Shimla (शिमला), Himachal Pradesh

Christ Church, Simla, Himachal Pradesh, India


Shimla (Hindi: शिमला) is the capital of Himachal Pradesh in northern India. The city of 145,000 people (2012 estimate) covers 25 sq km (10 sq mi). It is 2,205 m (7,234 ft) above sea level.

The modern history of Shimla goes back to the early 19th century. Following the invasion by the Nepalese ruler Prithvi Narayan Shah from 1814 to 1816, the British East India Company staged an offensive against Nepal, resulting in the Sugauli Treaty, which ceded North India to the British. At that time, Shimla was known as the location of the temple for the Hindu deity Shyamala Devi.

Under the British, Shimla was developed to serve as the summer retreat for the British officials. It is cold in winter and pleasantly warm in summer. Numerous high-ranking British officials and civil servants built their summer home in Shimla. Accessibility of Shimla was greatly improved with the completion of the Kalka-Shimla Railway Line which is today recognized as a World Heritage Site entitled Mountain Railways of India.

Today Shimla is home to numerous historical buildings from the British era. These are well preserved and have made the city a popular tourist destination.

Rashtrapati Niwas, formerly the Viceregal Lodge in Shimla

Planning your trip to Shimla

Take a regular train to Kalka from Delhi, then continue your journey on the mountain train from Kalka to Shimla, a journey recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The train takes you through 103 tunnels and provide often breathtaking sceneries along the way.

The train of the Kalka-Shimla Railway going through a tunnel

Places of Interest in Shimla

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