Daily Times

Many a times you must have heard about places that are said to be heaven on Earth, but this place I am writing about is really a paradise on this planet and hidden from many of us. There is an air of serenity, contentment and peacefulness at this place and you will inhale the most sweetest and aromatic fresh air while standing on its top. This is Shimla Hill only 10 kilometres away from the main beautiful city of Abbottabad.

Shimla Hill has a mesmerising park as well. I was visiting the place in Ramazan this year and saw the locals of the area taking their iftar to this park and later enjoying the iftar in the most beautiful place on this earth. I don’t know why but there is tranquility and peace in the air of this place. You will feel that you are away from the worldly worries and tensions and there is some spell around you holding you gently and soothing your mind and nerves.

Abbottabad is never hot like Lahore and when I started my journey to Shimla from Abbottabad, the weather changed unexpectedly and got more pleasant and that was beyond belief. The entire road to Shimla is well maintained and carpeted and it is very safe at night as well because there are street lights on the entire road which leads you to the top of the mesmerising hill. I was so much in love with this place that I never wanted to come back and extended my stay there.

You will see a typical mountainous life there and small road side shops having all necessary eatables and goods. The locals told me that most of the time visitors come to enjoy the month of November and January, because of its cold and frosty climate but when I was there in the hot May I didn’t feel any less than the month of November because the climate is so pure pollution free and fragrant of the small shrubs and pines is in the air soothing your mind and body.

At the park which is a little away from the hill top you will see families, tourists and visitors enjoying sitting, hiking tracks, walking at Shimla Hill station in the top of the mountains and eating the local recipes of that area. This is such a pure life.

The population in this area is not much and presently land is being sold to people there but I am afraid that while building houses people might not harm the beauty of this place.

Basically as per the locals there, Shimla Hill or Shimla Pahari is a hill of the Sherwan range extending to the west of Abbottabad. While you are going to this place a road will take you Sherwan as well and the signages are placed there. What a systematic city it is and I appreciate the efforts of the government.

Let me tell you that the name Shimla is derived from the Hindko word Shamla or Shumla, which means the crest of a turban.

Since the Sherwan range at this point comes up to Abbottabad in the shape of a crest, or ridge therefore this place became to be known as Shimla.

Let me tell you a little about Sherwan here which is a Union council of Abbottabad District in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Sherwan is a village or rather a couple of villages almost adjoining each other and known as Sherwan Kalan and Sherwan Khurd. If you are visiting Shimla you can take a drive through Sherwan as well and experience the beauty of nature.

Interesting thing is that Turks, Sikhs and British have ruled Sherwan. There is also a fort in Sherwan which was built by the Sikhs.

Well let us come back to the dreamy hill of Shimla which has become my love and I would suggest everyone to visit this place if you want to free your mind from all the materialistic worries. Go to the hill top and sit under the sky touching pine trees and feel the aroma of the place. I bet you would never want to come back.

Shimla’s breezy, pine-clad top is woven with tracks which are scenic and give you best landscape views. While you are on the road to Shimla you can take fine panoramas of the town and its surroundings and yes you will see the settlement of Abbottabad from there. If by chance you are at the hill top at night the valley of Abbottabad will be glittering with lights as if stars have come down to this earth and settled there. What a breathtaking view it is.

The people of this place do not belong to this planet because I have not seen such humble and gentle people anywhere. They are so generous that they would offer you their Iftar, dinner, Sehri or even water. Hospitality is at its peak there and you will adore the people of this area. You will not at all feel unsafe there and people will help you out to their best in whatever you need. I think the air of this place is humble and amazingly you will see smiling faces and tension free foreheads.

I think this place should be projected more so that it becomes a real tourist hub. Although, there are facilities for tourists but marketing of this place is missing. It’s best for videographers and photographers who’re seeking unique spaces and landscape views. It’s a must visit site for all who live here in Pakistan because these places need to be explored by us so that we know how much beauty is hidden in Pakistan.

The writer can be reached at taniashahab2016@gmail.com