The best way to beat the summer heat is to speed away to a hill station. And what better than Shimla, which will take you back to the Victorian Era. This place will surely leave you with the feeling of being on top of the world!

Well, it can be rightly said that it is a cardinal sin to miss the UNESCO World Heritage Kalka-Shimla meter gauge train ride. It snakes through winding hill tracks, flies over deep gorges and passes through innumerable tunnels with the largest one being 1.2 km long. The bridges across the gorges are nothing short of architectural marvels.

Shimla derives its name from the goddess Shyamala Devi. It is a beautiful place with rugged terrain surrounded by snow capped peaks. The summer capital of our erstwhile colonial rulers it is characterized by Neogothic and Jacobethan architecture and Anglo Saxon names.

The Ridge is the first thing that I and my lady love saw at Shimla. A common open thoroughfare forming the centre of the town, it provides a scenic view to the mountainous surroundings and is the venue of various functions including the summer festival. Tourists also throng Shimla during the December month when snow falls in Shimla and the iconic Ridge gets totally snow covered.

After taking in the view from some of the vantage points on the Ridge we headed towards the library and church standing imposingly against the mountain backdrop. The Christ Church with Neogothic Elizabethan architecture is said to be India’s second oldest church and looks magnificent when lit up at night. I made a mental note to visit it at night!

The famous mall of Shimla feels like an ocean of offerings with rows of shops and emporiums where you will be spoilt for choice with a variety of shawls, pullovers, handicrafts, mementos and eateries. The Lakkar Bazaar, a treasure of wooden handicrafts and articles, is a must visit. The very feeling of walking down these markets with your loved one in hand and shopping zealously is something too special for any camera to capture.

Next day early morning we were at 8000 feet on Jakhoo Mountain – the highest mountain of the Shimla ridge and a vantage point for viewing the Shivalik range, the Shimla town below and the sunrise or the sunset. On this very hill is situated the Jakhoo Temple dedicated to the monkey god Hanuman. The walk up to the temple through deodar and oak forests is very serene. There are hiker trails through these woods also for adventure lovers.

Soaking in the divinity of the place and being both amused and cautious of the ubiquitous monkeys it was a worthwhile journey. We ended it at one of the largest statues in India and rather the world of Lord Hanuman. At 108 feet the reinforced concrete statue is visible from all over Shimla.

The Viceregal Lodge, Himachal State Museum, Scandal point, St. Michael’s Cathedral and Mahatma Gandhi’s summer retreat at the nearby station of Summer Hill are some of the other places that we had in our itinerary. And the local delicacy – “Sidku” roti was delightfully savory.

The astounding beauty of Shimla and scale of the Himalayas makes you feel like an insignificant speck and makes you feel great. Our trip to Shimla was nothing short of awesome.