Scandal Point Scandal Point is where The Mall joins
The Ridge on the west side. The name arose from the commotion caused by the supposed elopement of a British lady with an Indian maharaja. The story goes that the
Maharaja of Patiala had eloped with the daughter of the
British Viceroy. This had led to the Maharaja being banished from entering Shimla by the British authorities. He countered the move by setting himself a new summer capital – now famous hill resort of
Chail, 45 km from Shimla. The most prominent feature of the point today is a statue of the Indian freedom fighter
Lala Lajpat Rai (no relation to the scandal). Next to Scandal Point is General Post Office.
The Gaiety Theatre The Gaiety Theatre, located on the Mall, was opened on 30 May 1887. Many popular film personalities have performed on its stage. Today, the Gaiety is primarily known for its social club. Schools in Shimla use this theatre for
performing arts. The theatre has been renovated, with the original structure untouched to keep its heritage preserved while making it more attractive.
Kali Bari Temple The Kali Bari temple was built in 1845 by
Bengalis who had come to
Simla (summer capital of
British India) as British servants from
Calcutta (capital of India that time). It is dedicated to the goddess
Kali. It is believed that in an ancient temple of Shimla, the goddess Kali existed, near Jakhoo. In the temple a wooden image is worshiped locally.
Town Hall The Town Hall was constructed in 1908 and was designed by the Scottish architect James Ransome. The building has been the centre of municipal activities since the beginning and it currently houses the
Shimla Municipal Corporation. The building adds to the surrounding architecture, reminiscent of the pre-independence era. The large steps and the entrance to this building are a common site for pictures depicting the Mall at Shimla. A project was started in 2014 to restore the building to its original look and more than 8 crore rupees were spent in renovating this colonial architectural marvel. ==References==