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Shimla

Also known as Simla, Queen of Hills

thumb|Christ Church of Shimla captured with a scenic view of the surroundings thumb Shimla, also known as Simla (the official name until 1972), () is the summer capital and the largest city of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of British India. After independence, the city became the capital of East Punjab and was later made the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. It is the largest and most developed city of Himachal Pradesh, as well as the state's principal commercial, cultural and educational centre.

AI overview

Shimla is the capital and largest city of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, located in the Himalayas. The city has historical significance as the summer capital of British India (established in 1864) and later became the capital of independent India's East Punjab before being designated as the capital of Himachal Pradesh.

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Place details

Locality: Shimla
Region: Himachal Pradesh
Country: India
Population: 173,503

Travel guide

Understand

Shimla has a population of around 172,000 (which may increase by another 100,000 with the seasonal influx of voyagers). Most residents are from the Pahadi community (the natives of Himachal Pradesh), but there is also a sizable minority from Punjab and Sindh, who moved to Shimla during the partition. As a result, the languages spoken in Shimla include Hindi, Punjabi, Pahadi and English which serves as a lingua franca.

There are quite a few theories regarding the origin of the word Shimla. Locals insist that the name originates from Shyamali Devi, a reincarnation of the fearsome Goddess Kali.

Get around

Getting around in Shimla is easy as compared to other cities in Himachal Pradesh.

See

thumb|The Lower Bazaar area, Shimla. thumb|The Mall road, Shimla. thumb|The Ridge, Shimla.

Do

thumb|300px|View of Cart Road and surrounding hills from The Mall Take a leisurely walk at the Mall — this 7-km thoroughfare is famous for its Victorian Architecture, and retains much of its Raj-era charm. To get there, take the lifts from Cart Road, an ingenious system designed to save pedestrians from walking. ₹10 per trip. The central area of The Mall is composed of half-timbered buildings and is the place to rub shoulders and clash knives and forks with Shimla's elite. A statue of freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai is located at Scandal Point, the highest point on The Mall. Further along is the very pleasant Clarke's Hotel, which is an excellent place to take a break and relax over a coffee. Ice skating is possible in Shimla from November to March, though Kufri and Chail on the outskirts of town offer better options. Trek in the local mountains. Walk along the meandering roads to the meadows at Annadale, 5 km out of town. The Glen, further west, is a favorite picnic spot with locals. Head north and visit Wildflower Hall, the former retreat of Lord Kitchner. Furthur on along the Hindustan-Tibet Road lies the quaint village of Mashobra – A gravel-road indicates the entry to the Seog Wildlife Sanctuary. The annual Sipi Fair is held in a little steep pathway off Mashobra. Tee off at the Naldehra Golf Course, on the northern outskirts of the town, at a distance of about 25 km from Shimla. The 9-hole golf course, set amidst sloping meadows at an elevation of 2,050 m abo…

Buy

Further down the Mall Road is the Lakkar Bazaar, which has quite a few shops selling wooden handicrafts. The Mall is full of shops selling woolens (most of which find their way to Shimla from Ludhiana, Punjab) and Kullu shawls. Other favorites have included wooden toys, walking sticks and Tibetan carpets made in nearby Kinnaur. As the centre of the food-processing industry in Himachal, jams and squashes made from local produce are indeed worth purchasing. The stretch between Combermere Bridge and the Telegraph Office is full of small stores which stock handcrafted Chinese shoes. The more well-known ones include Hopsons, Tatung and Hugh & Co.