Shimla - Wikipedia

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Shimla

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimla

Coordinates: 31612N 771020E

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shimla (Hindi: ; Punjabi: ;

English pronunciation: /ml/; Hindi: [mla]), also known as
Simla, is the capital and largest city of the northern Indian
state of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla is also a district which is
bounded by Mandi and Kullu in the north, Kinnaur in the
east, the state of Uttarakhand in the south-east, and Solan and
Sirmaur. In 1864, Shimla was declared as the summer capital
of British India, succeeding Murree, northeast of Rawalpindi.
After independence, the city became the capital of Punjab
and was later named the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It is
the principal commercial, cultural and educational centre of
the hilly regions of the state. As of 2011, the city had
171,817 permanent residents, and was one of the least
populous capital cities in India.
Small hamlets were recorded prior to 1815 when the English
forces took control of the area. The climatic conditions
attracted the British to establish the city in the dense forests
of Himalayas. As the summer capital, Shimla hosted many
important political meetings including the Simla Accord of
1914 and the Simla Conference of 1945. After independence,
the state of Himachal Pradesh came into being in 1948 as a
result of integration of 28 princely states. Even after
independence, the city remained an important political
centre, hosting the Simla Agreement of 1972. After the
reorganisation, the Mahasu district and its major portion
were merged with Shimla. Its name is derived from the
goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu goddess
Kali. As of 2011 Shimla comprises 19 hill states, namely
Baghal, Baghat, Balsan, Bashahr, Bhajji, Bija, Darkoti,
Dhami, Jubbal, Keonthal, Kumharsain, Kunihar, Kuthar,
Mahlog, Mangal, Nalagarh (Hindur), Sangri and Tharoch.
Shimla is home to a number of buildings that are styled in
the Tudorbethan and neo-Gothic architectures dating from
the colonial era, as well as multiple temples and churches.
The colonial architecture and churches, the temples and the
natural beauty of the city attract a large number of tourists.
The major attractions include the Viceroy Lodge, the Christ
Church, the Jakhoo Temple, the Mall Road and the Ridge,
which together form the city centre. The KalkaShimla
Railway line built by the British, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, is also a major tourist attraction. Owing to its steep
terrain, Shimla hosts the mountain biking race MTB
Himalaya, which started in 2005 and is regarded as the
biggest event of its kind in South Asia. Shimla also has the
largest natural ice skating rink in South Asia. The ice skating
season usually begins in the start of December and goes on
till the end of February. Apart from being a tourism centre,
the city is also an educational hub with a number of colleges
and research institutions. The city also has sporting venues
like the Indira Gandhi Rajya Khel Parisar, the main sports

Shimla
Capital

Clockwise from top: Skyline at Shimla Southern

Side, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Town
Hall, Night view of Shimla and Christ Church.
Nickname(s): Queen of Hills

Shimla

Show map of Himachal Pradesh

Show map of India
Show all

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complex and the Naldehra Golf Club.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimla

Coordinates: 31612N 771020E

Country

Contents
1 History
2 Geography
3 Climate
4 Economy
5 Civic administration
6 Demographics
7 Culture
8 Education
9 Places of interest
10 Transport
10.1 Road
10.2 Air
10.3 Rail
11 Media and communications
12 Notable people born in Shimla
13 Notable people educated in Shimla
14 Gallery
15 Sister cities
16 See also
17 References

History
The vast majority of the area occupied by the present-day
Shimla city was dense forest during the 18th century. The
only civilisation consisted of the Jakhoo temple and a few
scattered houses.[5] The area was called 'Shimla', named after
a Hindu goddess, Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of Kali.[1]

State
District
Named for
Government
Mayor
Area[2]
Capital

India
Himachal Pradesh
Shimla
Hindu goddess Shyamala
Devi[1]
Sanjay Chauhan

Area rank

35.34 km2 (13.64 sq mi)

1st

Elevation

2,276 m (7,467 ft)

Population (2011)[3][4]
Capital
169,578
Rank
1 (in HP)
Density
4,800/km2 (12,000/sq mi)
Metro[3]

171,640

Languages
Official

Hindi, English

Time zone

IST (UTC+5:30)

PIN
Telephone code
ISO 3166 code
Vehicle
registration
Climate
Precipitation
Avg. annual
temperature
Avg. summer
temperature
Avg. winter
temperature

171 001
91 177 XXX XXXX
ISO 3166-2
HP-03, HP-51, HP-52
Cwb
1,577 mm (62 in)
13 C (55 F)
18 C (64 F)
5 C (41 F)

The area of
Website
hpshimla.gov.in
present-day
(http://hpshimla.gov.in/)
Shimla was
invaded and
captured by Bhimsen Thapa of Nepal in 1806. The British East India
Company took control of the territory as per the Sugauli Treaty after
the Anglo-Nepalese War (181416). The Gurkha leaders were quelled
by storming the fort of Malaun under the command of David
Ochterlony in May 1815. In a diary entry dated 30 August 1817, the
Gerard brothers, who surveyed the area, describe Shimla as "a
The bridge connecting Shimla with Chhota
middling-sized village where a fakir is situated to give water to the
Shimla, originally erected in 1829 by Lord
travellers". In 1819, Lieutenant Ross, the Assistant Political Agent in
Combermere, Shimla, 1850s
the Hill States, set up a wood cottage in Shimla. Three years later, his
successor and the Scottish civil servant Charles Pratt Kennedy built the
first pucca house in the area in 1822, near what is now the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly building. The
accounts of the Britain-like climate started attracting several British officers to the area during the hot Indian
summers. By 1826, some officers had started spending their entire vacation in Shimla. In 1827, Lord Amherst, the
Governor-General of Bengal, visited Shimla and stayed in the Kennedy House. A year later, Lord Combermere, the
Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in India, stayed at the same residence. During his stay, a three-mile road

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and a bridge were constructed near Jakhu. In 1830, the British acquired the surrounding land from the chiefs of
Keonthal and Patiala in exchange for the Rawin pargana and a portion of the Bharauli pargana. The settlement
grew rapidly after this, from 30 houses in 1830 to 1,141 houses in 1881.[5][6]
In 1832, Shimla saw its first political meeting: between the Governor-General William Bentinck and the emissaries
of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In a letter to Colonel Churchill, he wrote:[7]

Shimla is only four days march from Loodianah (Ludhiana), is easy of access, and proves a very
agreeable refuge from the burning plains of Hindoostaun (Hindustan).

Combermere's successor Earl Dalhousie visited Shimla in the same year. After this, the town saw regular visits
from the Governors General and Commanders-in-Chief of British India. A number of young British officers started
visiting the area to socialise with the higher-ups; they were followed by ladies looking for marriage alliances for
their relatives. Shimla thus became a hill station famous for balls, parties and other festivities. Subsequently,
residential schools for pupils from upper-class families were established nearby. By the late 1830s, the city also
became a centre for theatre and art exhibitions. As the population increased, a number of bungalows were built and
a big bazaar was established in the town. The Indian businessmen, mainly from Sood and Parsi communities,
arrived in the area to cater to the needs of the growing European population. On 9 September 1844 the foundation
of the Christ Church was laid. Subsequently, several roads were widened and the construction of the
Hindustan-Tibet road with a 560-feet tunnel was taken up in 185152. This tunnel, now known as the Dhalli
Tunnel, was started by a Major Briggs in 1850 and completed in the winter of 185152.[8] The 1857 uprising
caused a panic among the European residents of the town, but Shimla remained largely unaffected by the
rebellion.[5]
In 1863, the Viceroy of India, John Lawrence, decided to shift
the summer capital of the British Raj to Shimla.[5] He took the
trouble of moving the administration twice a year between
Calcutta and this separate centre over 1,000 miles away,
despite the fact that it was difficult to reach.[9] Lord Lytton
(Viceroy of India 18761880) made efforts to plan the town
from 1876, when he first stayed in a rented house, but began
plans for a Viceregal Lodge, later built on Observatory Hill. A
fire cleared much of the area where the native Indian
population lived (the "Upper Bazaar" nowadays known as the
Ridge[10]), and the planning of the eastern end to become the
Rashtrapati Niwas, Shimla, former "Viceregal
centre of the European town forced them to live in the Middle
Lodge", built 1888
and Lower Bazaars on the lower terraces descending the steep
slopes from the Ridge. The Upper Bazaar was cleared for a
town hall, with many facilities such as library and theatre, as well as offices for police and military volunteers as
well as municipal administration.
During the "Hot Weather", Shimla was also the Headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief, India, the head of the
Indian Army, and many Departments of the Government. The summer capital of the regional Government of the
Punjab moved from Murree, in modern-day Pakistan, to Shimla in 1876. They were joined by many of the British
wives and daughters of the men who remained on the plains. Together these formed Shimla Society, which,
according to Charles Allen,[11] "was as close as British India ever came to having an upper crust." This may have
been helped by the fact that it was very expensive, having an ideal climate and thus being desirable, as well as
having limited accommodation. British soldiers, merchants and civil servants moved here each year to escape from
the heat during summer in the Indo-Gangetic plain. The presence of many bachelors and unattached men, as well
as the many women passing the hot weather there, gave Shimla a reputation for adultery, and at least gossip about
adultery: as Rudyard Kipling said in a letter cited by Allen, it had a reputation for "frivolity, gossip and intrigue".
(See also.[12])
The 500-foot (150 m) Lower Bazaar tunnel was built in 1905 and christened Khachhar Surang. The Elysium tunnel
(now known as the Auckland Tunnel), about 120 feet (37 m) in length, was also built in 1905.[8]

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Passenger train on the Kalka-Shimla Railway

route

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimla

The KalkaShimla railway line, constructed in 1906, added to

Shimla's accessibility and popularity. The railway route from
Kalka to Shimla, with more than 806 bridges and 103 tunnels, was
touted as an engineering feat and came to be known as the
"British Jewel of the Orient".[12] In 2008, it became part of the
UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mountain railways of India.[13] In
addition, Shimla was the capital of the undivided state of Punjab
in 1871, and remained so until the construction of the new city of
Chandigarh (the present-day capital of the Indian states of Punjab
and Haryana). Upon the formation of the state of Himachal
Pradesh in 1971, Shimla was named its capital.

After independence the Chief

Commissioner's Province of H.P. came
into being on 15 April 1948 as a result of integration of 28 petty princely states
(including feudatory princes and zaildars) in the promontories of the western Himalaya,
known in full as the Shimla Hills States & four Punjab southern hill states by issue of
the Himachal Pradesh (Administration) Order, 1948 under Sections 3 & 4 of the ExtraProvincial Jurisdiction Act, 1947 (later renamed as the Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947
vide A.O. of 1950). The State of Bilaspur was merged in the Himachal Pradesh on 1
April 1954 by the Himachal Pradesh and Bilaspur (New State) Act, 1954. Himachal
became a part C state on 26 January 1950 with the implementation of the Constitution
of India and the Lt. Governor was appointed. Legislative Assembly was elected in 1952.
Himachal Pradesh became a Union Territory on 1 November 1956.[14] Following area
of Punjab State namely Shimla, Kangra, Kulu and Lahul and Spiti Districts, Nalagarh
tehsil of Ambala District, Lohara, Amb and Una kanungo circles, some area of
Entrance of the Crow
Santokhgarh kanungo circle and some other specified area of Una tehsil of Hoshiarpur
Brough Rest House
District besides some parts of Dhar Kalan Tehsil of Pathankot District; were merged
built in 1921.
with Himachal Pradesh on 1 November 1966 on enactment of Punjab Reorganisation
Act, 1966 by the Parliament. On 18 December 1970, the State of Himachal Pradesh Act
was passed by Parliament and the new state came into being on 25 January 1971. Thus Himachal emerged as the
eighteenth state of the Indian Union.[14]
Pre-independence structures still dot Shimla; buildings such as the former Viceregal Lodge, Auckland House,
Christ Church, Gorton Castle, Shimla Town Hall and the Gaiety Theatre are reminders of British rule in India.
[15][16] The original Peterhoff, another Viceregal residence, burned down in 1981. British Shimla extended about a
mile and a half along the ridge between Jakhoo Hill and Prospect Hill. The central spine was the Mall, which ran
along the length of the ridge, with a Mall Extension southwards, closed to all carriages except those of the Viceroy
and his wife.

Geography
Shimla lies in the south-western ranges of the Himalayas at
31.61N 77.10E. It has an average altitude of 2,206 metres (7,238 ft)
above mean sea level and extends along a ridge with seven spurs. The
city stretches nearly 9.2 kilometres (5.7 mi) from east to west.[17]
Shimla was built on top of a total of seven different hills namely:
Inverarm Hill, Observatory Hill, Prospect Hill, Summer Hill, Bantony
Hill, Elysium Hill and Jakhoo Hill. The highest point in Shimla is the
Jakhoo hill, which is at a height of 2,454 metres (8,051 ft).
The city is a Zone IV (High Damage Risk Zone) per the Earthquake
hazard zoning of India. Weak construction techniques and an
increasing population pose a serious threat to the already earthquake
prone region.[18][19] There are no bodies of water near the main city

Simla and Jutogh, 1911 map

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and the closest river, the Sutlej, is about 21 km (13 mi) away.[20] Other
rivers that flow through the Shimla district, although further from the city,
are the Giri, and Pabbar (both tributaries of Yamuna).
The green belt in the Shimla planning area is spread over 414 hectares
(1,020 acres).[12] The main forests in and around the city are of pine,
deodar, oak and rhododendron.[21] Environmental degradation due to the
increasing number of tourists every year without the infrastructure to
support them has resulted in Shimla losing its popular appeal as an
ecotourism spot.[22] Another rising concern in the region are the frequent
number of landslides that often take place after heavy rains.[18][23]

Skating at Simla, c. 1905

Climate
Shimla features a subtropical highland climate (Cwb) under the Kppen climate classification. The climate in
Shimla is predominantly cool during winters and moderately warm during summer.[24] Temperatures typically
range from 4 C (25 F) to 31 C (88 F) over the course of a year.[25] The average temperature during summer is
between 19 and 28 C (66 and 82 F), and between 1 and 10 C (30 and 50 F) in winter. Monthly precipitation
varies between 15 millimetres (0.59 in) in November and 434 millimetres (17.1 in) in August. It is typically around
45 millimetres (1.8 in) per month during winter and spring, and around 175 millimetres (6.9 in) in June as the
monsoon approaches. The average total annual precipitation is 1,575 millimetres (62 in), which is much less than
most other hill stations but still much heavier than on the plains. Snowfall in the region, which historically has
taken place in the month of December, has lately (over the last fifteen years) been happening in January or early
February every year.[26] The maximum snowfall received in recent times was 38.6 centimetres (15.2 in) on 18
January 2013. On two consecutive days (17 and 18 January 2013), the town received 63.6 centimetres (25.0 in) of
snow.[27]
Climate data for Shimla (19712000)
Month

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Year

Record high 21.4

C (F)
(70.5)

22.6
(72.7)

25.8
(78.4)

29.6
(85.3)

32.4
(90.3)

31.5
(88.7)

28.9
(84)

27.8
(82)

28.6
(83.5)

25.6
(78.1)

23.5
(74.3)

20.5
(68.9)

32.4
(90.3)

Average
9.3
high C (F) (48.7)

10.3
(50.5)

14.5
(58.1)

19.8
(67.6)

23.0
(73.4)

23.8
21.3
(74.8) (70.3)

20.5
(68.9)

20.4
(68.7)

18.9
(66)

15.4
(59.7)

11.9
(53.4)

17.5
(63.5)

Average low 1.7

C (F)
(35.1)

2.4
(36.3)

6.1
(43)

10.8
(51.4)

13.6
(56.5)

15.1
14.6
(59.2) (58.3)

14.2
(57.6)

12.9
(55.2)

10.5
(50.9)

7.0
(44.6)

4.0
(39.2)

9.5
(49.1)

Record low
C (F)

8.5
(16.7)

6.1
(21)

1.3
(29.7)

1.4
(34.5)

10.6
(51.1)

5.0
(41)

0.2
(32.4)

1.1
(30)

12.2
(10)

12.2
(10)

10.6
(12.9)

7.8
(46)

9.4
(48.9)

Average
53.0
63.8
68.9
61.3
83.8 185.3 333.0 296.7 148.7 36.3
22.5
21.4 1,374.6
precipitation
(2.087) (2.512) (2.713) (2.413) (3.299) (7.295) (13.11) (11.681) (5.854) (1.429) (0.886) (0.843) (54.118)
mm (inches)
Average
42
snowfall cm
(16.5)
(inches)

43
(16.9)

7
(2.8)

0
(0)

0
(0)

0
(0)

0
(0)

0
(0)

0
(0)

0
(0)

0
(0)

7
(2.8)

99
(39)

Average
rainy days

4.5

5.3

5.9

4.6

6.3

10.1

17.2

16.2

8.8

2.2

1.5

1.8

84.5

Average
snowy days

4.2

4.2

1.4

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.1

1.3

11.2

Source: India Meteorological Department (record high and low up to 2010, snow, 19902010)[28][29][30]

Economy
Employment is largely driven by the government and tourism sectors.[31] Education sector and horticultural

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produce processing comprise most of the remainder.

Recently a Model Career Centre has been set-up at US
Club Shimla under the National Career Service, India
flagship of the Ministry of Labour and Employment
Govt. of India to help connect job-seekers with
employers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimla

Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital at Shimla

In addition to being the local hub of transport and

trade, Shimla is the area's healthcare centre, hosting a medical college and four major hospitals:[32] Indira Gandhi
Hospital (Snowdown Hospital,) Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital (formerly called Ripon Hospital), Kamla Nehru
Hospital and Indus Hospital. The city's development plan aims make Shimla an attractive health tourism spot.[31]
The hotel industry is one of the major source of income generation for the city. Shimla leads the list of Indian cities
with the highest ranked hotels.[33]
Shimla had always been famous for its quality of education and lots of
important schools have been imparting quality education throughout the
state. Along with schools of higher education, several institutes are also
present namely Himachal Pradesh University and Indian Institute of
Advanced Study. Recruitment to the IAAS is through the joint
competitive examinations (the Civil Services Examination) and through
promotion from the subordinate cadre. Once recruited to IAAS, the
directly recruited officers are trained mainly at the National Academy of
Audit and Accounts, Shimla.[34] Students from across India prefer to
study in Shimla because of its climate and Queen of Hill Stations status.
These has been adding to the economy of the district as well as the
State.

National Academy of Audits and

Accounts, Yarrows.

Government is trying to promote technology and IT sector as the new

area for growth and promotion[35] although not many companies have yet settled in Shimla. There are many new
startups in and around Shimla. There are over 6 different call centre's in Shimla. Some major call centres are
Alturist Technologies, 31 Parallel. Two notable companies that are registered in Shimla are Netgen IT Solutions,
an international website development startup with partner offices in USA and Australia, and Himachal Media, a
company that deals with content and media publishing.

Civic administration
The administrative responsibilities of the city of Shimla and the
surrounding planning areas of Dhalli, Totu and New Shimla reside
with the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC). All three areas
were taken under SMC in 200607. Established in 1851, the Shimla
Municipal Corporation is an elected body comprising 27
councillors, three of whom are nominated by the Government of
Himachal Pradesh.[17] The nominations are based on prominence in
the fields of social service, academics and other activities.
Thirty-three percent of seats are reserved for women. The elections
Town Hall as seen from The Ridge
take place every five years and the mayor and deputy mayor are
elected by and amongst the councillors themselves. Sanjay
Chauhan and Tikender Singh Panwar of CPI(M) are the present Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively.[36] The
two major political parties are the Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress with third party
Communist Party of India (Marxist) being an emerging one.[37] The administrative head of the corporation is the
commissioner who is appointed by the state government. The city contributes one seat to the state assembly
(Vidhan Sabha), and one seat to the lower house of parliament (Lok Sabha).[38] Law and order in the city is
collectively maintained by the police force, Vigilance Department, enforcement directorate, forensics, fire brigade,
prisons service and Home Guard. There are five police stations and three fire stations in Shimla.[39] The

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Superintendent of Police, Shimla heads the police force. The First Armed Police Battalion, one of the four armed
police battalions in the state, is also available for assistance to the local police for assistance.[40] There are eleven
courts in the district including a fast-track court.[41]

Demographics
According to 2011 census, Shimla city
Religion in Shimla[3]
spread over an area of 35.34 km2 had
Religion
Percent
a population of 169,578 with 93,152
Hinduism

93.50%
males and 76,426 females.[2][3] Shimla
Others

6.50%
urban agglomeration had a population
Others include Islam (2.29%), Sikhism (1.95%), Buddhism (1.33%) and Christianity (0.62%)
of 171,817 as per provisional data of
2011 census, out of which males were
94,797 and females were 77,020.[42] The literacy rate of city was 93.63 percent[3] and that of urban agglomeration
was 94.14 per cent.[42]
The city area has increased considerably along with passage of time. It has stretched from Hiranagar to Dhalli from
one side & from Tara Devi to Malyana in the other. As per the 2001 India Census,[43] the city has a population of
142,161 spread over an area of 19.55 km.[17] A floating population of 75,000 is attributed to service industries
such as tourism.[17] The largest demographic, 55%, is 1645 years of age. A further 28% of the population are
younger than 15 years. The low sex ratio 930 girls for every 1,000 boys in 2001[44] is cause for concern, and
much lower than the 974 versus 1,000 for Himachal Pradesh state as a whole.
The unemployment rate in the city has come down from 36% in 1992 to 22.6% in 2006. This drop is attributed to
recent industrialisation, the growth of service industries, and knowledge development.[45] 84% of the population of
Shimla city is literate, compared to 80% in Shimla district and 83.87% in the entire state.[46] The majority of
Shimla's population consists of natives of Himachal Pradesh.
Hindi is the Lingua franca of the city, it is the principal spoken language of the city and also the most commonly
used language for the official purposes. English is also spoken by a sizeable population, and is the second official
language of the city. Other than Hindi, Pahari languages is spoken by the ethnic Pahari people, who form a major
part of the population in the city. Punjabi language is prevalent among the ethnic Punjabi migrant population of the
city, most of whom are refugees from West Punjab, who settled in the city after the Partition of India in 1947.
According to 2011 census, the majority religion of city is Hinduism practised by 93.5% of the population, followed
by Islam (2.29%), Sikhism (1.95%), Buddhism (1.33%) and Christianity (0.62%).[3] Muslim migration has visibly
increased in the year 2015, especially from Uttar Pradesh.

Culture
The people of Shimla are informally called Shimlaites. With largely cosmopolitan crowds, a variety of festivals are
celebrated here. The Shimla Summer Festival, held every year during peak tourist season,[47] and lasting 34 days,
is celebrated on the Ridge. The highlights of this event include performances by popular singers from all over the
country.[48]
Shimla has a number of places to visit. Local hangouts like the Mall and the Ridge are in the heart of the city. Most
of the heritage buildings in the city are preserved in their original 'Tudorbethan' architecture. The former Viceregal
Lodge, which now houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, and Wildflower Hall, now a luxury hotel, are
some of the famous ones. A collection of paintings, jewellery and textiles of the region can be found at the State
Museum (built in 1974).
Lakkar Bazaar, a market extending off the Ridge, is famous for souvenirs and crafts made of wood. Tatta Pani, 55
kilometres (34.2 mi) from the main city, is the name of hot sulphur springs that are believed to have medicinal
value located on the banks of the River Satluj. Shimla is also home to South Asia's only natural ice skating rink.[49]
State and national level competitions are often held at this venue. Shimla Ice Skating Club, which manages the
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rink, hosts a carnival every year in January, which includes a fancy dress
competition and figure skating events. Due to effects of global warming and
increasing urban development in and around Shimla, the number of sessions on
ice every winter have been decreasing in the past few years.
Shimla has many temples and is often visited by devotees from nearby towns and
cities. The Kali Bari temple, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali is near the mall.
Jakhoo Temple, for the Hindu god Hanuman is located at the highest point in
Shimla.[50] Sankat Mochan, another Hanuman temple, is famous for the
numerous monkeys that are always found in its vicinity. It is located on
Shimla-Kalka Highway about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the city. The nearby
temple of Tara Devi is a place for performing rituals and festivals. Other
prominent places of worship include a Gurudwara near the bus terminus and a
Church on The Ridge.
Shimla arts and crafts are highly in demand by the tourists. They range from
excellent pieces of jewellery, embroidered shawls and garments to leather made
articles and sculptures. Shimla
is full of pine and deodar trees.
The wood has been extensively
used in all major buildings of
Shimla. The various kinds
crafts of Shimla made out of
wood includes small boxes,
utensils, image carvings and
souvenirs.
The paintings in Shimla bear
the deep artistic insight of the
people there. Shimla art bears the
testimony of the rich culture and tradition of Shimla. The art of carpet making
of Shimla is a great attraction for the tourists. Different floral and other motifs
make these carpets look really very beautiful. The wool from the sheep is used
to make blankets and rugs. The embroidered stuffs includes handkerchiefs,
hand fans, gloves, caps, etc.

Stained glass windows at

Christ Church (1850), Shimla.

Foggy morning at Tattapani

Jakhu Temple in 1910

The arts and crafts of Shimla have that traditional touch in it. Among others,
the shawls of Shimla are very well known for their fine quality. The leather
craft of Shimla comprises shoes, slippers and belts. The other arts and crafts of
Shimla includes a huge collection of beaded and metal jewelleries. These
intricately designed jewelleries bear the hallmark of the artistic craftsmanship
of the Shimla designers.

A folk celebration in Shimla

The temples of Shimla shows the stonework of the architects there. The sculptors have proved their mettle in
upholding the art of Shimla.
Further out from the city is the Naldehra nine-hole golf course, the oldest of its kind in India.[51] Kufri is a ski
resort (winter only) located 19 kilometres (11.8 mi) from the main city.

Education
The city has 14 anganwadis and 63 primary schools.[17] There are many schools from the British era. Some of the
popular convent schools in the city are Bishop Cotton School, St. Edward's School, Shimla, Auckland House
School, Shimla Public School, Sacred Heart Convent, Tara Hall, Convent of Jesus & Mary (Chelsea). Other public
schools include Kendriya Vidyalaya Jakhoo, DAV New Shimla, Hainault Public School, DAV Lakkar Bazaar,
DAV New Totu, Dayanand Public School, Himalayan International School and Chapslee Garden School. Bishop

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Cotton School and St. Edward's School, Shimla are for boys only, whereas,
Tara Hall and Convent of Jesus & Mary (Chelsea) are for girls only.
The medical institutes in Shimla are Indira Gandhi Medical College and
Dental College. St. Bede's and Rajkiya Kanya MahaVidayaliya (RKMV)
are girls-only colleges. Government College, Sanjauli, and Government
College Chaura Maidan are also located in the city. The Indian Institute of
Advanced Study, housed in the Viceregal lodge, is a residential centre for
research in Humanities, Indian culture, religion and social and natural
sciences. The Himachal Pradesh University (state University of himachal
Pradesh) is also located in Shimla. Himachal Pradesh University Business
School (HPUBS), the best Business school of Himachal Pradesh and
University Institute of Information Technology, Himachal Pradesh
University (UIIT), a premier technical education institute are also located
here.
There is one Private University by the name of APG (Alakh Prakash
Goyal) Shimla University. The university had also been awarded as the
Best University in Hills by Assocham India.[52][53]

Side view of Christ Church Shimla

from Mall Road.

Shimla has two state libraries with a collection of over 47,000 old
books divided between them. The one at Gandhi Bhavan in the
university has over 40,000 books and the other library, also a heritage
building on the ridge, has 7,000.[54]
Other institutes of higher education and research located in Shimla are
the Central Potato Research Institute, a member of Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR) and National Academy of Audit and
Accounts for training of officers of the Indian Audit and Accounts
services (IA&AS).

Public library on The Ridge

Places of interest
The Mall: The Mall is the main shopping street of Shimla. It has
many restaurants, clubs, banks, bars, post offices and tourist offices.
The Gaiety Theatre is situated there.
Christ Church: Situated on the Ridge, Christ Church is the second
oldest church in Northern India. It has a very majestic appearance
and inside there are stained glass windows which represent faith,
hope, charity, fortitude, patience and humility.
Jakhu Hill: 2 km from Shimla, at a height of 8,000 ft, Jakhu Hill is
the highest peak and offers a beautiful view of the town and of the
snow-covered Himalayas. At the top of the hill is an old temple of
Lord Hanuman, which is the home of countless playful monkeys
waiting to be fed by all visitors. A 108 feet (33 metre) statue of Lord
Hanuman, a Hindu deity, at 8,500 feet (2,591 metres) above sea
level, is single statue to stand at the highest altitude among several
other masterpieces in the world, overtaking the Christ Redeemer in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[55]
Jutogh: Located 8 km from the city centre, this army cantonment is
near Totu, an important suburb of Shimla city.
Shimla State Museum: The museum, which was opened in 1974, has
tried to protect hill-out and the cultural wealth of the state. There is a
collection of miniature Pahari paintings, sculptures, bronzes
wood-carvings and also costumes, textiles and jewellery of the

The Ridge, covered in snow

Christ Church on the Ridge

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region.
Indian Institute of Advanced Study: This institute is housed at the
former Viceregal Lodge, built in 188488.
Summer Hill: Situated at a distance of 5 km from the Ridge is the
lovely township of Summer Hill, at a height of 6,500 ft on the
Shimla-Kalka railway line. Mahatma Gandhi lived in these quiet
surroundings during his visits to Shimla. Himachal Pradesh
University is situated here.
Mall Road, Shimla seen from the
Annandale: Developed as the racecourse of Shimla, Annandale is
Scandal point.
24 km from the Ridge at a height of 6,117 ft. It is a very big
beautiful ground, now used by the Indian Army.
Tara Devi: 11 km from the Shimla bus-stand. Tara Devi Hill has a
temple dedicated to the goddess of stars on top of the hill. There is a
military Dairy Town here as well as the headquarters of Bharat
Scouts and Guides.
Sankat Mochan: A very famous Lord Hanuman temple is located
here.
Junga: Junga is near Tehsi, 26 km from Shimla. Its original name
Catholic Church
(with diacritics) is Jnga and is a former royal retreat of the princely
state of Keonthal. It is known as the Keonthal Estate.
Anand Vilas: Midway between Shimla and Junga. "Sarva Dharma
Mandir", Temple of all faiths, is a spiritual group dedicated to
Mother Nature. Thousands of visitors and devotees come here every
year. There is an "Art is Values" school with pupils from all over
India. Classes are provided free of cost.
Totu: A major developing suburb of Shimla on NH-88. Houses
Jutogh railway station & HimFed under Govt. of Himachal Pradesh.
Mashobra: 13 km from Shimla, site of the annual Sipi fair in June.
Kufri: 16 km from Shimla at a height of 8,600 ft, Kufri is the local
Naldehra Golf Club on hilltop,
winter sports centre, and has a small zoo.
Shimla
Chharabra: 13 km from Shimla on route to Kufri.
Naldehra: 22 km from Shimla, with a nine-hole Naldehra Golf Club.
The annual Sipi fair in June is held in Naldehra.
Chail: Chail was built as summer retreat by the Maharaja of Patiala during the British Raj, it is known for its
cricket pitch, the highest in the world.
Tattapani: Location of sulphur springs which are found near the Tatapani mandir (holy temple)
Sanjauli: The main suburb of Shimla.

Transport
Local transport in Shimla is by bus or private vehicles. Buses ply frequently on the circular road surrounding the
city centre. Heavy local transport can be seen between Shimla and its major suburbs which include Sanjauli,
Kasumpti, Summer Hill, Totu and New Shimla. Tourist taxis are also an option for out of town trips. Locals
typically traverse the city on foot. Private vehicles are prohibited on the Mall, Ridge and nearby markets. Due to
narrow roads and steep slopes, the auto rickshaws common in other Indian cities are largely absent.

Road
Shimla is well-connected by road network to all major cities in north India. National Highway 22 (NH 22)
connects Shimla to the nearest big city of Chandigarh. HRTC (Himachal Road Transport Corporation) runs 24
daily bus services between Shimla to Delhi. HRTC Volvo buses are also available on Shimla-Haridwar via
Dehradoon, Shimla-Katra via Chandigarh-Pathankot-Jammu and Shimla-Manali routes. Buses from Shimla to
Chandigarh are available round the clock. Distance between major towns and Shimla:

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Distance between major towns and Shimla:

Kalka: 90 km
Chandigarh:
120 km
Ambala:
152 km
Patiala: 172 km
Bathinda:
330 km
Amritsar:
342 km

Delhi: 380 km
Dehradun:
227 km
Jammu:
482 km
Agra: 568 km
Jaipur: 629 km
Haridwar:
278 km

Srinagar:
787 km
Pithoragarh:
703 km
Kolkata:
1460 km
Mumbai:
1742 km
Kanya Kumari:
2500;km

National Highway 22 connects Shimla to

the city of Chandigarh.

Air
Shimla Airport is at Jubbarhatti, 23 kilometres (14 mi) from the city.[56] Currently, there are no regular commercial
flights to the city. The nearest major airport is Chandigarh Airport in Chandigarh about 116 km away.

Rail
The scenic Kalka Shimla Railway, a narrow gauge track, is listed in the
Guinness Book of Records for the steepest rise in altitude in a distance of
96 km.[57] Kalka, the plains rail terminus, has daily departures to major
Indian cities. The city boasts a total of three railway stations with Shimla
the main station and two others located at Summer Hill and Totu (Jutogh)
respectively. It was built to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India
during the British Raj, with the Indian rail system. The route is famous for
its scenery and improbable construction.
In 2007, the government of Himachal Pradesh declared the railway a
Shimla railway station
heritage property.[58] For about a week starting on 11 September 2007, an
expert team from UNESCO visited the railway to review and inspect it for
possible selection as a World Heritage Site. On 8 July 2008, the KalkaShimla Railway became part of the World
Heritage Site Mountain Railways of India.[59] alongside Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway,
and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.[60]

Media and communications

State-owned All India Radio has a local station in Shimla, which transmits various programmes of mass interest.
Apart from a wide range of other national and international TV channels of different languages, the National TV
broadcaster Doordarshan also broadcast channels like DD Shimla, DD National and DD Sports in the city. There
are a number of private FM Radio channels like Radio Mirchi, 95 Big FM, Fever 104 etc. Amar Ujala,[61] Divya
Himachal, Punjab Kesari, and Dainik Bhaskar are the widely circulated Hindi dailies while The Tribune, The
Times of India, Hindustan Times and Indian Express are popular English newspapers in the city.

Notable people born in Shimla

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Anupam Kher, Bollywood

actor
Asmita Sood, television
actress
Charlie Chauhan, television
actress

Simranjit Singh Mann, Sikh

politician
Guy Penrose Gibson, WW2
RAF VC

Horatio Boileau Goad, British

policeman and former
secretary of the municipal
corporation of Shimla
Idries Shah, writer on Sufism
M.M. Kaye, novelist

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Nirmal Verma, Hindi writer

Priety Zinta, Bollywood
actress
Rahat Kazmi, Pakistani
television actor
Ram Kumar, painter

Robin Jackman, former

England cricket player
Rubina Dilaik, television
actress
Salmaan Taseer, Pakistani
businessman

Samuel Boileau Goad, one of

the principal property owners
in Shimla
Shahid Javed Burki, Pakistani
economist, born during
British rule

Notable people educated in Shimla

Amrish Puri, Bollywood actor
Anupam Kher, Bollywood
actor
Asmita Sood, television
actress
Charlie Chauhan, television
actress
Hamid Karzai, president of
Afghanistan from Lalpani
Meera Nair, filmmaker

Mayank Anand, actor, author,

designer
Mohammad Hamid Ansari,
current Vice-President Of
India
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq,
ex-president of Pakistan
Naina Lal Kidwai,
businesswoman

Neetu Kapoor, Bollywood

actress
Prem Chopra, Bollywood
actor
Priety Zinta, Bollywood
actress
Rubina Dilaik, television
actress
Ruskin Bond, writer

Gallery

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Shimla from above

Hills near Shimla

Night view from the

Ridge

Residential architecture

Shimla under snow

South side of the Ridge

Winter circa 1905

Christ Church

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Shimla - Wikipedia

Town Hall, Shimla in

the evening

The Ridge, Shimla

Panchayat Bhavan,
Shimla

Sister cities
Sister relationships with towns and regions worldwide include:
Carbondale, Illinois, United States[62][63]

See also
Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan on 3 July 1972.
Simla Accord (1913) was a treaty between Britain and Tibet signed in 1914 at the end of a convention held
in Shimla. Although its legal status is disputed, it is currently the effective boundary between China and
India.

References

13 von 15

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2. "Shimla District Census 2011 Handbook" (PDF). Census of India. p. 39(Urban Section). Retrieved 20 April 2016.
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4. "Himachal Pradesh (India): Districts, Cities, Towns and Outgrowth Wards Population Statistics in Maps and Charts".
5. Vipin Pubby (1996). Shimla Then and Now. Indus Publishing. pp. 1734. ISBN 978-81-7387-046-0. Retrieved
16 August 2013.
6. Harrop, F. Beresford (1925). Thacker's new Guide to Simla. Simla: Thacker, Spink & Co. pp. 1619.
7. Researches and Missionary Labours Among the Jews, Mohammedans, and Other Sects By Joseph Wolff, published by
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8. "Shimla A five-tunnel town". tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
9. Charles Allen, Kipling Sahib, London, Little Brown, 2007
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11. Kipling Sahib, London, Little Brown, 2007: p. 134
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Journal.
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29. "Ever recorded Maximum and minimum temperatures up to 2010". India Meteorological Department. Archived from the
original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
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Retrieved 6 April 2016.
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2012.
36. Shimla MC polls: BJP wins 12 wards, Cong 10; CPM wins mayor, deputy's post (http://www.hindustantimes.com
/Punjab/Chandigarh/Shimla-MC-polls-BJP-wins-12-wards-Cong-10-CPM-wins-mayor-deputy-s-post
/SP-Article1-862403.aspx)
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51. "HP Tourism Development Corporation". Retrieved 2 May 2007.
52. "APG University adjudged Best University in Hills". Retrieved 12 February 2015.
53. Bharat. "APG Shimla University making a mark". Hill Post. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
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55. "Tallest high-altitude statue puts Shimla in the spotlight". Indian Express. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
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58. "HP declares KalkaShimla Railway as 'heritage' property". The Hindu. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2007.
59. "KalkaShimla Railway makes it to Unesco's World Heritage list". The Hindu Business Line. 9 July 2008. Retrieved
10 July 2008.
60. "outlookindia.com more than just the news magazine from India". Outlook India. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
61. "Hindi Newspapers". Amar Ujala. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
62. City of Carbondale (http://www.ci.carbondale.il.us/node/125) Sister Cities
63. Sister-Cities.org (http://www.sister-cities.org/directory/index.cfm) International Directory

Official website of Shimla district (http://hpshimla.gov.in/)

Shimla Himachal Pradesh Tourism Guide
(http://www.himachal.org.in/shimla.html)
Official website of Himachal Tourism (http://himachaltourism.gov.in)
Municipal Corporation Shimla (http://shimlamc.gov.in
/page/Home.aspx)

Wikimedia Commons has

media related to Shimla.
Wikiquote has quotations
related to: Shimla

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Shimla travel guide from Wikivoyage

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