The British first reached Shimla in the early 19th century. The British East India Company had established control over much of India by this time, and they were looking for a place to escape the heat of the Indian plains during the summer months. The cool and pleasant climate of Shimla, with its picturesque surroundings, attracted the attention of the British officials.
The first Englishman to come to Shimla was Captain Charles Pratt Kennedy, who arrived in the town in 1819. Kennedy was serving in the army of the British East India Company and was posted in the nearby town of Sabathu. He discovered the Shimla valley during one of his explorations and was struck by its natural beauty and pleasant climate.
The British officials were quick to recognize the potential of Shimla as a summer capital, and they began to establish their presence in the town. The first British officials to come to Shimla were the Governor-General of India, Lord Amherst, and his retinue, who arrived in Shimla in 1827.
The British gradually developed Shimla as a hill station, building roads, bungalows, and other infrastructure. The town became a popular summer retreat for the British officials, and it soon became known as the “Queen of Hill Stations.” Shimla served as the summer capital of British India from 1864 until Indian independence in 1947, and it played a significant role in the colonial history of India.