State Himachal Pradesh,India

Location: The seven picturesque hills of Shimla are in southern Himachal Pradesh, 347km N of Delhi.

Route from Delhi NH1 to Ambala via Panipat and Karnal; NH22 to Shimla via Zirakpur (bypassing Chandigarh), Panchkula, Kalka and Shoghi.

Shimla owes its character almost wholly to the British, who turned this stopover on the way to the temple of hill goddess Shamla into the summer capital of a subcontinent. The rest of its make up is courtesy the governments of independent India. From part-time capital of India to full-time capital of a state, Shimla took it all in her stride, but the strain has begun to show. Many a tear was shed for their beloved Shimla when the colonizers had to leave. Even today, just a mention of their summer capital and the British stiff upper lip quivers in sorrow at the thought of what their paradise has become.

Walking tours

Shimla is built on a central ridge, around which seven peaks jut out into the sky. The original village of Shimla first sprang up on the flat ridge and developed vertically, settlements moving upwards as each new viceroy took over from his predecessor.

Best all yea round. Though Shimla is cold in winter, the snow makes it pretty.

JAKHOO HILL:

The Hanuman Temple crowns Jakhoo hill, the tallest of the seven hills, on which sprawls central Shimla. This is the hill you must climb to enjoy the most sublime sunrises that Shimla offers. Christ Church, whose silhouette can be seen for miles around as you approach Shimla, is also here. Do attend the Sunday morning service.

On the Mall, you must air yourself on the promenade ? which may be a little difficult in season, when you can barely get elbowroom here. And, at the end of the promenade, there's Scandal point, so named because of the number of romantic rendezvous that were once routinely arranged here. It must have been its air of illicit love that led the Maharaja of Patiala to get carried away and kiss an English miss here. Banished forever from Shimla thereafter, the Maharaja simply created his own hill station: Chail

Shimla also includes some old-fashioned but highly enjoyable entertainment by way of its indoor roller-skating rink (Regal Building, Lakkar Bazaar). Shimla also has an open-air ice-skating rink (Ice Skating Club of Shimla, above the Rivoli Bus Stand). Ice-skating usually lasts from November to January, with a winter carnival thrown in for good measure.

GETTING THERE

Air Jubbarhatti Airport (25km/ 1 hrs), but the weather routinely disrupts air traffic in this region. Cab will cost $20 TO $25

Rail Nearest metre gauge railhead:Shimla:nearest broad gauge railhead:Kalka((94km 2 ? hrs). catch the toy train from here to Shimla for a memorable journey Road NH1 from Delhi to Ambala is a dream. In 2004 the Zirakpur-Shimla stretch had been improved and makes for a much faster drive. Breakfast at Giani's Dhaba after Kalka

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