Shimla the "Queen of Hills"

The British called Shimla the "Queen of Hills", it is now a municipal corporation in Shimla District and the capital city of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Situated in the north-West Himalayas, Shimla was the summer capital of India before independence. Shimla derives its name from "Shyamala";- the goddess Kali, whose temple existed in the dense forest that covered Jakhu Hill. The English named it Simla.

Shimla is a hill station destination popular among honeymooners and other tourists, particularly in summer. The city of Shimla is approximately 115 km from Chandigarh, the nearest major city, and 365 km from New Delhi, the national capital. Shimla is well connected by air, road and rail with all parts of Himachal Pradesh, and the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashimir and the Union territory of Chandigarh. Covering the area of 18 sq. km. at a height of 7,238 ft. Shimla is surrounded by pine, deodar, oak forests.

Shimla has a population of around 145,000. Most of the residents are from the Pahadi communtiy, but there is also a sizable minority from Punjab and Sindh, who moved to Shimla during the partition. As a result, the languages spoken in Shimla include Hindi, Punjabi, Pahadi and English, which serves as a lingua-franca

Shimla Season Summary

Shimla's cool climate is the precise reason why it is such a popular summer retreat. Located at an altitude of approximately 2000m above sea level, the region has a hilly terrain and is covered by dense evergreen forests.

March – April is the season of Spring in which the temperature is between 10 to 20°C and the Conditions are generally clear skies with occasional short lasting rains with thunder.

May – June is the season of Summer in which the temperature is between 16 to 28°C and the Conditions are Generally clear skies but Sometimes forest fires in this season cause the air to be smoky.

July – September is the season of Monsoon in which the temperature is between 13 to 20°C and the Conditions are Cool and humid atmosphere and it can rain for days continuously.

October – November is the season of Autumn in which the temperature is between 10 to 23°C and Skies are clear, with evenings becoming chilly

December – February is the season of Winter in which the temperature is between -7 to 10°C and the conditions are Generally dull weather with frequent snowfall in Winters.

Situated in the North-West Himalayas, the climate of Shimla varies from a maximum of 10-11 degrees in winter to a maximum of 25-26 degrees in summers. Shimla never allows the gods to raise the temperature above that limit and the gods always oblige. Shimla changes its moods with the seasons. In spring we see flowers of all kinds, both wild and cultivated, smiling in each garden. During the monsoon, we see some of the best sunsets in the world.


Shimla has a number of places to visit. Besides local hangouts like the mall road and ridge in the heart of the city, other places of heritage include the Viceregal lodge, Wildflower hall, and the State Museum. Kufri, another popular destination for tourists is famous for skiing in winter. Lakkar Bazaar, a market extending off the ridge, is famous for souvenirs and crafts made of wood. Tatta Pani, 55 km from the main city, is the name of hot Sulpher springs located on the banks of river Satluj; they are believed to have medicinal value.


Shimla has many temples and is often visited by devotees from nearby towns and cities. The Kali Bari temple, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali is near the mall. Jakhoo Temple, for the Hindu god Hanuman is located at the highest point in Shimla. Shimla is also home to Asia's only natural Ice skating rink. State and national level competitions are often held at this venue. The Shimla Ice Skating Club, which manages the rink, hosts a carnival every year in January, which includes a fancy dress competition and figure skating events. Due to effects of global warming and increasing urban development in and around Shimla, the number of sessions on ice every winter have been decreasing in the past few years to the dismay of local enthusiasts.