Shimla is the capital of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, in the Himalayan foothills. Once the summer capital of British India, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway, completed in 1903. It's also known for the handicraft shops that line The Mall, a pedestrian avenue, as well as the Lakkar Bazaar, a market specializing in wooden toys and crafts.

Himachal's answer to Pall Mall of London and Fifth Avenue of New York, Shimla Mall has come up after years of careful and loving nature. The city's main shopping centre and promenade packed with clubs, theatres, restaurants and bars, it houses shops filled with the latest in fashion, from Bond Street, Benares, or Bombay.

Somecome, however, for a seminar at the Institute of Advanced Studies, housed appropriately in the magnificent Rashtrapati Niwas, or the old Viceregal Lodge, near Summer Hill, the scene of many a fun, frolic or escapade, where, too, the fate of nations was decided.

Overlooking the Institute of Advanced Studies and housed in a beautiful building on high ground, the Shimla State Museum was opened in 1974 and has growing collection of 2,000 object d'art. It contains a rich collection of paiintings left with the family of Wazir Kartar Singh of Nurpur, Kangra.

For lovers of solitude, a short climb, early in the morning to the summit of Jakhoo at a height of 2,438.4 metres (8,000 ft) and two kilometres east of the town, towering over Shimla, rewards the climber with the glorious spectacle of the sun rising over the eternal shows and a panoramic view of Shimla spread-eagled below.

Developed as the playground of the capital, Annandale is as far down as Jakhoo is up. At an altitude of 1,864 metres, is 2.4 km from the Ridge, in the old days it was used for picnics, cricket and the Gymkhana races, besides riding to the hounds.

Four Kilometres from the Ridge and beyond Annandale a stream flows through the densely forested Glen at an altitude of 1,830 metres. Here besides the Bubbling stream of icy cold water, fresh from the melting snows, is a delightful, secluded picnic spot.

Situated at a distance of 5 km from the Ridge is the lovely Suburb of Summer Hill, at an altitude of 1,982 M and on the Shimla - Kalka railway line. In these quiet surroundings with secluded shady walks, lived Mahatma Gandhi during his visits to Shimla.

On line with Summer Hill, Summer Hillis ideal for the amateur mountaineer, once top of both the peaks, he can gaze at the plunging valleys or the awesome heights far away. Prospect Hill, 5 Kilometres (3 Miles) from shimla and at a height of 2175 meters (8137 ft) is one the top of Boileauganj, on the way to Jatoth. From the temple of creda devi, or kamna devi, situated here, is a glorious view of the surrounding hills and the ‘toy train’ running from Tara Devi to Jatoth, if one is lucky enough to be there on time.

Calm and tranquil, 11 km (7 miles) from the shimla bus stand, tara devi has a temple dedicated to the goddess of the stars on top of a hill. Developed by the british, it holds the military dairy farm and the boy-scout hear-quarters. At a height of 1851 meters (6070 ft) , tara devi is an ideal place for the person seeking rest from the hectic life shimla.

A place of unique beauty is the oak and pine retreat of mashobra, 9.6km (6 miles) from the ridge and 12km (7.4 miles) from the shimla bus stand at an altitude of 2149 metres (7700ft); it is unbeatable for an ideal interlude beneath oak and pine. To dream the night away and enjoy the sylvan surroundings, is the equally beautiful rest house of craignano and circuit house of fairlawns, which some tourists, just come to look and admire. On the of the hill, for the naturalists, it is considered to be among the most beautiful rest houses in the shimla hills.

If shimla is the summer capital par excellence, kufri, 13 km fron the ridge, 16 km from the bus stand, makes it the winter sports capital; at an altitude of 2622 metres, it is ideal for skiing. The air is crisp, invigorating and the snow, warm-kufri is agog with activity, tourists, in their thousands, have come from far and near to partake in the poetry of motion, skiing. Fun from the very beginning, the real sense of accompolishment that follows the first time one skis down a slope under total control.