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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 22, p. 383.

SIMZ11 TO WN 383 Karachi 947 miles; from Kalka, at the foot of the hills, by cart-road, 58 miles. The population of Simla (excluding Jutogh and Kasumpti) was: (1881) 12,305, (1891) 13,034, and (igoi) 13,960, enumerated in February or March when it was at its lowest. At a municipal census taken in July, 1904, the population within municipal limits was returned at 35,250. Of the population enumerated in 1901, Hindus numbered 8,563, Muhammadans 3,545, Sikhs 346, Christians 1,471, and Jains and Parsis 35. A tract of land, including part of the hill now crowned by the station, was retained by the British Government at the close of the Gurkha War in 1816. Lieutenant Ross, Assistant Political Agent for the Hill States, erected the first residence, a thatched wooden cottage, in 1819. Three years afterwards, his successor, Lieutenant Kennedy, built a permanent house. Officers from Ambala and neighbouring stations followed the example, and in 1826 the new settlement had acquired a name. A year later, Lord Amherst, the Governor-General, after completing his progress through the North-West on the conclusion of the successful Bharatpur campaign, spent the summer at Simla. From that date the sanitarium rose rapidly into favour with the European population of Northern India. Year after year, irregularly at first, but as a matter of course after a few seasons, the seat of Government was transferred for a few weeks in every summer from the heat of Calcutta to the cool climate of the Himalayas. Successive Governors-General resorted with increasing regularity to Simla during the hot season. Situated in the recently annexed Punjab, it formed an advantageous spot for receiving the great chiefs of Northern India, numbers of whom annually come to Simla to pay their respects. It also presented greater conveniences than Calcutta as a starting-point for the Governor- General's cold-season tour. At first only a small staff of officials accompanied the Governor-General to Simla; but since the adminis- tration of Lord Lawrence (1864) Simla has, except in 1874, the year of famine in Bengal, been the summer capital of the Government of India, with its secretariats and head-quarters establishments. Simla was the regular head-quarters of the Commander-in-Chief before it was that of the Governor-General, and now several of the Army head- quarters offices remain in Simla all the year round. The Punjab Government first came to Simla in 1871, and, except for a three years' sojourn at Murree from 1873 to 1875, has had its summer head-quarters at Simla ever since. Under these circumstances, the station has grown with extraordinary rapidity. From 3o houses in 1830 it increased to upwards of loo in 18V and 290 in 1866. In February, 1881, the number of occupied houses was 1,141, and in March, 1901, it was 1,847 (including Kasumpti). Schemes for extending the station are under considera-