Change
Shimla on VoiceOfBharat.org
District Searches
Statistics
Interviews
Programmes
Collector / MP

Volunteering
Donation

 
Voice of Shimla : Vishal Bhatwe

Education is one of the major concerns of the district. Schools with proper infrastructure should be constructed and mainly local tutor/teacher should be appointed for teaching and admin purposes.
The literacy rate of SC/ST population in the district is also very low. Awareness among them on education and health should be inculcated.

Shimla District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio

Geographical Area : 5131.0 Km2
Population in Shimla (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 8,13,384
Male : 4,24,486
Female : 3,88,898

Under 6 population
Total : 80778
Male : 42018
Female : 38760

Disabled population
Total disabled population : 14675
In seeing : 7201
In speech : 1343
In hearing : 1615
In movement : 3189
Mental : 1327

Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis )
Backwardness : Does not figure in list of 447 backward districts
Sex Ratio Rank : 144
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 -2006)
Disability : 467 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 64 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD

Brief About Shimla District

History

Shimla District lies between the longitude 77o-0" and 78o-19" east and latitude 30o-45" and 31o-44" north. It is bounded by Mandi and Kullu in the north, Kinnaur in the east, the state of Uttaranchal  in the south, Sirmaur, district in the west. The elevation of the district ranges from 300 to 6000 metres.  The topology of the district is rugged and tough. Shimla district derives its name from Shimla town which was once a small village. Shimla district in its present form came into existence from 1st Sept,1972 on the reorganisation of the districts of the state.

History of Shimla goes back to the period of Anglo-Gurkha war in the beginning of 19th century.  In 1804 the Gurkhas , who had suffered a severe defeat at the hands of the Sikhs at the battle of Kangra, a hill fortress about sixty miles from Shimla, where according to some accounts they lost thousand of men in the fight and many others from disease, commenced to ravage the states and hills surrounding Shimla. Gurkhas built many forts around Shimla. One of these strongholds, the Jagatgarh  fortress, was the origin of the modern Jutogh, the well known military cantonment adjoining Shimla. By 1808 the invaders had conquered  all the fortified posts between the Jamuna and Satluj, and from their capital Arki began their ruthless rule over the neighbouring  hill states, untill at length the people in their wretchedness appealed to the British for help. A small British force under Major General 'Sir David Ochterlony' was despatched to liberate the hill men from Gurkhas. Majority of hill chiefs responded to the call and joined the British forces. The rivals  were engaged in the toughest battle at 3750 ft high Ramgarh fort at Nalagarh. A decisive battle took place near the fort at Malaon in which superior guns of the British overpowered the enemy. The battle of Malaon on 15th May 1815 ended the dream of the Gurkhas, to rule over this part of the land for any longer. After few days, an official declaration was made according to which all Chieftains who had joined British in expelling the Gurkhas were restored with their land under the British protection. The maharaja of Patiala who has also rendered invaluable services to the British was rewarded with land in the neighbourhood of the area now comprising Shimla. After the defeat of Gurkhas they were forced to sign the 'Treaty of Sanjauli' . The company retained the strategic forts of Sabathu, Kotgarh, Ramgarh and Sandoch.  

Present day Shimla District comprises of 19 erstwhile hill states mainly Balson, Bushahr, Bhaji and Koti, Darkoti, Tharoch & Dhadi,Kumharsain, Khaneti & Delath, Dhami, Jubbal , Keothal, Rawingarh, Ratesh, Sangri.

Bushahr was one of the oldest of the hill states after Kashmir in the Western Himalayas. According to one legend .the Bushahr dynasty was founded by 'Pradhuman', the son of Lord Krishna. In order to marry the daughter of Banasur, the local chief of shonitpur(Sarahan), Pradhuman is said to have come to that place and after the death of Banasur in an encounter with him, he became the chief of Bushar and Kinnaur regions, since Banasur has no son. According to C.F.Kennedy , Bushar was founded by Danbar Singh an immigrant Rajput from Deccan in 1412 A.D. In 1914  Britishers recognised  Padam Singh as legitimate heir and was crowned Raja of Rampur Bushahr. Ultimately in March, 1948  Rampur Bushahr became part and parcel of  province of Himachal Pradesh. 

Jubbal one of the Shimla Hill States with an area of 288 Sq miles was originally tributary to Sirmaur, but after Gurkha war, it became independent. Raja Karam Chand was the founder of the Jubbal State. Jubbal merged with the Indian Union after independence and became a part of Himachal Pradesh on 15th April, 1948. at the time of merger 'Dig Vijay Singh ' was the ruler of the state.

Shimla District in its present form came into existence from 1st September 1972 on the reorganisation of the districts of the state. After the reorganisation , the erstwhile Mahasu district lost its entity and its major portion was merged with Shimla.  Shimla district derives its name from Shimla town, the district headquarters and now state capital of Himachal Pradesh

Shimla, was the Summer capital  of  India under British rule . Presently, it is the state capital of Himachal Pradesh, with its population around  1.6 lacs (Shimla town only). Shimla has seen many important historical events such as  the famous Shimla Pact between India & Pakistan which was signed here.  The place is also famous  for  its natural beauty, architectural buildings, wooden crafts and apples.

 


 
10 ways you can benefit
Register free & create profile
Search corporates
Search funding agencies
Share district challenges
Recommend to Collector / MP
Shareprogrammes
Share donation opportunities
Share volunteering opp
Profiles of districts of India
Statistical canvas of districts