Shimla the Capital State Of India sitting majestically above the searing plains, the British designated the town as the summer capital of India. The higher levels of the town reflect this British connection, comprising mostly buildings in the Victorian style, while the lower slopes are occupied with Indian bazaars and restaurants. Traffic is banned from the historic central area, (known as the Mall) which means that the atmosphere is calm and the air pristine. Cart Road runs south of the Mall and is connected to it via the lifts. The Ridge, north of the Mall, is a good place to view the the seven majestic hills of Shimla. Further along the same road is Lakkar Bazaar, which is a good place to buy some handicrafts and other souvenirs.
Accomodation 3 Star:
DAY 01: ARRIVE DELHI
Meet & greet upon arrival at Delhi Airport. Transfer to hotel by air-conditioned vehicle. After meet & greet transfer to hotel in Delhi. On arrival check in at hotel (check in time 1400 hrs). The rest of the day is for leisure activities. Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 02: DELHI to CHANDIGARH (BY TRAIN)
After breakfast proceed for your ‘Delhi city tour visiting Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi was cremated here), Red Fort and Chandini Chowk which is a hugely popular busy market in Old Delhi. Then proceed to visit Jama Masjid, which is one of the largest mosques in India. You can navigate Chandini Chowk only on a rickshaw or on foot. This place is a paradise for street shoppers and food lovers.
Afternoon visit Qutub Minar, which is largest Minara of the country after that visit the Agrasen ki Baoli one of the most haunted place of Delhi. The history of Agrasen ki Baoli goes back to 14th century when the legendary Maharaja Agrasen of Haryana constructed the baoli during the Mahabharata era. But for us it shall remain as Agrasen ki Baoli. The monument boasts of 103-108 steep steps with a series of carved chambers and passages.
After that visit another haunted place Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb,. Located within the Mehrauli Archaeological Park are the tombs of the 16th century Sufi Saints Jamali and Kamali. A favourite haunt (no pun intended) for history enthusiasts, it is said that voices from the mazaar inside the central dome call out to those who visit the tomb.
Afternoon return to hotel for you lunch & pick up luggage. On time transfer to New Delhi railway station to connect with you India’s fast train Shatabdi Express to Chandigarh. Its 3 hrs comfortable train journey. Our representative would meet you in Chandigarh & help you to check in at Chandigarh hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 03: CHANDIGARH to SHIMLA (BY TOY TRAIN)
Check out early in the morning with packed breakfast. Our car will drop you to Kalka Railways station to Board your Scenic Toy Train To Shimla a UNESCO World Heritage that connects the Indian plains to the capital state of Himachal Pradesh “Queen Of Hills-Shimla”. Built in 1903 this Toy Train ride is most incredible feats of engineering covering a staggering 102 tunnels, 864 bridges and 919 stunning curves.
This journey runs on a narrow gauge from Kalka to Shimla, treating passengers with breath-taking views of rugged mountains, lush pine forests, waterfalls, valleys and picture-perfect hill stations along the way that will definitely tempt you to disembark and bask in their beauty. The whole journey takes about five and a half hours. After two and half hrs train reaches longest straight tunnel on this route & one of the most beautiful railway station on Kalka –Shimla rail track.
Haunted Tunnel No 33: The British Colonol Barog was assigned the task but due to his miscalculation he failed to complete the task assigned and was thus humiliated and penalised by the supervisors. Out of frustration and defame, Barog committed suicide. Villagers believe the good colonel still haunts the tunnel and that one can hear an Englishman whispering inside its dark tunnel. Many people has seen a person walking along the rail track and disappearing gradually.
You will be picked up from the Shimla Railway station & transfer to Hotel. Check In & take rest as you woke up early today. Evening walk around famous Mall Road Of Shimla, visit lakkar (wooden) bazaar & Tibetan market. Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 04: SHIMLA CITY TOUR OF HAUNTED PLACES
After breakfast proceed for your Spooky Tour of Shimla & surroundings. Please remember most of them are Pvt Properties hence you may not be allowed to go inside.
Charleville mansion: It is a lush mansion located in the hills of Shimla. A British man Victor Bayley was appointed as the Assistant Secretary of Railway Board and was posted in Shimla in October 1913. Victor and his wife spent a considerable time looking for a perfect home for them and settled for Charleville mansion owing to its location and the low rent. But they didn’t know that the house was known to have a poltergeist. In fact before them, an army officer used to live in that mansion. Even though he didn’t believe in ghosts, he wanted to test the authenticity of the mystery surrounding that home. So he decided to lock the room where most of the haunted activities were reported.
One night a large crash was heard and he was astonished to find the room in shatters. Everything had been turned upside down. Horrified he decided to vacate the home. Even after knowing all this, the Bayleys decided to stay in the mansion and continued to do so for over a year. Most of their stay was peaceful except for one particular incident. It was a cold night and the Bayleys were out for a dinner party. As the servant was waiting for them to return, he felt that his master was in fact present in a room. He went up to him and asked him if he wanted something. The British didn’t respond to him and went out through a closed door.
Since then the house has seen several occupants and all of them have their own experiences to share. Even though the experiences are enough to send a chill down the spine of the readers and audience, the fact that these ghosts have never been violent in nature brings a sense of relief. The house is currently owned by an Indian gentleman who remodeled the mansion completely. But it is still the talk of the town with people reporting ghosts of Englishmen roaming the mansión.
Convent Of Jesus & Mary: The Headless Horseman Besides being a well-known convent school in Shimla, Jesus and Mary is popular for more than one mysterious stories and incidents; even though most of them appear to be rumours. There is one story around Friday, the 13, when a headless horseman appears and offers a rose to one of the girls. He takes along ones who agree and kills those who don’t.
Another folklore talks of a fire in the CJM’s dormitory for orphans during British rule. The current play area is where the kids were buried. Of many ghost mentions, there is a young girl who keeps asking for her doll, and other young women who were taken by the horseman. Adding fuel was a 2012 tragedy, when two IVth standard students were found dead near the school. The family and friends of the victims claimed that they committed suicide because of mental harassment and nuisance by their teachers. Some claim that the building is haunted by their souls too.
Indira Gandhi Medical College: is the largest medical set up in not only Shimla but whole of Himachal Pradesh. At the same time, it is also among the most haunted places in Shimla. Patients, their families, doctors and other staff have many times complained of mysterious activities in lifts, corridors and rooms.
Besides weird noises and strange voices, some have also reported being pushing from behind while taking the stairs. Common belief is that all these activities are due to the presence of spirits of the people who have died in the hospital. Even the forest road near the college is said to be spooked by the ghost of an orange seller. Though there is no reason for these spirits to be haunting the college, the premises are quite scary sometimes.
House of Dukhani: Dukhani is a beautiful house at one of the hills of Shimla, said to be haunted by the ghost of an old man, wearing a gown. An old story from the British era tells that he shot himself in the Dukhani house in the same outfit. A spooky occurrence, narrated by Sir John Smith—one of the guests at Dukhani, when the place was owned by an old Britisher Bucky—is the most popular haunted tale of this house. During a short stay at Dukhani, Sir John Smith encountered the ghost of the old man in a gown, in the very same room where he had shot himself.
Churail Bauri: Another one of the most famous haunted places in Shimla, Chudail Baudi lies between the way to Chotta Shimla from Shimla Highway. It is believed that your car speed will automatically reduce while you are crossing this point and the evil doesn’t end here. You will be stopped by an old woman and like movies, she will ask for a lift. The only difference is that whether you say yes or no, she will be sitting on the seat right beside you. A lot of accidents take place at this spot. Evening return to hotel for overnight stay in Shimla.
DAY 05: SHIMLA TOUR OF SUMMER HILLS & ADVANCE STUDY CENTRE
After a relaxed proceed for Shimla & surrounding city tour. Start your tour with beautiful building of Viceregal Lodge (The Indian Institute of Advanced Study) is a research institute based in Shimla, India. It was set up by the Ministry of Education, Government of India in 1964 and it started functioning from 20 October 1965. The building that houses the institute was originally built as a home for Lord Dufferin, Viceroy of India from 1884–1888 and was called the Viceregal Lodge. It housed all the subsequent viceroys and governors general of India. It occupied Observatory Hill, one of the seven hills that Shimla is built upon.The building is designed in Indo-Gothic style.
Many historic decisions have been taken in the building during the Indian independence movement. The Shimla Conference was held here in 1945. The decision to carve out Pakistan and East Pakistan from India was also taken here in 1947. A bell made of eight metals which was presented by the king of Nepal was available to be admired by tourists till April 2010. Evening stroll around on Mall Road of Shimla. Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 06: SHIMLA to CHANDIGARH AIRPORT / RLY STATION (110 KILOMETERS / 3 HOURS)
After Breakfast drive to Chandigarh Railway station / Airport to board flight / train for onward Journeys
Important Notes for Winter Travel (Shimla–Manali):
