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The Ridge at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, By Pinakpani – Own work, commons

Top 10 Unbelievable Facts about The Ridge, Shimla 

The Ridge, Shimla is a beautiful place that is located in the center of Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is situated along the  Shimla Mall Road, which is a popular shopping center there. It is a wide-open space that gives you the feel of Europe and the street has no traffic vehicles.  

It is the major landmark and most recognized face of the hill station. It an also an e-commerce place for Shimla city. Before the British moved their administrative center to Shimla, the ridge was the main housing and market district of the small town. It is famous due it its Old Christ church that was built in the 1850’s and the Tudorbethan style library that  was established in 1910.

1. It has four historical statues

 There are four statues on the ridge including that of Mahatma Gandhi, he was a quite significant attachment to the city of Shimla. Therefore his statue was mounted in the middle of the popular Ridge area to commemorate his historic contribution. Indira Gandhi was the first woman prime minister of India. Her statue was mounted on a marble podium at the ridge of Shimla as an acknowledgment of her contribution to the country’s development.

The statue has inscriptions detailing the historic contributions of this influential woman. And Dr. Y.S. Parmar who was the first minister of Himachal Pradesh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the recently established statue.

2. There is a Christ church on the Ridge

The Ridge Road. Seen in the picture are the Church, and the State library, By User: Numerounovedant – Own work,

The Christ Church is the second oldest church in North India after St John’s Church in Meerut.  The church was located on the Ridge, which makes it stand out as one of the prominent landmarks of Shimla. The church was built in 1857 and was built in the neo-gothic style, it was to serve the largely Anglican British community, which was previously called Shimla.

It is one of the enduring legacies of the British Raj. It was designed by Colonel J.T. Boileau in 18844 and was consecrated on 10th January 1857 by Bishop Thomas Daltrey. It survived the 20th-century partition and the political upheavals on the Indian subcontinent. The church continues to be well maintained and is still in good condition.

3. There are old monuments on the ridge

On the Ridge road, there are old monuments that are worth to be checked out. They include the old library that was built in the 1860s, the neo-gothic building attracts visitors. It was previously known as the State Library and now it is called the Municipal Corporation Library, it is one of the most important cultural parts of Shimla city.

4. The Ridge houses the city’s lifeline i.e. Water reservoir

The Ridge is an essential part of Shimla since underneath it there are large water tanks placed from which water is supplied to the British-era tourist town. Therefore it houses the water reservoir with a capacity of 1,000,000 gallons of water. The reservoir is said to have been constructed in the 1880s with only lime mortar. It has been used as the main water supply for Shimla.

5. It is a venue for all major occasions held in Shimla

Shimla ridge panoramic view, By Gayathri Priyadarshini – Own work, Wiki

 At the Ridge, there are various government and fairs held there. The most popular festival held at the Ridge is the Summer Festival, which takes place during April or May. The place is usually splashed with colors and activities. Its five-day extravaganza has been taking place annually since the 1960s. Other major festivals that take place here include folk dances, flower shows, food festivals, ice skating festivals, and Himachali film festivals.

6. Winter sports Festival is coordinated at the Ridge

Shimla is the main spot in Asia to have a characteristic ice skating arena, therefore the winter sports festivals are coordinated at the Ridge.  The ice skating rivalry starts in December and proceeds until February. The celebration involves various energetic dances and music

7. It is a beautiful tourist attraction

The Ridge, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India, By Harvinder Chandigarh – Own work,

The ridge is a beautiful tourist attraction that is now covered with pine trees, Rhododendron, Himalayan Oak, and first trees, with an amazing view of Shimla and the hill nearby,  dotted with red-roofed chalets, half-timbered houses, and Gothic Government buildings that are visible from the Ridge.

8. Ridge is a popular shopping site

At the Ridge, you are likely to find shops ranging from the humble local grocers to the more upmarket international brands.  It is a popular shopping site with many shops selling handicrafts and other artifacts. There are also various cafes, shops, and bars that attract a large number of tourists. The west end of the Ridge is the most famous scandal point while on the east side there is the famous Lakkar Bazaar which is famous for wooden items and other handicrafts.

9. The Ridge experiences snowfall

The Ridge, Shimla, is covered in snow as seen from ‘Scandal Point.  By ShashankSharma2511,

The ridge provides soothing weather a year long. It is usually regarded that the best time to explore the ridge is between April to August and December to January. Tourists who visit the ridge from December to March are likely to experience what snowfall is like. Shimla and Manali receive an intense snowfall and the temperatures drop by 3 to 4 degrees. Therefore tourists who visit during this season tend to enjoy the weather so much.

10. The Ridge is a picturesque

The ridge is the most picturesque part of the hill station, it is overlaid with Rhodendron, pine, firs, and oak, therefore making Shimla tourism the best since it provides a spectacular and mind-blowing view, while you are looking both north towards the Himalayas and south towards the plains.

It is unique within India since there is usually no traffic, therefore, creating a calm atmosphere in the state capital.