14/09/2020
It was very encouraging response to previous posts about popular tourist destinations in north India. This post is 7th in the series and here i give some information about Shimla which was summer capital during British Raj in India.There is a sense of nostalgia about Shimla, with its old bungalows and their gabled roofs and beautiful gardens.Summer in northern planes of India was unbearable for British officers where day time temperature could be around 45 degree centigrade. Many of the buildings have English names. City history is associated with British Raj as this area was discovered by British when they were looking for cooler places. Shimla is well connected by rail and road to different parts of India. Once the summer capital of British India, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway, completed in 1903 so that British can move easily from northern planes to hills.
Almost all the members of this group are travelers to India and few of them did not know much about different popular tourist destinations of India. I regularly organize tours in different parts of India so thought it will be interesting for many members to know about history and culture and some information of different popular destinations. Shimla or Simla is the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. It is a very popular holiday-retreat during the summer months and is well-known for its Victorian architecture, which is reflected in certain areas of the Mall and The Ridge. It is also a famous holiday spot for honeymoon. Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties which one can think of. It has got a scenic location, it is surrounded by green hills with snow capped peaks. Itโs also known for The Mall, a pedestrian avenue, as well as the Lakkar Bazaar, a market specializing in wooden toys and crafts.
Most of the area occupied by present-day Shimla city was dense forest during the 18th century. The only civilisation was the Jakhoo temple and a few scattered houses. The area was called 'Shimla', named after a Hindu goddess, Shayamla Devi, an incarnation of Kali.
Shimla is on the south-western ranges of the Himalyas. It has an average altitude of 2,206 metres (7,238 ft) above mean sea level and extends along a ridge with seven spurs. The city stretches nearly 9.2 kilometres (5.7 mi) from east to west. Shimla was built on top of seven hills: Inverarm Hill, Observatory Hill, Prospect Hill, Summer Hill, Bantony Hill, Elysium Hill and Jakhoo Hill. The highest point in Shimla is the Jakhoo hill, which is at a height of 2,454 metres (8,051 ft).
The climate in Shimla is predominantly cool during winters and moderately warm during summer. Temperatures typically range from โ4 ยฐC (25 ยฐF) to 31 ยฐC (88 ยฐF) over the course of a year.
The accounts of the Britain-like climate started attracting several British officers to the area during the hot Indian summers. By 1826, some officers had started spending their entire vacation in Shimla.
A number of young British officers started visiting the area to socialise with the higher-ups; they were followed by ladies looking for marriage alliances for their relatives. Shimla thus became a hill station famous for balls, parties, and other festivities. Subsequently, residential schools for pupils from upper-class families were established nearby. By the late 1830s, the city also became a centre for theatre and art exhibitions. As the population increased, a number of bungalows were built and a big bazaar was established in the town. The Indian businessmen, mainly from Sood and Parsi communities, arrived in the area to cater to the needs of the growing European population. On 9 September 1844, the foundation of the Christ Church was laid.
Shimla is home to a number of buildings that are styled in the tudorbethan and New gothic architectures dating from the colonial era, as well as multiple temples and churches. The colonial architecture . the 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. Apart from being a tourism centre, the city is also an educational hub with a number of colleges and research institutions.
In 1863, the Viceroy of India John Lawrence decided to shift the summer capital of the British Raj to Shimla. He took the trouble of moving the administration twice a year between Calcutta and this separate centre over 1,000 miles away, despite the fact that it was difficult to reachThe Kalka Shimla railway line opened in 1903, added to Shimla's accessibility and popularity. The railway route from Kalka to Shimla, with more than 806 bridges and 103 tunnels, was touted as an engineering feat and came to be known as the "British Jewel of the Orient". In 2008, it became part of the UNESCO world Heritage sites.
Pre-independence structures still dot Shimla; buildings such as the former Viceregal Lodge, Assembly Chamber, Auckland House, Christ Church, Gorton Castle, Shimla Town Hall and the Gaiety Theatre are reminders of British rule in India. The central spine was the Mall Road, which ran along the length of the Ridge, with a Mall Extension southwards, closed to all carriages except those of the viceroy and his wife.
The Mall, packed with shops and eateries, is the centre of attraction of the town, and Scandal Point, associated with the former Maharaja of Patialaโs escapades, offers a view of distant snow clad peaks. The name arose from the commotion caused by the supposed elopement of a British lady with an Indian Maharaja. The story goes that the Maharaja of Patiala had eloped with the daughter of the British Viceroy. Nearby are other popular hill stations Naldehra and Kufri.
All the information and pictures i have collected from different sources on internet for members of this group.
