Shimla district
District of Himachal Pradesh in India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shimla district, known as Simla district until 1972, is one of the twelve districts of the state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India. Its headquarters is the state capital of Shimla. Neighbouring districts are Mandi and Kullu in the north, Kinnaur in the east, Uttarakhand in the southeast, Solan to the southwest and Sirmaur in the south. The elevation of the district ranges from 987 metres (3,238 ft) to 4,500 metres (14,764 ft). Shimla district culturally is part of the Mahasu region.[2][3]
Shimla district | |
|---|---|
    Clockwise from top-left: Shimla City, Rashtrapati Niwas, Tani Jubbar Lake near Narkanda, Chandranahan Sangla Pass, Bhimakali Temple at Sarahan | |
| Nickname: The Queen of Hills | |
 Shimla district Location in Himachal Pradesh | |
| Country |  India |
| State |  Himachal Pradesh |
| Headquarters | Shimla |
| Government | |
| • Deputy Commissioner | Anupam Kashyap, IAS |
| • Superintendent of Police | Sanjay Gandhi, IPS |
| • Lok Sabha Constituencies | Shimla |
| • Vidhan. Sabha Constituencies | |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,131 km2 (1,981 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 814,010 |
| • Rank | 3rd |
| • Density | 158.6/km2 (410.9/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi |
| • Regional | Mahasu Pahari[1] |
| Demographics | |
| • Sex ratio | 916 |
| • Literacy | 84.55 |
| • Literacy: male | 90.73 |
| • Literacy: female | 77.80 |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Postal code | 171xxx |
| Area code | 91 177 xxxxxxx |
| ISO 3166 code | IN-HP |
| Largest city | Shimla |
| Climate | ETh (Köppen) |
| Precipitation | 1,520 millimetres (60 in) |
| Avg. annual temperature | 17 °C (63 °F) |
| Avg. summer temperature | 22 °C (72 °F) |
| Avg. winter temperature | 4 °C (39 °F) |
| Website | hpshimla |
As of 2011, it is the third most populated district of Himachal Pradesh (out of 12), after Kangra and Mandi.[4] It is the most urbanized district of Himachal Pradesh.
Administrative structure
| Sl. No. | Particulars | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geographical Area | 5,131 km2 |
| 2 | Area (out of total area) of H.P. | 9.22% |
| 3 | Sub-Divisions[5] | Total = 11
|
| 4 | Tehsils[6] | Total = 17 |
| 5 | Sub-Tehsils[7] | Total = 9 |
| 6 | Towns | (10) Shimla, Rampur, Kumarsain, Narkanda, Theog, Seoni, Chaupal, Kotkhai, Jubbal, Rohru |
| 7 | C.D. Blocks[8] | (12) Mashobra, Theog, Chaupal, Rampur, Narkanda, Jubbal, Kotkhai, Rohru, Chohara, Basantpur, Nankhari, Totu, Kupvi |
| 8 | Legislative Assembly | (8) |
| 9 | Villages | 2,914 |
| 10 | Inhabited | 2,520 |
| 11 | Uninhabited | 394 |
| 12 | Density | 159 person per km2 |
| 13 | Panchayts | 363 |
History
Shimla district was part of Mahasu district which included Shimla, Solan and Kinnaur districts. Kinnaur was carved out on 1st May 1969 out of Mahasu district and Shimla and Solan districts were made separate districts out of Mahasu district on 1st September 1972.[9][10] Shimla district was obtained by the British as Mahasu district which included aforementioned districts also in 1815.[11]
Access
By road
Shimla is connected by road to all the major towns. Distance between the major towns and Shimla:
- Kalka - 80 km
- Patiala - 172 km
- Chandigarh - 119 km
- Ambala - 166 km
- Delhi - 380 km
- Agra - 568 km
- Amritsar - 342 km
- Jammu (via Pathankot) - 482 km
- Srinagar - 787 km
- Jaipur - 629 km
- Dharmsala (via Mandi) - 290 km
- Dharamsala (via Hamirpur) - 235 km
- Dalhousie - 345 km
- Chamba - 401 km
- Kullu - 235 km
- Manali - 280 km
- Mandi - 153 km
- Palampur - 270 km
- Dehradun - 275 km
- Rampur - 132 km
- Kumarsain - 80 km
- Narkanda - 60 km
- Rohru - 129 km
- Theog - 28 km
- Chaupal - 100 km
Climate
| Climate data for Shimla (1951–1980) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 21.4 (70.5) |
22.6 (72.7) |
25.8 (78.4) |
29.6 (85.3) |
32.4 (90.3) |
31.5 (88.7) |
28.9 (84.0) |
27.8 (82.0) |
28.6 (83.5) |
25.6 (78.1) |
23.5 (74.3) |
20.5 (68.9) |
32.4 (90.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.9 (48.0) |
10.6 (51.1) |
14.8 (58.6) |
19.4 (66.9) |
22.9 (73.2) |
24.1 (75.4) |
21.0 (69.8) |
20.2 (68.4) |
20.1 (68.2) |
23.7 (74.7) |
15.1 (59.2) |
12.0 (53.6) |
17.3 (63.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.7 (35.1) |
3.0 (37.4) |
6.8 (44.2) |
11.1 (52.0) |
14.2 (57.6) |
15.6 (60.1) |
15.0 (59.0) |
14.8 (58.6) |
13.4 (56.1) |
10.7 (51.3) |
7.0 (44.6) |
4.3 (39.7) |
9.8 (49.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −10.6 (12.9) |
−8.5 (16.7) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
1.4 (34.5) |
7.8 (46.0) |
9.4 (48.9) |
10.6 (51.1) |
5.0 (41.0) |
0.2 (32.4) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−12.2 (10.0) |
−12.2 (10.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 54.6 (2.15) |
47.2 (1.86) |
59.4 (2.34) |
41.1 (1.62) |
56.4 (2.22) |
175.6 (6.91) |
376.5 (14.82) |
335.1 (13.19) |
190.2 (7.49) |
46.2 (1.82) |
13.8 (0.54) |
16.0 (0.63) |
1,424.8 (56.09) |
| Average rainy days | 4.7 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 10.3 | 18.3 | 18.1 | 9.9 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 84.8 |
| Source: India Meteorological Department (record high and low up to 2010)[12][13] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 230,144 | — |
| 1911 | 223,701 | −0.28% |
| 1921 | 228,138 | +0.20% |
| 1931 | 238,280 | +0.44% |
| 1941 | 259,656 | +0.86% |
| 1951 | 286,111 | +0.97% |
| 1961 | 341,461 | +1.78% |
| 1971 | 419,844 | +2.09% |
| 1981 | 510,932 | +1.98% |
| 1991 | 617,404 | +1.91% |
| 2001 | 722,502 | +1.58% |
| 2011 | 814,010 | +1.20% |
| source:[14] | ||
According to the 2011 census, the district had a population of 814,010. This gives it a ranking of 483rd in India (out of a total of 640).[4] The district has a population density of 159 inhabitants per square kilometre (410/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 12.67%. Shimla has a sex ratio of 915 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 83.64%. 24.74% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 26.51% and 1.08% of the population respectively.[4]
Religion
| Religious group |
1881[16][17][18] | 1891[19] | 1901[20] | 1911[21][22] | 1921[23] | 1931[24] | 1941[25] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
Hinduism  [a] |
32,428 | 75.51% | 33,839 | 75.8% | 30,299 | 75.09% | 29,047 | 73.87% | 33,228 | 73.31% | 28,661 | 77.91% | 29,466 | 76.38% |
Islam  |
6,935 | 16.15% | 7,152 | 16.02% | 6,675 | 16.54% | 5,820 | 14.8% | 6,953 | 15.34% | 5,810 | 15.79% | 7,022 | 18.2% |
Christianity  |
3,353 | 7.81% | 3,078 | 6.89% | 2,798 | 6.93% | 3,666 | 9.32% | 3,823 | 8.43% | 1,540 | 4.19% | 934 | 2.42% |
Sikhism  |
202 | 0.47% | 517 | 1.16% | 544 | 1.35% | 693 | 1.76% | 1,173 | 2.59% | 760 | 2.07% | 1,032 | 2.68% |
Jainism  |
23 | 0.05% | 42 | 0.09% | 32 | 0.08% | 49 | 0.12% | 90 | 0.2% | 1 | 0% | 114 | 0.3% |
Buddhism .svg){kind=small} |
4 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 26 | 0.07% | 20 | 0.04% | 14 | 0.04% | 5 | 0.01% |
Zoroastrianism  |
0 | 0% | 11 | 0.02% | 3 | 0.01% | 16 | 0.04% | 36 | 0.08% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 0.01% |
Judaism  |
N/a | N/a | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 0.01% | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Others | 0 | 0% | 3 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Total population | 42,945 | 100% | 44,642 | 100% | 40,351 | 100% | 39,320 | 100% | 45,327 | 100% | 36,786 | 100% | 38,576 | 100% |
| Note: British Punjab province era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases. | ||||||||||||||
| Tehsil | Hinduism |
Islam |
Sikhism |
Christianity |
Jainism |
Others[b] | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Shimla Tehsil | 23,237 | 66.39% | 6,727 | 19.22% | 1,171 | 3.35% | 3,726 | 10.64% | 85 | 0.24% | 57 | 0.16% | 35,003 | 100% |
| Kot Khai Tehsil | 9,991 | 96.77% | 226 | 2.19% | 2 | 0.02% | 100 | 0.97% | 5 | 0.05% | 0 | 0% | 10,324 | 100% |
| Note: British Punjab province era tehsil borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to tehsil borders — which since created new tehsils — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases. | ||||||||||||||
| Tehsil | Hinduism [a] |
Islam |
Sikhism |
Christianity |
Jainism |
Others[c] | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Shimla Tehsil | 17,950 | 67.01% | 6,825 | 25.48% | 1,024 | 3.82% | 439 | 1.64% | 114 | 0.43% | 434 | 1.62% | 26,786 | 100% |
| Kot Khai Tehsil | 11,516 | 97.68% | 197 | 1.67% | 8 | 0.07% | 69 | 0.59% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 11,790 | 100% |
| Note1: British Punjab province era tehsil borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to tehsil borders — which since created new tehsils — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases. Note2: Tehsil religious breakdown figures for Christianity only includes local Christians, labeled as "Indian Christians" on census. Does not include Anglo-Indian Christians or British Christians, who were classified under "Other" category. | ||||||||||||||
| Religious group |
1901[20] | 1911[21][22] | 1921[23] | 1931[24] | 1941[25] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Hinduism [a] |
373,886 | 96.03% | 386,953 | 95.7% | 292,768 | 95.45% | 317,390 | 95.93% | 345,716 | 96.16% |
| Islam |
11,535 | 2.96% | 11,374 | 2.81% | 9,551 | 3.11% | 10,017 | 3.03% | 10,812 | 3.01% |
| Buddhism |
2,223 | 0.57% | 2,709 | 0.67% | 2,052 | 0.67% | 1,308 | 0.4% | 10 | 0% |
| Sikhism |
1,318 | 0.34% | 2,911 | 0.72% | 2,040 | 0.67% | 1,817 | 0.55% | 2,693 | 0.75% |
| Jainism |
274 | 0.07% | 172 | 0.04% | 142 | 0.05% | 141 | 0.04% | 126 | 0.04% |
| Christianity |
113 | 0.03% | 224 | 0.06% | 164 | 0.05% | 176 | 0.05% | 161 | 0.04% |
| Zoroastrianism |
0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 0% | 2 | 0% |
| Judaism |
0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Others | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Total population | 389,349 | 100% | 404,343 | 100% | 306,718 | 100% | 330,850 | 100% | 359,520 | 100% |
| Note1: British Punjab province era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases. Note2: 1901-1911 census: Including Jubbal, Bashahr, Keonthal, Baghal, Bilaspur, Nalagarh, and other minor hill states. Note3: 1921-1931 census: Including Bashahr, Nalagarh, Keonthal, Baghal, Jubbal, and other minor hill states. Note3: 1941 census: Including Bashahr, Nalagarh, Keonthal, Baghal, Jubbal, Baghat, Kumarsain, Bhajji, Mahlog, Balsan, Dhami, Kuthar, Kunihar, Mangal, Bija, Darkoti, Tharoch, and Sangri states. | ||||||||||
Language
At the time of the 2011 census of India, 67.61% of the population recorded their language as Pahari, 20.31% Hindi, 4.63% Nepali, 1.39% Punjabi and 1.05% Kangri as their first language.[26]
Notable people
- Aalisha Panwar - Indian actress
- Abhilasha Kumari - Former Indian Judge
- Anupam Kher - Indian actor
- Asmita Sood - Indian television actress
- Anand Sharma - Former Union Minister and Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
- Ashish R Mohan - Indian film director
- Balak Ram Kashyap - Former Member of Parliament and Memeber of Legislative Assembly
- Chetan Singh - Historian
- Dhan Singh Thapa - a prestigious Indian Army Officer and Param Vir Chakra Awardee
- Harish Janartha - Member of Legislative Assembly
- Kamayani Bisht - educator, poet, actress
- Krushna Abhishek - Indian actor and comedian
- Nirmal Verma - Hindi writer
- Pratibha Singh - Member of Legislative Assembly
- Pratibha Ranta - Indian actress
- Priety Zinta - Indian actress
- Rakesh Singha - Politician
- Renuka Singh - Indian cricketer
- Rubina Dilaik - Indian actress
- Sanjay Chauhan - Politician
- Shakti Singh - Indian actor
- Shreya Sharma - Indian actress
- Shrinivas Joshi - columnist, theatre person, ex-civil servant
- Siddharth Pandey - writer, historian, photographer
- Suresh Bhardwaj - Former Member of Legislative Assembly
- Sushma Verma - Indian cricketer
- Thakur Ram Lal - Former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh
- Vikramaditya Singh - Member of Lagislative Assembly
- Vikrant Massey - Indian actor
- Virbhadra Singh - Former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh
Notes
- 1931-1941: Including Ad-Dharmis
- Including Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Tribals, others, or not stated
- Including Anglo-Indian Christians, British Christians, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Tribals, others, or not stated
