Shimla

This then,  is Shimla.  At 2200metres above sea level and set on the side of a mountain in the western Himalayas,

 it is the capital of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh with a population of about 180,000 people.  

  

When you are here it certainly feels like you are on top of the world looking down at everything.

During the Victorian era it was declared the summer capital of British India and many of the buildings provide a reminder of the Colonial days before independance.

I've not heard of the expression before but apparently this style of architecture is known as "tudorbethan" !!

Shimla was used extensively as a location for filming the television series  " Jewel in the crown "

If the pictures are too small for you,  just click on them for a full size view.

Now this really pleases me,  the first waste bin I've seen in India !!   And signs banning rubbish and smoking.   It's a real pleasure to walk around with no litter and filth.  Why on earth can't they do the same in other Indian states ??

Near to my hotel is a small township called Khalini,  it's a sort of suburb of Shimla and I've been using the local shops.

Corner shop !!

Hairdresser !

So the old geezer got his haircut in India.

And it was the best haircut I've ever had.

Beard trim, nose, ears, eyebrows the full works.

And it came to the princely sum of ...  60 rupees !
 ( that works out to about about 75p ).

I actually gave him 200 rupees because I was so pleased

and you would have thought he'd won the lottery !

Finally, this is for Josh and Harry.

This man is sitting on the road outside of the shops.

On the blanket in front of him is a live Cobra snake !!

It's supposed to be good luck to touch a Cobra

( it's good luck if it doesn't bite you !)

So you give the man some rupees and he lets you touch the snake.