Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

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Shimla

Toy Train of Shimla

What is it? Hill station
Where is it? Himachal Pradesh
When do I go? Between April to mid-July and mid-September to the end of October
For how long? Two days
STD Code: 0177

Shimla is at a height of 2,159 m, which means that it is perennially cool and pleasant. The British gave up the battle with the heat of the plains in 1864 and moved the capital to Shimla for the summers. Before that it was the retreat for grass widows and recuperating soldiers, many of whom conducted fleeting affairs in the shadow of the Himalayas. Thus the fading glories of the Raj are all around you in Shimla, but they simply fade a little more in front of the Himalayas, which surround the capital of Himachal Pradesh.

About Shimla
History
In the third and the second millennium BC, the Dasas inhabited Himachal Pradesh coming to it from the Gangetic plain. They arrived from the West and mingled with the Aryans and the Janapada tribals but advanced a separate geographical and cultural tradition of their own. The Guptas held sway here in the second and fifth centuries AD. They were overthrown by the Vardhana kings and later by Rana and Thakur chiefs. Next came the Rajputs who around 550 AD were ruling Chamba and Brahmour.
By the late 17th century, Shimla was a part of 30 self-governing thakurais (sovereign Rajput rulers who were fiercely independent). This collective was at war with the Sikhs. At the same time, the Gurkha leader Amar Tapur with an agenda of Nepalese dominion consolidated power in the Shimla hill states. The thakurais sought help from the British and fought the Nepalese back in 1815. The British gained complete control of this region in 1846 and in 1864 they declared Shimla the summer capital of the country.
Post-Independence, the area bordering Punjab was integrated into the Himalayan Province of Himachal Pradesh which was administered by a Chief Commissioner. Shimla became a Union Territory in 1956 and in 1966 it was named the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh.

Geography
Shimla is a 5.31 sq km mountainous region lying at an altitude of 2,205 meters in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The Shivalik ranges are to the far south, the Dhauladhar and the Pir Panjal ranges cut through it; the Himalayas fall to the north east of Shimla. Sub-tropical forests, maize fields and orchards give way to pine, cedar and snow as you move to the higher slopes.
Cars and taxis are not allowed on the upper slopes. They stop at Cart Road, which is the main thoroughfare in Shimla. Buses and taxis stop here. The Mall runs east-west and ends at Scandal Point. The Ridge Road joins Scandal Point to Christ Church.
The central shopping area of the Mall has a promenade packed with clubs, restaurants and bars. From the top of Scandal Point you can get good views of the town and Christ Church.

Climate
Summer in Shimla ranges from March to May, with temperatures ranging from a maximum of 33°C and a minimum of 15°C. Winter here lasts from October to February, with temperatures rising to a maximum of 8°C and a low of 0°C.

The best time to visit is between April to mid-July and mid-September to the end of October, which is the peak season. November to February are months for the skiers in Shimla. Avoid the monsoon months, from mid-July to mid-September, when the roads get slick and the highway slippery.

For more information on the following topics, please see our Shimla travel guide below:
- Getting there
- Getting around
- Sights & Sounds
- Excursions
- Accommodation
- Eating Out
- Shopping
- Useful Information
- Survival Guide

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh At a height of 2,159 m, this hill-station in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh in India, is a popular tourist attraction. Price: $3.99