Shimla Attractions and Places to Stay

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Attractions

In a place as beautiful like Shimla, there are many places one can see and learn from. Shimla has always been and remained a print tourist destination and has attracted tourists from India and the across the globe alike purely for its natural beauty and places of interest. The Temples, Monasteries, Architecture, View Points, Churches, and art galleries are just a few places people visit time after time.

The Mall for example is the main shopping centre and also the main meeting place for the people in Shimla. The mall houses many restaurants, clubs, bars, banks and post offices. The Gaiety theatre is also located in the same complex. People like walking up and down the mall doing window shopping, or just stopping by for a quick chat. You could call it a way of life in its own way which is today an integral part of the peoples life.

The famous Gaiety theatre which was built in 1887 in a noe-gothic style is almost a remake of the award winning design of the Bijou theatre famous for its acoustic effect. The Christ Church is another famous landmark in Shimla and happens to be the second oldest church in North India. With its majestic appearance and stained glass window work the Christ church is a place everyone must spend some time at.

The Jakhu Hills is another place which offers an excellent view of the beautiful surrounding from a height of over 8000 feet. On the top is the old Hanuman temple which is home to many playful monkeys. Shimla has many picnic spots offering a great time and good views for nature lovers. Mashobra which is about 12 kilometres away from Shimla is one such place. The summer hill and Annandale are other such places where you can go on a picnic with family and friends.

The Dorje Drag Monastery is a Tibetan Monastery where the monks worship Lord Buddha. Entry to the monastery is free and any kind of donations is accepted. The beating of the drums during the afternoon is something one must not miss. Another important land mark is the Vice regal Lodge which is a massive British mansion built by Lord Dufferin in the year 1988. The mansion is surrounded by British styled gardens on 3 sides and the 4th side is left open for the residents to enjoy the beautiful sun setting into the foothills of the mighty Himalayas. The teak pillars and ceiling that adorn the mansion is truly graceful in its own right. With an entry fee of Rs 10/- one can take a little tour of the mansion house.

There are many other places, landmarks, picnic spots and viewpoints one could go and enjoy. Whatever the place may be, the original charm of every place is truly unique and worth experiencing.

Stay

The best way to book your stay is by booking it online. There are many hotels, restaurants, resorts and Bungalow guest houses that offer great food and good accommodation. One has the option to choose from a budget stay to a luxurious 5 star experience. The choice is ultimately yours as wherever the place you stay is, one would never regret it.

Hotel Mayur for instance is a budget stay hotel located at The Ridge. It is located centrally and has clean bathrooms, television and neatly draped wall to wall carpets for the added effect of luxury. The stay here can range between Rs 1000/- to Rs 1500/- per night. Or, you could also choose to stay at some other great places like the Hotel White, Woodville palace or Hotel Golf Links which are all reasonable priced and with good service. If your budget is huge enough you can also choose to stay at some of the best places like the Oberoi Cecil which offers 5 star service to its guests. A classy hotel with a heated pool, log fires, excellent service and great food, it just happens to be one of the most preferred places to stay at.

While at Shimla, one could go fishing, shopping, skiing or may just a good walk along the alleys and vast natural beauty. Whatever you do, the experience of having been there is going to last in your memory for a long time to come. These are just a few of the many reasons that make Shimla a great tourist destination and a special place.