Walking through the Heritage Zone of Shimla

Shimla has been the Summer Capital Town of British from 1864 to 1947.When British arrived here first time in 1815 they found here a small vilage here with ten houses called Shyamla. British built this town brick by brick, house by house and added all other frills to make it a habitable worth for the coming generations. Within 190 years the town has grown upto the level when today it has tourists visiting it from all over the world. Today it is the capital town of Himachal Pradesh and a famous Holiday Destination for India as well as Foreign Tourists. Most of the British come due to the history of Shimla and to see those old housese built by their forefathers.

For Details on any of the following Walks contact me at +91 9816149102 or mail me at astoundinghimalayas@gmail.com

The following walk takes one through the Heritage Zone of Shimla during which you visit some of the Most Prominent Buildings of the town. They include Churches, Castles, Temples, Old Houses, Buildings and Lodges etc.

Walk through the Heritage Zone of Shimla : Start from the Anglican Church – Used to be the second Oldest in North India but became oldest after 1965 as the one built before this in Ambala was bomb shelled during the war with Pakistan. Next to that is the State Library – famous for its Moc Tudor architecture. Bandstand – now a restaurant stands little ahead with the Norman Gothic building of Gaiety Theater. Immediately next to that is Town Hall that houses the office of Municipal Corporation. The famous Scandal Point is associated with a fake story that the daughter of the Viceroy was abducted by an Indian Prince from Punjab, but actually this is the main square of Shimla where everybody comes, waits, meets and proceed to finish his another part of the day. There are banks, shops, travel agencies, General Post Office, ATMs, A Tourist Information Office, Railway Booking Counter, Bus Booking Counter and the office of Life Insurance India. But beware of touts approaching you and asking to hire taxies and Guides from them. Just avoid them as you must avoid the Cheeky Monkeys of Shimla otherwise they might put you in trouble.

From the eastern fork walk towards right and pass the GPO and head towards the Shimla’s Kirk – The Union Church now a College and a Library. Next is Constantia claiming to be the oldest house in Shimla and now houses YWCA. The Telegraph Office houses the first Electronic Telephone Exchange of India and a buzzer that make the entire town run every morning at 10 on the working days. Have a look at Bantony – an Old English House (has some nice woodwork but the tilted turrets and the coming out plaster reflects of the entire structure) before you descend to the Catholic Church near made in grey Sand Stone. It was built in 1885 and the original village of Simla stood below this. Nearby is Rosna Hall or Caston Hall with its present name as Deputy Commissioner’s Office with – A Norman Baronial Style. Come back after the visit to The Church and carry on towards Kali Bari Temple – the temple of Shayamla Devi from whom the town gets its name. But before that there is another old house called Grand hotel. Originally it was called Bentinks Castle. The temple ahead is dedicated to Goddess Kali – The Grand Black Lady. The building of State Bank of India next to that used to house once Imperial Bank. Originally called Delziel Estate also has some other old houses in its vicinity such as Delziel Hotel that housed Lady Irvin School and Simla Typewriting School who even now teach their students with manual typewriters.

Just opposite to it stands Railway Board Building – A massive structure and a marvel example of British architecture. The outer frame of the whole building is made of cast iron and steel pillars and rods that hold each other with Nuts & Bolts. Gorton Castle in its Neo Gothic architecture is the next building and the second biggest house of Shimla after Viceregal Lodge and houses the office of Accountant General. Further down is Council Chanbers – The present days Vidhan Sabha. It was used as Radio Station after independence for some years. Next to that is Kennedy House – the first permanent British house of Shimla but got burnt in 1976.

Here the Army mess is housed in Knockdrin – once the residence of the Foreign Secretary at a fork fom where towards right a narrow road leads to Annandale Ground. Past Knockdrin is the Command House, The Sanatorium and Cecil Hotel. Mr. M. s. Oberoi started his Hotel career at this hotel as a clerk in 1922 and became the father of the Hospitality Industry in India. A sharp climb little ahead of this takes you to the State Museum. The house in which Museum is housed is called Inverarm and so is the name of the Hill. A steep narrow descend from the Museum takes you to Peterhof – Once the residence of Viceroy of India before 1888. It housed the Punjab High Court after Independence and later used as the official residence of the Governor of the State. Now it is a hotel with State Tourism Department. Just below this is Armsdale that houses the official residence of the Chief Justice of the State, Radio Station, Khud Cottage and Willy’s Park.

Viceregal Lodge is situated on the next hill. Enter the Grand Gates called Gurkha Gate and a 300 meters gradual climb up takes you to the Shimla’s Biggest House. It is now called Institute of Advanced Study. There is a guided tour inside the Lodge that is included in the ticket that you have to buy near the Building. Return to Gurkha Gate after the tour inside and now walk towards the left of Inverarm Hill. This is a forested path and has three old houses, Yarrows – Once occupied by Muhammed Ali Jinnah, the Prophet of Pakistan and now houses the office of National Academy of Audits and Accounts, Ava Lodge – now a hostel but once the official residence of a Member of Viceroys Council, Willows, and Holocombe both with Army.

From here you reach back to Cecil Hotel and can return to the Mall by the same way.