Shimla

Shimla

Set high in the foothills of the Himalayas, Shimla is the state capital of Himachal Pradesh, and is well known for its colonial heritage. This served as the former summer retreat of the British Government during the time of the Raj, providing an escape from the heat and dust of Delhi. This famous hill station is the setting for much of ‘Kim’, Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale.

Nowhere else does the past meet the present with such an obvious flare. Grand mansions, white washed churches, cricket pitches and little antique steam trains sit alongside chaotic bazaars and brightly colored iron rooftops.

The best time to visit is just before the winter sets in between October and November when it is still warm. Spring is a little unpredictable but the flora and fauna are quite spectacular when in bloom.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Kalka-Shimla railway is synonymous with the town. This narrow gauge railway built by the British in 1903 continues to delight passengers today. The journey offers breathtaking views of the surrounding villages, foothills and forests, as it gently winds it way steeply upwards through the mountains