SHIMLA, HIMACHAL PRADESH

Shimla  ( Hindi:  शिमला), formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of  Himachal Pradess. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British. Located in the north-west Himalayas at an average altitude of 2,205 metres (7,234 ft), the city of Shimla, draped in forests of pine, rhododendron, and oak, experiences pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters. The city is famous for its buildings styled in 'Tudorbethan' and neo-Gothic architecture dating from the colonial era. Shimla is connected to the city of Kalka by one of the longest narrow gauge railway routes still operating in India, Kalka - Shimla Railway. Shimla is approximately 145 km (90 mi) from Mandi, 100 km (62 mi) from Chandigarh, the nearest major city, and 365 km (227 mi) from New Delhi, the national capital. The city is named after the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Kali.

   Rashtrapati Niwas, Observatory Hill, Shimla, the former Viceregal Lodge, completed in 1888

The bridge connecting Shimla with Minor Shimla, erected in 1829 by Lord Combermere, Shimla, 1850s
Not long after gaining possession of Shimla, the British began to develop the area. The Scottish civil servant Charles Pratt Kennedy built the first British summer home in the town in 1822. Lord Amherst, the Governor-General of Bengal from 1823 to 1828, set up a summer camp here in 1827, when there was only one cottage in the town, and only 'half a dozen' when he left that year. There were more than a hundred cottages within ten years.





Climate
Shimla features a subtropical highland climate under the Köppen climate classification. The climate in Shimla is predominantly cool during winters, and moderately warm during summer. Temperatures typically range from −4 °C (25 °F) to 31 °C (88 °F) over the course of a year. The average temperature during summer is between 19 °C (66 °F) and 28 °C (82 °F), and between −1 °C (30 °F) and 10 °C (50 °F) in winter. Monthly precipitation varies between 15 millimetres (0.59 in) in November to 434 millimetres (17.1 in) in August. It is typically around 45 millimetres (1.8 in) per month during winter and spring and around 175 millimetres (6.9 in) in June as the monsoon approaches. The average total annual precipitation is 1,575 millimetres (62 in), which is much less than most other hill stations but still greatly heavier than on the plains. Snowfall in the region, which historically has taken place in the month of December, has lately (over the last fifteen years) been happening in January or early February every year.





                                        National Academy of Audits and Accounts, Yarrows


                                             Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital at Shimla



                                                           Town Hall, Shimla



Places of interest
 

Ground view of The Ridge

 

Christ Church (Shimla)

Municipal Corporation (Town Hall), Shimla.

Mall Road, shopping market in Shimla

The Ridge, Shimla

Skiing is a popular tourist activity in Shimla

• The Mall: The Mall is the main shopping street of Shimla. It also has many restaurants, clubs, banks, bars, Post Offices and tourist offices. The Gaiety Theatre is also situated there. People walk up and down The Mall slowly, stopping to gossip, as it is the main meeting place for everyone. The Ridge and Scandal Point are the two main meeting points at The Mall.

The Mall is dotted with many eating places .

• Christ Church: Situated on The Ridge, Christ Church is the second oldest church in Northern India. It has a very majestic appearance and inside there are stained glass windows which represent faith, hope, charity, fortitude, patience and humility.

• Jakhu Hill: 2 km from Shimla, at a height of 8000 ft, Jakhu Hill is the highest peak and offers a beautiful view of the town and of the snow-covered Himalayas. At the top of the Hill, is an old temple of Lord Hanuman, which is also the home of countless playful monkeys waiting to be fed by all visitors.

A 108 feet (33 metre) statue of Lord Hanuman, a Hindu deity, at 8,500 feet (2,591 metres) above sea level, is single statue to stand at the highest altitude among several other master pieces in the world, overtaking the Christ Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

• Shimla State Museum: The Museum, which was opened in 1974, has tried to protect hill-out and the cultural wealth of the state. There is a collection of miniature Pahari paintings, sculptures, bronzes wood-carvings and also costumes, textiles and jewellery of the region.

• Indian Institute of Advanced Study: This institute is housed in the former Viceregal Lodge, built in 1884-88.

• Summer Hill: Situated at a distance of 5 km from The Ridge is the lovely township of Summer Hill, at a height of 6,500 ft on the Shimla-Kalka railway line. Mahatma Gandhi lived in these quiet surroundings during his visits to Shimla. Himachal Pradesh University is situated here.

• Annandale: Developed as the playground of Shimla, Annandale is 2–4 km from The Ridge at a height of 6,117 ft. It is a favourite spot for cricket, picnics and polo.

• Tara Devi: 11 km from the Shimla bus-stand. Tara Devi hill has a temple dedicated to the goddess of stars on top of the hill. There is a military Dairy Town here as well as the headquarters of Bharat Scouts and Guides.

• Sankat Mochan: A Lord Hanuman temple is located here.

• Junga: Junga is near Tehsi, 26 km from Shimla. Its original name (with diacritics) is Jūnga and is a former royal retreat of the princely state of Keonthal. It is also known as the Keonthal Estate.

• Anand Vilas: Midway between Shimla and Junga. "Sarva Dharma Mandir", Temple of all Faiths, is a spiritual group dedicated to Mother Nature. Thousands of visitors and devotees come here every year. There is an "Art is Values" school with students from all over India. Classes are provided free of cost.

• Mashobra: 13 km from Shimla, site of the annual Sipi fair in June.

• Kufri: 16 km from Shimla at a height of 8,600 ft, Kufri is the local winter sports centre, and it also has a small zoo.

• Chharabra: 13 km from Shimla on route to Kufri.

• Naldehra: 22 km from Shimla, with a nine-hole Naldehra Golf Club. The annual Sipi fair in June is held in Naldehra.

• Chail: Chail was the summer capital of the Maharaja of Patiala before Independence, known for its cricket pitch, the highest in the world.

• Arki: (46 km) is the site of an 18th century fort built when Arki was the capital of the erstwhile hill state of Baghal

• Tatapani: Location of sulphur springs which are found near the Tatapani mandir(holy temple)

• Sanjauli: The main suburb of Shimla.

 Transport

The Shimla Railway Station

 

Local transport in Shimla is by bus or private vehicles. Buses ply frequently on the circular road surrounding the city centre. Tourist taxis are also an option for out of town trips. Locals typically traverse the city on foot. Private vehicles are prohibited on the mall, ridge, and nearby markets. Due to narrow roads and steep slopes, the auto rickshaws common in other Indian cities are largely absent.
Shimla is well-connected by road and rail. The National Highway 22 (NH 22) connects Shimla to the nearest big city of Chandigarh. Shimla is connected by road to all the major towns. Distance between the Major Towns and Shimla :-

• Kalka - 80 km
• Chandigarh - 119 km
• Ambala - 152 km
• Patiala - 172 km
• Amritsar - 342 km
• Delhi - 348 km
• Jammu - 482 km
• Agra - 568 km
• Jaipur - 629 km
• Srinagar - 787 km
• Kolkata - 1460 km
• Mumbai - 1742 km

TOURIST PLACES IN UTTARAKHAND

MOST POPULAR PLACES OF UTTARAKHAND

1. Valley of Flowers National Park

 

The stunning landscape of The Valley of Flowers National Park in the Gharwal region comes alive with the monsoon rain. This high-altitude Himalayan valley has around 300 different varieties of alpine flowers, which appear as a bright carpet of color against a mountainous snow capped background. It's a favorite trekking destination.

 

2. Nainital

 

 

The hill settlement of Nainital, in the Kumaon region, was a popular summer retreat for the British during the time they ruled India. It features the serene, emerald colored Naini Lake and action filled strip called The Mall, lined with restaurants, shops, hotels, and markets. Enjoy one of the many forest walks, explore the surrounding area on horse back, or relax on a boat in the lake.

 

3. Haridwar

www.flickr.com user psykedelic

Ancient Haridwar (the "Gateway to God") is one of the seven holiest places in India, and one of the oldest living cities. Located at the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, it's particularly popular with Hindu pilgrims who come to take a dip in the holy waters of the fast flowing Ganges River and wash away their sins. The evening Ganga Aarti holds special appeal.

 

4. Rishikesh

 

Rishikesh, located not far from Haridwar, is as popular with western spiritual seekers as what Haridwar is with Indian spiritual seekers. Known as the birthplace of yoga, people flock there to meditate, do yoga, and learn about other aspects of Hinduism in the various ashrams and yoga institutes. Despite the growing number of visitors, the town's lanes and alleys retain a old-world charm, and it remains a wonderful place to relax and unwind amongst nature.

 

5. Corbett National Park

 

Corbett National Park makes an interesting side trip from Nainital. Named after hunter turned conservationist Jim Corbett, it has dense forest and an exotic array of wildlife. One of the best ways of exploring the park is on the jeep or elephant safaris that take place daily in the early morning and afternoon. The park has a tiger reserve, but tiger sightings are less common than at some of India's other national parks. The Dhikala zone of the park is the most panoramic, with stunning valley views, and offers the best change of animal sightings. You may even get to see wild elephants.

 

6. Char Dham

 

Located high up in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, the Char Dham (four temples) mark the spiritual source of four holy rivers: the Yamuna (at Yamunotri), the Ganges (at Gangotri), the Mandakini (at Kedarnath), and the Alaknanda (at Badrinath). Hindus consider visiting the Char Dham to be very auspicious. Not only is it believed to wash away all sins, it will also ensure release from the cycle of birth and death.

 CHOPTA

 Chopta Tungnath trek is a mild 3km trek from Chopta. Another 2 km trek from Tungnath takes you to Chandrashila Summit which offers a 360 ° view of the Himalayan peaks including Nanda Devi.

Haridwar to Neelkanth Mahadev

The journey from Haridwar to Neelkanth Mahadev leads the tourists to a breathtaking scenic location. Being located 40 km away from Haridwar, Neelkanth Mahadev has an elevation of 1675 m above sea level. The two perennial rivers of Pankaja and Madhumati intersect the immensely rich religious site of Neelkanth Mahadev.

Surrounded by Manikoot, Brahmakoot and Vishnukoot valleys, Neelkanth Mahadev is visited by thousands of pilgrims every year. The temple of Neelkanth Mahadev is the prime appeal of the place which is associated with a significant mythological event.

In the Hindu mythology Sagar Manthan holds a special place. This is due to the fact that during the churning of the seas Lord Shiva, who is also known as Mahadeva, drank the entire venom. Immediately after this event Lord Shiva's neck turned blue. The Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is believed to be the very place where this incident took place in the ancient era. The term Neelkanth denotes the blue neck and to pay respect to Mahadeva the place was named after him. People from all corners of the world come to Neelkanth Mahadev Temple to offer their prayers.

Apart from being an important choice of religious tours from Haridwar, Neelkanth Mahadev also offers exciting trekking opportunities. From Rishikesh, Neelkanth Mahadev can be reached by covering a distance of about 32 km. The trekking route from Rishikesh to Neelkanth Mahadev surely enchants the adventurous

           

संघर्ष और चुनोतियो का सामना

एक बार एक किसान परमात्मा से बड़ा नाराज हो गया ! कभी बाढ़ आ जाये, कभी सूखा पड़ जाए, कभी धूप बहुत तेज हो जाए तो कभी ओले पड़ जाये! हर बार कुछ ना कुछ कारण से उसकी फसल थोड़ी ख़राब हो जाये! एक दिन बड़ा तंग आ कर उसने परमात्मा से कहा ,देखिये प्रभु,आप परमात्मा हैं , लेकिन लगता है आपको खेती बाड़ी की ज्यादा जानकारी नहीं है ,एक प्रार्थना है कि एक साल मुझे मौका दीजिये , जैसा मै चाहू वैसा मौसम हो,फिर आप देखना मै कैसे अन्न के भण्डार भर दूंगा! परमात्मा मुस्कुराये और कहा ठीक है, जैसा तुम कहोगे वैसा ही मौसम दूंगा, मै दखल नहीं करूँगा!

किसान ने गेहूं की फ़सल बोई ,जब धूप चाही ,तब धूप मिली, जब पानी तब पानी ! तेज धूप, ओले,बाढ़ ,आंधी तो उसने आने ही नहीं दी, समय के साथ फसल बढ़ी और किसान की ख़ुशी भी,क्योंकि ऐसी फसल तो आज तक नहीं हुई थी ! किसान ने मन ही मन सोचा अब पता चलेगा परमात्मा को, की फ़सल कैसे करते हैं ,बेकार ही इतने बरस हम किसानो को परेशान करते रहे.

फ़सल काटने का समय भी आया ,किसान बड़े गर्व से फ़सल काटने गया, लेकिन जैसे ही फसल काटने लगा ,एकदम से छाती पर हाथ रख कर बैठ गया! गेहूं की एक भी बाली के अन्दर गेहूं नहीं था ,सारी बालियाँ अन्दर से खाली थी, बड़ा दुखी होकर उसने परमात्मा से कहा ,प्रभु ये क्या हुआ ?

तब परमात्मा बोले,” ये तो होना ही था ,तुमने पौधों को संघर्ष का ज़रा सा भी मौका नहीं दिया . ना तेज धूप में उनको तपने दिया , ना आंधी ओलों से जूझने दिया ,उनको किसी प्रकार की चुनौती का अहसास जरा भी नहीं होने दिया , इसीलिए सब पौधे खोखले रह गए, जब आंधी आती है, तेज बारिश होती है ओले गिरते हैं तब पोधा अपने बल से ही खड़ा रहता है, वो अपना अस्तित्व बचाने का संघर्ष करता है और इस संघर्ष से जो बल पैदा होता है वोही उसे शक्ति देता है ,उर्जा देता है, उसकी जीवटता को उभारता है.सोने को भी कुंदन बनने के लिए आग में तपने , हथौड़ी से पिटने,गलने जैसी चुनोतियो से गुजरना पड़ता है तभी उसकी स्वर्णिम आभा उभरती है,उसे अनमोल बनाती है !”

उसी तरह जिंदगी में भी अगर संघर्ष ना हो ,चुनौती ना हो तो आदमी खोखला ही रह जाता है, उसके अन्दर कोई गुण नहीं आ पाता ! ये चुनोतियाँ ही हैं जो आदमी रूपी तलवार को धार देती हैं ,उसे सशक्त और प्रखर बनाती हैं, अगर प्रतिभाशाली बनना है तो चुनोतियाँ तो स्वीकार करनी ही पड़ेंगी, अन्यथा हम खोखले ही रह जायेंगे. अगर जिंदगी में प्रखर बनना है,प्रतिभाशाली बनना है ,तो संघर्ष और चुनोतियो का सामना तो करना ही पड़ेगा

AASTHA PATH/MARINE DRIVE RISHIKESH

 

 

This is a butifull way (aastha path / Marrine drive) to see at Rishikesh. The location of the path is at right bank of ganga river from Ram jhula to Barrage and go through Triveni Ghat. Triveni Gaht, Ram Jhula, Laxman Jhula & Barrage are most butifull places at Rishikesh. Neel khand Mahadev mandir is also pracheen mandir near Rishikesh. Chaar Dham yatra (Uttarakhand) for Gangotri, Yamnotri, Kedarnath & Badrinath, started from Rishikesh.

 

Rishikesh is well connected from Rail, Bus and aeroplane also. The distance of airport from Rishikesh is 19 KM.