Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, is one Indian city that surely you will never forget. The famous city is well known for its unique Tudorbethan and neo-Gothic style buildings, as well as for the famous Bishop Cotton School, the oldest Asian boarding school. Tourists say that it’s the Indian Capua, Mount Olympus and the Abode of the Little Tin Gods.

The city has approximately 145,000 inhabitants of various cultural backgrounds. You can speak more than four languages there: Hindi, Punjabi, Pahadi and English. Being situated 2,130 meters above the sea level, the city has two main attractions: the Mall and the Ridge. Due to the hills, walks on the streets and parks of the city, especially on the ones that take to Jakhoo Hill, offer incredibly panoramic views over the city. In fact, the city is built (like many other European Cities) on seven hills, and each one has at least one major tourist attraction.

Shimla’s Mall was developed in the 19th century and since then, it represents the hub of the city’s social life. The road has 5 kilometers in length, starts from the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, in the west and ends in “Small” Shimla, in the east. When walking on this street, you often might think that actually you are in an English small town market place.

The best time to travel to Shimla is in autumn, times with bright and warm days and clear and cool nights. The people of the city are always warm, though. They are proud of their cultural heritage and will always feel strong about their beliefs and rituals. The dress code is very relaxed in this part of India, since tourism is one of the main incomes for the city, but advised tourist guides are necessary for a safe trip in these places.

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