Shimla, Shimla: A Guide to PIN Code 171001
Everything you need to know about Shimla in Shimla - from local landmarks and street food to the stories behind the pincode.
There is a reason Shimla has been the favourite hill station of Indians for over a century. The cool air, the pine-covered slopes, the colonial buildings with their slate roofs and wooden balconies - they all combine into something that feels like stepping into another time. This is PIN code 171001, the summer capital of British India and the queen of hill stations.
Mall Road - the heart of Shimla
The Mall Road is Shimla's main street and its social heart. Pedestrian-only, it runs along the ridge and is lined with shops, restaurants, cafes and heritage buildings. The Christ Church, built in 1857, is the second oldest church in North India. Its stained glass windows and clock tower are landmarks that every Shimla visitor photographs. Scandal Point, at the end of the Mall, is where locals gather to catch up on gossip and enjoy the mountain views.
Walking down Shimla's Mall Road is like walking through a postcard. The colonial buildings, the pine trees, the distant snow peaks - it is the kind of beauty that makes you slow down without realizing it.
The colonial legacy
Shimla was the summer capital of British India from 1864 to 1947, and the colonial architecture is everywhere. The Viceregal Lodge, now the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, is a grand English castle that hosted the most important decisions of the British Raj. Gorton Castle, with its Tudor-style architecture, and the Tudor Library are reminders of an era when Shimla was the second seat of the British government in India.
The Kalka-Shimla railway
The Kalka-Shimla railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. The narrow-gauge train climbs from the plains to Shimla through 102 tunnels, over 800 bridges, and past some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in India. The journey takes about five hours, and every minute of it is worth it.
Jakhu Temple and the Ridge
Jakhu Temple, perched at the highest point in Shimla, is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The giant Hanuman statue at the temple is visible from almost anywhere in the town. The Ridge, a large open space in the heart of Shimla, offers panoramic views of the snow-capped Himalayas. On a clear day, you can see the peaks of the Kinnaur and Spiti ranges.
171001 is where the British built a hill station, where a toy train climbs through tunnels and bridges, and where the mountains have been watching over Shimla for longer than anyone can remember.