2 Nights in Radisson Jass Shimla
We reached Shimla after 6pm and checked into our hotel Radisson. It had a great view of Shimla. We got up the next day morning to gloomy and cold weather, and rain. We had breakfast and decided to take an umbrella and walk around Mall Road with the hope that the weather would get better later in the day. Fortunately for us, the rain stopped early afternoon and it became sunny and warmer.
- Mall Road
- The Ridge
- Christ Church
- Jakhu Hill and Temple
- Indian Institute of Advanced Studies
Mall Road – All hill stations in India have a Mall Road which is traffic free/pedestrian only area. To reach the Mall Road, you have to take an elevator from the main road down the hill – there is a ticketed elevator operated by the Himachal Tourism Development Corporation. The elevator operates from 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily.
Mall road is one of the busiest areas in Shimla and a mini-world in itself. The main street is lined up with restaurants, cafes, banks, shops, post offices, and tourist offices. The stores on the Mall Road are famous for their woolen clothes and exclusively handcrafted works, apart from the usual books and jewelry. The mall road leads to a square called the scandal point – named so because of a romantic story which says, during the British Era in 1892, Bhupinder Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala fell in love with the daughter of the viceroy and they both eloped from this point.
The Ridge – is the most photographed wide-open street located on the side of Shimla Mall Road. You get a spectacular view of the snow-capped mountain ranges and the Shimla valley from here. The Scandal Point is at the intersection of the Ridge and the Mall Road. There is a covered gazebo kind of structure from where you can get a view of the entire area.
On the day and time we visited this place, ANI (Asian News International) was covering the weather in Shimla and decided to interview me and asked me if “I was enjoying the cool and rainy weather in Shimla :)”
Christ Church – Located at one end of The Ridge, this church was built in 1857, and stands as a reminder of the British colonization in India. This is now the only place of religion that the Christians have and is open for service every day. This majestic church has appeared in a number of famous Bollywood movies, such as Black and 3 Idiots, making it a popular tourist attraction.
Jakhoo Hill and Temple – Jakhoo Hill is the highest point in Shimla and is home to the Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman, and features a towering 108-foot statue of the deity. The hill stands at 2,455m and offers panoramic views of Shimla and the surrounding Himalayas.
There are 3 ways to reach this place: Ropeway, car, or hike. Ropeway is the best option. To get to the ropeway – a 10 min walk on a path behind the Christ Church will take you to the ropeway ticket counter. There are vendors selling tickets near the church as well. Ticket price: ₹500 round trip.
After you buy the ticket, you take a lift to the first floor where there is a waiting room. Show the ticket to a person of authority who will give you a number. Our turn came after we waited for half hour. The cable car (2 of them attached back to back) can hold 12 people per ride. It takes 6 min on the ropeway to the top.
At the top, there is a temple and a huge statue of god Hanuman. We spent half hour at the top visiting the temple and walking around taking in the view. Returning on the Ropeway is similar process. There is a waiting room below the stairs to the cable car. Show ticket and wait for your turn.
Indian Institute of Advanced Studies – built by the British this building is an integral part of colonial history. The Institute formerly served as the official summer retreat of the Indian President. It was under the reign of Indian President DR. Radhakrishnan that the institute was converted into a research centre for the promotion and advancements of arts and humanities in India.
We visited the building in the morning at 10am. The outside of the building is free to visit from 9am. You can visit the inside of the building only on a guided tour which is ticketed and 30 minutes long. The first tour begins at 10:30am. No photography allowed inside the building. The building is an architectural wonder in itself as it was built with a proficient fire system, that can rival any that exist in modern times.