Shimla is a small, idyllic hill station in The Indian Himalayas, one of the largest mountain ranges in the world. It was once the designated summer capital for The British. Now it is a charming, delightful hill station, perfect for getaways. I drove up to Shimla, from New Delhi with my friends this December. The views just get more and more fantastic as you reach a higher
altitude. They go from pastel yellow mustard fields, to deep verdant fields, and dense, evergreen forests. The trees rise higher and higher and the noise of the cities die down to give way to a peaceful, almost entrancing hush. The wind is ice cold and you can see the majestic, snow capped peaks in the horizon. They seem to go on forever, merging with the cerulean sky to form a dazzling picture, the kind you only see on postcards. The houses in Shimla are iridescent and tightly packed together, and it comes across as a badly planned, rather haphazard city. But it is this chaos and insanity that makes Shimla so unique and affable. The locals swarm around the place, red cheeked and robust, holding hands and walking gaily down the streets. They are friendly and
happy, carefree individuals, content with their lives.
The Mall Road is famous in Shimla. It is a long road, filled with restaurants, cafes and shops selling everything from vividly coloured woolen scarves to jewelry to handcrafted wooden artifacts. There is a famous shop- Trishool, which has been there for years, and it sells the most delicious cream rolls and éclairs, freshly made everyday. It is almost a crime to visit Shimla and not eat them. Monkeys are a part of everyday life in the mountains here. They casually leap about the streets and trees as if they own the place. They wake you up at the crack of dawn, when the mist is ice cold and the glorious orange sun is fighting its way out of the clouds to make its appearance and light up the sky. They thunder up and down the roof, and if you happen to have food in your hand, there isno way that it is yours anymore. I’ve seen monkeys cleverly steal Oreos, then perch on a branch and open the biscuits to lick the cream off. They glare at you for invading their space and then proceed to stride off like royalty. They are well respected and protected by the locals.
Shimla is beautiful at night. You sit outside, near a fire and you can breathe in the fresh, cold, clean air that is so different from that of the city. You look around and see yourself surrounded by the mountains in all their resplendent glory. You gaze at the black night sky, and you have never seen so many stars in one place. The stars and moon shine down brilliantly, illuminating everything around you with a perfect silver glow. You have never felt so peaceful or so distant from everything. It is worth visiting just for the spectacular views. They just give you a different perspective on things. You won’t ever forget it.
Goa is India’s smallest state, located on the West Coast and is a major tourist attraction. I stayed there for a week this December with my family and it was my fifth time visiting. Goa is a laid back, genial and charming place, vibrant and rich with culture. It is not uncommon to see foreigners, with their blond hair tied into dreadlocks, dressed in multi coloured hippie clothing, riding on scooters and exploring the place.
Goa is scorching hot in the daytime, with the sun streaming relentlessly down on you. There are famous shacks on the beach- Britto’s and Tito’s, which are always full, no matter what the season, filled with enthusiastic tourists, doing sheesha on the beach or drinking feni (the local alcohol, made with cashews). The food here is definitely something to rave about. The seafood is
delectable- crab, lobster, fish, prawns and their famous calamari dripping in butter. The pork vindaloo and sorpotel are something they are also renowned for. Their food also has Portuguese influences due to their colonizing of Goa in the past, hence the strong amounts of chili. I actually got to eat at a small, relatively unknown shack, where I had the most delicious pork chops, Goan sausage pulao and cows tongue- which sounds rather disgusting, but is scrumptious. The streets are full of vendors selling cold coconut water and sugarcane juice to quench the thirst of travellers dealing with the searing heat.
Goa has acclaimed flea markets. You walk into a crowded, loud flea market at Anjuna Beach and get lost in a sea of colours, scents, nationalities, languages and haggling. There are stalls selling gorgeous silver and turquoise jewelry, opalescent cloth bags, mirrors, brightly coloured clothes, saris and all the spices you can imagine, laid out before your eyes with their appealing aromas
drawing you in.
Goa also boasts beautiful architectural edifices. Its establishments have powerful Portuguese and Mughal inspirations. There are elegant looking churches and attractive temples. When you walk in, the insides are absolutely divine and calming. In the evening, when the skies are painted in hues of pink and purple, you go to the beach and indulge in the water sports offered there. My favourite has always been parasailing, where you feel like you’re on top of the world and everything seems so tiny and insignificant below you, just microscopic specs you needn’t worry about. The wind hits your face and you feel like you don’t have a care in the world. At night, Goa is cool and compelling. The beaches draw you in, to sit on the silver sand and hear the crash of the waves of the Arabian Sea against the shore. There are a lot of musicians who perform live at restaurants, bars, shacks and pubs. They tend to sing the older songs of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and The Eagles. You sit back, enjoy your drink and feel like you have been thrown back into the past. Everyone around you is humming along and they all look
pacified and content.
Goa has a raging nightlife, with their numerous clubs and bars. Pretty girls and young men, enter clubs ready to dance the night away. The drinks keep coming, the music keeps playing and no one
gets off their feet. You party till dawn, and then go to a shack to eat a hearty breakfast and enjoy some nutella crepes. You finally hit the bed and close your eyes, only to wake up to the same captivating paradise.
These are only two of the hundreds of wonderful marvels India has to offer. Every place is unique and I urge you to go and travel and see the sights. I guarantee they will change you.