So called the heart of Shimla, The Mall is the most attracting thing in the town. The Mall is the centre of Shimla's buzzing social life. It is a fairly level meandering esplanade that runs along the ridge. Tourists, both Indian and foreign, mingle with the locals and uniformed schoolchildren. An amazing multitude of honeymooners, bright and beautifully clad young couples, flock to this hill resort from all over India, and stand coyly to be photographed. In the heyday of the British, the Mall often saw officers resplendent in their uniforms, memsahib in beautiful gowns and proud nannies behind baby prams taking their evening walk.
It was just the place to see and be seen at. And as everyone wanted to be seen, it remained most crowded during the high season. The Mall stretches between Barnes Court in the east to the Vice regal Lodge in the west. There's a passenger lift connecting Cart Road to the (eastern) Mall. The main bazaar is concentrated along the middle and has many restaurants and most of the interesting buildings of Shimla. |
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