Himachal Pradesh "snow-laden province") is
a state in
the northern part of India. Situated in the Western Himalayas, it is one of the eleven mountain states and
is characterized by an extreme landscape featuring several
peaks and extensive river systems. Himachal Pradesh shares borders
with the Union territories of Jammu
and Kashmir and Ladakh to the north, and the states
of Punjab to
the west, Haryana to the southwest, and Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh to the south. The state
shares an international border to the east with the Tibet Autonomous
Region in China.
The predominantly mountainous region comprising the
present-day Himachal Pradesh has been inhabited since pre-historic times having
witnessed multiple waves of human migrations from other areas. Through its
history, the region was mostly ruled by local kingdoms some of which accepted
the suzerainty of larger empires. Prior to India's independence from the
British, Himachal comprised the hilly regions of Punjab
Province of British India. After independence, many of the
hilly territories were organized as the Chief Commissioner's province of
Himachal Pradesh which later became a union territory. In 1966, hilly areas of
neighboring Punjab state
were merged into Himachal and it was ultimately granted full statehood in 1971.
Himachal Pradesh is spread across valleys with many
perennial rivers flowing through them. Almost 90% of the state's population
lives in rural areas. Agriculture, horticulture, hydropower and tourism are
important constituents of the state's economy. The hilly state is almost
universally electrified with 99.5% of the households having electricity as of 2016. The state was
declared India's second open-defecation-free state in 2016. According
to a survey of CMS – India Corruption Study 2017, Himachal Pradesh is India's
least corrupt state.

Himachal Pradesh is a northern Indian state in the
Himalayas. It's home to scenic mountain towns and resorts such as Dalhousie.
Host to the Dalai Lama, Himachal Pradesh has a strong Tibetan presence. This is
reflected in its Buddhist temples and monasteries, as well as its vibrant
Tibetan New Year celebrations. The region is also well known for its trekking,
climbing and skiing areas.
Himachal is in the western Himalayas. Covering an area of 55,673 square kilometres
(21,495 sq mi), it is a mountainous state. Most of the
state lies on the foothills of the Dhauladhar Range. At 6,816 m, Reo Purgyil is the highest mountain peak in the state of
Himachal Pradesh.
Tourism
in Himachal Pradesh is a major contributor to the state's economy and growth.
The Himalayas attracts tourists from all over
the world. Hill stations like Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Dalhousie, Chamba, Khajjiar, Kullu and Kasauli are popular destinations for both
domestic and foreign tourists. The state also has many
important Hindu pilgrimage
sites with prominent temples like Naina Devi Temple, Bajreshwari
Mata Temple, Jwala Ji Temple, Chintpurni, Chamunda Devi Temple, Baijnath Temple, Bhimakali Temple, Bijli Mahadev and Jakhoo Temple. Manimahesh Lake situated in the Bharmour region of Chamba district is the
venue of an annual Hindu pilgrimage trek held in the month of August which
attracts lakhs of devotees. The state is also referred to as "Dev
Bhoomi" (literally meaning Abode of Gods) due to its mention as such
in ancient Hindu texts and occurrence of a large number of historical temples
in the state.
Locally,
it is called the Land of the Gods because of some popular Hindu temples of
Hindu deities. Although neighbouring state Uttarakhand is famous as the land of
the gods because of the major Hindu shrines like Badrinath( One of the Char
Dham), Kedarnath, Adi- Kailasha, Origin of holy rivers like Ganges, Yamuna,
Holy city Haridwar, Rishikesh etc.
Khirganga
is one of the most popular treks in Himachal.
Himachal
is also known for its adventure tourism activities like ice skating in
Shimla, paragliding in Bir Billing and Solang valley, rafting in
Kullu, skiing in
Manali, boating in Bilaspur and trekking, horse riding and fishing in
different parts in the state.Shimla, the state's capital, is home to Asia's only
natural ice-skating rink. Spiti Valley in Lahaul and Spiti
District situated at an altitude of over 3000 metres with its picturesque
landscapes is an important destination for adventure seekers. The region also
has some of the oldest Buddhist Monasteries in the world
Himachal
hosted the first Paragliding World Cup in India from 24 to
31 October in 2015. The venue for the paragliding world cup was Bir Billing,
which is 70 km from the tourist town Macleod Ganj,
located in the heart of Himachal in Kangra District. Bir Billing is the centre
for aero sports in Himachal and considered as best for paragliding. Buddhist
monasteries, trekking to tribal villages and mountain biking are other local
possibilities.
Himachal
Pradesh is known for its narrow-gauge railways. Hinduism is the
major religion in the state. The state has remained mostly untouched by
external customs, mainly due to the difficult terrain. Himachal
Pradesh is famous for its handicrafts including carpets,
paintings, leather works, stoles, and more.
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