The Ridge road is also the venue for Summer festival, government functions and local celebrations during the New Year's Eve. Prominent landmarks on the Ridge are a neo-Gothic structure of Church from 1844 and a tudorbethan styled library building built in 1910[1]. There are at least three statues on the ridge; that of Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Dr. Y.S. Parmar, the first chief minister of Himachal Pradesh.

Proud capital of a proud state, Shimla finds it hard to wear an official look, filled, as it is, with holiday crowds that come to savour the delights of this year-round vacation spot. Covering an area of 18 sq km (7 sq miles) at an altitude of 2,206 metres (7,238 ft), with gurgling brooks, solemn forests of deodar and towering pine and green meads of asphodel, hyacinth and celandine, Shimla retains still, the glories of its perennial splendour. 

The biggest hillstation of the world, at one time the base ridge of Shimla had the thickest forest of the area, now the green slopes are covered with firs, pines, the Himalayan oak and carmine rhododendron trees, among which are dotted red-roofed chalets, half-timbered houses and Gothic Government buildings. 

The vast, levelled ground at the ridge, the famous evening rendezvous spot-the Scandal point, where people still gather to air 
or hear the latest gossip, be it political or otherwise, got its name over 50 years ago. It was at this very spot that the beautiful young daughter of a top British official, member of the Viceroy's household, eloped with a dashing young Indian prince. They were both fond of riding and one fine morning, after meeting at this predetermined spot, went off for, what Robert Browning might have called, "The Last Ride Together". After the lapse of a few days, the girl was talked into returning to her chagrined parents and the prince was forbidden the summer capital. 

It was said that no girl could resist his equestrain charms. Of course the 'prima donnas' of British society were shocked at the scandal which died down after many years, but the story of their escapade will live on immortalised by concrete, stone and the fragrant air of the pines. 

North of Chandigarh, approached from Kalka, a broadgauge terminus, by a toy train, or hill railway, using diesel engines, Shimla is 96 km (60 miles) away. The train passes through 105 tunnels and beautiful rail-road stations built to look like Swiss chalets nestling in the hills. It is also connected by an all-weather metalled road which goes up for 90 km (56 miles) winding its way through a succession of hairpin bends till it reaches the Cart Road terminus. Half way through the journey, after Solan, the lights of Shimla glow in the distance, looking like glimmering jewels studding the dark green of the mountains. The train which takes six hours, twice as long as the car, is much more romantic; the holiday begins at Kalka as the train chugs its way through hills, clothed with forests of chir pines; apricot and walnut and fields producing corn, paddy and the famous Shimla green peppers, or capsicum, while the crisp, clear fragrant air instantly revives dropping spirits crushed by the wilting heat. At every stop on the journey are smilling faces giving a warm welcome.