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Shimla originally called Simla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864 Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills" (a term coined by the British). Located in the north-west Himalayas at an average altitude of 2205 metres (7234 ft) the city of Shimla draped in forests of pine rhododendron and oak experiences pleasant summers and cold snowy winters. The city is famous for its buildings styled in tudorbethan andneo-gothic architecture dating from the colonial era. Shimla is connected to the city of Kalka by one of the longest narrow gauge railway routes still operating in India the Kalka-Shimla Railway. Shimla is approximately 115 km (71.4 miles) from Chandigarh the nearest major city and 365 km (226.8 miles) from New Delhi the national capital. The city is named after the goddess Shyamala Devi an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Kali.
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