Ridge, Shimla Overview

Located in the heart of the 'British Summer Capital' - Shimla, The Ridge is a wide open street located on the side of Shimla Mall Road. The Ridge has everything, from shops selling some exclusive artefacts to the spectacular view of the snow-capped mountain ranges set against an orangish hued sky. It is famous for a lot of things, but best known for shopping. This place is a delight for all kinds of tourists, and the old British establishments beckon visitors from all over to this centre of the beautiful hill station. The Ridge is the most recognised face of Shimla. It is often the most photographed part of the hill station covered with pine, firs, Himalayan Oak and Rhododendron trees.

The Ridge is not just a market place but also the social hub of the city. This wide open space is thronged by locals and nature enthusiasts as well as travellers bored of the sightseeing. The road is lined with cafes, bars, boutiques, shops and restaurants attracting the huge crowd that visit the famous Mall Road. It runs from east to west on the side of the Mall Road and connects it to the famous Scandal Point on the west end. On the east end, it is connected to the Lakkar Bazaar, which is the most famous wooden crafts market in Shimla. Shimla's rich past is evident from the Gothic buildings standing in this part of the town.

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Significance of The Ridge

The Ridge is an indispensable part of Shimla. Apart from being the cultural centre, it houses the city's lifeline -the water reservoir with the capacity of storing 1000000 gallons of water. These water tanks placed under the Ridge supply water to the entire town. This water tank was built in the 1880s with only lime mortar.

Various government functions and fairs are also held at the Ridge. It is the venue for all the major occasions held in Shimla. The most famous festival held here is the Summer Festival. This festival takes place during April or May, making the entire place a riot of colours and activities. It is a five-day extravaganza and has been taking place every year since the 1960s. The major events in this festival are folk dances, flower shows, food festival, ice skating festival and Himachali film festival.

A Winter Sports Festival is organised at the Ridge. Shimla is the only place in Aisa to have a natural ice skating rink. The ice skating competition usually begins in December and continues until February. The festival sees a lot of lively dance and music.

Historical Structures at Ridge in Shimla

The Ridge has three historical statues of the great Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Y.S. Parmar, the first chief minister of Himachal Pradesh. The place has a Tudorbethan style library established in 1910. The Ridge is also Famous because of its Old Christ church which was built in the 1850's.

Best Time to Visit Ridge

The Ridge garners tourists all round the year. However, the best time to visit is from April to August and December to January. A good time to visit the place can also be during the summer festival. The local authorities organize the summer festival every year. During this period the Ridge becomes the cultural activities hub of Shimla.