The “Queen of Hills” Shimla is the capital of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The summer capital of the British Raj, Shimla is the pride of the Himalayas and one of the most visited hill stations of India. In fact, when one thinks about hill stations of India, the first place that comes to the mind is Shimla.

Much famous for its wonderful colonial edifices, old-world cottages and charming walks, Shimla offers great views of the snow-clad Himalayan ranges. Situated in the North West Himalayas, Shimla has beautiful lakes; lush green pastures; and pine, rhododendron and oak covered valleys.

Located at a distance of 365 km from Delhi and 115 km from Chandigarh, Shimla boasts of many attractions. The shoppers’ paradise, the Mall, is perhaps the main attraction of Shimla, and always bustling with the crowds of visitors and the common shoppers. The second oldest church of the northern India, Christ Church is another attraction. The beautiful Jakhu Hill–which is the highest mountain peak of Shimla–is yet another prominent attraction. It gives wonderful views of the city and its surrounding areas.

Among the nearby attractions, Kufri, Chail, and Naldehra are much renowned. While Kufri is famous as the winter sports capital of India and is 16 km away from Shimla, Naldhera is famous for its nine-hole golf course and is 22 km away from Shimla, and Chail is well-known for having the highest cricket ground in the world and is 45 km away from Shimla.

However, among the many attractions of Shimla, it is the Kalka-Shimla Rail which is really the pride of the place. A joy ride on this train is a must. Actually, a journey on this toy train turns out to be the experience of a lifetime. The train passes through 105 tunnels on its way to its destination and offers mesmerizing views of the natural wonder that Shimla is.

Though majority of the tourists visit the hill station during the summer season; many tourists prefer to visit Shimla during the winter season. The reason: during the winter season–particularly during December and January-the hill station and its adjoining areas receive good snowfall. The result: the snow-coated Shimla and its adjoining areas look stunningly beautiful as if straight out of a beautiful picture postcard.