Shimla, one of India’s most famous hill stations, derives its name from Goddess Shyamala, an incarnation of Goddess Kali, the deity of power and wrath. However, unlike its name, Shimla is a perfect heaven for the ones in search of tranquility. Nature has blessed this capital city with innumerable gifts and man has used them to make Shimla one of India’s best locales.
SHIMAL ‘Queen of the Hills’ was the summer residence for the British during the Raj and this hill station still retains its loveliness and charm
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL SHIMLA
You are met on arrival in Shimla and assisted with the transfer to your hotel and check-in.
Spend the rest of the day at your leisure and enjoy the comfort of the hotel. You can also delight yourself in the tranquil beauty of the surroundings or take a leisurely walk in the compound of the hotel.
Overnight at hotel
After breakfast, proceed for a sightseeing tour starting with a drive to Kufri. The drive takes 45 mins (14 kms).
Nestled at an elevation of 8000 ft above sea level and Kufri is a popular hill station in the Shimla district. The scenic views appeal the tourists from all parts of the country and abroad.
Here popular tourist attractions are the Indira Bungalow where you can enjoy panoramic view of the adjoining landscapes. Then, visit Himalayan Zoo, also known as Himalayan Nature Park or Kufri Zoo and this is the natural habitat of many species of rich flora and fauna.
After the zoo, drive back to Shimla where you spend the rest of the sightseeing exploring the local sights like the Vice Regal Lodge which was the summer residence of the British viceroy of India. The well- manicured gardens make a pleasant stroll
Continue walking towards the Mall to Scandal Point, known to be the place where Prince of Patiala flirted with the daughter of the Viceroy of India and thus the scandal. The Patiala Prince was banished from Shimla and he then built another town with its own palace at Chail.
The other heritage buildings we will see are the General Post Office, Christ’s Church, built in the neo-Gothic style in 1857 to serve the British community, the Town Hall, the Gaiety Theater, located on the Mall, which was opened on the 30th of May, 1887, the Gorton Castle with its red galvanized iron roofing, giving it a fairy-tale feel; seen from a distance, its red towers stand out brightly amid the surrounding deodar trees and the Vidhan Sabha, whose edifice was completed and was inaugurated by Lord Reading, the then Viceroy of India, on August 27, 1925.
Return to your hotel by evening.
Overnight at hotel (B)
The day is at leisure for independent activities.
Overnight at hotel (B)
The tour comes to an end today.
After breakfast, check out and drive back to either Delhi or Chandigarh for the next leg of your onward journey.