The Summer Capital of India

Hello from Shimla!  I'm quite near the mountains (the Himalayas) here, so I have a lovely view from the hotel where I'm staying.

I've also learned a lot about Indian history in Shimla.  For over one hundred years Britain ruled India.  Shimla was the capital of India during the summer.  It's only a small town so I was surprised to find it used to be a capital city!

Then, in 1947, India became independent.  This means it has its own government and its own Prime Minister.  Indian people vote for the government, just like Adam, Robin and Grace's mum and dad vote in elections in the UK.

Here is a building that was very important in India's history.  It's called the 'Viceregal Lodge'.

After 1947, the Viceregal Lodge was the summer home of the Indian Prime Minister.  Don't you think it looks like a nice place to come on your summer holidays?

I wonder if Adam, Robin and Grace can find out who is the Indian Prime Minister today?

After learning so much history I was rather tired so I went for tea in a nice hotel.  It was so big that you can hardly see me in the arm chair!

I also saw lots of monkeys in Shimla.  One of them had stolen somebody's glasses.  When I leave the hotel I have to make sure I close all the windows in case a monkey jumps into my hotel room!

Here are some cheeky monkeys on a car.  I didn't get too close though.  I didn't want the monkeys to run off with me like they run away with pairs of glasses!

The Golden Temple

Hi.  I've spent the last few days travelling around India by train!

Here's a picture of me taking the 'toy train' to Shimla.  I'm sure Adam, Robin and Grace will be able to find Shimla on a map.

It's called the 'toy train' because it's smaller than the other trains I've been on (not because there are lots of toys on it, unfortunately).  It goes up into the hills where it's nice and cool, which is good because my fur is a bit warm for the rest of India!

Before taking the toy train, I visited a town called Amritsar.  It has the largest temple in the world for people who follow a religion called Sikhism.  It's a very beautiful place.

Here's the temple at night time.

And here it is in the daylight.

I wonder if Adam, Robin and Grace can find out three things about the Sikh religion in their screen time?  Perhaps they could post their findings in the comments section on my blog?  For example, I wonder if they could find out what the 'five Ks' are?  Here's a clue - Sikhs wear them all the time!