Shimla district lies between the longitude 77o-0" and 78o-19" east and latitude 30o-45" and 31o-44" north. It is bounded by Mandi and Kullu districts in the north, Kinnaur district in the east, the state of Uttaranchal in the south and Sirmaur district in the west. The elevation of the district ranges from 300 to 6000 m. The topology of the district is rugged and tough.

Shimla district in its present form came into existence from 1st Sept, 1972 on the reorganization of the districts of Himachal Pradesh. After the reorganisation, the erstwhile Mahasu district lost its entity and its major portion was merged with Shimla. Shimla district derives its name from Shimla town, the state capital of Himachal Pradesh.

History of Shimla goes back to the period of Anglo-Gurkha war in the beginning of 19th century. In 1804 the Gurkhas , who had suffered a severe defeat at the hands of the Sikhs at the battle of Kangra, a hill fortress about sixty miles from Shimla, where according to some accounts they lost thousand of men in the fight and many others from disease, commenced to ravage the states and hills surrounding Shimla. Gurkhas built many forts around Shimla. One of these strongholds, the Jagatgarh fortress, was the origin of the modern Jutogh, the well known military cantonment adjoining Shimla.

By 1808 the invaders had conquered all the fortified posts between the Yamuna and Sutluj, and from their capital Arki began their ruthless rule, until at length the people appealed to the British for help. A small British force was dispatched to liberate the hill men from Gurkhas. Majority of hill chiefs responded to the call and joined the British forces. The rivals were engaged in the toughest battle at 3750 ft high Ramgarh fort at Nalagarh. A decisive battle took place near the fort at Malaon in which superior guns of the British overpowered the enemy. All  the chieftains who had joined British were restored with their land under British protection. The British retained the strategic forts of Sabathu, Kotgarh, Ramgarh and Sandoch.

Present day Shimla district comprises of 19 erstwhile hill states mainly Balson, Bushahr, Bhaji and Koti, Darkoti, Tharoch & Dhadi, Kumharsain, Khaneti & Delath, Dhami, Jubbal , Keothal, Rawingarh, Ratesh, Sangri. Bushahr was one of the oldest of the hill states in the western Himalayas. Bushar was founded by Danbar Singh an immigrant Rajput from Deccan in 1412 AD. In 1914 the British recognised Padam Singh as legitimate heir and was crowned Raja of Rampur Bushahr. In 1948, Rampur Bushahr became part of province of Himachal Pradesh.

Jubbal one of the Shimla Hill States was originally tributary to Sirmaur, but became independent after the Gurkha war. Jubbal merged with the India after independence and became a part of Himachal Pradesh on 15th April, 1948.

Shimla district comprises of 7 Sub-Divisions, 12 Tehsils and 5 Sub Tehsils. Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, is built over several hills and connecting ridges.