Google Map Of Shimla

Introduction/Overview

Shimla-Queen of Hills is the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It is a popular tourist place of India. Shimla is named after Hindu Goddess Shyamala Devi. Shimla was also summer capital during British Raj in India.

The town rose in the nineteenth century during the end of Gurkha war when Captain Kennedy house was built in the region. Due to unique green landscape and climate various other Europeans start moving to the station. The railway route from Kalka to Shimla was constructed in 1906. Even after the Independence in 1947, town remains officially as the summer capital. Today the town is India's most popular hill resorts with one of the rare surviving urban forests and famous Mall road. The train ride on Himalayan Queen is highly recommended if you visit Shimla.

It is located in the north western ranges of the Himalayas at an average altitude of 2397.59 meters above sea level. The Jakhoo hill is the highest point in Shimla. The closet river is Sutlej about 21 km away from the city. Other rivers that flow through Shimla district are Pabbar and Giri, tributaries of Yamuna river. The forest region in and around Shimla are of pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron.

Climate of Shimla is cool during winters and moderately warm in summers. The temperature in winter falls below 0°C. There is snowfall in the month of December. The average rainfall is about 166 cm annually.

The city has the population of 1042161, as per 2001 census. Major population is attributed to service tourism industry.

History

The lovely hill station was discovered by British and Shimla was declared the summer capital during British Raj. It was made capital of Himachal Pradesh in 1971. It is surrounded by green pastures and snow clad Himalayan ranges.

It has the population spread over 19.55 km square. About 55% demographic is of 16-45 ages and further population is of younger age. 84% of the Shimla populations are literate. Majority of populations are of natives of Himachal Pradesh.

Several central and state administrative offices of Himachal Pradesh are in the city. The economy mainly depends on the revenue from travel and tourism industry. Shimla has many small scale industries of jute, leather, wood and handicrafts. The Lakkar Bazaar is the main shopping center of Shimla. It has health care centers like the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. Kamala Nehru Hospital, and Indus Hospital which also helps in the economy of Shimla.

Culture

The people of Shimla are called Shimlaites. The main languages spoken are Hindi, Punjabi and Pahari. Hinduism is the major religion followed by Sikhism and other small minorities. The culture reflects the tradition of Pahari people. The majority people of Shimla still has rural living pattern. The example of the culture of Shimla is the handwork and wood crafting by people. The embroidery and bamboo items made are very popular.

The Summer and winter festivals are the major attraction among the tourists held every year. The Shimla Ice Skating Club organizes carnival every year in January. The major dance form of Shimla is the Rakshasa Dance or the Dance of the Demon. The tribal music of Shimla is very famous.

It offers wide array of Himachalli cuisines, two major receipes are Baadi/Ghaunda and Bada/Poldu.

Shimla has many temples like Kali Bari temple, Jakhoo temple, Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple located at the highest point in Shimla. The major tourist attraction are The Mall which is the main shopping street of Shimla, Christ Church,second oldest church in North India, Jakhu Hill, highest peak, Shimla State Museum, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Summer Hill, Tara Devi temple, etc. The Glenn Forest is a popular Tourist Attraction in Shimla which is situated 4 km from Shimla. The best time to visit Shimla is between April to August and December to January.