit. The temples that can be visited are Hatkoti temple, Bheemakali temple, Jakhoo temple, Tara Devi temple ad Sankat Mochan temple.

Shimla is well connected by road, rail and air. An enjoyable hill train ride can also be taken to Shimla. The transport within Shimla is also very good. Accommodations are also available easily and suits al budgets. The best time to visit is in both winter and summer.

For information on Shimla and popular Shimla hotels visit HolidayIQ