Shimla

Shimla became the summer capital of British India in 1864. Today it is the capital and largest city of Himachal Pradesh. It is built across several spurs of the lower Himalaya at about 2,200 m. The colonial centre is the Ridge and Mall Road. Here you find Christ Church, the neo-Gothic and Tudorbethan buildings and the Gaiety Theatre. The Viceregal Lodge is where the 1945 Simla Conference was held. The narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla railway is part of the UNESCO-listed Mountain Railways of India. It is a scenic way to arrive. Shimla is also the gateway to Kufri, Mashobra, Naldehra and Narkanda, and to the Hindustan-Tibet Road into Kinnaur. Most vehicles cannot use the Mall. It is crowded in summer and at New Year. Allow time for steep walks and book hotels early in the season. Winter often brings snow, and the cold is sharp. Spring and autumn are comfortable and give the clearest views of the far ranges.