Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, in the Himalayan foothills, was once famous as the summer capital of British India. At the height of the British Empire, one-fifth of the human race was ruled from Shimla.
Shimla is blessed with a scenic location, lush green hills and snow-capped peaks. The landscape is complimented by colonial architecture, as one would expect. The grand Viceregal Lodge, built on Observatory Hill in 1888, stands architecturally and literally above everything else that the British built in Shimla. With its crenelated tower, cupola and weathervane, it is the most attraction for tourists looking for colonial architecture and history.
Lower down the slopes in the city, old bungalows with their gabled roofs and beautiful gardens take you back in time. Shimla’s famous Mall offers one of the longest stretches of pedestrian shopping in the country, and this is where you’ll find Gaiety theatre (where Rudyard Kipling performed), the Christ Church and most other colonial civil buildings.
Shimla offers many exciting walks and day excursions into the surrounding hills. It is the base for numerous routes into the interiors of Himachal.
