Shimla, India Hotels and City Guide

Surrounded by apple orchards, evergreen pine forests, and stunning views of the mountains, Shimla is a place of tranquillity, unparalleled beauty and charm. The cool, crisp mountain breezes welcome weary travellers to this exotic mountain hideaway. The largest hill station and once the summer capital of the British in India, Shimla is located on a 2213-metre high semi-circular ridge and spread over 12 kilometres. Spanning several hills including Observatory Hill, Summer Hill, Elysium Hill, Prospect Hill and Jakhu, Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh.
The old-world charm still reverberates through the valleys and hills of this picturesque town with charming cottages and churches, and colonial buildings of an age gone by. During the prime of the British Empire, the Mall of Shimla was much frequented by officers and their wives.

A fashionable retreat of the 'sahibs' during British rule, Shimla has since become a centre of much activity in northern India. A main tourist attraction in Himachal Pradesh, Shimla has steadily grown over the years to become a bustling town with water shortages and traffic jams during the climax of the tourist season. Yet, the surrounding lush green flora, refreshing mountain air and spectacular views make Shimla a visitor’s paradise.

Located in the picturesque north-western Himalayas, Shimla was called the 'Queen of the Hill Stations' by the British. They called it Simla. The name Shimla is derived from 'Shyamala' (goddess Kali), whose shrine was in the thick forest on Jakhu Hill in the early 1800s. Well established transportation links by road, rail and air exist between Shimla, all parts of Himachal Pradesh, and the surrounding Indian states of Haryana, Punjab, Union territory of Chandigarh, and Jammu and Kashmir. Lush green forests of oak, rhododendron, deodar, and pine are abundant in Shimla, and spread across 18 square kilometres at an altitude of 7238 feet. With its many attractions, easy accessibility and modern facilities, Shimla is one of India’s largest and most renowned hill-stations.

Shimla City Facts

Shimla Population: 163,000 (UN Population Estimate Revision 2003)

India Population: 1,096,917,000 (UN Population Estimate Revision 2003)

Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)

Time Zone: +5 hours 30 minutes GMT / UT

Languages: Hindi, Himachali, Garhwali, English

Hotels in Shimla, India