India (Frommer's, 4th Edition) - Keith Bain [517]
GETTING AROUND On Foot Central Shimla is free of traffic, which means that you’ll spend a lot of your time exploring on foot. You’ll need some degree of stamina to deal with the numerous steep inclines, and as much patience dealing with the constant mob of fellow pedestrians, especially during the summer. A two-stage elevator, The Lift, operating between 8am and 10pm, connects The Mall with Cart Road; ticket prices are nominal.
By Car Shimla has a number of restricted and sealed roads, and farther routes are no-go zones for heavier vehicles. Should you arrive in town by train, you can find a taxi (or even the odd auto-rickshaw), which will drop you at your hotel—although you may be surprised at the route necessary to get around “no traffic” zones. Day trips (see “Excursions Around Shimla,” below) will generally require a taxi or jeep—but the prices can fluctuate wildly. Get advice from your hotel on hiring a car and driver at reasonable rates. For prepaid taxi trips, contact the government-run service at 0177/265-8892, or Vishal Himachal Taxi Operator Union at 0177/265-7645.
GUIDED TOURS & TRAVEL AGENTS For intelligent, entertaining, and exclusive tours of Shimla itself, your best bet is to make contact with noted local historian Raaja Bhasin, author of Simla: The Summer Capital of British India. Raaja conducts interesting and tailor-made walks around Shimla and will provide you with fond memories of the town and an acute understanding of its juicy history. E-mail or call Raaja in advance to make sure he’s available ( 0177/265-3194;www.raajabhasin.com; mail@raajabhasin.com). Tours normally start from your hotel and run from 10am to 5pm for a charge of $170 (for two people this includes lunch, for larger groups evening tea). In 2010, Raaja plans to start doing customized Himachaltrips around the entire state, arranging everything from transport toaccommodation, and including some of the very best insights into Himachali life.
Government-operated tours are annoying, claustrophobic excursions, best avoided unless you’re on a tight budget. The office of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC; 0177/265-2561 or -8302; www.hptdc.nic.in; Apr 15–July 15 and Sept 15–Jan 1 daily 9am–8pm, rest of year daily 9am–6pm) is along The Mall, near Scandal Point.
The Mall has an abundance of travel agencies; you may need to approach one of them to arrange transport, tours, and trekking around the state. Be warned, however, that we’ve been increasingly disenchanted with the service provided out of Shimla, so you might want to contact one of the operators recommended in other parts of this chapter and have them collect you in Shimla (or Delhi if you prefer). One agent you can approach is Band Box (9 The Mall; 98-1606-1160 or 0177/265-8157), although because it’s a small business (and operates from the back of a clothing store) you don’t always find someone in the office.
Shimla
Ambulance Dial 0177/280-4648 or 0177/265-2102.
ATMs, Banks & Currency Exchange The Mall has outlets of HDFC, City Banks, ICICI Bank, and UTI Bank. You can change cash and traveler’s checks, and organize cash advances on certain credit cards Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm. In an emergency, guests at the Cecil and Wildflower Hall can also draw money against their credit cards for a small percentage.
Hospital For around-the-clock service, call Tara Hospital ( 0177/280-3275).
Police There’s a police office ( 0177/281-2344) adjacent to the Town Hall, on The Mall. It’s closed on Sunday.
Post Office The General Post Office (Mon–Sat 10am–6pm) is located just above Scandal Corner.