Simla

Shimla(Hindi:शिमला;Punjabi:ਸ਼ਿਮਲਾ;English pronunciation:/ˈʃɪmlə/;Hindi: [ˈʃɪmlaː]), also known asSimla, is the capital and largest city of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla is also a district which is bounded by Mandi and Kulluin the north,Kinnaur in the east, the state of Uttarakhand in the south-east, andSolanandSirmaur. In 1864, Shimla was declared as thesummer capital of British India, succeedingMurree, northeast of Rawalpindi. After independence, the city became the capital of Punjaband was later named the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It is the principal commercial, cultural and educational centre of the hilly regions of the state. As of 2011, the city had 171,817 permanent residents, and was one of the least populous capital cities in India.

             Small hamlets were recorded prior to 1815 when the English forces took control of the area. The climatic conditions attracted the British to establish the city in the dense forests of Himalayas. As the summer capital, Shimla hosted many important political meetings including the Simla Accord of 1914 and the Simla Conference of 1945. After independence, the state of Himachal Pradesh came into being in 1948 as a result of integration of 28princely states. Even after independence, the city remained an important political centre, hosting the Simla Agreement of 1972. After the reorganisation, the Mahasudistrict and its major portion were merged with Shimla. Its name is derived from the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Kali[citation needed]. As of 2011 Shimla comprises 19 hill states, namely Baghal, Baghat, Balsan,Bashahr,Bhajji,Bija,Darkoti,Dhami,Jubbal,Keonthal,Kumharsain,Kunihar,Kuthar,Mahlog, Mangal, Nalagarh (Hindur), Sangri and Tharoch.

            Shimla is home to a number of buildings that are styled in theTudorbethanandneo-Gothicarchitectures dating from the colonial era, as well as multiple temples and churches. The colonial architecture and churches, the temples and the natural beauty of the city attract a large number of tourists. The major attractions include the Viceroy Lodge, the Christ Church, the Jakhoo Temple, the Mall Road and the Ridge, which together form the city centre. The Kalka–Shimla Railway line built by the British, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also a major tourist attraction. Owing to its steep terrain, Shimla hosts the mountain biking race MTB Himalaya, which started in 2005 and is regarded as the biggest event of its kind in South Asia. Shimla also has the largest natural ice skating rink in South Asia. The ice skating season usually begins in the start of December and goes on till the end of February. Apart from being a tourism centre, the city is also an educational hub with a number of colleges and research institutions. The city also has sporting venues like the Indira Gandhi Rajya Khel Parisar, the mains ports complex and the Naldehra Golf Club.