Shimla: Queen of Mountains
Located in the southern end of the state, the capital city of Shimla is a popular center for international visitors. During British Raj rule of the 1800s, Shimla was heralded as the summer capital of India for its pleasant weather. This seasonal occupation created what became known as the Shimla Society; apparently the closest British India ever came to having an upper crust.
Places to visit
Kalka-Shimla Railway:
Constructed in 1906, this narrow gauge rail line added to Shimla’s accessibility and popularity. The 100km long railway route from city of Kalka to Shimla during this Journey more than nine hundred bridges and one hundred fifteen tunnels, it was showed as an engineering achievement and came to be known as the “British Jewel of the Orient. Although its narrow gauge was essential for ease of traveling in the steep and curvy mountain route, the scale of it eventually earned it the modern moniker of a “toy train”.
Rashtrapati Niwas:
In 1876, Lord Lytton, Viceroy of India, began plans for this extravagant viceregal lodge built on Observatory Hill. The Upper Bazaar area of the city was cleared for a Town Hall, with many facilities such as a library, a theatre and offices for municipal administration.