The Ridge, Shimla

The Ridge has always played a key role in the royal history of Shimla. Being located at the heart of this hill town, the ridge lies on the side of the Mall road. It is a wide-open clean and the majestic road that attracts the major tourists visiting the ‘British summer Capital’.

Description:

The Ridge, Shimla has everything to gather around tourists. It has many shops on its sides which can be spotted selling exquisite artifacts all through the day. Tourists can spend several hours here by watching the outstanding view of the snow-laded mountain tops under the bluish hued sky. This space is a perfect delight for all sorts of tourists including families and honeymooners. In a true sense, the Ridge has been classified as the most acknowledged face of Shimla.

The Ridge is not just a shopping center but is a popular social hub of Shimla. Tourists who are bored with local sightseeing often throng the open place along with nature enthusiasts.

Traveler Tips:

• Remember no vehicles are allowed here.

• Do not leave your disposals here and there as the local people and Shimla government is strict about keeping the place clean.

Things to Do:

Besides sightseeing, Ridge is famous for shopping. The roadside is lined with a wide range of shops, boutiques, restaurants, bars and cafes which attract travelers visiting the Mall Road, Shimla. The wide road of Ridge connects the scandal point at its east and reaches the famous Lakkar bazaar in its west.

It is to the most photographed area of Shimla mainly due to its spectacular scenic beauty. It remains covered with Himalayan oak, pine, rhododendron and firs trees.

History:

Three historical statues are there on the Ridge which includes Y.S. Parmar, Indira Gandhi, and Mahatma Gandhi. It also hosts an ancient library of 1910. There is a beautiful old church on the side of Ridge, which was built in 1850.

Architecture:

Due to its climate conditions and abandoned natural beauty, Shimla was officially declared as the summer capital of India. With its 2205 meters altitude, the old British establishments here make the Ridge heart of the hill town. The majestic past of Shimla is apparent from the gothic structures standing on the sides of Ridge.

Apart from being the cultural hub, the Ridge houses the lifeline of the hill town, the water reservoir. It was built in 1880 and is worked with single lime mortar. It can store up to 1000000 gallons of water. All these water tanks are placed beneath Ridge and are responsible for supplying water to the whole city.

Festival:

All the government organized fairs and festivals are held on the Ridge, Shimla. Among these functions, the most popular one is the summer festival which is organized during April – May of the year. It was first celebrated in 1960 and since then every year Shimla enjoys this colorful festival. The whole area of Ridge gets a blast with booming colors and cultural activities. It becomes a five-day-long extravaganza.

Various events also take place on the eve of this festival those include flower shows, folk dances, ice skating festivals, Himachali film festivals, and food festivals.

During winter, the Ridge hosts the winter sports festival. Do you know that Shimla is the only place in the entire Asian continent that has a natural ice skating rink? During December – February, a national level ice skating competition is held here. Various dance and music shows take place during that.

Best Time to Visit:

The Ridge, Shimla hosts tourists from all over the world throughout the year. Though the best time to make a visit here is during April- August and December – January (most crowded here!). Moreover, festival times are a must-visit here!

How to Reach?

• By air –You need to board a flight for Chandigarh airport (115 km away). After reaching the airport hire any public transport to reach Shimla.

• By road – Shimla is very well connected with Chandigarh and Delhi via roadways. Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) runs many bus services fr Shimla. Or, you can hire a private cab.

• By train – Kalka – Shimla toy train is the most-hyped medium for reaching Shimla through railways. Kalka is well connected by railways with Chandigarh and Delhi.

Nearby Attractions:

• The Mall Road

• Jakhoo Temple

• Ropeway ride

Plan your trip now!