What to do in Shimla?

 The former summer capital of the British India, and the present capital of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties which one can think of. It has got a scenic location, it is surrounded by green hills with snow capped peaks. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by the structures made during the colonial era creates an aura which is very different from other hill. Bulging at its seams with unprecedented expansion, Shimla retains its colonial heritage, with grand old uildings, charming iron lamp posts and Anglo-Saxon names. The Mall, packed with shops and eateries, is the main attraction of the town, and Scandal Point, associated with the former Maharaja of Patiala’s escapades, offers a view of distant snow clad peaks.Shimla is ideally located, and though there is an air service to the town, it is best reached by road that takes in the charms of the HIMALAYAN countryside at its best. There is a sense of nostalgia about SHIMLA, with its old bungalows and their gabled roofs and beautiful gardens.

Things to Do in Shimla

1. Paragliding at waknaghat- Visiting Shimla is always a great pleasure. It provides you with a soothing environment for a peaceful yet enjoyable journey. You can spend a week roaming around and enjoying with your family and friends. However, it will be a great experience if you add paragliding to your trip. Everyone is aware of the adventures of paragliding sport. Paragliding in Shimla is one of the best things to do in Shimla. It is another tag that you can add to your memorable journey to this beautiful city. Flying high over the Shimla valley and watching all underneath is an unavoidable experience for sure.

2. Shopping at Mall Road- The Shimla Mall Road is the one stretch, that truly celebrates the spirit of the hilltown, its tourist rush and valleys and hills covered with houses and hotels. The charm and beauty of the Mall Road can be enjoyed by groups of friends, families and honeymooners alike. The stores that are located on the Mall Road are famous for their woollen clothes and exclusively handcrafted works, apart from the usual books and jewellery. The wooden furniture shops are particularly well-known; so do not forget to buy some exquisite wooden articles, which look like antiques, when you shop from here. Vehicles, except emergency ones, are not allowed on this street, which not only makes the Mall Road in Shimla an ideal place to stroll around in the evenings, without being concerned about the traffic. Other than shopping, Shimla Mall Road is also famous for its variety of cafes and the delicious delicacies that they serve. In fact, people here are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a place to have a meal at. The numerous leisure activities that Mall Road offers ensure that you do not get bored.

3. River Rafting at Taatapani-To experience the adrenaline rush and the excitement of river rafting in Shimla, one needs to reach Chaba which is a small, exotic and outlandish village at a distance of about 45 km from Shimla. Chaba is also famous for a venerable hydropower project which is more than 100 years old and is situated on the banks of Nauti River, a tributary of Satluj River.The 15 km river rafting stretch starts from Chaba and ends at Tattapani village which is famous for its hot sulphur springs. Though the glory of Tattapani as a tourist destination has been lost because of the submergence of sulphur springs in the Kol Dam hydropower project, it is still famous for river rafting.

4. Golfing at Naldhera- Nestled at a distance of 23 Km from Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, the Golf Course in Naldehra is the oldest golf club in India. The golf course stretches over an extensive area surrounded by trees at an altitude of 2,200 metres. It is a par 68, 18-hole course with 16 greens and 18 tees. It features a design redolent of Scottish links courses. Himachal has always been a place to be in for the sport lover. And Himachal has also kept up with the pace of the changing times and adapted itself to new upcoming sports such as golf. Actually the story of Golf in Himachal started 100 years ago.

5. Trek to Jakhoo Temple-The early-morning hike up to Jakhu, or “Monkey”, Temple is something of a tradition in Shimla. The top of the hill (2455m) on which it stands offers a superb panorama of the Himalayas — particularly breathtaking before the cloud gathers later in the day. The relentlessly steep climb takes thirty to 45 minutes. The path starts just left of Christ Church; during the season, all you need do is follow the crowds. After the hard walk up, the temple itself, a red-and-yellow-brick affair crammed with fairy lights and tinsel, comes as something of an anticlimax, although the new 30m-tall orange concrete statue of Hanuman is an impressive sight. The shrine inside houses what are believed to be the footprints of Hanuman himself. Legend has it that the monkey god, adored by Hindus for his strength and fidelity, rested on Jakhu after collecting healing Himalayan herbs for Rama’s injured brother, Lakshmana. Watch out for the troupes of mangy monkeys around the temple. Pampered by generations of pilgrims and tourists, they have become real pests; hang on to your bag and don’t flash food. Hold onto your specs too — one or two monkeys have even been trained to swipe them from unsuspecting victims’ faces and turn them over to a local, who will hand them back … for a small fee, of course.

6. Ice skating in Shimla-The Ice-Skating Rink in Shimla is the oldest in all of Asia and the only open-air rink in the country. The skating rink, which is operational between December to February, attracts swarms of people from India and abroad. There is also a carnival held by the Himachal Tourism Department every December to welcome all ice skating enthusiasts. Rookies and pros, skaters of all levels come here to show off their skills in this skating rink during winters.

How to reach ?

By Air — Jubbarhatti is the airport in Shimla to which regular domestic flights are available from major cities of India.

By Rail — Kalka, 96 Km away, is the nearest railway station connecting Shimla to various neighboring states. Then train to Shimla from Kalka could be taken to reach in as less as 6 hours time.
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By Road- Chandigarh and New Delhi are connected by National highways that lure the road hitters more than anything for starters of this tremendous journey to Shimla.

Local Cuisines and Mouth Watering Dishes to try in Manali.

 Local Dishes to Try in Manali

When in Manali You Cannot Miss out some of the Amazing mouth watering local Dishes. Here is a list of some Delicious Local cuisines that are must try In Manali.

Bombay Bhelpuri

Spicy and tangy this street food of Mumbai is easily available in Manali too. Being a concoction of the fried rice, onions, potatoes, chick peas, tangy tamarind sauce and much more, this delicacy is hard to leave once tasted. For the people having this dish for the first time, the taste and the experience both seem incomparably delightful.

Sidu

Another local dish that is a must-have in Manali is Sidu. Being the ideal companion for mutton and other non-vegetarian Indian preparations, this dish is a prepared by with the dough of the bread. The refined flour dough for bread is first kept aside to rise and once the yeast has settled down on it, the dough is par-cooked.

Then this par cooked bread is steamed. Finally, this dish is prepared and a simple taste of the food leaves you asking for more.

Babru

Another of the best street food in Manali is Babru. This is a dish belonging to the family of the age-old Indian snack of kachoris. Quite like the kachoris, this dish too is prepared out of using the soaked black gram paste and then kneading it to create this dish

Trout

One of the best and the most unique preparations of the Manali and Kullu region is trout. The preparations of this fish in this area are done by marinating the raw material and finally slow cooking them for that impeccable effect. Quite good for the health, unlike many street foods, this dish is low in calories too.

Patande

If a sweet tooth is your weakness, then this dish will surely satiate your hunger pangs in the best manner possible. An Indian rather Himachal version of crepes, this dish is prepared using milk, sugar and wheat flour. Most commonly eaten as a morning treat this food can be easily found in Manali.

Bhey

A preparation using the lotus stems, Bhey is a dish that owes its distinct flavors to the unique texture of the raw materials. This delectable is prepared by thinly slicing the lotus stem, streaming it and then sautéing it in a carried collection of the herbs, spices and gram flour. Quite nutritious to the core too, this dish is another famous street food in Manali.

Chana Madra

Prepared with the rich flavors of tamarind, onions, garlic and other spices, this dish forms its core with the white chickpeas. The tangy Chana Madra is another of the famous street foods in Manali and proves to be a delight to your taste buds.

Red Rice

Grown locally, the red rice available at restaurants and dhabas in Manali has a unique nutty flavour. Generally served with a local variety of kidney beans, and saag (a green leafy vegetable dish), it makes for a simple and hearty meal.

Masala Omelette

Whether you’re enjoying a nice time leisurely strolling on the roads or travelling to the scenic Rohtang Pass, the one thing that you will find everywhere to eat in Manali is a special masala omlette, usually served with two slices of bread. This is the ultimate comfort food, specially on chilly mornings or evenings!

Kadhi Chawal

Famous for its mouthwatering kadhi chawal (a spicy gram flour curry and rice dish), no matter where you have this dish in Himachal, you will always come back for more. While on the way to Manali don’t forget to stop over at the Manikaran Gurudwara around which you will find many small food shacks selling this delicacy!

The scrumptious grub you will feast in Manali is sure to last in your memory for a lifetime!