Shimla District
Shimla
Shimla is name of the capital city of Himachal Pradesh as well as the district. Shimla city (2169 m) was the summer capital of India during British times and one can still see a few influences. It is the most well connected region in Himachal Pradesh and a popular destination for tourists in summers as well as winters. The largest town in Shimla district is Shimla with a population of 1.42 lakh. Shimla district of present day comprises of 19 erstwhile hill states Kumharsain Bushahr, Bhaji, Koti, Ratesh, Sangri, Darkoti, Tharoch & Dhadi,, Khaneti & Delath, Dhami, Balson Jubbal , Keothal, Rawingarh,
Weather and Geography
Shimla District Map
Average temperature varies between below -10 degrees in December to 32 degrees in peak summer season of May. Annual average precipitation is 1424 mm with up to 370 mm happening in July and August each.
The elevation varies between 300 m in south to 6000 m towards east. Total land area is 5,131 km which is 9.3% of total land area of Himachal Pradesh. It’s coordinates are longitude 77o-0″ and 78o-19″ east and latitude 30o-45″ and 31o-44″ north.
Transport in Shimla
ROAD:
Shimla is the most well connected district in Himachal Pradesh with connectivity by road, rail and air with road still being the most popular. Biggest town nearby is Chandigarh (119 km), Delhi (380 km) and Manali (280 km). The highway between Chandigarh and Shimla is being expanded to a 4 lane highway (in 2016). The travel time is expected to be significantly shorter once this project is completed.
RAILWAYS:
The nearest meter gauge railway line to Shimla is in Kalka (96 km). Kalka is further connected to shimla by rail via Kalka – Shimla narrow gauge railway (762 mm). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and extremely popular with tourists. It was built in 1898 and had 864 bridges and 107 tunnels at time of construction.
AIR:
Nearest airport is at Jubbarhatti, 23 kms from Shimla city. It has daily flights from Delhi and Kullu.
People and Culture
Lifestyle
Urban population of Shimla is 24.8 % even though a lot of rural areas are hardly rural in character any more. The urbanisation of Shimla city and surrounding areas has been rapid with a lot of construction at the cost of green cover and natural beauty. Literacy rate is one of highest in India with male literacy at 95.75 % and female literacy at 93.35 %
Religion
Majority of people in Shimla district follow Hinduism and the culture is pre-dominantly north-Indian.
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Tourist Attractions
Shimla gets a large number of tourists almost all through the year. During summers, it’s a nice retreat from the hot summer plains due to it’s cool weather and frequent rains. In winters, a lot of people visit to enjoy snowfall. Apart from that, following are some tourist attractions in Shimla:
1. Shimla :
The capital city Shimla (between 1950 and 2300 m) is a beautiful place with a number of tourist spots like Mall Road, Lakkadmandi, Jakhoo Temple, Viceregal Lodge & Botanical Gardens, The Ridge, Summer Hill and many others. Located in the mid hills of the Western Himalaya, the town of Shimla came up in the wake of the ‘Gurkha wars‘ that came to an end in 1815-16. More details.
2. Sarhan (163 km) :
Sarahan is a small town on way to Kinnaur and is famous for it’s fruit orchards and ancient Bhimakali temple. There are a number of excellent hiking routes in the area and offers great views of mountain peaks like Srikhand Mahadev (5227 m). Sarahan is steeped in legend, hill architecture and remarkable natural beauty. More Details.
3. Fagu (22 km) :
Fagu apple orchard
Fagu is a very small town at an altitude of 2450 m famous for it’s spectacular views of the mountains and fruits orchards. It is a nice getaway from Shimla city when it gets too crowded. It is a tiny village that lies along the Hindustan Tibet Road (NH 22) and is astride a mountain saddle. This unusual location gives this village a magnificent view of both sides of the hill. More Details.
4. Kufri (16 km) :
Kufri (2510 m) is popular place with local tourists who go there to take mule rides and skiing. There are some good hiking routes including one to Mahasu Peak. A wide spread of snow peaks, deep valleys and a position as a ‘must do‘ excursion from Shimla have ensured Kufri‘s popularity down the decades. This is a little hamlet in
the Himalayan belt. More Details.
5. Narkanda (64 km) :
Narkanda (2708 m) is popular with tourists for skiing and ancient Hatu Mata temple. Narkanda was once a staging post along the Hindustan Tibet Road and today, this small town is famous for its wide views, forests and as a destination for a quiet holiday in the heart of nature. The area has forests of fir and spruce, with a smattering of maple, aspen and cedar trees. Narkanda has skiing slopes that include basic downhill and slalom runs. More Details.
6. Chail (43 km) :
Chail was capital of the Patiala State and is famous for world’s highest cricket ground at altitude of of 2250 m, built in 1893. There is also a wildlife sanctuary 3 km from there. Chail, in the Shivalik belt, is a secluded little haven. As the ‘summer capital’ of the erstwhile princely state of Patiala, the small settlement of Chail came into being when its Maharaja was expelled from the British dominated town of Shimla. More Details.
7. Tattapani (51 km) :
Tattapani literally translates to hot water and is famous for it’s hot sulfurous springs and Shiv Gufa among pilgrims as well as casual tourists. It is also a good fishing spot.
8. Rampur (80 km) :
Rampur is situated on banks of Satluj river and was once capital of Bushahr, an old princely state. A lot of people visit Rampur in November to attend Lavi Fair. Some tourist spots in the town and nearby are Raghunath Temple, Ayodhya temple, Dumgir Buddhist Temple, Padam Palace, and Narsingh Temple. The town of Rampur is built along the banks of the river Satluj and was the seat of the former princely state of Bushair (Bushahr, Bushehar). More Details.
9. Kotgarh (82 km):
Kotagarh is the place from where apple cultivation first started in Himachal Pradesh and is one of the most important places in India for this purpose.
10. Kharapathar (77 km) :
Kharapathar (2673 m) is a small village surrounded by deodar forests and apple orchards. It is a good leisure destination for short hikes and relaxing. More Details.
11. Rohru (110 km)
Rohru (1550 m) is a good destination for trout fishing in Pabbar river, hiking apple and orchards. More Details.
Government Resources
Following are phone numbers and other contact details of various government departments which may prove useful for locals as well as tourists visiting Shimla.
Bus Service
- HRTC Control Room – 0177-2658067
- Bus Stand Enquiry – 0177-2658765
- Computer Reservation – 0177-2657113
- Lakkar Bazar – 0177-2811259
Rail Service
- Exchange No. 131, 0177-2652915
- Station Superintendent. – 0177-2652696
- Railway Enquiry – 0177-2652915
Airport
- Airport Incharge – 0177-2736835
- VIP Room – 0177-2736887
- Indian Airlines Agency – 0177-2811139
Police:
- S.P. Shimla – 0177-2656535
- Addl. S.P.Shimla – 0177-2803212
- ASP (HQ) Shimla – 0177-2652497
- DSP (H.Q) Shimla – 0177-2652123
- Traffic Police – 0177-2651850
- Police Control Room – 100
Hospitals
- IGMC Shimla – 0177-2803073/2654092
- DDU Hospital – 0177-2654071
- Kamla Nehru Hosp. – 0177-2625097
- Ayur. Hosp. Shimla – 0177-2621753 S
- Shimla Sanitarium – 0177-202291
- Indus Hospital – 0177-2841401
- Blood Bank (IGMC) – 0177-2803073
- Blood Bank (DDUH) – 0177-2658940
Circuit Houses and Rest Houses in Shimla
|
Rest House/ Circuit House Location |
PWD Division/ Booking Office |
STD Code |
Phone Number |
e-Mail ID |
Distance from Booking Office |
No. of Suites |
| Rest House at Tara Devi | E.E. Shimla Divn. No.1 |
0177 |
2658385 |
ee-sml1-hp@nic.in |
08.00 |
7 |
| Rest House at Junga | E.E. Shimla Divn. No.1 |
0177 |
2658385 |
ee-sml1-hp@nic.in |
30.00 |
7 |
| C/H at Theog | E.E. Theog |
01783 |
238376 |
ee-the-hp@nic.in |
Local |
1 |
| Rest House at Theog | E.E. Theog |
01783 |
238376 |
ee-the-hp@nic.in |
Local |
4 |
| Rest House at Fagu | E.E. Theog |
01783 |
238376 |
ee-the-hp@nic.in |
07.00 |
2 |
| Rest House at Matiana | E.E. Theog |
01783 |
238376 |
ee-the-hp@nic.in |
13.00 |
5 |
| Rest House at Sainj | E.E. Theog |
01783 |
238376 |
ee-the-hp@nic.in |
20.00 |
2 |
| Rest House at Deha | E.E. Theog |
01783 |
238376 |
ee-the-hp@nic.in |
33.00 |
3 |
| Rest House at Dhami | E.E. Shimla Divn. No.II |
01782 |
233017 |
ee-sml2-hp@nic.in |
08.00 |
2 |
| Rest House Near Raj Bhawan Shimla | Shimla Divn. No.III, Booking by G.A.D. (H.P. Sectt. Shimla-2) |
0177 |
2623880 |
gadsecy-hp@nic.in |
Local Chhota Shimla |
29 |
| Rest House at Chopal | E.E. Chopal |
01783 |
260033 |
ee-cho-hp@nic.in |
Local |
6 |
| Rest House at Nerwa | E.E. Chopal |
01783 |
260033 |
ee-cho-hp@nic.in |
26.00 |
10 |
| Rest House at Kupvi | E.E. Chopal |
01783 |
260033 |
ee-cho-hp@nic.in |
86.00 |
4 |
| Circuit House at Rohru | SDM Rohru |
01781 |
240009 |
sdmroh-shi-hp@nic.in |
Local. |
7 |
| Rest House at Rohru | E.E. Rohru |
01781 |
240087 |
ee-roh-hp@nic.in |
Local. |
9 |
| Rest House at Sungri | E.E. Rohru |
01781 |
240087 |
ee-roh-hp@nic.in |
29.00 |
2 |
| Rest House at Tikkar | E.E. Rohru |
01781 |
240087 |
ee-roh-hp@nic.in |
28.00 |
4 |
| Rest House at Bagi | E.E. Rohru |
01781 |
240087 |
ee-roh-hp@nic.in |
39.00 |
4 |
| Rest House at Khadrala | E.E. Rohru |
01781 |
240087 |
ee-roh-hp@nic.in |
49.00 |
5 |
| Rest House at Hatkoti | E.E. Jubbal |
01781 |
252004 |
ee-jub-hp@nic.in |
12.00 |
7 |
| Rest Houseat Pandranoo | E.E. Jubbal |
01781 |
252004 |
ee-jub-hp@nic.in |
29.00 |
1 |
| Rest House at Bholar | E.E. Jubbal |
01781 |
252004 |
ee-jub-hp@nic.in |
28.00 |
4 |
| Rest House at Mandal | E.E. Jubbal |
01781 |
252004 |
ee-jub-hp@nic.in |
33.00 |
3 |
| Rest House at Jubbal | E.E. Jubbal |
01781 |
252004 |
ee-jub-hp@nic.in |
01.00 |
8 |
| Rest House at Khara Pather | E.E. Jubbal |
01781 |
252004 |
ee-jub-hp@nic.in |
13.00 |
3 |
| Rest House at Kotkhai | E.E. Jubbal |
01783 |
252004 |
ee-jub-hp@nic.in |
31.00 |
8 |
| Rest House at Mandhol | E.E. Jubbal |
01781 |
252004 |
ee-jub-hp@nic.in |
25.00 |
4 |
| Rest House at Kalbog | E.E. Jubbal |
0177 |
252004 |
ee-jub-hp@nic.in |
59.00 |
4 |
| Rest House at Narkanda | E.E. Kumarsain |
01782 |
205231 |
ee-kum-hp@nic.in |
65.00 |
5 |
| Rest House at Kumarsain | E.E. Kumarsain |
01782 |
205231 |
ee-kum-hp@nic.in |
Local |
10 |
| Rest House at Thanedhar | E.E. Kumarsain |
01782 |
205231 |
ee-kum-hp@nic.in |
38.00 |
2 |
| Rest House at Luri | E.E. Kumarsain |
01782 |
205231 |
ee-kum-hp@nic.in |
20.00 |
2 |
| Rest House at Baragaon | E.E. Kumarsain |
01782 |
205231 |
ee-kum-hp@nic.in |
17.00 |
2 |
| Rest House at Jalog | E.E. Kumarsain |
01782 |
205231 |
ee-kum-hp@nic.in |
35.00 |
4 |
| Rest House at Suni | E.E. Kumarsain |
01782 |
205231 |
ee-kum-hp@nic.in |
70.00 |
4 |
| Circuit House at Rampur | E.E. Rampur |
01782 |
233017 |
ee-ram-hp@nic.in |
02.00 |
8 |
| Circuit House at Sarahan | E.E. Rampur |
01782 |
233017 |
ee-ram-hp@nic.in |
43.00 |
5 |
| Rest House at Rampur | E.E. Rampur |
01782 |
233017 |
ee-ram-hp@nic.in |
02.00 |
5 |
| Rest House at Gaura | E.E. Rampur |
01782 |
233017 |
ee-ram-hp@nic.in |
19.00 |
2 |
| Rest House at Nirath | E.E. Rampur |
01782 |
233017 |
ee-ram-hp@nic.in |
18.00 |
2 |
| Rest House at Sarahan (Gharat) | E.E. Rampur |
01782 |
233017 |
ee-ram-hp@nic.in |
38.00 |
3 |
| Rest House at Daranghati | E.E. Rampur |
01782 |
233017 |
ee-ram-hp@nic.in |
42.00 |
2 |
| New Rest House at Jeori | E.E. Rampur |
01782 |
233017 |
ee-ram-hp@nic.in |
25.00 |
4 |
| Old Rest House at Jeori | E.E. Rampur |
01782 |
233017 |
ee-ram-hp@nic.in |
25.00 |
3 |
| Rest House at Bahli | E.E. Rampur |
01782 |
233017 |
ee-ram-hp@nic.in |
42.00 |
3 |
| Rest House at Nankhari | E.E. Rampur |
01782 |
233017 |
ee-ram-hp@nic.in |
60.00 |
5 |