Shimla

Southern side of Shimla

Shimla (Hindi: शिमला [ˈʃɪmlaː]), formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British. Located in the north-west Himalayas at an average altitude of 2,205 metres (7,234 ft), the city of Shimla, draped in forests of pine, rhododendron, and oak, experiences pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters. The city is famous for its buildings styled in tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture dating from the colonial era. Shimla is connected to the city of Kalka by one of the longest narrow gauge railway routes still operating in India, the Kalka-Shimla Railway. Shimla is approximately 100 km (68 miles) from Chandigarh, the nearest major city, and 365 km (226.8 miles) from New Delhi, the national capital. The city is named after the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Kali.

 Skiing is a popular tourist activity in Shimla

 The Ridge, Shimla

 Mall Road, shopping market in Shimla

 Stained Glass windows at St. Michael's Catholic Church (1850) Shimla

 Public library on the Ridge

 Indian Institute of Advanced Study

 Municipal Corporation (Town Hall), Shimla

 The Shimla Railway Station

 Passenger train on the Kalka-Shimla Railway route

 Town Hall as seen from the Ridge

A folk celebration in Shimla

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