"Best Historic Locations in Shimla" Realizado por : Cityseeker 17 Ubicaciones indicadas St. Michael's Church "Church In Shimla" While Christ Church is more emblematic of Shimla because of its location on The Ridge, there remains no doubt that St. Michael's Cathedral built in 1885 is the real beauty. This was the first Roman Catholic Church built in the this city during the reign of Lord Ripon who was the Viceroy then. This sturdy structure built from rugged gray stone stands out against the lush foliage and certainly makes for a pretty picture. Mall Road, Shimla The Mall "Historic Mall" Built during the British Raj when Englishmen and nannies pushing prams strolled down the windswept streets of Shimla, Mall Road or The Mall as it's called has still maintained its colonial splendor. Completely devoid of vehicular traffic, this esplanade is picturesque with sights of handsome uniformed policemen patrolling the stretch, beautiful local men and women taking in fresh air, honeymooning couples posing before heritage structures, furry pampered dogs bounding along, uniformed school kids sucking on candy and boisterous tourists from the plains making their presence. Located just one level below the Ridge, The Mall is replete with foreign branded shops, restaurants, cafes and historic buildings such as the Gaiety Complex, the Town Hall, General Post Office, Telegraph Office and the Revoli Theater. +91 177 265 2561 (Tourist Information) Mall Road, Shimla Telegraph Office "Beautiful Building" Designed by the Scottish architect Scott Begg in 1922, the Telegraph Office building is built from red brick and makes for a pleasing sight on the Mall Road. Stately and magnificent in design and functionality, this earthquake-proof structure was one of the earliest fully-automated exchanges with 2000 fully-working lines to its credit. While many judged this structure for its lavishness and over-the-top feel, it still continues to be one of the most photographed buildings in Shimla, and is now owned by the Indian telecommunications provider, BSNL. +91 177 265 2561 (Tourist Information) Mall Road, Shimla St. Andrew's Church "Heritage Structure" Located at the junction of Mall road and Kali Bari road, the St Andrew's Church building has been designated the heritage status. Made of raw bricks, this red structure can be easily spotted and was therefore a prominent landmark in the city. From the time of its foundation, the building was home to St. Andrew's Church but post-independence the church shifted to a different location. This building was then acquired by the city Municipal Corporation and since then has been home to one division of the Himachal State Library in Shimla. The other branch is located next to the Christ Church at the Ridge. +91 177 265 2561 (Tourist Information) Kali Bari Road, At Mall Road, Shimla Shimla High Court "Gorgeous Structure" The Shimla High Court can trace its beginnings to the year 1971 when Himachal Pradesh was officially recognized as a state, and when the state government decided to set up its own High Court in the beautiful Ravenswood building. This massive structure stands rather majestically along the hilltop and can be spotted from afar because of its by Ryan predominantly dark green hues. Buzzing with activity inside, all major decisions regarding the city, its law & order, beautification, environment and strategic policies are made right inside here. hphighcourt.nic.in/ Mall Road, Shimla Gorton Castle "Government of India Secretariat Building" Completed in 1904 by the legendary architect Swinton Jacob, the Gorton Castle remains one of the most stunning buildings in all of Shimla. Perched upon a hill, this structure was built from gray stone and had a red- tiled roof until the monkeys wreaked havoc and took off the tiles. Galvanized red roofing replaced regular tiles eventually. This castle served as the Government of India Secretariat Building during the British Raj, and now stands as one of the most visited sites in this City of Hills. +91 177 265 2561 (Tourist Information) Mall Road, Shimla Regal Building "Regal Heritage" Situated in the center of Lakkar Bazaar, the Regal Building is a historic site in Shimla. Formerly known as the Prince of Wales building, this structure served as the administrative quarters of the British. However in 1955, its name was changed to Regal as it was home to the Regal Theatre. A fire left the building in shambles and post restoration it was designated a heritage status. A public skating facility occupies the first level of the building whereas the lower level is shared by a local market called Meena Bazaar and the Regal Kids school. +91 177 265 2561 (Tourist Information) Ridge Sanjauli Road, Lakkar Bazaar, Shimla Kalka-Shimla Railway Track "UNESCO World Heritage" The Kalka-Shimla Railway Track is an UNESCO declared world heritage site. Built in the late 1890s, this historic attraction dates back to the British era. This narrow gauge railway was constructed by the Delhi-Ambala- Kalka Railway Company in order to make travel and transport to this area more convenient. Operational since 1906, this track was a connection between Shimla and Kalka and it was laid along a mountainous route thus offering beautiful views of the mountains and the valleys. It is also considered an engineering marvel as it has been built at an altitude of 2169 meters (7116 feet) and it passes through 103 tunnels across 806 bridges during the entire journey. A tourist service is operational on this track. +91 177 265 2561 (Tourist Information) Off National Highway 22, Shimla Elysium Hill "Colonial Hill" One of the Seven Hills that are so emblematic of Shimla, Elysium Hill's beauty did not escape the foresighted eyes of the British especially Lord Auckland who developed this lovely area that was heavily laden with pine and rhododendron trees. The Auckland House which is now the Auckland House School lies here, and still continues to educate much of Shimla's by Ryan elite kids who are afforded a consummate education. Elysium Hill is a serene hill that revels in its colonial splendor, quaint cottages and charming old-timers who have lived here for years. +91 177 265 2561 (Tourist Information) Elysium Hill, Shimla Annandale Ground "Stately Ground" The Annandale Ground possesses the unique distinction of being the only plateau in Shimla, and this space was made even bigger by extensive chopping of surrounding foliage. The fun-loving British used these grounds for dog shows, flower shows, social parties and to play polo on chilly winter days. Today Annandale serves as a popular spot for families on picnics. A number of Catholic families reside in the buildings in the vicinity, while a small temple attracts tourists who stop by to pay their respect. This ground can be viewed even from spots along the Mall Road. +91 177 265 2561 (Tourist Information) Off Annandale Road, After Inveram Hill, Shimla Jakhoo Temple "Temple On The Hill" The Jakhoo Temple stands aristocratically upon the crest of the Jakhoo Hill, and is the highest viewing point in Shimla. A mere 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from The Ridge and a 45-minute trudge up the hill gets you to this beautiful temple which pays homage to the legend of Lord Hanuman who is believed to have rested here while scourging the Himalayas for the sanjeevani booti herb to revive Lord Lakshmana who was injured in battle. The temple was built by a sage named Yaaku. The Jakhoo Hill is ravaged by monkeys who run amok at all times plaguing visitors by stealing food however many maintain that the presence of these monkeys almost divinely coincides with the fact that the temple is devoted to Lord Hanuman who is the Monkey God in the Hindu pantheon. Eateries abound around the temple and are frequented by tourists who need some replenishment after all that walking. While admission is free, you may want to consider leaving a donation, or buying the monkeys some nuts and bananas. Make sure to ring the auspicious bells on your way out for good luck. No visit to Shimla is complete without a trip to the Jakhoo Temple! +91 177 265 2561 (Tourist Information) hpshimla.nic.in/sml_temples.htm#J Jakhoo Hill, Shimla akhoo%20Temple Hanuman Statue at Jakhoo Hill "Tallest Statue In Shimla" Upon your arrival in Shimla through Cart Road, peer closely into the hills, and if you happen to espy something in bright orange, it is the Hanuman Statue at Jakhoo Hill. Towering over the city as if watching down to protect it, this 108-foot high statue of Lord Hanuman (The Monkey God) is believed to soar higher into the skies that the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro. Unveiled by Bollywood's blue-eyed boy Abhishek Bachchan in November 2010, this statue at 1500 tonnes is floodlit at night so that it can be visible even from afar. While old-timers of the city lament the sudden springing up of this bright orange idol upon their beloved skyline which has lost immense trees and foliage, others hope that it puts Shimla higher on the tourist map. To each his own! +91 177 265 2561 (Tourist Information) Jakhoo Hill, Shimla Raj Bhavan "Historic Building" Formerly known as Barnes Court during the British Raj, Raj Bhavan now has the distinction of being the official residence of the governor of Himachal Pradesh. Named after the erstwhile commander-in-chief Edward Barnes, it manifests typical English architecture especially in the stately ball room that occupies the center. Visiting this building can prove to be a by Ryan Herculean task as special permission is required from the Secretariat of the Governor of Shimla.