*SOME UNKNOWN FACTS ABOUT SHIMLA*

*SOME UNKNOWN FACTS ABOUT SHIMLA* 1. *Shimla* is One Of The *Youngest* Cities in The Country....55% of the population is in the 16- 55 age group. And 28% of the rest is below the age of 15. 2. Before the British, Shimla Region Was Ruled by the *Nepalese*. Shimla Was A Part Of The Kingdom Of Prithvi Narayan Shah Of Nepal Before The British. It was declared the summer capital of India in 1864. 3. Nathuram Godse’s trial Took Place at (Now) Peterhoff Hotel. The building was the residence for seven Viceroys and the location for the Punjab High Court. 4. Indian Institute Of Advanced Studies – *IIAS* Had Power Supply Way Back in 1888. It was built as a residence for Lord Dufferin in 1884 and now houses the IIAS. 5. *Shimla* is Located On 7 Hills. Prospect Hill , Observatory Hill, Summer Hill, Inverarm Hill, Bantony Hill, Jakhoo Hill and Elysium Hill. 6. Shimla Hosts The MTB Himalaya, The Biggest Mountain Biking Race In South East Asia. 7. The Kalka-Shimla Railway Is Recognized As A World Heritage Site By UNESCO. 8. Shimla Has The Only Natural Ice Skating Rink In South Asia. 9. The Durand Football Tournament Was Held at Annandale Ground In 1888. 10. Lord Combermere Was The First Commander-In–Chief Of The Indian Army To Visit Shimla In 1828. 11. The Founder of Indian National Congress Lived at ‘Rothney Castle’ in Shimla 12. The Town Hall Was Built In 1888. It Is An Earthquake Proof Building. 13. Mahatma Gandhi first came to Shimla on 11th May, 1921. 14. Shimla is the Birth Place Of Anupam Kher, Prem Chopra, Balraj Sahni, Priya Rajvansh. 15. The *Jakhoo* Temple Shrine, Believers Say, Holds the Foot Prints Of Lord Hanuman. 16. The Houlme Is The Birth Place Of Amrita Shergill, One Of India’s Most Well Known Artists. The house also has a studio that her father very lovingly constructed for her. 17. Shimla had its first newspaper – Simla Akhbaar in 1848. It was run by the Muslim Community but was soon shut down by the British. 18. The first shop opened in Shimla was a butchery run by Messers Barret & Co. 19. Auckland House School Is The Only Girl School In India To Introduce Scuba Diving. 20. The Jonang Takten Phuntsok Choeling Monastery In Sanjauli Is One Of Its Kind In India. There is only one other in Tibet that teaches the practice of ‘ *Kalachakra*. ‘ 21. Bishop Cotton School, Shimla Is One Of The Oldest Boarding Schools In Asia. The school has been operational since 1863. They actually have a closed door in the building from where 100 Muslims students left at partition. 22. The First Road Of Shimla Was Constructed In 1828. The Mall was actually called the ‘ *Thandi Sarak*’ in the British Era. 23. Shimla Falls In Seismic Zone IV. According to officials, even 2% of the buildings will not be able to withstand an earthquake of high intensity. Shimla is bursting at the seams with residents, as it was only planned for 16000 residents. 24. The NORTHERN slope of RIDGE is *SINKING*. The Grand Hotel west, Lakkar Bazaar are going DOWN. Alarmingly Shimla has 187 buildings with more than five floors. 25. The Shimla Convention Is A Century Old. Tibetans Are Still In Exile. 26. From the North Side of Ridge the Rain water drains into Sutlej River and is carried into ARABIAN SEA, South side drains into Yamuna and flows to BAY of BENGAL