Shimla - Tidbits for First-timers

Last Christmas, we went on a short trip to Shimla - the summer capital of British India still flaunting its past glory through its characteristic colonial architecture and European vibes; where heritage buildings and age-old business establishments are stacked together like cardboard boxes on the hills. This post is not about those though. Our trip was quite relaxed and unlike other times, all we wanted to do was laze around in the chill of winter and soak in the vibes of a happy place. So I'm going to pen down some useful information for first-timers - quick tips and recommendations on where to stay and what to eat. As is famously known, Shimla is a madhouse of traffic during peak season. Since we zeroed in on Shimla for our Christmas break knowing all too well that we'd be crawling in a sea of people and vehicles, we came prepared for it. Unfortunately, it hadn't snowed yet when we arrived. So we chose to skip Kufri and Narkanda, opting instead to spend the wintry nights in the quiet and forested hills of Mashobra, and the festive daylight hours in the zippy streets of Shimla. 

First off, if you are not staying on Mall road, you need to get moving in the morning to skip the traffic n find a safe parking spot. We parked our jeep at the parking lot bang opposite the entrance to the lifts leading up to Mall road. They charge a flat rate of Rs. 100 for the first 0-8 hours. If you plan to stay at one of the hotels on Mall road, then you needn't worry too much about parking - just walk out from the top floor and you are there. We couldn't do that because we were traveling with our pet and also, we preferred the calm of Mashobra to the chaos of Shimla to ease into the evenings.

There are quite a few interesting places to eat - from purely local eat-outs to plush, modern cafes. Himachali Rasoi, a little wooden hole in one of the by-lanes serves truly authentic cuisine from Himachal Pradesh. The festive thali meal is called 'Dham' and it comes with an assortment of curries - all made using familiar ingredients but tasting delightfully different from what we are used to in the other parts of the country. There is Embassy bakery, one of the oldest and prettiest bakeries in the city, popular for their apple almond cakes, lamb chops and ice creams. Though overpriced and unconventional in their service, we loved the old man at the counter and his freshly baked cakes. If you fancy a hot plate of gulab jamuns to sweeten your day, head to Baljee's and if you crave for some idli-dosa-vada comfort to beat the cold, try the Indian Coffee House or Nalini. Sher-e-Punjab dishes out scrumptious non-veg delicacies, Dim Sum serves exquisite Chinese and the string of bakeries like Krishna and Trishul have an array of cheap eats for a quick bite. On the other hand, if you want to relish some great continental/Italian food in a chic and classy set-up overlooking the hills, you must visit Cafe Shimla Times, Cafe Sol (Hotel Combermere) or Eighteen71. And while at it, do not forget to grab some local kiwi and strawberries abundantly displayed by the roadside. 

Lastly, on your way back, stop at one of the HPMC stalls and stock up on your hand-crafted fruit preserves, wines, juices and pickles. We got apple juice, peach and strawberry preserves and wild pomegranate mint chutney - all locally produced and just as delicious as their foreign counterparts. And if you still haven't finished shopping for winter wear, try the Monte Carlo factory outlet next to the HPMC booth. Guess what, we totally cashed in on the Buy One Get One offer!