There is a reason behind this Shimla also known as the Queen of Hill Station and even if you want to take a glance at the most unremarkable photographs of the destination then you will know why. Shimla is the evergreen beauty of Himachal Pradesh that draw throngs of tourists year after year for its chilly winters and pleasant summers, all thanks to its terrain scented by pine and signature colonial-era architecture. Chandigarh is the nearest major city to Shimla but New Delhi is the most used connecting point that is located about 365 km away from Shimla.
Chail to Shimla Trip
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Although, the growing number of tourists is stripping away the place’s hold on being ecotourism. Shimla continues to be one of the favorite haunts of foreigners as well as Indians alike during the summer season every year. The Kalka-Shimla railway line is what you could have seen in a number of Bollywood movies. The majestic hills offer the backdrop of this panoramic hill station, offering sweeping voes of the land below as you go up. Shimla is a tourist spot and tourism remains a major source of revenue the hospitality industry provides great employment opportunities mostly as tourist guides and in a number of restaurants.
Small scale industries also thrive with craft production and souvenir much in demand. Jakhoo hill is the highest point of the town and this place is not for the faint-hearted, made evident by the fact that the Lord Hanuman has a temple at the peak. There are not any water bodies in the city area but the closest one is Sutlej which is located 20 km away from Shimla.
Yamuna river tributes, Rabbar and Giri also flow through the district Shimla. If you are planning to make a visit to Shimla in the winter season then you can make your way towards the Kufro ski resort which is a famous spot for winter sports in Shimla and if you want to visit Shimla in the summer season then there is an added attraction to during summer -The Summer Festival, this is festival that held for 3 to 4 days at the Ridge every year during peak tourist season. Now coming to the architecture, Shimla boasts of retaining the old world charm of its building in its original form, having been converted such as the Wildflower Hall, which today is a luxury hotel.
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The State Museum of Himachal Pradesh is also located in Shimla which was established in 1974, features jewelry and paintings from the bygone era. If you are fond of shopping and hungry for souvenirs then Lakkar Bazar offers you everything you want from and about Shimla such as clothes, local crafts and jewelry. The main and famous shopping street of Shimla is the Mall which is populated by a number of tourist offices, bars, clubs, shopping centers and eateries, etc. A variety of cuisines is served in the hotels that are located in Shimla, continental and different Indian cuisines such as Vaishnav, Punjabi and South Indian to cater to various tourists. The apples of Shimla remain a favorite and famous gaming tourist.
There are some other local specialties like Sidkhu, a sweet dish made of wheat flour, khu khus and jaggery and Patandey which is made from a thin paste of wheat flour and served with desi or homemade ghee. Apart from the Jakhoo temple, there are a number of temples including the Kali Bari temple, the Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple and the Tara Devi temple. The second oldest church in Northern India, Christ Church is also located in Shimla. Shimla is one of those pristine and snow-covered hill stations that inspire romanticism in a traveler.
Chail to Shimla
Chail is a quiet hill station that is barely 2 hours away from Shimla. Chail is a beautiful hill station that is located 63 km from Shimla. Chail is a place that is surrounded by lush greenery and mesmerizing views and certainly is a hiker’s paradise. A road from Chail to Shimla bifurcated near Kandaghat from Chandigarh Shimla highway.
How to reach Shimla from Chail
By train- Shimla is located 63 km away from Chail. To reach Shimla from Chail by train you have to reach Kandaghat by car or bus from Chail then from Kandhaghat railway station you have to take a train that is coming to Shimla from Kalka to reach Shimla. The duration of the journey from Chail to Shimla is around 3 hours. The frequency of trains that ply from Kalka to Shimla is pretty good, with at least four trains plying to and fro daily.
By bus- State-owned buses connect Chail to Shimla. You can take direct buses from Chail to Shimla that is owned by the state government and buses that are owned by some private players.
By car- Taxis are available from Chail to Shimla on regular basis.
By air- The closest airport to Chail is Jubbarhatti Airport in Shimla and the next nearest airport to Chail is the Chandigarh Airport which is located 117 km away from Chail and is also an international airport. You can hire taxis from there to reach Chail and then from Chail you can reach Shimla in several ways.
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Best time to visit Shimla
The best time to visit Shimla is from May to June and from December to January when romance and beauty are at their peak and baked into every inch of the soil here. Clear blue skies in summer, powdery snow in winter and the earthy scent carried by pines, cedars, firs and oak trees. Now the question is- what is the best time to visit Shimla? Then the answer is anytime, the weather is pleasant in Shimla throughout the year. Shimla lies in a temperature region as opposed to a tropical one also the weather remains steady and seasons slide into the next with ease. You will not face a jarring change of summer or the sudden plummet of temperatures in winter.
In the summer season, you will see a massive influx of tourists who travel to the hill station seeking respite from the heat in the plain areas. The winter season draws in crowds like it attracts snowflakes and a number of visitors also plan their travel during late December during the Christmas and New Year to see the Shimla under a snow blanket.
1. Narkanda- In the winter season, Narkanda turns into white heaven that making it a perfect place for skiing. Narkanda is one of the key apple cultivation areas of Himachal Pradesh and thus nothing more than a picturesque and quaint spot in the hills. Hatu Peak is the highest point of Narkanda where you can catch stunning 360 degrees sights of the valley, it is located at 11,0000 feet above sea level. Narkanda is 63 km away from Shimla.
2. Kufri- Kufri is 13 km far from Shimla and this place is known for nature parks and picnic spots. The name Kufri is derived from the word Kufr meaning lake in the local language. If you are a person who likes rides and adventure then Kufri Fun World is the perfect place for you. It is an amusement park that has a number of enjoyable rides. This amusement park also features the world’s highest go-kart track.
3. Summer Hills- Summer Hills is one of the best places to visit in Shimla. This place is also a part of 7 hills that makes this getaway among the very best seeing locations in Shimla and it makes sure to leave you surprised with its views. Summer hill is located at a distance for 5 km from The Ridge Shimla.
Why Chail is better than Shimla?
From walking trails to shopping to architecture, Shimla has something for everyone as there are so many options or so much to see and do in Shimla and you need at least a week to explore it all. Shimla is the state capital of Himachal Pradesh and also was the summer capital of the British Raj in India, so it is natural that there can not be a better place at least in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
But if you are the kind of person who enjoys doing and seeing too much on their holidays then Shimla is a better choice for you. The only issue in Shimlas is the waves upon waves of tourists that make it too tough to enjoy the place because your vacation experience will come along with dealing with a massive crowd, which in every sense and measure, it will also affect your overall experience. When you are in Shimla you have to forget the idea of peacefulness and this is the time when Chail comes into the picture.
Although so not get into dreams or fantasies as Chail also gets pretty crowded for most of the time of the year. But if you are comparing Shimla and Chail then it would not be wrong if you say that Chail is for nature lovers. Beyond an unexciting mall road and the boring King’s Palace, Chail is a place that has quite a few nature trails to enjoy. If nothing, there is no dearth of peaceful places in Chail and you can enjoy the serenity of the mountains.
So if we compare Shimla and Chail then Chail is the place that offers a much better chance to get tranquility and peace than Shimla. Chail is surrounded by a dense deodar forest, that completes your Himachal Pradesh’s wilderness experiences. The reason is that for most of us, the idea of visiting mountains is finding peace and tranquility, so I will suggest you stay in Chail and do a day trip to Shimla. From prices to the exclusivity of the place, Chail is the place that offers you a much better experience when it comes to staying.
It is better to get to your car parking and get to Chail as compared to dealing with Shimla’s traffic and later finding the car parking there. If you follow that main highway that connects Chandigarh to Shimla then the drive is not very picturesque. But Shimla to Chail drive is meant for a memorable drive. So yes, both Shimla and Chail offer you a different experience but staying in Chail will save money and do a trip to Shimla from Chail
