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Contents

 

  1. History
  2. Getting Around
  3. Tourist Traps
  4. Local Customs
  5. Shopping
  6. Communications

Nestled at an altitude of 2,159 meters (7197 feet) above sea level, Shimla was discovered by the British as their summer capital. Even today the hill station continues to be patronized by holidaymakers from within and outside the country who come here to escape the torrid heat of the plains and revel in its scenic surroundings, Some of the most notable attractions here include Viceroy Lodge, Christ Church, Gaiety Theater and century-old temples such as the Sankat Mochan Temple, Tara Devi Temple and Bhimkali Temple on the outskirts of Shimla.

History

The history of Shimla begins in the early yeas of the 19th century. In 1804, the Gurkhas suffered a terrible defeat at the hands of the Sikhs at the Battle of Kangra. It is believed they lost thousands of men in battle and to disease. The troops retreating from Kangra went on a rampage in the hills. By 1808, the Gurkhas had captured all fortified posts between the rivers Jamuna and Sutlej. They also built a number of fortresses in the hills around Shimla.

Controlled from the capital at Akri, the rule of the Gurkhas was ruthless. The people of the hills suffered and were eventually forced to raise their plight to the British. A small British contingent led by Major General Sir David Ochterlony was sent to help the hill folk, where a number of local chiefs joined them. The Gurkhas were finally defeated in 1815 after a tough battle at the 3750 ft high Ramgarh Fort of Nalagarh. The Gurkhas eventually surrendered and peace was restored to the hills.

Since then, Shimla’s history has primarily been that of British rule. Within four years of the conquest, a Scottish civil servant, Charles Pratt Kennedy, built the first British summer home in 1822. A few years later, the Governor-General of Bengal, Lord Amherst set up summer camp here. The next decade saw rapid growth in the numbers of town’s British inhabitants. The cool summer of the hills was a welcome relief to the British who found if difficult to adjust to the heat of the ‘burning plains of Hindoostaun’.

Till 1911, the capital of the British Empire was Calcutta. Sir John Lawrence, Viceroy of India 1864–1869, decided to move the capital and the Raj’s business to Shimla, over a 1,000 miles away for the duration of the summer. Since then, the British carefully managed the planning and development of Shimla.

Lord Lytton, Viceroy 1876 -1880, made detailed plans for the development of the town. It was during his governorship that the Viceregal Lodge was built on Observatory Hill.

The town’s planning was such that its eastern edge was reserved for the Europeans, other zoning regulations of the time forced the native Indians to live in what was the Middle and Lower Bazaars on the lower terraces of the Ridge. The Upper Bazaar was cleared for the Town Hall and other facilities for the English, such as a library, theater, and administrative buildings.

As the summer capital, Shimla hosted the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army and many Departments of the Government. These seasonal inhabitants included wives, daughters, and family of other who may stay on in the plains. During these brief months the town was transformed by a swarm of activity and social dos.

Shimla’s accessibility improved when the Kalka-Shimla railway line opened in 1906. With 806 bridges and 103 tunnels, this small-gauge route is considered an engineering marvel.

In 1946, Shimla hosted many talks and meetings between the leaders of India’s independence movement, such as the Shimla Conferences where the partition of India was decreed.

Post independence, Shimla was the capital of Punjab till the new town of Chandigarh was built. In 1971 it was named the capital of the new formed state of Himachal Pradesh.

Shimla is one of the few towns in India where the influence of Raj-era civil society is still considerable. Many buildings, such as the Viceregal Lodge, Auckland House, Gorton Castle, Peterhoff House, and Gaiety Theatre are iconic reminders of the Raj. The Mall was life line of the British rule; it was closed to all traffic except the carriage of the Viceroy and his wife. Still a pedestrian promenade, Shimla continues to host thousands of summer migrants each year.

Getting Around

Much of Shimla can be accessed via car or bus. The most popular forms of transport in these areas, which includes central Shimla are walking and horse riding, which can be easily hired.

The areas surrounding central Shimla are connected by a circular road and local buses ply regularly on them. All roads connecting the Mall Road to the Ridge are sealed to traffic, as are the roads from Scandal Point, Kali Bari Marg to Kali Bari and Chotta Shimla Chowk to Kennedy House. Light vehicles can ply without permits on roads specified as unrestricted link roads that include the route from Cart Road to Annandale, Chotta Shimla, IGMC Hospital and Marina Hotel.

Rental cars are also easily available; just ensure that you fix on the price well-beforehand while hiring one. In an endeavor to regularize the fares, the state transport government has demarcated the rental taxis as metered and non-metered taxis, with separate parking areas and taxi stands for both. Metered taxis can be taken from Lakkar Bazaar, IGMC main entrance opposite the dental college, in front of the railway station booking counter, at the main bus stand’s Shimla-Kalka Union counter and its main exit point, near the band box, and HPTDC lift on Cart Road. Metered taxis can also be hired from Chotta Shimla, New Shimla and other nearby areas.

The Mall Road, the Ridge and the nearby markets are pedestrian-only areas. Another option is to take the lift from near the parking lot on Cart Road to the Mall Road. Operated by HPTDC, the lift connecting the east end of the Mall Road and Cart Road takes just a few minutes and is functional between 0800 and 2200 hours. The cost for a one way lift ticket for one person is 7 INR.

Visitors wishing to visit the many in and around Shimla can hire a private car or rent a taxi.

Tourist Traps in the City

While hiring a taxi or horse for commuting, ensure that you fix the price beforehand; else, you may end up paying more than intended. The same applies to tour guide services offered by private companies.

Also, while shopping at the local bazaars, bargain hard. Often the actual price is just a quarter of what the shopkeeper quotes and can be easily brought down with good bargaining skills. If you have a time constraint, head to the state government-run Himachal Emporium located on Mall Road, where you can easily get great local stuff without being fleeced.

Tourists are strongly recommended to avoid traveling after dark especially outside the city center.

Local Custom

As in other Indian destinations, tourists are expected to respect the local customs inn Shimla which include dress restrictions. While visiting religious shrines, visitors are expected to wear clothing that cover their upper arms and legs – this is especially applicable for female travelers. Footwear is to be taken off outside before entering places of worship. Do not feed the monkeys or any other stray animals in public places, as it is punishable by law.

Shopping

The Mall Road in Shimla is lined with shops offering beautifully embroidered shawls, traditional Himachali caps, and vibrantly colored hand-knitted socks and other woolen clothes from Chamba, Kinnaur and Lahaul.

Intricately carved wooden items such as walking sticks, toys, and key chains peek out of the shops’ display windows at Lakkad Bazaar. Local specialties such as apple jam preserves, squashes and pickles are popular bought by tourists. Handcrafted Chinese shoes, antiques and rare first editions of books and maps, miniature paintings, Buddhist banners and silver trinkets are some of the other stuff that you can buy.

At the state government-run Himachal Emporium on the Mall Road, you can find everything that is exclusive to Shimla.

Communications

Shimla is well connected with India and the rest of the world through a comprehensive network on cell phones and fixed phone lines. However, cell phone network availability may be an issue at attractions located on a higher altitude in and around Shimla.

All major telecommunication providers of India are present in Shimla. The city is well covered by the fixed-line phones and cell phone services of BSNL, AirTel, Tata Indicom, and Reliance. Cell phone services are also provided by Idea and Vodafone. Most of these providers offer GSM, CDMA or limited mobility phones as well as calling cards.

Internet Access: The Mall Road, especially is lined with several internet cafés. Apart from the cyber cafes in the market, majority of the hotels (with the exception of budget hotels) also offer Internet connectivity within their premises - but only for the resident guests.

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