Shimla facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Shimla
Simla
City
Shimla Montage
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
Country  India
State Himachal Pradesh Flag, India.png Himachal Pradesh
District Shimla
Named for Hindu goddess Shyamala Devi
Area
 • City 35.34 km2 (13.64 sq mi)
Elevation 2,276 m (7,467 ft)
Population (2011)
 • City 169,578
 • Rank 1 (in HP)
 • Density 4,798.5/km2 (12,428.0/sq mi)
 • Metro 171,640
Languages
 • Official Hindi
 • Additional  official Sanskrit, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 171 001
Telephone code 91 177 XXX XXXX
ISO 3166 code ISO 3166-2
Vehicle registration HP-03, HP-51, HP-52, HP-07
Climate Cwb
Precipitation 1,577 mm (62 in)
Avg. annual temperature 17 °C (63 °F)
Avg. summer temperature 22 °C (72 °F)
Avg. winter temperature 7 °C (45 °F)
Website hpshimla.gov.in

Shimla also known as Simla, is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. 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 made the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It is the principal commercial, cultural and educational centre of the state.

Small hamlets were recorded prior to 1815 when British 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 reorganisation of state of Himachal Pradesh, the existing Mahasu district was named Shimla.

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 environment of the city attracts tourists. Attractions include the Viceregal Lodge, the Christ Church, the Jakhoo Temple, the Mall Road, the Ridge and Annadale which together form the city centre. The Kalka–Shimla 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. Apart from being a tourism centre, the city is also an educational hub with a number of colleges and research institutions.

Images for kids

  • Rashtrapati Niwas, Shimla

    Rashtrapati Niwas, Shimla, former "Viceregal Lodge", built 1888

  • Entrance the Crow Brough Rest House (built in 1921) Shimla

    Entrance of the Crow Brough Rest House built in 1921.

  • Simla and Jutogh 1911 map

    Simla and Jutogh, 1911 map

  • Skating at Simla, one of the favourite winter recreations

    Skating at Simla, c. 1905

  • Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital at Shimla

    Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital at Shimla

  • Yarrows41

    National Academy of Audits and Accounts, Yarrows.

  • Town Hall, Shimla

    Town Hall as seen from The Ridge

  • Foggy morning at Tattapani

    Foggy morning at Tattapani

  • Jakku Temple Simla

    Jakhu Temple in 1910

  • A folk procession in Shimla

    A folk celebration in Shimla

  • Christ Church Shimla India (2)

    Side view of Christ Church Shimla from Mall Road.

  • Ridge, Shimla

    The Ridge, covered in snow

  • St. Michael's Catholic Church, Shimla

    Christ Church on the Ridge

  • Shimla, Mall Road

    Mall Road, Shimla seen from the Scandal point.

  • Catholic Church, Shimla

    Catholic Church

  • Shimla hilltop

    Naldehra Golf Club on hilltop, Shimla

  • NH22 Shimla Chandigarh Mountain Highway through Forests, Roads in Himachal Pradesh India 2014

    National Highway 22 connects Shimla to the city of Chandigarh.

  • Shimla, 1850s

    The bridge connecting Shimla with Chhota Shimla, originally erected in 1829 by Lord Combermere, Shimla, 1850s

  • KSR Train on a small bridge 05-02-12 52

    Passenger train on the Kalka-Shimla Railway route

  • Stained Glass Catholic Church Shimla 1988

    Stained glass windows at Christ Church (1850), Shimla.

  • Shimla Railway Station

    Shimla railway station

  • Shimla night

    Shimla at night

  • A view of Shimla from above

    Shimla from above

  • Shimla Himachal India (11)

    Hills near Shimla

  • Night view of Shimla

    Night view from the Ridge

  • Simla town these days 1

    Residential architecture

  • Shimla snow

    Shimla under snow

  • Shimla Southern Side of Ridge

    South side of the Ridge

  • A Simla Road in Winter

    Winter circa 1905

  • Christ Church Shimla viewed from mall road

    Christ Church

  • Town Hall Shimla, at evening

    Town Hall, Shimla in the evening

  • Shimla India Ridge

    The Ridge, Shimla

  • Simla Panchayat Bhavan

    Panchayat Bhavan, Shimla


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Shimla Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.