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Shimla- Capital of Himachal: Culture

Shimla- Capital of Himachal: Culture: Shimla Culture Located on the lofty ranges of the Himalayas, Shimla is a place that has been untouched by commercialization and globaliz...

Weather

Shimla goes through a subtropical highland climate that features three major seasons, a fairly warm summer, a cold winter and a short rainy season. During the summer months, from April till early July, the average high stands at mid twenties while the low drops below high teens. From July till October Shimla gets a great level of precipitation as August, the wettest month of the year, receives more than 500mm of rainfall. However, as soon as the winter comes, the level of rainfall reduces dramatically. Winter features cold weather in Shimla.  January is the coldest month when temperature drops to 2°C. Moreover, the season gets a little rainfall that can force you change your plan.

Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, India, experiences a subtropical highland climate. It enjoys three major seasons, a fairly warm summer, a cold winter and a short rainy season.

Summer

During the summer months, from late March till June, Shimla remains somewhat hot and humid with the average high temperature of 24°C while the average low stands at high teens. June is the hottest month of the year when the city gets more than 28°C of temperature. The season receives a little rainfall that helps reduce the hot temperature. 

Monsoon 

In Shimla monsoon appears in July and lasts till October. The season gets a great level of rainfall. August is considered as the wettest month of the year with more than 460 mm of precipitation. The average high temperature of the season stays at high teens while the low may appear chilly as it fluctuates between 12 and 14°C.

Winter

Winter brings cold weather in Shimla. The season that starts in November and lasts till February remains chilly with the average low temperature of 9°C. January is the coldest month of the year when Shimla gets not more than 3°C of average high. Furthermore, the period gets a little rainfall that can prevent you visiting outdoors.

History Of Shimla

Shimla is the Capital Town of Himachal Pradesh. It was formerly the summer capital during the British Rule. The town of Shimla is built over several hills and connecting ridges. The important hills are  Jakhu(8050 ft), Prospect Hill (7140 ft), Observatory Hill ( 7050 ft), Elysium Hill (7400 ft), and Summer Hill (6900 ft).  There is a great controversy over the origin of the name Shimla.  The name Shimla was derived from 'Shyamalaya' meaning   blue house said to be the name of house built of blue slate by a faqir on Jakhu. According to one version Shimla takes it name from 'Shamla' meaning a blue female another name for Goddess Kali. The place was on the Jakhu Hillside, there was a temple of Goddess Kali. During the British period the image of the Goddess was shifted to a new   place ,now famous Kali Bari Temple. Shimla remained unnoticed during the Gurkha War.  It was only in 1819 A.D. that the then Assistant Political Agent of hill states Lt. Ross set up first British residence, a mere wood cottage. His successor Lt. Charles Patt  Kennedy' errected the first pucca house in 1822 named after Lt. Kennedy as 'Kennedy House'.

 The construction of Hindustan Tibet road was started in 1850-51 commencing from Kalka and first lap was upto Shimla. The Road upto Shimla came to be used for wheeled traffic by 1860. A 560 feet long tunnel was constructed  beyond Sanjauli.

In 1864 Shimla was declared as the summer capital of India. After Independence, Shimla became the capital of Punjab and was later named the capital of Himachal Pradesh. In 1903 a rail line was constructed between Kalka and Shimla. 

Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties, one can think of. Dwelling on a panoramic location, the hilly town is surrounded by green pastures and snow-capped peaks. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by the structures made during the colonial era create an aura, which is very different from other hill stations. Bulging at its seams with unprecedented expansion, Shimla retains its colonial heritage, with grand old buildings, among them are the stately Viceregal Lodge, Charming iron lamp posts and Anglo-Saxon names. The Mall, packed with shops and eateries, is the centre of attraction of the town, and Scandal Point, associated with the former Maharaja of Patiala's escapades, offers a view of distant snow clad peaks. In 1946 leaders of the Indian nationalist movement came to Shimla for a crucial conference that paved the way to Independence. Shimla's legacy of British control has left in somewhat of Aesthetic anomaly: an Indian town, a state capital, no less that looks and feels like a village in Northern England.