Mall In Shimla
Mall in Shimla is the heart of the small town. Mall is the main commercial hub of Shimla. Constructed during the British Raj, the mall used to cater to the fashionable lifestyle of English men. The mall still exits there with some old and some new shops. It is a favorite haunt with the people of Shimla.
The mall in Shimla caters as the main shopping area for the residents of the city. All good shops, restaurants, banquets, movie theatres, are located on the mall road. The mall is a long stretch that starts from the Barnes court in the Eastern side to the Viceroy Lodge in the West.
The mall can be best enjoyed by taking a walk on the pavements. A little bit of window shopping and a little serious shopping can turn out to be an exciting experience. The mall road is called a walker's paradise because the entry of vehicles is not permitted on the road. You can walk freely enjoying the old structures on the mall. The whole crowd of Shimla as well as the tourists can be seen roaming on the mall road in the evening or during a sunny afternoon.
What To See At The Mall Road:
Shops: The mall has branded shops selling cloths and accessories. There are some very old shops that sell antiques and crafts. Tourists can find shops that sell woolen garments, potteries, books, and handicrafts of Himachal Pradesh.
Gaiety Theatre: Gaiety theatre is the oldest theatre of Shimla. The building has got a classical architecture and is a tourist spot in itself. The theatre is a major center for cultural activities like dance, music, and drama.
Restaurants: The mall has some of the best eating places of Shimla. French, Italian, Chinese, North Indian, South Indian, all kinds of cuisine are available here. Old shops like Coffee House still exist on the mall road. Some restaurants are so old that they transplant the visitors to the British time.
Things Around Shimla's mall road:
- Scandal Point: This point has a scandalous history behind it. It is said that the Maharaja of Patiala had kidnapped the Viceroy's daughter at this point. Since then this place is called the "scandal point". At present the scandal point is the meeting point for young girls and boys of Shimla.
- Kali Bari Temple: This temple is very old. It was constructed in 1845. The main idol in this temple is of Goddess Kali. In early times there was a wooden picture of Goddess Kali. When the British came to Shimla they made a wooden structure which is the present Kali Bari.
- General Post Office: The general post has a very amusing system of delivering mail by Tonga. The post office building is a wooden structure and again reminds the visitors of the British influence over Shimla.
The mall in Shimla is an iconic location which once used to be a favorite place for the Britishers.