Shimla - The Popular Hill Station
| Population | 163000 |
| Best Time to Visit | September to late November |
| STD Code | 0177 |
| State | Himachal Pradesh |
| Country | India |
| Altitude | 2,130 metres above sea level |
| Temperature | Between sub zero in winters and 30 C in summer. Through out the year. |
| Clothing | Light Woollens/Heavy Woollens |
| Places to visit in Shimla | The Mall, Viceregal lodge, Himachal State Museum, Jakhoo Hill, Annandale, Summer Hill (Details Below) |
| Places around Shimla | Mashobra, Kufri, Fagu, Naldehra, Tattapani, Narkanda, Hattu Peak, Hatkati, Rampur (Details Below) |
About Shimla
A quaint little hill train chugs up into the Shivalik foothills, over dramatic loops and high arched bridges to the hill resort of Shimla (2130 m) - the capital of the mountain state of Himachal.
Shimla was one a string of hill stations that the British established to escape from the scorching heat of the plains. The 12 km, crescentshaped ridge on which it is located was first occupied by the British troops, in the early part of the 19th century, during the Anglo-Gurkha War.
The little village of Shymala, a retreat for British officers, soon grew to become the glamorous summer capital of the British, in India.
Shimla's salubrious climate, easy accessibility and numerous attractions have made it one of the most popular hill stations in northern India. The splendid views of the show-clad ranges of the Himalayas, fine walks through oak and flowering rhododendron, enchanting resorts within easy reach, golf Naldehra and skiing at Kufri and Narkanda make Shimala an attractive destination throughout the year.
History
Scottish civil servant Charles Kennedy built Shimla's first British summer home in 1822, and by the latter half of the 19th century the city had become the summer capital of the British Raj. Many British soldiers, merchants, and civil servants moved there for roughly half of each year due to heat and disease at India's lower altitudes. Many others, like author Rudyard Kipling, went there for the active social life, which Kipling found both exciting and scandalous. Shimla is also etched in history of Indo Pak relations as it was witness to the Shimla Agreement signed by the two nations following Pakistan's surrender in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
Geography
Shimla district is located in the middle western ranges of the Himalayas. This region has a hilly terrain and has an uneven cover of evergreen pine forests. The Shimla city spreads over the hill at an average altitude of 2000 meters (roughly 6500 feet) above mean sea level.
| Season | Months | Temperature | Conditions |
| Spring | March - April | 10 °C to 20 °C | Generally clear skies with occasional shortlasting rains with thunder |
| Summer | May - June | 16 °C to 28 °C | Generally clear skies. Sometimes forest fires in this season cause the air to be smoky |
| Monsoon | July - September | 13 °C to 20 °C | Cool and humid atmosphere. It can rain for days continuously |
| Autumn | October - November | 10 °C to 23 °C | Skies are clear, with evenings becoming chilly |
| Winter | December- February | -7 °C to 10 °C | Generally dull weather with frequent snowfall |