Main places to visit around Shimla : One of the popular Hill Statons in Himachal Pradesh

During one of my recent visits to Shimla, schedule was really busy and I also wanted to visit Viceregal Lodge. Usually I go to Viceregal Lodge via HPU route or walk down from Mall Road. This time the route changed and first time I climbed from Boileuganj...Here is first view we get after climbing a hill from boileuganj.I have stayed in Shimla for 3 years approximately but never went through this route, although it's quite easy and quick one to reach Viceregal Lodge. Buses for Boileuganj are very easily available from bus stand and Himachal Pradesh University. And then it's a 15 minutes climb which is not very steep.It starts from the chowk where roads from Tutoo, Summerhill, Bus-Stand and University meet. And lagoors will be there to welcome you. It's not very special because they can be found anywhere in Shimla to welcome you :)During the climb, HPTDC (Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corp.) Hotel 'Peter Hoff' can be seen just below the TV tower of Shimla. Peter Hoff is one of the good hotels in Shimla and it's situated next to Viceregal Lodge. Exactly it's in the middle of Chaura Maidaan and Viceregal Lodge. Via bus, it's accessible from 103. 103 is a bus stop near tunnel-no 103 and very popular stop in Shimla.New Bus Stand of Shimla is also visible during the climb. This is first time I saw this bus stand and it was amazing. I wanted to compare it with IGI airport but stopped myself :) ... But for sure, it's best among all the bus stands we have in North India at least. it's situated near Dhali. Old bus stand has been converted into Local bus stand and there are regular shuttles between new and old bus-stands. While coming back to Delhi, I did some mobilegiri at Shimla Bus stand and will share soon...Himachal Pradesh Judicial Academy also comes on the way from Boileuganj to Viceregal Lodge.It's a wonderful walk from Boileuganj to Viceregal Lodge as whole stretch is full of trees and nice flowers around. At times it feels like you are crossing through some garden. There are some governments residences as well, which makes this hill more lively.Apart from some institutes and houses, there are some buildings which seemed to be locked for last many years. But somehow, colors lie about these buildings. The building above shown was closed from all the directions and there seemed to be a long silence around the place.After a quick climb, we reached Viceregal Lodge. It was so quick that I forgot to mention that one of my cousin was accompanying me and we also discussed some changes happening in his institute in HPU (UIIT). Overall this was a fastest route to Viceregal Lode but probably I will still prefer the longer route which comes through Vidhan-Sabha, Cecil etc.
During summers, it's obvious to recall our memories of Shimla. And we thought of sharing some of the interesting places around Shimla, if any of our viewers is planning to have summer vacations in Shimla. Here we are trying to share some useful details the summer queen of India and things to do around the town. This Photo Journey will try to share some of better options to explore in and around Shimla town. Shimla has changed a lot in last 3 decades and here I would also want to share some interesting facts about capital city of Himachal Pradesh.

Over the years Shimla town has become crowded. These days I hear people saying this and I agree to the fact. But at the same time, I would like to share that Shimla is one of the very few destinations which offer diverse experience. Shimla was summer capital for Britishers in past and hence the town still has impressions of british era. There are various heritage buildings in the town and one of the most important one is Viceregal Lodge which is also known as Indian Institute of Advanced Studies. 
During one of my recent visits to Shimla, schedule was really busy and I also wanted to visit Viceregal Lodge. Usually I go to Viceregal Lodge via HPU route or walk down from Mall Road. This time the route changed and first time I climbed from Boileuganj...Here is first view we get after climbing a hill from boileuganj.I have stayed in Shimla for 3 years approximately but never went through this route, although it's quite easy and quick one to reach Viceregal Lodge. Buses for Boileuganj are very easily available from bus stand and Himachal Pradesh University. And then it's a 15 minutes climb which is not very steep.It starts from the chowk where roads from Tutoo, Summerhill, Bus-Stand and University meet. And lagoors will be there to welcome you. It's not very special because they can be found anywhere in Shimla to welcome you :)During the climb, HPTDC (Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corp.) Hotel 'Peter Hoff' can be seen just below the TV tower of Shimla. Peter Hoff is one of the good hotels in Shimla and it's situated next to Viceregal Lodge. Exactly it's in the middle of Chaura Maidaan and Viceregal Lodge. Via bus, it's accessible from 103. 103 is a bus stop near tunnel-no 103 and very popular stop in Shimla.New Bus Stand of Shimla is also visible during the climb. This is first time I saw this bus stand and it was amazing. I wanted to compare it with IGI airport but stopped myself :) ... But for sure, it's best among all the bus stands we have in North India at least. it's situated near Dhali. Old bus stand has been converted into Local bus stand and there are regular shuttles between new and old bus-stands. While coming back to Delhi, I did some mobilegiri at Shimla Bus stand and will share soon...Himachal Pradesh Judicial Academy also comes on the way from Boileuganj to Viceregal Lodge.It's a wonderful walk from Boileuganj to Viceregal Lodge as whole stretch is full of trees and nice flowers around. At times it feels like you are crossing through some garden. There are some governments residences as well, which makes this hill more lively.Apart from some institutes and houses, there are some buildings which seemed to be locked for last many years. But somehow, colors lie about these buildings. The building above shown was closed from all the directions and there seemed to be a long silence around the place.After a quick climb, we reached Viceregal Lodge. It was so quick that I forgot to mention that one of my cousin was accompanying me and we also discussed some changes happening in his institute in HPU (UIIT). Overall this was a fastest route to Viceregal Lode but probably I will still prefer the longer route which comes through Vidhan-Sabha, Cecil etc.

During one of my recent visits to Shimla, schedule was really busy and I also wanted to visit Viceregal Lodge. Usually I go to Viceregal Lodge via HPU route or walk down from Mall Road. This time the route changed and first time I climbed from Boileuganj...Here is first view we get after climbing a hill from boileuganj.I have stayed in Shimla for 3 years approximately but never went through this route, although it's quite easy and quick one to reach Viceregal Lodge. Buses for Boileuganj are very easily available from bus stand and Himachal Pradesh University. And then it's a 15 minutes climb which is not very steep.It starts from the chowk where roads from Tutoo, Summerhill, Bus-Stand and University meet. And lagoors will be there to welcome you. It's not very special because they can be found anywhere in Shimla to welcome you :)During the climb, HPTDC (Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corp.) Hotel 'Peter Hoff' can be seen just below the TV tower of Shimla. Peter Hoff is one of the good hotels in Shimla and it's situated next to Viceregal Lodge. Exactly it's in the middle of Chaura Maidaan and Viceregal Lodge. Via bus, it's accessible from 103. 103 is a bus stop near tunnel-no 103 and very popular stop in Shimla.New Bus Stand of Shimla is also visible during the climb. This is first time I saw this bus stand and it was amazing. I wanted to compare it with IGI airport but stopped myself :) ... But for sure, it's best among all the bus stands we have in North India at least. it's situated near Dhali. Old bus stand has been converted into Local bus stand and there are regular shuttles between new and old bus-stands. While coming back to Delhi, I did some mobilegiri at Shimla Bus stand and will share soon...Himachal Pradesh Judicial Academy also comes on the way from Boileuganj to Viceregal Lodge.It's a wonderful walk from Boileuganj to Viceregal Lodge as whole stretch is full of trees and nice flowers around. At times it feels like you are crossing through some garden. There are some governments residences as well, which makes this hill more lively.Apart from some institutes and houses, there are some buildings which seemed to be locked for last many years. But somehow, colors lie about these buildings. The building above shown was closed from all the directions and there seemed to be a long silence around the place.After a quick climb, we reached Viceregal Lodge. It was so quick that I forgot to mention that one of my cousin was accompanying me and we also discussed some changes happening in his institute in HPU (UIIT). Overall this was a fastest route to Viceregal Lode but probably I will still prefer the longer route which comes through Vidhan-Sabha, Cecil etc.

Shimla town has some of the most beautiful walks in hills surrounded by dense forests full of high deodar tress. One needs to be aware of such walks and make best of these while there in Shimla. One of my favorite walks is Mall Road to University through Legislative Assembly of the state & Viceregal Lodge. This is a beautiful road, which crosses through some of the amazing buildings of town. Clean, well maintained, almost no traffic and surrounded by beautiful trees & green landscapes. 

Small and Beautiful Railway Stations on Kalka-Shimla narrow track: Posted on www.travellingcamera.com by VJ: The Kalka-Shimla Railway built to connect the summer capital of India in 1903 at an altitude of 2076 meters offers a panoramic experience of the picturesque Himalayas from the shivalik foot hills at Kalka to several important points such as Dharampur, Solan, Kandaghat, Taradevi, Barog, Salogra, Summerhill, Shimla and beyond up to the silvery snow line near the towering peaks.Sonwara Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Himalyan Queen waits for 30 minutes at this station to let Shivalik Express pass through....  KOTI Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...I have clicked these photographs during recent visit to Shimla.... We reach KOTI Railway Station after crossing longest Barog tunnel....Jabali Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Kandaghat Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Located at an altitude of 4680 ft above sea level Kandaghat is the nice place in Himachal Pradesh for you if are looking for a quiet and peaceful vacation. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh built his palace in Kandaghat after which this place received the attention. Raja Bhupinder Singh was the ruler of Patiala and when he was expelled from Shimla, he set up base in Kandaghat. Today, this is one of the most popular destinations to travel in India.  A reflection of Kandaghat Railway Station on train window...Dharmpur Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Just 15 km from Kasauli on the National highway No.22 Dharampur has one of the best hospitals in India for the cure of tuberculosis. It is also connected by Kalka Shimla railway line.... Shoghi Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...SHoghi is a small town near Shimla and now its being developed as new tourist destination in Himachal. There are many resorts with good facilities in Shoghi and have reasonable arrangements for tourist groups..Kandaghat Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Delux Rail-Car standing @ Shoghi Station...Tara-Devi Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Tara Devi temple is located on Tarav Parvat, in the western side of Shimla. Temple provides an overwhelming view of the mountains below and Shimla Town. Every year thousands of pilgrims visit Tara Devi temple, which has a great spiritual and heritage value. Historically speaking, the temple was built approximately 260 years ago ...Salogra Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Kalka Railway Station...Kalka is a town in the Panchkula district of Haryana in India. The name of the town is derived from the goddess Kali. The town is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and is a gateway to the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh. It is on the National Highway 22 between Chandigarh and Shimla and is the terminus of the Kalka-Shimla Railway. To the south of Kalka is Pinjore and the industrial town of Parwanoo (Himachal Pradesh) is to the north on the NH 22. Industrial development has led to a continuous urban belt from Pinjore to Parwanoo, but Kalka remains largely unaffected by these developments. Nearby is Chandimandir Cantonment where the Western Command of the Indian army is based. SHIMLA became the summer capital of British India in 1864 and was also the headquarters of the British army in India. Prior to construction of the railway communication with the outside world was via village cart.The railway was constructed by the Delhi-Umbala-Kalka Railway Company commencing in 1898. The estimated cost of Rs 86,78,500, however, the cost doubled during execution of the project. Because of the high capital and maintenance cost, coupled with peculiar working conditions, the Kalka-Shimla Railway was allowed to charge fares that were higher than the prevailing tariffs on other lines. However, even this was not good enough to sustain the company and the Government had to purchase it on January 1, 1906 for Rs 1,71,00,000.

Toy train experience of Shimla-Kalka train is incomparable. At the same time, I don't recommend to travel in toy train from Kalka to Shimla, because it takes lot of time. If you have enough time in hands, you can plan this. Otherwise plan to have a ride from Shimla railway station to Tara Devi Railway Station. This is most beautiful ride. There are two reasons that I recommend this ride - one is to save time and other is about the beautiful trek to Tara Devi temple from railway station. This trek exposes you to amazing panoramic views of Shimla town and surrounding areas. This trek is through dense forests. One can come back to town from Tara Devi temple by taking local bus.


If I start thinking about other approachable destinations around Shimla, following names come to my mind - Chail, Mashobara, Kufri, Naldehra, Narkanda, Hatu Peak, Tanijubber Lake etc. One of the recommended one is Chail. And in fact, it's recommended to stay around Chail area, which is naturally more beautiful and peaceful. There are quite a good options to stay around Chail. 

If you love driving, we would recommend you to drive towards narkanda. This journey offers a diverse experience. and nearby Narkanda, Hatu Peak and Tanijubber lake are two worth visiting places. If you around this place during winters, don't miss visiting Dhomri where skiing happens.

What's there in the town -

During recent trip to Shimla, I was travelling on bikes most of the time. Our bikes even hit the restricted regions like Mall Road, Ridge and Lakkar bazar... Let's have a quick Photo Journey of Shimla !!!New look of Gaiety Theatre in Shimla. This Theatre is situated on Mall Road and now open for all. There is small ticket amount one needs to pay to explore it inside. Various plays, exhibitions and other cultural events take place at Gaiety Theatre. Some part of Gaiety is also visible from Ridge.Afternoon view of Ridge, Shimla !!! Some Himachal Tourism activity was going and Aneesh was allowed to take his bike to Ridge with proper care. Ridge, Mall Road and Lakkar Bazar regions are restricted areas where vehicles are not allowed.Birds roaming around Ridge/Mall Road during Saturday Evening :) ... Saturday evenings are very popular for folks in Shimla and Mall road is too much crowded during Saturday evenings. Bird watching could be one of the reasons..A view of Shimla from High Court building. This photograph is clicked from Mall Road only, but near High Court of Himachal Pradesh !!!I am completely in love with Shimla Architecture and my camera couldn't resist clicking all those building on Shimla streets & roads. This photograph was clicked while we were climbing up towards Mall Road from HHH hotel.More beautiful buildings from Shimla, but increasing vehicles are becoming one of the main challenges when parking is biggest issue in the city. But it's amazing to these folks driving so fast on narrow roads with lots of curves here and thereHere comes Mr. Aneesh Awasthi. Here he is trying typical short cuts in Shimla, but mostly they are for walking people not for bikers. Since it's difficult for Aneesh to walk, so he thought of riding down these stairs.During noon there is nothing on Mall road so came down towards Shimla Market and thought of going towards Naldera Golf ground... Although plans changed later. I hope you noticed the density of houses on these hills. There is no difference between these hill stations and metros like Delhi now.Here is a view of Mall road after sunset. Folks have started coming to Mall Road and soon it will be fully loaded, or in fact overloaded.Here is another view of Ridge in Shimla. Ridge and Mall road are well connected with each other and have many decent restuarants around the place. Ridge is basically a huge tank of water which is main supply for various parts of Shimla. There is also an underground makrket called Indira Market and Press Club of Shimla is also situated in this market.Wonderful view of Christ Church on Ridge, Shimla. Bright blue sky make this photograph more intersting... This was a qick photo journey with no plans and thought of sharing here... Hope to be there in Shimla for Christmas and wish to click some the same places with snow !!!

Ridge Ground - A huge ground on top of one of the biggest water tanks in Shimla, which is close to Mall Road in capital city of Himachal Pradesh.

This PHOTO JOURNEY is about one of the wonderful walks around capital city of Himachal Pradesh, INDIA. Since Shimla is blessed with wonderful weather throughout the year, people love to walk from one place to other and now many tourists love to explore these walks and few of them avoid due to age issues. Above photograph shows Sanjauli from the road which connects Sanjauli Market with Mall Road through IGMC and Lakkar Mazar...The first thing which comes on the way to Mall Road from Sanjauli Market. Sanjauli College 'Rajkiya Mahavidyalaya, Sanjauli' ... It's one of the popular educational institution in Shimla !!!This is new building on Government College Sanjauli... Somehow all the buildings in Shimla are beautiful and each one sets new standards in terms of architecture ...This is huge complex of biggest Medical College of Himachal Pradesh. Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla.Main building on Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla !!! This whole campus has one hospital and a Medical college. This is one of the most advanced hospital  in Himachal Pradesh, INDIA. Place is also known as snowdown.This is one of the popular walks around Mall Road. Few years back, cycles were also available on rent for this route form Sanjauli to Mall Road !!! This is approximately 3 kilometers walk through some of the beautiful spots on the way...It's impossible to reach Mall Road, without meeting monkeys on the way and we were lucky to have a silent meeting :) ... This family was happily sitting on roof-top !!!It was evening time and after crossing IGMC, we got to see the hues of sunset in Shimla. Have you see clear sun like this? It's easy to find full moon like this but brightness around the sun always hide the actual shape.After few miles of walk on relatively calm roads, we hit Lakkar Bazar. Lakkar Bazar is one of the main markets in Shimla and popular among tourists. There are lot of shops offering wooden materials for home and offices.Since none of us was interested in shopping, we moved towards Ridge with wonderful lighting around Christ Church... Sky was clear on that day and it was blue hour...After having some tea and snacks, we moved towards Mall Road. The building in above photograph is Gaiety Theatre building on Mall Road. This building is renovated last year only.For a change we also visited Lower Bazar, which is relatively cheap and a decent place to buy woolens. This market has various sections - cloth market, spice market, meat market etc...This walk ended in Lower Bazar of Shimla, but most of the folks from Sanjauli love to take this walk for mall road. The other way to reach Mall road is via bus, which is longer route of 8 kilometers. After that one needs ot climb up till Mall Road or take Lift.

Lakkar Bazar - For shopping different decorative and gift items made of wood.

During recent trip to Shimla, I was travelling on bikes most of the time. Our bikes even hit the restricted regions like Mall Road, Ridge and Lakkar bazar... Let's have a quick Photo Journey of Shimla !!!New look of Gaiety Theatre in Shimla. This Theatre is situated on Mall Road and now open for all. There is small ticket amount one needs to pay to explore it inside. Various plays, exhibitions and other cultural events take place at Gaiety Theatre. Some part of Gaiety is also visible from Ridge.Afternoon view of Ridge, Shimla !!! Some Himachal Tourism activity was going and Aneesh was allowed to take his bike to Ridge with proper care. Ridge, Mall Road and Lakkar Bazar regions are restricted areas where vehicles are not allowed.Birds roaming around Ridge/Mall Road during Saturday Evening :) ... Saturday evenings are very popular for folks in Shimla and Mall road is too much crowded during Saturday evenings. Bird watching could be one of the reasons..A view of Shimla from High Court building. This photograph is clicked from Mall Road only, but near High Court of Himachal Pradesh !!!I am completely in love with Shimla Architecture and my camera couldn't resist clicking all those building on Shimla streets & roads. This photograph was clicked while we were climbing up towards Mall Road from HHH hotel.More beautiful buildings from Shimla, but increasing vehicles are becoming one of the main challenges when parking is biggest issue in the city. But it's amazing to these folks driving so fast on narrow roads with lots of curves here and thereHere comes Mr. Aneesh Awasthi. Here he is trying typical short cuts in Shimla, but mostly they are for walking people not for bikers. Since it's difficult for Aneesh to walk, so he thought of riding down these stairs.During noon there is nothing on Mall road so came down towards Shimla Market and thought of going towards Naldera Golf ground... Although plans changed later. I hope you noticed the density of houses on these hills. There is no difference between these hill stations and metros like Delhi now.Here is a view of Mall road after sunset. Folks have started coming to Mall Road and soon it will be fully loaded, or in fact overloaded.Here is another view of Ridge in Shimla. Ridge and Mall road are well connected with each other and have many decent restuarants around the place. Ridge is basically a huge tank of water which is main supply for various parts of Shimla. There is also an underground makrket called Indira Market and Press Club of Shimla is also situated in this market.Wonderful view of Christ Church on Ridge, Shimla. Bright blue sky make this photograph more intersting... This was a qick photo journey with no plans and thought of sharing here... Hope to be there in Shimla for Christmas and wish to click some the same places with snow !!!


Gaiety Theatre - is now renovated and some interesting plays and exhibitions keep happening. So go & checkout. It's on mall road and generally a good place to explore. 

During recent trip to Shimla, I was travelling on bikes most of the time. Our bikes even hit the restricted regions like Mall Road, Ridge and Lakkar bazar... Let's have a quick Photo Journey of Shimla !!!New look of Gaiety Theatre in Shimla. This Theatre is situated on Mall Road and now open for all. There is small ticket amount one needs to pay to explore it inside. Various plays, exhibitions and other cultural events take place at Gaiety Theatre. Some part of Gaiety is also visible from Ridge.Afternoon view of Ridge, Shimla !!! Some Himachal Tourism activity was going and Aneesh was allowed to take his bike to Ridge with proper care. Ridge, Mall Road and Lakkar Bazar regions are restricted areas where vehicles are not allowed.Birds roaming around Ridge/Mall Road during Saturday Evening :) ... Saturday evenings are very popular for folks in Shimla and Mall road is too much crowded during Saturday evenings. Bird watching could be one of the reasons..A view of Shimla from High Court building. This photograph is clicked from Mall Road only, but near High Court of Himachal Pradesh !!!I am completely in love with Shimla Architecture and my camera couldn't resist clicking all those building on Shimla streets & roads. This photograph was clicked while we were climbing up towards Mall Road from HHH hotel.More beautiful buildings from Shimla, but increasing vehicles are becoming one of the main challenges when parking is biggest issue in the city. But it's amazing to these folks driving so fast on narrow roads with lots of curves here and thereHere comes Mr. Aneesh Awasthi. Here he is trying typical short cuts in Shimla, but mostly they are for walking people not for bikers. Since it's difficult for Aneesh to walk, so he thought of riding down these stairs.During noon there is nothing on Mall road so came down towards Shimla Market and thought of going towards Naldera Golf ground... Although plans changed later. I hope you noticed the density of houses on these hills. There is no difference between these hill stations and metros like Delhi now.Here is a view of Mall road after sunset. Folks have started coming to Mall Road and soon it will be fully loaded, or in fact overloaded.Here is another view of Ridge in Shimla. Ridge and Mall road are well connected with each other and have many decent restuarants around the place. Ridge is basically a huge tank of water which is main supply for various parts of Shimla. There is also an underground makrket called Indira Market and Press Club of Shimla is also situated in this market.Wonderful view of Christ Church on Ridge, Shimla. Bright blue sky make this photograph more intersting... This was a qick photo journey with no plans and thought of sharing here... Hope to be there in Shimla for Christmas and wish to click some the same places with snow !!!

Christ Church on Ridge Ground - This is a beautiful church near
Mall road, which looks awesome in the evening with sunset hues in the background. 

During recent trip to Shimla, I was travelling on bikes most of the time. Our bikes even hit the restricted regions like Mall Road, Ridge and Lakkar bazar... Let's have a quick Photo Journey of Shimla !!!New look of Gaiety Theatre in Shimla. This Theatre is situated on Mall Road and now open for all. There is small ticket amount one needs to pay to explore it inside. Various plays, exhibitions and other cultural events take place at Gaiety Theatre. Some part of Gaiety is also visible from Ridge.Afternoon view of Ridge, Shimla !!! Some Himachal Tourism activity was going and Aneesh was allowed to take his bike to Ridge with proper care. Ridge, Mall Road and Lakkar Bazar regions are restricted areas where vehicles are not allowed.Birds roaming around Ridge/Mall Road during Saturday Evening :) ... Saturday evenings are very popular for folks in Shimla and Mall road is too much crowded during Saturday evenings. Bird watching could be one of the reasons..A view of Shimla from High Court building. This photograph is clicked from Mall Road only, but near High Court of Himachal Pradesh !!!I am completely in love with Shimla Architecture and my camera couldn't resist clicking all those building on Shimla streets & roads. This photograph was clicked while we were climbing up towards Mall Road from HHH hotel.More beautiful buildings from Shimla, but increasing vehicles are becoming one of the main challenges when parking is biggest issue in the city. But it's amazing to these folks driving so fast on narrow roads with lots of curves here and thereHere comes Mr. Aneesh Awasthi. Here he is trying typical short cuts in Shimla, but mostly they are for walking people not for bikers. Since it's difficult for Aneesh to walk, so he thought of riding down these stairs.During noon there is nothing on Mall road so came down towards Shimla Market and thought of going towards Naldera Golf ground... Although plans changed later. I hope you noticed the density of houses on these hills. There is no difference between these hill stations and metros like Delhi now.Here is a view of Mall road after sunset. Folks have started coming to Mall Road and soon it will be fully loaded, or in fact overloaded.Here is another view of Ridge in Shimla. Ridge and Mall road are well connected with each other and have many decent restuarants around the place. Ridge is basically a huge tank of water which is main supply for various parts of Shimla. There is also an underground makrket called Indira Market and Press Club of Shimla is also situated in this market.Wonderful view of Christ Church on Ridge, Shimla. Bright blue sky make this photograph more intersting... This was a qick photo journey with no plans and thought of sharing here... Hope to be there in Shimla for Christmas and wish to click some the same places with snow !!!

This PHOTO JOURNEY is about one of the wonderful walks around capital city of Himachal Pradesh, INDIA. Since Shimla is blessed with wonderful weather throughout the year, people love to walk from one place to other and now many tourists love to explore these walks and few of them avoid due to age issues. Above photograph shows Sanjauli from the road which connects Sanjauli Market with Mall Road through IGMC and Lakkar Mazar...The first thing which comes on the way to Mall Road from Sanjauli Market. Sanjauli College 'Rajkiya Mahavidyalaya, Sanjauli' ... It's one of the popular educational institution in Shimla !!!This is new building on Government College Sanjauli... Somehow all the buildings in Shimla are beautiful and each one sets new standards in terms of architecture ...This is huge complex of biggest Medical College of Himachal Pradesh. Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla.Main building on Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla !!! This whole campus has one hospital and a Medical college. This is one of the most advanced hospital  in Himachal Pradesh, INDIA. Place is also known as snowdown.This is one of the popular walks around Mall Road. Few years back, cycles were also available on rent for this route form Sanjauli to Mall Road !!! This is approximately 3 kilometers walk through some of the beautiful spots on the way...It's impossible to reach Mall Road, without meeting monkeys on the way and we were lucky to have a silent meeting :) ... This family was happily sitting on roof-top !!!It was evening time and after crossing IGMC, we got to see the hues of sunset in Shimla. Have you see clear sun like this? It's easy to find full moon like this but brightness around the sun always hide the actual shape.After few miles of walk on relatively calm roads, we hit Lakkar Bazar. Lakkar Bazar is one of the main markets in Shimla and popular among tourists. There are lot of shops offering wooden materials for home and offices.Since none of us was interested in shopping, we moved towards Ridge with wonderful lighting around Christ Church... Sky was clear on that day and it was blue hour...After having some tea and snacks, we moved towards Mall Road. The building in above photograph is Gaiety Theatre building on Mall Road. This building is renovated last year only.For a change we also visited Lower Bazar, which is relatively cheap and a decent place to buy woolens. This market has various sections - cloth market, spice market, meat market etc...This walk ended in Lower Bazar of Shimla, but most of the folks from Sanjauli love to take this walk for mall road. The other way to reach Mall road is via bus, which is longer route of 8 kilometers. After that one needs ot climb up till Mall Road or take Lift.Jakhu Temple - Not sure if you would want to visit this temple. More than a trek or a religious place, it's an adventurous place where you need to be aware all the time and overall environment can be threatening for you.  Monkeys around the temple are really mischievous. 


There are some interesting cafes and restaurants in Shimla town, mainly on mall road. Bars in shimla are pretty economical without any compromise in service or ambiance. Devicos on Mall road and Peter Hoff are two of  our favorite places to hang out with friends in evening.


Most of the restaurants and cafes are facing Mall Road but there are few options which offer views on both side. Crowded Mall road on one side and green hills on the other side. 

This PHOTO JOURNEY is about one of the wonderful walks around capital city of Himachal Pradesh, INDIA. Since Shimla is blessed with wonderful weather throughout the year, people love to walk from one place to other and now many tourists love to explore these walks and few of them avoid due to age issues. Above photograph shows Sanjauli from the road which connects Sanjauli Market with Mall Road through IGMC and Lakkar Mazar...The first thing which comes on the way to Mall Road from Sanjauli Market. Sanjauli College 'Rajkiya Mahavidyalaya, Sanjauli' ... It's one of the popular educational institution in Shimla !!!This is new building on Government College Sanjauli... Somehow all the buildings in Shimla are beautiful and each one sets new standards in terms of architecture ...This is huge complex of biggest Medical College of Himachal Pradesh. Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla.Main building on Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla !!! This whole campus has one hospital and a Medical college. This is one of the most advanced hospital  in Himachal Pradesh, INDIA. Place is also known as snowdown.This is one of the popular walks around Mall Road. Few years back, cycles were also available on rent for this route form Sanjauli to Mall Road !!! This is approximately 3 kilometers walk through some of the beautiful spots on the way...It's impossible to reach Mall Road, without meeting monkeys on the way and we were lucky to have a silent meeting :) ... This family was happily sitting on roof-top !!!It was evening time and after crossing IGMC, we got to see the hues of sunset in Shimla. Have you see clear sun like this? It's easy to find full moon like this but brightness around the sun always hide the actual shape.After few miles of walk on relatively calm roads, we hit Lakkar Bazar. Lakkar Bazar is one of the main markets in Shimla and popular among tourists. There are lot of shops offering wooden materials for home and offices.Since none of us was interested in shopping, we moved towards Ridge with wonderful lighting around Christ Church... Sky was clear on that day and it was blue hour...After having some tea and snacks, we moved towards Mall Road. The building in above photograph is Gaiety Theatre building on Mall Road. This building is renovated last year only.For a change we also visited Lower Bazar, which is relatively cheap and a decent place to buy woolens. This market has various sections - cloth market, spice market, meat market etc...This walk ended in Lower Bazar of Shimla, but most of the folks from Sanjauli love to take this walk for mall road. The other way to reach Mall road is via bus, which is longer route of 8 kilometers. After that one needs ot climb up till Mall Road or take Lift.

Another popular walk from Mall Road to Sanjauli is beautiful. There was a time when cycles were also available for tourists on this road but not sure if this facility is still available or not. One of the good part is that vehicles are not allowed on Mall road and adjoining roads, which don't hinder your walks. 

This PHOTO JOURNEY is about one of the wonderful walks around capital city of Himachal Pradesh, INDIA. Since Shimla is blessed with wonderful weather throughout the year, people love to walk from one place to other and now many tourists love to explore these walks and few of them avoid due to age issues. Above photograph shows Sanjauli from the road which connects Sanjauli Market with Mall Road through IGMC and Lakkar Mazar...The first thing which comes on the way to Mall Road from Sanjauli Market. Sanjauli College 'Rajkiya Mahavidyalaya, Sanjauli' ... It's one of the popular educational institution in Shimla !!!This is new building on Government College Sanjauli... Somehow all the buildings in Shimla are beautiful and each one sets new standards in terms of architecture ...This is huge complex of biggest Medical College of Himachal Pradesh. Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla.Main building on Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla !!! This whole campus has one hospital and a Medical college. This is one of the most advanced hospital  in Himachal Pradesh, INDIA. Place is also known as snowdown.This is one of the popular walks around Mall Road. Few years back, cycles were also available on rent for this route form Sanjauli to Mall Road !!! This is approximately 3 kilometers walk through some of the beautiful spots on the way...It's impossible to reach Mall Road, without meeting monkeys on the way and we were lucky to have a silent meeting :) ... This family was happily sitting on roof-top !!!It was evening time and after crossing IGMC, we got to see the hues of sunset in Shimla. Have you see clear sun like this? It's easy to find full moon like this but brightness around the sun always hide the actual shape.After few miles of walk on relatively calm roads, we hit Lakkar Bazar. Lakkar Bazar is one of the main markets in Shimla and popular among tourists. There are lot of shops offering wooden materials for home and offices.Since none of us was interested in shopping, we moved towards Ridge with wonderful lighting around Christ Church... Sky was clear on that day and it was blue hour...After having some tea and snacks, we moved towards Mall Road. The building in above photograph is Gaiety Theatre building on Mall Road. This building is renovated last year only.For a change we also visited Lower Bazar, which is relatively cheap and a decent place to buy woolens. This market has various sections - cloth market, spice market, meat market etc...This walk ended in Lower Bazar of Shimla, but most of the folks from Sanjauli love to take this walk for mall road. The other way to reach Mall road is via bus, which is longer route of 8 kilometers. After that one needs ot climb up till Mall Road or take Lift.

There are various beautiful sunset sights around Shimla Town. One of the famous places are TV tower, Viceregal Lodge, Mall Road, Jakhu Tibba, Sanjauli & Summer Hill.

During one of my recent visits to Shimla, schedule was really busy and I also wanted to visit Viceregal Lodge. Usually I go to Viceregal Lodge via HPU route or walk down from Mall Road. This time the route changed and first time I climbed from Boileuganj...Here is first view we get after climbing a hill from boileuganj.I have stayed in Shimla for 3 years approximately but never went through this route, although it's quite easy and quick one to reach Viceregal Lodge. Buses for Boileuganj are very easily available from bus stand and Himachal Pradesh University. And then it's a 15 minutes climb which is not very steep.It starts from the chowk where roads from Tutoo, Summerhill, Bus-Stand and University meet. And lagoors will be there to welcome you. It's not very special because they can be found anywhere in Shimla to welcome you :)During the climb, HPTDC (Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corp.) Hotel 'Peter Hoff' can be seen just below the TV tower of Shimla. Peter Hoff is one of the good hotels in Shimla and it's situated next to Viceregal Lodge. Exactly it's in the middle of Chaura Maidaan and Viceregal Lodge. Via bus, it's accessible from 103. 103 is a bus stop near tunnel-no 103 and very popular stop in Shimla.New Bus Stand of Shimla is also visible during the climb. This is first time I saw this bus stand and it was amazing. I wanted to compare it with IGI airport but stopped myself :) ... But for sure, it's best among all the bus stands we have in North India at least. it's situated near Dhali. Old bus stand has been converted into Local bus stand and there are regular shuttles between new and old bus-stands. While coming back to Delhi, I did some mobilegiri at Shimla Bus stand and will share soon...Himachal Pradesh Judicial Academy also comes on the way from Boileuganj to Viceregal Lodge.It's a wonderful walk from Boileuganj to Viceregal Lodge as whole stretch is full of trees and nice flowers around. At times it feels like you are crossing through some garden. There are some governments residences as well, which makes this hill more lively.Apart from some institutes and houses, there are some buildings which seemed to be locked for last many years. But somehow, colors lie about these buildings. The building above shown was closed from all the directions and there seemed to be a long silence around the place.After a quick climb, we reached Viceregal Lodge. It was so quick that I forgot to mention that one of my cousin was accompanying me and we also discussed some changes happening in his institute in HPU (UIIT). Overall this was a fastest route to Viceregal Lode but probably I will still prefer the longer route which comes through Vidhan-Sabha, Cecil etc.


Walking around the streets of Shimla town is a very different experience and almost every turn opens up new views to the beautiful landscapes.

During one of my recent visits to Shimla, schedule was really busy and I also wanted to visit Viceregal Lodge. Usually I go to Viceregal Lodge via HPU route or walk down from Mall Road. This time the route changed and first time I climbed from Boileuganj...Here is first view we get after climbing a hill from boileuganj.I have stayed in Shimla for 3 years approximately but never went through this route, although it's quite easy and quick one to reach Viceregal Lodge. Buses for Boileuganj are very easily available from bus stand and Himachal Pradesh University. And then it's a 15 minutes climb which is not very steep.It starts from the chowk where roads from Tutoo, Summerhill, Bus-Stand and University meet. And lagoors will be there to welcome you. It's not very special because they can be found anywhere in Shimla to welcome you :)During the climb, HPTDC (Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corp.) Hotel 'Peter Hoff' can be seen just below the TV tower of Shimla. Peter Hoff is one of the good hotels in Shimla and it's situated next to Viceregal Lodge. Exactly it's in the middle of Chaura Maidaan and Viceregal Lodge. Via bus, it's accessible from 103. 103 is a bus stop near tunnel-no 103 and very popular stop in Shimla.New Bus Stand of Shimla is also visible during the climb. This is first time I saw this bus stand and it was amazing. I wanted to compare it with IGI airport but stopped myself :) ... But for sure, it's best among all the bus stands we have in North India at least. it's situated near Dhali. Old bus stand has been converted into Local bus stand and there are regular shuttles between new and old bus-stands. While coming back to Delhi, I did some mobilegiri at Shimla Bus stand and will share soon...Himachal Pradesh Judicial Academy also comes on the way from Boileuganj to Viceregal Lodge.It's a wonderful walk from Boileuganj to Viceregal Lodge as whole stretch is full of trees and nice flowers around. At times it feels like you are crossing through some garden. There are some governments residences as well, which makes this hill more lively.Apart from some institutes and houses, there are some buildings which seemed to be locked for last many years. But somehow, colors lie about these buildings. The building above shown was closed from all the directions and there seemed to be a long silence around the place.After a quick climb, we reached Viceregal Lodge. It was so quick that I forgot to mention that one of my cousin was accompanying me and we also discussed some changes happening in his institute in HPU (UIIT). Overall this was a fastest route to Viceregal Lode but probably I will still prefer the longer route which comes through Vidhan-Sabha, Cecil etc.

Another lush green region around Shimla in Anadale ground, which is maintained by Indian Army. A good place to plan some walks in the morning or evening. This is comparatively calm place and nothing much to do, but a good experience if you have time available with you. 



Sunset @ Shoghi : A small twon near Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, INDIA : Posted by VJ Sharma @ www.travellingcamera.com : Shogi is small place near Shimla. Its approximately 20 kilometers from Shimla which is capital of Himachal Pradesh state of INDIA. It's on Kalka-Shimla highway and also there is a railway station for stoppage of Himalyan Queen...  Here are few sunset photographs of Shogi with my personal opinions about the place...Many of the friend have visited Shogi in the past and most of them enjoyed their stay here... For me, it was a small station near Shimla, where tourists stay due to nice hotels on cheaper rates as compared to main Shimla Town... Because I belong to Himachal Pradesh, I don't see Shogi as a very different place... Its just like other small stations in Himachal with good Resorts and Hotels...During my last visit to Shimla, I thought of going to Shogi with my friend to see the main attractions there... We drove around... We enjoyed the drive through forests and found that its a good place for a group of people to stay... There are some nice resorts at appropriate locations of Shogi... Its a place for people who want to relax from their busy schedule... Many people from Delhi come here with family and friends to sepnd some time on these hills... I had taken some Sunset shots while coming back to Chhota Shimla...

If you have interest in Temples, there is another beautiful temple near Tara Devi Temple - Sankat Mochan Temple. This is highly recommended for folks having interest in religious places and even otherwise this temple is nice place to hang around. If you are there on Sundays, don't miss the food served in bhandara, which is very unique. Place is clean and hygienic. 





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Perched atop Observatory Hill and surrounded by dense deodar forests, the Indian Institute of Advanced Study is one of the most fascinating landmarks in the Himalayas. At first glance, it feels like a European castle lost in the hills—but step closer, and it unfolds as a layered narrative of empire, transition, and intellectual pursuit.

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It's impossible that I don't visit Viceregal Lodge, while in Shimla. I visited Shimla in Oct, 2011 and had a very quick visit to Indian Institute of Advanced Studies as well. Let's check out a quick PHOTO JOURNEY to Viceregal Lodge, Shimla !!!There is a huge lawn in front of this building and initially people were allowed to relax here, but due to some reasons now tourists are not allowed to walk over this lawn. There are dedicated paths around this lawn to enjoy the beauty of this place.Viceregal Lodge in Shimla was designed by Henry Irwin who was an architect in the Public Works Department at that timeViceregal Lodge or IIAS, Shimla is situated on a hill top near Summerhill (Shimla-05). Like other forts in India, this is place was chosen because of security reasons as most of the surrounding places were visible from boundaries of this building. There are some wonderful views of surrounding hills from this building. Now mainly Tutoo region is clearly visible and others are hidden by dense forest !!Thereare two wonderful gardens around Viceregal Lodge. One is near this lawn and other is in the backyard. The one in backward is famous one among couples of Himachal Pradesh University :) ... But now, it's not that popular as other options are available..The Viceregal Lodge had electricity as far back as 1888 which is much before the rest of the town of ShimlaThere is no ticket for getting access to Viceregal campus but one needs to buy a ticket to see it inside. various areas of Viceregal Lodge are well preserved. The room where Gandhi met other officials on Pakistan matter is well preserved along with various things used that time. A Bell made of eight metals which was presented by the king of Nepal was available to be admired by tourists.Here is top view of Viceregal Lodge in Shimla. Some text is carved on top of it, which probably explain about it's construction year and relevant details. You can notice Indian Flag on top of Viceregal Lodge !!This is first view if we reach Indian Institute of Advanced Studiesthrough a steep climb from Boileuganj. This is place is main market near Himachal Pradesh University... This is the main place to get buses for different parts of shimla. Tutoo is on one side, Chakkar is on other and Shimla Bus stand of forth angle.Viceregal Lodge which is also known as Indian Institute of Advanced Studies now, was equipped with an sophisticated fire fighting mechanism through wax tipped water ducts. Many historic decisions have been taken in Viceregal Lodge during the Indian independence movement.The Simla Conference was held here in 1945.And the decision to carve out Pakistan and East Pakistan from India was also taken here in 1947.After India gained independence, the building was renamed Rashtrapati Niwas and was used as a summer retreat for the President of India.However, due to its neglect, Dr. S Radhakrishnan decided to turn it into a center of higher learning, which was quite a good decision. The summer retreat of President was shifted from here to a building known as


Shimla is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North India and that's why we also receive lot of queries through form on our blog. Most of the folks commonly ask - Shimla Weather, Shimla Hotels, How to reach Shimla from Delhi/Chandigarh, main places to visit in Shimla, Shimla mall road etc. In past, we have shared some of these details on our blog, but here is an attempt to write a comprehensive post which helps you with details about various ways to reach Shimla from Delhi, Chandigarh or Kalka.


Planning a trip to Shimla? This detailed travel guide covers everything you need—where to stay, top things to do, a practical 3-day itinerary, and complete cost breakdown—to help you plan a perfect mountain getaway.  Whether you’re visiting for snowfall, colonial charm, or a quick escape from Delhi, this guide is designed to help you make smart travel decisions and avoid common mistakes.


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Saturday Evenings and Mall Road in Shimla have a very strong connection. During my sabbatical, I was there in Shimla on Saturday and planned to have a round of Mall Road as well. This Photo Journey shares some moments spent around Mall Road on Saturday Evening and the associated memories.During my graduation from Himachal Pradesh University, we used to stay at Shangati, which is around 6 kilometers from Mall Road, Shimla. And every saturday we used to walk from Shangti or summerhill to Mall Road via Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Chaura Maidaan & Vidhan Sabha.It was part of our default routine to visit Mall Road to take 4-6 rounds of Mall Road & Ridge and have quick-snacks at Chachu's Tea shop on other end of the Mall Road. Friends who had girl-friends, they used to roam around other places like Top Breads, Barista or other fancy places to eat :).Why Saturday is so special. Basically most of the folks of shimla used to come to Mall Road during evening. All School & College Kids, Office working people etc. Don't know why but it has become a strong trend in Shimla to visit Mall Road on Saturday Evening. During the recent visit, we explored some of the new cafes and really loved the Wake & Bake Cafe, which is just in front of Shimla Town-Hall on Mall Road. Above photograph shows one of the art-work on walls of Wake & Bake Cafe.We met a gentleman who shared different stories about Shimla and some interesting observations on Mall Road which can't be shared on this blog. Aneesh encouraged him to have some detailed discussion about army and Indian politics. After all those conversations he also tried to tell Aneesh about his future and related stuff. It seems, this gentleman is found on Mall road every evening.Here is a photograph showingone portion of Gaiety Theatre building which is being used by Himachal police department. It's a beautiful building in front of Town-Hall Shimla.A beautiful night view of Mall Road Shimla - Town-Hall building on right. Most of the shooting on Kareeb movie has happened in this region. Town-Hall which is on right was shown as hospital and there is Fire-Station on left which was shown as laundry where Bobby Deol used to stay. Anyways, many other movies are shot around these beautiful buildings on Mall Road of Shimla. Most of the shops/buildings on Mall Road have old architecture and the ones which are new have been designed to match with overall feel on the town. Most of the old buildings are from British era. The beautiful architecture if the one of the reasons which make this city beautiful.Fruit vendor near Willow Bank building who welcomed us with plates full of fresh fruits - Cherries, Kiwi & Strawberries. Probably he chose best of the lot for us. Every piece was amazingly tasty. He is a big fan of Aneesh's bike stunts and an old friend when Aneesh used to live in Shimla.


Jakhu Temple is very popular Temple in Shimla and know for various reasons. People who have never visited Shimla, know Jakhu for hundreds of monkeys around it. Different Monkey stories are popular and Jakhu is one of the important keyword in those stories. Let's check out this Photo Journey by Amit Aggarwal to know more about Jakhu Temple and other specialties of the place..In 2010, a huge statue of Hanuman is built near Jakhu Temple in Shimla. This is considered as world's tallest statue at 108 feet at the highest altitude of over 8100 feet and constructed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crores, which surpasses the current tallest statue of 'Christ the Redeemer', which measures at 98 feet and stands at an altitude of 2296 feet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Over the years Jakhu has become one of the important part of Shimla town and authorities have improved the conditions in past few years. Now this campus has enough space for families to have fun around the Temple. There are some special arrangements for kids.Basically this temple is located on a hill called Jakhu and that's why the temple is also known as Jkhu Temple.It's hardly 2 kilometers from the Ridge and is an uphill climb through the beautiful deodar trees. It's  a trek of approximately 2 kilometers from Ridge ground near Mall Road. The Jakhu Temple of Simla is dedicated to the monkey God, Hanuman. The Jakhu temple is located at a height of 2455 meters and is situated on the highest peak in Shimla. The scenic view that surrounds this beautiful temple of India is absolutely breath taking and splendid.Here is a photograph of Jakhu Temple !Jakhu temple has an interesting legend behind it. It is said that a deadly arrow injured Lord Rama's brother Lakshmana when he was fighting the battle with the demon king Ravana. A priest diagnosed Lakshmana and said that he needed a particular Sanjeevani herb from the Himalayas to cure Lakshmana. Hanuman was sent to get that herb from he lofty mountains. Upon reaching the Himalayas, Hanuman couldn't make out as to which herb was the Sanjeevani. So he dug up the entire mountain and flew back to where Lakshmana was lying injured.After Lakshmana was cured, Hanuman went back to place the mountain in its original site. He rested on top of the Jakhu hill for sometime. It is said that the top of the hill got flattened due to Hanuman's weight! The temple has been built around the place that is supposed to have the footprints of Hanuman. It is a highly revered religious place of Shimla and devotees throng in huge numbers to prayJakhu is a hotspot for monkeys who flock here in great numbers and generously accept eatables that are given to them by devotees and touristsJakhu is derived from Hindi word Yakhsa. Yakshas are the mythological character in Hindu mythology, who are a link between human and gods. The original dates of temple is not known, but it is believed to be existing from the times of Ramayana, a pre-historic event as per ancient Hindu texts. The Jakhu hill is the highest peak around Shimla, and is famous for its trekking options. The Jakhu hill offers excellent views of sunrise, sunset, mountains and town. The hill is full of narrow paths and roads which are an enjoyable walks.There are lot of other stories associated with this temple, which can be seen at different web portals online.Overall it's a lovely hill around Shimla with some amazing views. Don't afraid of Monkeys and try to avoid the opportunities for them to follow you - Try  not to carry anything in your hands, just follow the path and don't pay attention to the etc.  Even someone comes to you and tries to check your pockets, let the things happen and you will be safe !


 

Sankat Mochan Temple is one of the popular Temples in Shimla Town. It's not exactly in Shimla, but quite near to it. Let's have a quick Photo Journey from Sankat Mochan Temple by Amit Agarwal.. Sankat Mochan Temple is actually located near to Tara-Devi which comes on the way to Kalka from Shimla Town. It's approximately 10 kilometers from Shimla Town. Place is surrounded by green mountains all around. Temple is adjacent to the National Highway - 22. The temple is a place where one can actually meditate and enjoy the calm and peaceful surroundings.The very first photograph above shows a temple on left, which is located just after main entry into the Sankat Mochan Temple. This temple is created in South Indian Style.Around 1950, a Baba came to this beautiful place and discovered the perfect spot for meditation and soulful introspection. After staying here for 10 days, he desired that a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman should be built here. Baba's faithful devotees included the governor of Himachal Pradesh, who along with Bhagvan Sahai took up the task of building the temple and fulfilling their Guru's wish.Sankat Mochan temple has many facilities for people and also includes a three-storey building that is used for many purposes. Every Sunday, the huge hall in the building is used for distributing Prasad, also known as Langar. Langar at Sankat Mochan is quite different and very well managed.  One portion of the building is used to conduct marriage ceremonies and is rented out to people who want to conduct marriages. The temple charges a very nominal fee for this. Apart from marriages, there are many other sacred rituals and ceremonies that can be conducted over here. Priests and the maintenance staff, who work here day and night, use the rest of the building as a residential complex. The temple also has an Ayurvedic clinic...Here is a photograph showing interiors of main Sankat Mochan Temple.There are few small Temples in the campus which are dedicated to different godsSankat Mochan Temple is dedicated mainly to Lord Hanuman, though one finds idols of Lord Rama, Shiva and Ganesha in separate complexes. There is a specially made temple for Baba Neeb Karori Ji Maharaj also. The temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha has been built in the South Indian style of architecture and is worth the visitSankat Mochan Temple is popular temple in Shimla region, which attracts people from all ages and genders who come here to pay obeisance to Lord Hanuman. Sankat Mochan Temple is second most famous temple after Jakhu Temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. This temple located 5 km away from a beautiful hill station ShimlaOne can have easy transportation to Sankat Mochan Temple from Shimla Bus Stand and other places. From Shimla there are frequent buses till Taradevi and have a stoppage near Sankat Mochan Temple. If you there on Sunday, don't miss the Langar. Langar at Sankat Mochan is quite different and lovableAbove photograph shows the view of Shimla Town from Sankat Mochan Temple.


Small and Beautiful Railway Stations on Kalka-Shimla narrow track: Posted on www.travellingcamera.com by VJ: The Kalka-Shimla Railway built to connect the summer capital of India in 1903 at an altitude of 2076 meters offers a panoramic experience of the picturesque Himalayas from the shivalik foot hills at Kalka to several important points such as Dharampur, Solan, Kandaghat, Taradevi, Barog, Salogra, Summerhill, Shimla and beyond up to the silvery snow line near the towering peaks.Sonwara Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Himalyan Queen waits for 30 minutes at this station to let Shivalik Express pass through....  KOTI Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...I have clicked these photographs during recent visit to Shimla.... We reach KOTI Railway Station after crossing longest Barog tunnel....Jabali Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Kandaghat Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Located at an altitude of 4680 ft above sea level Kandaghat is the nice place in Himachal Pradesh for you if are looking for a quiet and peaceful vacation. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh built his palace in Kandaghat after which this place received the attention. Raja Bhupinder Singh was the ruler of Patiala and when he was expelled from Shimla, he set up base in Kandaghat. Today, this is one of the most popular destinations to travel in India.  A reflection of Kandaghat Railway Station on train window...Dharmpur Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Just 15 km from Kasauli on the National highway No.22 Dharampur has one of the best hospitals in India for the cure of tuberculosis. It is also connected by Kalka Shimla railway line.... Shoghi Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...SHoghi is a small town near Shimla and now its being developed as new tourist destination in Himachal. There are many resorts with good facilities in Shoghi and have reasonable arrangements for tourist groups..Kandaghat Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Delux Rail-Car standing @ Shoghi Station...Tara-Devi Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka...Tara Devi temple is located on Tarav Parvat, in the western side of Shimla. Temple provides an overwhelming view of the mountains below and Shimla Town. Every year thousands of pilgrims visit Tara Devi temple, which has a great spiritual and heritage value. Historically speaking, the temple was built approximately 260 years ago ...Salogra Railway Station on the way to Shimla from Kalka..Kalka Railway Station...Kalka is a town in the Panchkula district of Haryana in India. The name of the town is derived from the goddess Kali. The town is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and is a gateway to the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh. It is on the National Highway 22 between Chandigarh and Shimla and is the terminus of the Kalka-Shimla Railway. To the south of Kalka is Pinjore and the industrial town of Parwanoo (Himachal Pradesh) is to the north on the NH 22. Industrial development has led to a continuous urban belt from Pinjore to Parwanoo, but Kalka remains largely unaffected by these developments. Nearby is Chandimandir Cantonment where the Western Command of the Indian army is based. SHIMLA became the summer capital of British India in 1864 and was also the headquarters of the British army in India. Prior to construction of the railway communication with the outside world was via village cart.The railway was constructed by the Delhi-Umbala-Kalka Railway Company commencing in 1898. The estimated cost of Rs 86,78,500, however, the cost doubled during execution of the project. Because of the high capital and maintenance cost, coupled with peculiar working conditions, the Kalka-Shimla Railway was allowed to charge fares that were higher than the prevailing tariffs on other lines. However, even this was not good enough to sustain the company and the Government had to purchase it on January 1, 1906 for Rs 1,71,00,000.


Hidden among the snow covered hills of Shrikhand Mountian Ranges, which are known for their mythological significance and is said to be one of the adobe of Lord Shiva, this unknown village beckon those with an adventurous spirit as its beautiful landscape and lush green valley will take your breath away.






Recently Sourav sent us a message - ‘ Hi VJ, i am planing to visit Himachal Pradesh in this January with my friends. We are planing to visit in 4 places. Dalhousie, Dharmashala/Mcleodganj, Manali, Shimla. We have total 7 days in our bucket so can you please tell how we can split 7 days among this 4 places....Thanks in advance….’ and frankly it’s never recommended to plan for 4 places in 7 days and here we are talking about 3 corners of Himachal Pradesh. So I would recommend to skip one of the destination if you only have 7 days.



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