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Shimla

Simla
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
Shimla is located in Himachal Pradesh
Shimla
Shimla
Location in Himachal Pradesh
Shimla is located in India
Shimla
Shimla
Location in India
Shimla is located in Asia
Shimla
Shimla
Location in Asia
Country  India
State Himachal Pradesh
District Shimla
Named for Hindu goddess Shyamala Devi
Government
 • Type Municipal Corporation
 • Body Shimla Municipal Corporation
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 UTC+5:30 (IST)
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)

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.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Shimla para niños

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