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Pine forests and apple orchards, crisp, clean air and breathtaking views. Sprawled over 12 kms on a crescent shaped ridge lies Shimla, the largest hill station and erstwhile summer capital of the British in India. Descending in layers from the top of the ridge, at 2,213 metres, Shimla straddles several hills, including the Jakhu, Prospect Hill, Observatory Hill, Elysium Hill, and Summer Hill.

Though Shimla, which is now the capital of Himachal Pradesh, has come a long way from the days of the Raj, the old British buildings, quaint cottages and churches still remind visitors of an era long gone by. Here, in the heyday of the Empire, officers and their wives strolled down the Mall, exchanging pleasantries with fellow officers.

Many a grass widow spent time wandering through the beautiful walks through pine forests, while dashing Indian princes left many an English lady heartbroken. From the days of the British, when it was the popular retreat of the sahibs, Shimla has now become the hub of major activities in Himachal Pradesh. Being the seat of government and a major tourist attraction in north

India, the town has grown to bursting point. In peak tourist season, traffic jams, and crippling water shortage are common.

So travel to Shimla and get rejuvenated by its fresh air, magnificent snow peaks and refreshing green.

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Scandal Point got its curious name after the daughter of a high-ranking British officer eloped with a Patiala prince from here.

Historically Speaking

Way back in 1817, a small village tucked away in the Himalayas was discovered by British surveyors and pronounced an ideal retreat for the homesick colonisers. Named after Shyamla Devi, an incarnation of the fierce goddess Kali, stories of Shimla’s salubrious climate and invigorating surroundings made it grow in popularity. In 1830, the land around was bought from the local ruler and Shimla turned into a resort for British army officers. Soldiers recuperating from the Gurkha war came up to the hill resort to heal their wounds, while the memsahibs favoured its cooler climate to the hot, humid and mosquito-infested plains. Soon it began to look like an English village as cottages with gardens, tree-lined walks, churches and cricket pitches came up around town. Finally, in 1864, the town was formally declared the summer capital of the Imperial Government. Every summer, tons of files and baggage were transported all the way from Calcutta and later Delhi, to this hill town.

Shimla came alive with gentlemen and ladies spending their days at garden parties, games of bridge, grand dinners and balls. The main pedestrian walkway,

known as the Mall, was popular for evening promenades. Several British landmarks, including the Christ Church, the Cecil Hotel and the Gaiety Theatre came up along the Ridge. In 1903, the Kalka-Shimla railway link was begun making the hitherto arduous journey up much simpler. Even today, the quaint toy train connecting Kalka to Shimla chugs up steep hill slopes carrying hordes of eager tourists. Due to its secluded location and relaxed surroundings, Shimla was useful as a meeting point for national leaders. In the days just before India’s independence in 1947, the architects of modern India and the leaders of the Muslim League met here to discuss the modalities of the transfer of power. Later, in 1972 the landmark Shimla Accord was signed by Mrs. Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the premiers of India and Pakistan. The Shimla Accord was an effort at diffusing tension between the two nations that had remained hostile after independence and partition.

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