Quintessential Shimla

Shimla is the perfect example of an Indian hill station. Its lush greenery is much talked about, its weather, of course, is the ideal respite from the heat of the plains and its main street is crowded, both with shops and people. But just like every hill station in India, it’s got its own story to tell. With its roads and lanes, some tiny and narrow, others bold and spectacular, there’s a lot to love about the beautiful hill station of Shimla…

A place for the Raj

Annexed by the British in the early 1800s, it wasn’t long before Shimla attracted the attention of the viceroys. By the 1860s, Sir John Lawrence, then Viceroy of India, started moving the administration from Calcutta to Shimla — despite the more than 1,500km-long journey — every summer. Then, in 1876, Viceroy Lord Lytton made the effort to plan the town and prepare to build a viceregal lodge befitting the summer capital of India.

The imposing lodge can still be seen, sitting regally atop Observatory Hill and the majestic Entrance Hall and gardens are open to the public. Post-independence, the lodge became a summer retreat for the President of India. However, from 1965, the Viceregal Lodge has accommodated the Indian Institute of Advanced Study and has since counted eminent individuals among its fellows, including Burmese Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Sun Kyi.

Another place worth visiting is Gorton Castle. Built over 100 years ago in the neo-Gothic style, this three-storey castle is famous for it balconies with intricate Rajasthani jaali work. Once the Civil Secretariat of the Imperial Government of India, this majestic building now houses offices of the Accountant General of Himachal Pradesh.

The hub: Chances are, if someone’s been to Shimla, one of the first things