The Ridge, Shimla
The Ridge road is a huge open space, situated in the center of Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, India. The Ridge is the center point of every social activity of Shimla. It is located along the Mall Road, which is the popular shopping center of Shimla. Most significant spots of Shimla like Snowdon, Mall, Jakhoo slope, and so forth are associated through the Ridge.
It runs east to the west close by the Mall Road and goes along with it at the Scandal Point on the west side. On the east side, The Ridge road leads to Lakkar Bazaar, a wooden crafts market. It’s the real milestone and the most effectively perceived face of the hill station. At the point when winter sets in and when the nation had its first significant snowfall of the year, most papers printed photographs of the ridge submerged in clusters of fresh snow.
Famous landmarks on the Ridge region neo-Gothic structure of Church from 1844 and a Tudorbethan styled library building constructed in 1910. There are three statues on the ridge; that of Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Dr. Y.S. Parmar, the first CM of Himachal Pradesh.
The greatest hill station of the world, at one time the base ridge of Shimla had the thickest forest of the region, presently the green slopes are secured with firs, pines, the Himalayan oak and carmine rhododendron trees, among which are dotted red-roofed chalets, half-timbered houses and Gothic Government buildings are noticeable from The Ridge.
Importance
Underneath the Ridge, huge water tanks are placed from which water is provided to the British era tourist town. The Ridge houses the city’s help in terms of the water reservoir, with a capacity of 1000000 gallons of water, underneath it. As a result of the way that these tanks are fundamentally huge in size, they have been utilized as the principal water supply for Shimla. The reservoir is stated to have been developed during the 1880s, without utilizing any cement and just lime mortar was utilized.
The Ridge is well known for the different government functions and fairs that are held here. It is generally the venue for every single such festival and occasions. The best- known celebration that is held at the Ridge is the Summer Festival. This renowned celebration is held during the long periods of April or May and the entire of Shimla wakes up with colors and a riot of activities. Prominent landmarks on The Ridge incorporate Christ Church, a neo-Gothic structure constructed during the 1850s, and a Tudorbethan-styled library building.