HIMACHAL PRADESH
On 25th January, 1971, Himachal Pradesh was made a full-fledged State. Himachal is in
the western Himalayas. Most of the state lies on the foothills of the Dhauladhar Range.
• It emerged as the eighteenth state of India.
• The word ‘Hima’ actually means snow in Sanskrit terminology. Acharya Diwakar
Datt Sharma, an eminent Sanskrit Scholar from Himachal Pradesh named the
state.
• Shimla
Capital • Winter capital- Dharamshala, declared in 2017
Date of Formation 25th January 1971
State Boundaries Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh
International boundaries China
Number of Districts 12
Tourist Place Shimla, Manali, Kullu, Dharamshala, Chamba, Dalhousie
• Fulaich
• Pori
• Manali Winter carnival
• Halda
• Dechhang
Festivals
• Phagli
• Gochi
• Lossar-Tibetan New Year
• Phulaich Festival
• Mala dance
• Rakshas dance
• Chham dance
• Kulli Nati
• Kayang
• Bnayangchu
Dance & Music forms • Jataru Kayang
• Chohara
• Gugga dance
• Losar Shona Chuksam
• Ghurehi
• Kullu Naati
• Basholi and Kangra style Pahari paintings
Arts & Crafts • Kullu Shawls, Woollen caps, Chamba Rumal
(Kangra style embroidery cloth)
• Naina Devi
• Mata Chintpurni
• Chaurasi temples
• Jawalamukhi temple
• Hadimba temple
Temples • Bajreshwari temple
• Chamunda temple
• Renukaji temples
• Baijnath
• Baba Balak Nath
• Rewalsar
• Guru Ghantal Monastery
• Kardang Monastery
• Shashur monastery
• Tayul Gompa
Buddhist Pilgrimages
• Kye Monastery
• Thang Yug Gompa
• Dhankar Monastery
• Tabo Monastery
Languages Kinnauri, Pahari, Hindi, Punjabi
State Animal Snow Leopard
State Bird Western Tragopan
State Flower Pink Rhododendron
State Tree Deodar
• Kalka-Shimla Railways (Toy Train)
UNESCO Sites • Great Himalayan National Park
• Outer Himalaya (Shiwaliks)
• Lesser Himalaya (Himachal)
Division of State
• Greater Himalaya (Himadri)
Rivers Ravi, Beas, Chenab, Yamuna, Sutlej
Major Crops Rice, Wheat, Maize, Barley
• Apples, Peaches, Cherries, Kiwis, Plums
Fruits • Dry fruits – hazelnuts, chilgoza
• Rohtang Pass
• Bara-Lacha La
• Shipki La
Passes
• Pin-Parvati Pass
• Kunzum Pass
• Suraj Tal
• Chander Tal
• Gobind Sagar
• Dal
• Beas Kund
Lakes
• Mani Mahesh
• Khajjar
• Renuka
• Rewalsar
• Chandertal
• Pong dam
Ramsar Wetland Site
• Renuka
• Great Himalayan National Park
• Pin Valley National Park
• Inderkilla National Park
National Park
• Khirganga National Park
• Simbalbara National Park
• Sechu Tuan Nalla, Chamba
• Rupi Bhaba, Kinnaur
• Pong Dam Sanctuary, Kangra
Wildlife sanctuaries
• Dhauladhar, Kangra
• Renuka-Sirmaur
• Gamgul-Siyabehi-Chamba
• Kibber-Lahaul & Spiti
Limestone, Rock Salt, Gypsum, Magnesite, Pyrite, Quartz, Quartzite,
Resources
Silica sand
Tribes Bhot, Bodh, Beta, Doma, Gaddi, Jad, Lamba, Pangwala
Ancient Tribes Dagis, Khasas, Koilis, Halis, Dhaugris, Dasa, Kinnars, Kirats
• Institute of Himalayan Bioresources Technology, Palampur
Institutions
• Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla
• Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla
• Bassi Hydroelectric Project (Kullu)
• Larji Hydroelectric Project (Shimla)
• Girinagar Hydel Project (Palampur)
• Binwa Hydel Project (Kinnaur)
• Sanjay Vidyut Pariyojna (Mandi)
Power Plants
• Baner and Neugal Project (Kangra)
• Andhra Hydel Project (Rohru – Shimla)
• Rongtong Hydel Project (Lahaul-Spiti)
• Nathpa Jhakri Project (funded by world bank)
• Kangana Ranaut
• Anupam Kher
• Captain Vikram Batra
Famous Personalities • Tenzin Gyatso
• Ruskin Bond
• Charanjit Singh
FACTS
• Himachal Pradesh became a part C state on 26th January 1950 with the
implementation of the Constitution of India.
• Bilaspur was merged with Himachal Pradesh on 1st July 1954.
• Himachal Pradesh became Union Territory on 1st November 1956.
• Kangra and most of the other hill areas of Punjab were merged with H.P. on 1st
November 1966 through its status remained that of a Union Territory.
• On 18th December 1970, the State of Himachal Pradesh Act was passed by
Parliament and the new state came into being on 25th January 1971.
• Shimla district is leading producer of fruits.
• Solan – Mushroom Capital of India.
• Sirmaur – leading flower producing district.
• Reo Purgyil (6816 mt.) is the highest mountain peak of state.
• The State is the sole holder of country’s rock salt resources
• Kangra Paintings- Miniature painting.
• Manikaran is famous for its hot springs.
• Manikaran Geothermal field, Parbati Valley-Kulu district.
• Dharamshala-Dalai Lama’s residence and the headquarters of Central Tibetan
Administration (the Tibetan government in exile) are in Dharamshala. Many
Tibetan refugees are resettled here.
• Around 883 AD some parts of the state were under the control of the king of
Kashmir, Sankar Varma.
• Around 1009 AD, Mahmud of Ghazni invaded the region. Rajputs exercised
influence over the region in around 1043.
• By 1804, vast regions of the state passed into the hands of Sikh emperor
Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
• Many regions of the state also witnessed Gorkha rule.
• The state sells hydro electricity power to Punjab, Delhi and Rajasthan.
• Himachal Pradesh boasts of a wide variety of fauna which include approximately
463 bird, 80 fish, 77 mammalian, and some 44 reptile species.
• Kasol is famous by the nickname of ‘Mini Israel’ perhaps because of its
maximum tourists being that of Israeli origin and so most of the shops and inns
to bear hoarding in the Hebrew language. Moreover, the clothes, goods and food,
especially pita bread and hummus also give you the feeling of being in Israel.
• Malana, a fairly unexplored and hidden village in Himachal Pradesh is also
famous by the name of ‘The Village of Taboos’ which is mainly because of their
strict rules of no outsider touching any wall or belonging of the residents.
• Malana is also one of the oldest democracies and interestingly it has its own set
of Greek-resembling beliefs and ways. The village is also infamous as a weed-
tourist destination. In fact, it has won the title of ‘Best Hashish’ twice; once in the
year 1994 and again in 1996 at High Times magazine Cannabis Cup.
• Himachal Pradesh is the land of deities. Almost every village has its own Gods
and Goddesses which the local people rigorously worship.
• Shimla is the only place in the whole of Asia to sport a natural ice skating rink.
