Shimla The Summer Hideout A quaint little hill train chugs up into the Shivalik foothills, over dramatic loops and high arched bridges to the hill resort of Shimla, the capital of the mountain state of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla was one a string of hill stations that the British established to escape from the scorching heat of the plains. The 12-kms, crescent shaped ridge on which it is located was first occupied by the British troops, in the early part of the 19th century, during the Anglo-Gurkha War. The little village of Shymala, a retreat for British officers, soon grew to become the glamorous summer capital of the British, in India. Shimla's salubrious climate, easy accessibility and numerous attractions have made it one of the most popular hill stations in northern India. The splendid views of the snow clad ranges of the Himalayas, fine walks through oak and flowering rhododenron, enchanting resorts within easy reach, golf at naldehra and skiing at Kufri and Narkanda make Shimla an attractive destination throughout the year. Sightseeing:  This pleasant sprawling town set among the pine-clad hills presents the visitor with glimpses of fading colonial charm. The buildings, The Mall, the picnic spots tell you the story of the era when it was the summer capital of the British India. A visit to the Mall brings you to the centre of activity in the city. Move around the city and you get to see some of the fascinating sights of the landscape around. Some of the major attractions around are Jakhoo Hill, Glen, Summer Hill, Chadwick Falls, Prospect Hill, Institute of Advance Studies, Sankat Mochan, Taradevi Temple and Himachal State Museum. Around Shimla Tattapani: This small village is famous for the hot water sulphur springs. Kufri Great hiking, skiing, some beautiful scenes and a cool environment that's what Kufri is all about.   Chail   Chail was the summer capital of Maharaja of Patiala. Kasauli  kasauli is alternate accommodation for Shimla. It is 12-km from Shimla . Solan Solan is the district headquarters and is the home to Meakin Brewery. How To Get There Air The Jubbarhatti airport is 23-km from Shimla and major domestic airlines cater their services from here to Shimla. One can catch direct flights from Delhi Rail From Kalka one can take trains to other parts of India too. The Toy train from Shimla is of two types - one is the normal multi coach train and the other is the single car train, which has a glass roof giving an enthralling experience during the journey. Road Roads connect Shimla with other places in Himachal as well as other major towns and cities of the neighboring states. There is regular bus service from Delhi and Chandigarh . Accommodation There are so many big hotels in Shimla as well as Budget Hotels . Click here for our packages