Shimla: founded by the British in 1819, capital of undivided Punjab from 1871, and the Kalka-Shimla railway of 1906
Background
The district administration records that the British founded the town of Shimla in 1819, after the Gorkha war.
In 1822 the Scottish civil servant Charles Pratt Kennedy built the first British summer home there.
Shimla became the summer capital of the British Raj in the latter half of the nineteenth century, as army personnel, merchants and civil servants came there to escape the heat of the plains.
It was made the capital of undivided Punjab in 1871.
The Kalka-Shimla railway opened in 1906.
Shimla became the capital of Himachal Pradesh when the State separated from Punjab in 1971.
The town stands at 2,202 metres above sea level.
In plain words
Gorkha war Anglo-Nepalese War — The war of 1814 to 1816 after which the British took control of the hill tracts that include Shimla.
Summer capital Summer capital — A seat of government used during the hot months, as Shimla was for the British Raj.