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Located in the heart of Shimla, in the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, The Ridge road is a large open space, which is a hub of all cultural activities in Shimla and is a must-visit place in the Shimla tour packages. Situated along the Mall Road, a famous shopping centre of Shimla, the Ridge is an inseparable part of Shimla. The Ridge is the most prominent landmarks and the face of the picturesque hill station.
About The Ridge
Running east to west alongside the Mall Road and joining it at the Scandal Point on the west side, The Ridge leads to Lakkar Bazaar on the east side. Lakkar Bazaar is the ultimate shopping destinations of Shimla. The place is famous for its shawls, woollen clothes, exquisite jewellery, local handicrafts as well as dry fruits and natural herbs. Most of the newspapers print the photos of Ridge covered with snow when the town experiences its first snowfall.
The Ridge also has three statues— of Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Dr. Y. S. Parmar, the first chief minister of Himachal Pradesh. The base ridge of Shimla has green slopes covered with pines, firs, the Himalayan oak, and the carmine rhododendron trees. Gothic Government buildings, half-timbered houses, and dotted red-roofed chalets are also visible from The Ridge.
Importance of The Ridge
The Ridge houses a water reservoir, with a capacity of 1000000 gallons of water. Underneath the Ridge, there are large water tanks, from which water is supplied to the tourist town. Constructed in the 1880s, the reservoir was made using the lime mortar and not any cement. The Ridge is the venue for various government functions, Fairs, and Summer Festival.
The Summer Festival is a five-day extravaganza, which takes place during April or May. Folk dances, the food festival, flower shows, ice skating festival, and Himachali film festival are some of the major events of this festival. Apart from this, a Winter Sports Festival usually begins in December and continues until February. With a natural and open-air ice skating rink, the festival sees ice skating competitions, ice sports, dance, live music etc.
Nearby Attractions
Christ Church is one of the most prominent landmarks on The Ridge and is one of the most sought-after tourist spots in Shimla tour packages. Built-in 1857 in Neo-Gothic style, it is one of the oldest churches in North India. With an absolutely stunning location, the church has stained glass windows each representing the Christian virtues of Faith, Hope, Charity, Fortitude, Patience, and Humanity. It also has a Tudorbethan-styled library building.
Scandal Point is where the Mall Road joins the Ridge on the west side. There is a story of Maharaja of Patiala eloping with the daughter of the British Viceroy leading to much chaos and tension. The place gets its name because of the commotion caused due to the event. Located 2.5 km. east of the Ridge, Jakhoo Hill is the highest peak of Shimla, which offers stunning views of the Shivalik Ranges. There is also an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman.
With an impressive history and architecture, visiting the Ridge and enjoying the spectacular beauty of Shimla will surely leave you awestruck.
