Shimla

History at a glance

1. 1864
   Shimla becomes the summer capital of British India, and the headquarters of the British Army in India. The only access is a village cart track.
2. 1898-1903
   The Delhi-Ambala-Kalka Railway Company builds the line, under Herbert Septimus Harington. 107 tunnels, 864 bridges, 919 curves, climbing 1,420 m. It opens in 1903.
3. During construction
   Mr Barog is said to have taken his own life after an error in laying the tunnel alignment. The tunnel that carries his name runs 1,143.61 m straight through fissured sandstone.
4. 1999
   The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is inscribed at the 23rd session, Marrakech — property 5.34 ha, buffer 70 ha.
5. 1999
   At the Nilgiri Mountain Railway's centenary, the Railway Minister announces the line will be electrified.
6. July 2005
   The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is added as an extension at the 29th session, Durban — property 4.59 ha, buffer 500 ha. One source says this forced abandonment of the modernisation plans.
7. 23 December 2004 - 8 July 2008
   Kalka Shimla enters the tentative list, the nomination reaches the World Heritage Centre on 25 January 2007, ICOMOS's technical mission runs 11-16 September 2007, and the Committee approves the extension on 8 July 2008 under criteria (ii) and (iv).

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