A trip to Shimla

Coalescing the impressive and naturally beautiful, Himachal Pradesh brings to mind the poetic imagery of Kalidas, Goethe who translated Kalidas, and Milton who wrote “Paradise Regained”. The historians believe that in the natural terrains of Himachal Pradesh roamed the gods of Hindu trilogy, Shiva and Parvati with their host of elves and goblins: this has been the abode of demi gods and priests. And here now live the romantic, smiling and courteous people in one of the most beautiful States of India, who have tried to preserve the pristine beauty and its flora and fauna. With lush green forests, bubbling streams, emerald meadows, enchanting lakes and eternal snow peaks, it nestles in the lap of Mother Nature. Leaving behind the hot spots of sweltering heat of Punjab and Haryana, one starts his odyssey of delight as one reaches into the cooler and soothing climes Himachal Pradesh.

Partaking in an international seminar provided me an opportunity to visit the land of forests, Himachal Pradesh. I left from Kashmir on 26^th of June. 2024 for Jammu, and from Jammu  left for Himachal Pradesh  via  Chandigarh  on 27^th of June  and the District of Solan, Himachal Pradesh (more than four hundred  Kilometers from Jammu)  was the first destination. Solan town is situated in Shimla Hills developed by British Missionaries with a market on the stretch spread over two kilometers. The most important institutions in Solan are University of Horticulture and Forestry, State Council for Educational Research and Training, (SCERT). Besides, it is a naturally beautiful location where the temperature remains moderate throughout the year though a very minor snowfall takes place during the winter.  On 29th of June, 2024, I started my voyage towards the splendid Shimla 70 kilometers away from Solan. As soon as one enters into the borders of Shimla city, one watches that this once Summer seat of British Viceroy with its green meads of hyacinth and celandine is surrounded by solemn forests of deodar and towering pine. Indeed Shimla has everything to gladden the heart and mood of any traveler throughout the year.  Kudos to Shimla people  and the  Himachal Government that no  deforestation has taken place  not even in the city of Shimla 1  and  Shimla 2, not to speak of outskirts which are  densely forested. One is amazed to find that two hundred year old deodars and other trees standing intact even though the population and traffic flow has increased to a large extent. Our Srinagar city would have been  the same  before 70 years with trees, plants, vegetation and  water bodies but  we scarcely cared  for this kind of consideration, outlook  and selflessness  which  is the manner of  Shimilities there. They have very rigorously followed the orders of the Honorable High Court regarding preserving of the  forests. The court has very vigorously detailed out the order that not a single tree should be uprooted from its place. And the brilliant thing is that the order has been followed. During my two days stay I found that even a small hedge or unwanted plant has not been uprooted and that too could be done only in extreme circumstances of some important construction.  Forests are eternally there and consequently the ecological balance exists and Shimla even in summers has rainfall every day.

In 1863, the Viceroy of India John Lawrence, decided to shift the summer capital of the British Government to Shimla. He took the trouble of moving the administration twice a year between Calcutta now Kolkata. Lord Lytton, Viceroy of India (1876–1880) made efforts to plan the town from 1876, when he first stayed in a rented house, but began plans for a Vice Regal Lodge, later built on Observatory Hill. A fire cleared much of the area where the native Indian population lived (the "Upper Bazaar" nowadays known as the Ridge), and the planning of the eastern end to become the centre of the European town forced them to live in the Middle and Lower Bazaars on the lower terraces descending the steep slopes from the Ridge. The Upper Bazaar was cleared for a town hall, with many facilities such as library and theatre, as well as offices for police and military volunteers as well as municipal administration.  During the hot weather, Shimla was also the Headquarter of the Commander-in-Chief of India, the head of the Indian Army, and many Departments of the Government. The Kalka–Shimla railway line, opened in 1903, added to Shimla's accessibility and popularity. The railway route from Kalka to Shimla, with more than 806 bridges and 103 tunnels, was touted as an engineering feat

Shimla has had been always famous for its quality of education and many important schools have been imparting quality education throughout the state. Along with schools of higher education, several institutes are also present, namely Himachal Pradesh University and Indian Institute of Advanced Study. The prominent persons like Mohammad Hamid Ansari, former Vice-President Of India;  Ruskin Bond, writer;  Prem Chopra, Bollywood actor; Hamid Karzai, former president of Afghanistan, Anupam Kher, Bollywood actor, Amrish Puri, Bollywood actor, Ratan Tata, industrialist / businessman , Preity Zinta, Bollywood actress, and  Omar Abdullah, Former Chief Minister of  J&K State have pursued their education from  the  schools of Shimla.

The people of Shimla are informally called Shimilities. With largely cosmopolitan crowds, a variety of festivals are celebrated there. The Shimla Summer Festival, held every year during peak tourist season, and lasting 3–4 days, is celebrated on the Ridge. The Shimla arts and crafts are highly in demand by the tourists. They range from excellent pieces of jewellery, embroidered shawls and garments to leather made articles and sculptures. Since Shimla is full of Forests, the wood has been extensively used in all major buildings. The various kinds of crafts of Shimla made out of wood includes small boxes, utensils, image carvings and souvenirs.   All is well in Shimla. Only the water crisis has loomed over the city over a period of time which the authorities are trying to solve.

On 1st of July 2024, I moved from Shimla to the famous town of Dharamshalla of District Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, festooned with greenery and forests, distancing 238 kilometers. In Dharamshalla, there is an international Cricket Stadium which has hosted International Five Day Tests, One Day and T-20, Matches. There is a famous Buddhist Shrine at Mcload Gunj also.  The Organization of Board of School Education is also located at Dharamshalla.

On 3^rd of July, 2024, I left Dharamshalla for Jammu (220 Kilometers distance). On 5^th of July, 2024, I returned back to my “Paradise Lost” the valley of Kashmir whose majestic and matchless/unique natural beauty has been infringed, wounded and butchered by us.

Can we all   strive to regain the Lost Glory of our Paradise of Kashmir?