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Kufri

Kufri is a small hill station at Shimla district, located at an altitude of 2,510 m on Shimla Narkanda Road i.e. National Highway no 22. It is about 16 km from Shimla and well-known for the popular ski resort. Kufri is also one of the best places to experience in Himachal Pradesh and a popular tourist attraction in any Shimla Manali tour package.

It is mainly popular among trekkers or hikers and it is a popular place for adventure sports actions in Himachal Pradesh. As Shimla gained magnitude, Kufri also began to be known as an important place to visit near Shimla as part of Shimla Manali tour packages from Kolkata. Here one can enjoy a Horse or a Yak ride.

It is renowned for lovely atmosphere and adventures activities such as skiing, tobogganing (sliding downhill on a sled) during winters when snow spreads over Kufri. Basic Ski courses are conducted in winter season by Himachal Tourism.

Kufri is a paradise for nature lovers as the Himalayan Nature Park is located on the outskirts of the Shimla town. The Park is home of about 200 varieties of fauna. Here one can enjoy a Horse or a Yak Ride.

Kufri is also the place for annual winter sports festival in February. The Festival is organized by the tourism department of Himachal Pradesh and it attracts large number of tourists.

Shimla Kali Bari

Shimla Kali Bari is placed at a distance of 1.5 km from Shimla Railway Station and 1 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand and closed to the Mall road Shimla. Kali Bari Temple is one of the most popular pilgrim centers and well-known Shimla tour places. The visitors of Shimla don’t forget to offer their wishes at Shimla Kali Bari temple as they consider it will bring pleasure and success to their lives.

Previously the Kali Bari Temple was built in the year of 1845 by Ram Charan Bhramachari, a Bengali Brahmin on Jakhu Hill. Later the British rulers replaced the place of worship to the present location. This is one of the older temples in Shimla and devoted to Goddess Kali. The original temple belonged to goddess Shyama-which was converted into Kali Bari by some Bengali devotees.

A blue wooden idol of Goddess Shyama at a unique altar was set up by some Bengali devotees. The Shimla Kali Bari provides lodging to its visitors who visit the place of pilgrimage along with the shrine at Kalka. The Goddess Kali is worshipped in its unusual forms within the temple premise. The main incarnations here are of Bhadrakali, Chinnamasta, Rudrarani, Tara, Chamunda, Durga, Himavati, Kumari Sati, Kamakshya, Meenakshi and Uma.

Timings: 6 am to 7 pm.

Jakhu Temple

It is situated at an elevation of 2455m on Jakhu Hill and the uppermost point in Shimla. This is a prehistoric holy place devoted to Hindu divinity Hanuman. According to mythology, a deadly arrow injured Lord Rama's brother Lakshman when he was fighting the battle with the devil king Ravana. In order to save his life, Hanuman was moving towards Himalayan mountain range to get Sanjeevani herb. But Hanuman couldn't distinguish which herb was the Sanjeevani. So he dug up the entire mountain and flew back to where Lakshman was lying injured.

After Lakshman was cured, Hanuman went back to place the mountain in its original site. It is said that when He rested on top of the Jakhu hill the top most part of the hill got flattened due to his weight! The temple has been built here i.e. supposed to have the footsteps of Lord Hanuman. It is a highly admired spiritual place of Shimla. There are a lot of monkeys around the temple area.

A giant statue of Hanuman is built here in Shimla. This is measured as world's tallest statue with 108 ft height lies at 8100 ft altitude.

The Ridge

At an expanse of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 1.2 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand. It is a large open area sited in the heart of Shimla. It is among the top visited Shimla tourist places and among the prime place to visit on a Shimla tour. The Ridge is situated along the Mall Road which is the famous shopping center of Shimla.

Several major tour places of Shimla like Lakkar Bazaar, Mall, Scandal Point, Jakhu Hill, etc. are linked from side to side the Ridge. The movement of vehicles is strictly banned here. The Ridge in Shimla always remains crowded with hundreds of visitors from all over the world stopover at this grand place for the view of the sunset.

The Ridge at Shimla also provides the tourists a view of the age old Christ Church built in the Neo-Gothic style of architecture as well as the new Tudor library. The sculpture of YS Parmar who is the creator of Himachal Pradesh and of former Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi has been put up at this place. The Ridge is renowned for the various government functions and fairs that are held here. It is usually the site for all such revelry and events.

The most famed carnival that is held at the Ridge, Shimla is the summer festival in the month of Apr/May. Throughout this festival, the entire Shimla comes lively with flying colors. The Ridge offers grand views of the snow-clad mountain ranges of the Himalayas all through the year.

Vice Regal Lodge

Vice Regal Lodge is placed at a space of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 3 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand. It is also identified as President House and is situated on the Observatory Hills of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. The lodge is one the finest places to visit in Shimla city. It was formerly the house of the British Viceroy of India Lord Dufferin.

The Vice Regal Lodge was designed by British planner Henry Irwin and built in the period of the regime of Lord Dufferin. Its formation was started in 1880 and finished in 1888. Local woods like pine and cedar were used to create this awesome sight. This building is now used as the center for the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS).

The opening to South leads one to the function hall which stands decorated by a superb fireplace and a majestic spiraling stairway. The construction has six stories and it is said that all the bricks used for creation of the building were brought here on mules. A library has been developed inside the Vice Regal Lodge. It houses some of the most antique articles and photographs at the time of British rule in India. The majestic Vice Regal Lodge is surrounded with pine trees and expansive gardens on all sides.

The Mall

The Shimla Mall is placed at a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 2 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand. It is the main avenue in Shimla and located at the heart of the Shimla town. It is also the busiest trade areas of Shimla. The Mall extends from Barnes court in the eastern face to Vice Regal Lodge in the western face. Shopping in Shimla Mall Road is one of the best things to do in Shimla.

British made Mall Road was keeping in mind the traffic on this route. Entry of vehicles was barred although cycle rickshaws were allowed. It has been built in a very strategic way. The Mall road is situated just a level below the Ridge. Various offices like Municipal Corporation, fire service and police headquarters are sited here.

All major hotels, restaurants and amusement centers of Shimla are also placed in the Mall Road Shimla. It’s full of shops that sell woolens, handicrafts, potteries, jewelers, books, etc. The Mall Road is also famed for its wooden furniture shops that sell beautiful wooden products which look like antiques.

Christ Church

The interior of the church is plain apart from the five stained glass windows garnishing the church on the east. Each window stands for different Christian features of trust, hope, donation, strength, serenity and modesty. The workroom of the church is calm even with heavy crowd outside at the Ridge.

The elevation of the Christ Church tower is about 90 ft with a outstanding round clock on it, a metal Cross, a brass timer and a series of six little bells. The tower was put up in the year 1900. The figure of Christ Church is visible for miles around the surrounding area of Shimla city. Christ Church remains one of the permanent legacies of the British Raj.

The church looks delightful throughout night when lights enlighten this beautiful church. Right next to the Church is a library that was constructed in 1910 by James Ransome. It is planned in the Elizabethan style and consists of a huge collection of books and antique scriptures.

Timings: 10.30 am to 5.30 pm from Monday to Saturday.

Shimla State Museum

Shimla State Museum is situated at the top of Mount Pleasant at a distance of 1 km from Shimla Station and 2 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand. It was constructed in 1974. This grand building that was built with the aim of conserving the state's wealthy cultural and archaeological artifacts. It is one of the trendy tourist places of interest in Shimla and gives you an in depth view of the city's glorious past.

Himachal State Museum has a rich demonstrate of the cultural, creative and archaeological legacy of Himachal Pradesh. The different galleries in the Shimla State Museum are pre-historic gallery, Wood-Carving Gallery Archaeology Gallery, Wall Painting Gallery, Coin Gallery, Pahari Painting Gallery, etc.

Timing: 10 am to 5 pm on all days except Mondays and Public Holidays.

Annandale

Annandale is a historical play ground placed at a altitude of 6,117 feet above sea level at a distance of about 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and about 2.7 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand. It’s one of the key tourist places of interest in Shimla.

This play ground is a desired spot for cricket and polo. Annandale is situated in Kaithu village, at west Shimla. This ground rests on a table-land on a three-quarter of a mile in boundary.

It is quite a scenic spot as it gives a picturesque view of the Shimla city and its surrounds are occupied by deodar trees, oak trees, etc. Since the 1830s, Annandale has been a significant centre of Anglo-Indian activities, and enjoyment.

Situated amidst dense deodar forests, drive to Annandale is a treat to your eyes. If you love hiking, you would find your way up the hill to be an experience worth it. The view from the top of Annandale is magnificent. Splendid gardens well maintained by the army fascinate you.

Timings of Army Heritage Museum: 10 am - 2 pm & 3 pm - 5 pm on all days except Monday.

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