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Himachal Pradesh (Hindi: हिमाचल प्रदेश, ), is located in the extreme north-west of India, almost at the extremity of the large, densely populated part of Asia influenced by the southwest monsoon. It has a long border with Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh on the northwestern side and in the northern districts of Spiti and Kinnaur, there is a border with China (Tibet). All these borders, except in the extreme southwest where there is a major road to Jammu town, are formed by extremely high passes that are snowbound except between mid-July and mid-October. Himachal Pradesh, spread over 55,673 km². is bordered by Jammu and Kashmir on north, Punjab on west and south-west, Haryana on south, Uttarakhand on south-east and by Tibet on the east. It is a mountainous region, known for the natural beauty of its forests, rivers, valleys, hills and dales and is rich in natural resources. The state is located in altitudes ranging from 450 meters to 6500 meters above sea level. The state capital is Shimla (formerly British India's summer capital under the name Simla), other major towns are Solan, Dharamsala, Kangra, Mandi, Kullu, Chamba, Hamirpur, Dalhousie and Manali. Himachal Pradesh has five major rivers. These are the Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, Beas and Yamuna.

Kullu, Manali, Shimla, Palampur and Dharamshala are famous tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh. Moreover, Himachal has got significant service class and is one of highest per capita income states in India. Due to the abundance of perennial rivers, Himachal also sells hydro electricity to other states such as Delhi, Punjab & Rajasthan.

History
Some evidences have been found that nearly 2 million years ago man lived in the foothills of Himachal Pradesh.Bangana valley of Kangra, Sirsa valley of Nalagarh and Markanda valley of Sirmour are found to be the places where prehistoric man used to live. From the pre historic time it was inhabited by tribes like the Koilis, Halis, Dagis, Dhaugris, Dasa, Khasas, Kinnars and Kirats. The Aryan influence in the region dates back to the period before the Rigveda. The foothills of the state were inhabited by people from Indus valley civilization which flourished between the time period of 2250 and 1750 B.C.

As per the Hindu epic Mahabharata, the tract which forms the present day Himachal Pradesh was made up of number of small republics, namely Janpadas each of which constituted both a provincial and cultural unit.

The small kingdom enjoyed a large degree of independence till the eve of the Muslim invasions in northern India. The states of the foothills were devastated by Muslim invaders a number of times. Mahmud Ghaznavi conquered Kangra at the begining of the 10th century. Timur and Sikander Lodi also marched through the lower hills of the state and captured a number of forts and fought many battles.

The Gorkhas, a martial tribe came to power in Nepal in the year 1768. They consolidated their military power and began to expand their territory. Gradually the Gorkhas annexed Sirmour and Shimla. With the leadership of Amar Singh Thapa, Gorkhas laid siege to Kangra. They managed to defeat Sansar Chand, the ruler of kangra, in 1806 with the help of many provincial chiefs. However Gorkhas could not capture Kangra fort which came under Maharaja Ranjeet Singh in 1809. After the defeat the Gorkhas began to expand towards the south of the state.

This led in the Anglo-Gorkha war. They came into direct conflict with the British along the tarai belt after which the British expelled them from the provinces of the Satluj. Thus British gradualy emerged as the paramount powers.

The revolt of 1857 or first Indian war of independence resulted due to the building up of political, social, economic, religious and military grievances against the British government. People of the hill states were not politically alive as the people in other parts of the country. They remained more or less inactive and so did their rulers with the exception of Bushahr. Some of them even rendered help to the British government during the revolt. Among them were the rulers of Chamba, Bilaspur, Bhagal and Dhami. The rulers of Bushars rather acted in a manner hostile to the interests of British.

The British territories in the hill came under British Crown after Queen Victoria's proclamation of 1858. The states of Chamba, Mandi and Bilaspur made good progress in many fields during the British rule. During the first world war, virtually all rulers of the hill states remained loyal and contributed to the British war effort both in the form of men and materials. Amongst these were the states of Kangra, Siba, Nurpur, Chamba, Suket, Mandi and Bilaspur.

After independence the Chief Commissioner's province of H.P. came into being on 15th April, 1948. Himachal became a part C state on 26th January, 1950 with the implementation of the Constitution of India. Himachal Pradesh became Union Territory on 1st November, 1956. 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. Thus H.P. emerged as the eighteenth state of Indian Union.

Geography
Himachal is situated in the interiors of western himalayas. The state is bordered by Jammu and Kashmir in the North, Uttar Pradesh in the South-East, Haryana in the South and Punjab is in the West. Himachal is situated between 30"22' and 30"12' north latitude and between 75"47' and 79"4' east longitude. It is a mountainous state with elevation ranging from about 350 to 6000 meters (1050 ft. to 18000 ft.) above the sea level. Shimla is the state capital. Himachal takes its name from the Himalayas. Himachal literally means Land of snowy mountains.

There is great variation in the climatic conditions of Himachal due to extreme variation in elevation i.e. 450-6500mtrs. The climate varies from hot and sub-humid tropical (450-900mtrs) in the southern tracts, warm and temperate (900-1800mtrs), cool and temperate (1900-2400mtrs) and cold alpine and glacial (2400-4800mtrs) in the northern and eastern mountain ranges with more elevation. The state has areas like Dharamshala that receive very heavy rainfall, as well as those like Lahaul and Spiti that are cold and almost rainless. Summer lasts from mid April till the end of June and most parts become very hot (except in alpine zone which experience mild summer) with the average temperature ranging from 28ºC to 32ºC. Winter lasts from late November till mid March; it is the longest and severest season. Snowfall is common in alpine tracts (generally above 2,200 m i.e. in the Higher and Trans-Himalayan region).

The drainage system of Himachal is very complex. It is composed both of rivers and glaciers. Himalayan rivers criss-croos the entire mountain chain. In fact the rivers are older than the mountain system. Himachal Pradesh provides water to both the Indus and Ganges basins. The drainage systems of the region are the Chandra Bhaga or the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, the Sutlej and the Yamuna. These rivers are perennial and are fed by snow and rainfall. They are protected by an extensive cover of natural vegetation.

Flora and Fauna
It has been estimated that 68% of the land area is covered with forests. The foothills and the valleys of the region are refreshing green whereas the areas above the snow line are nearly bare. The southern tracts are dominated by sal, sisham, chir pine, dry deciduous and moist broad-leafed forests. The temperate region grows oaks, deodar, blue pine, fir and spruce. In the uppermost region, trees are sturdy with a vast network of roots. Alders, birches, rhododendrons and moist alpine scrubs are there as the regional vegetation. The rhododendrons can be seen along the hillsides around Shimla from March to May.

Himachal is also said to be the fruit bowl of the country with orchards scattered all over the place. Meadows and pastures are also seen clinging to steep slopes. After the winter season, the hillsides and orchards bloom with wild flowers, while gladiolas, carnations, marigolds, roses, chrysanthemums, tulips and lilies are carefully cultivated. The state government is gearing up to make Himachal Pradesh as the flower basket of the world.

Himachal Pradesh is also a well known habitat to a wide variety of animals. This includes the leopards, ghoral, musk deer which is the state animal and monal, (the state bird. HP has 11 major national parks and sanctuaries – the largest number in the Himalayan region. The Great Himalayan National Park in Kullu district– was created in order to conserve the flora and fauna of the main Himalayan range, while the Pin Valley National Park to conserve the flora and fauna of the cold desert.

Economy
The era of planning started in Himachal in 1948 along with the rest of India. The first five year plan allocated Rs.5.27 crore to Himachal. More than 50% of this expenditure was incurred on road construction since it was felt that without proper transport facilities, the process of planning and development could not be carried to the people, who mostly lived an isolated existence in far away areas. Himachal now ranks fourth in respect of per capita income among the states of the Indian Union. Agriculture contributes over 45% to the net state domestic product. It is the main source of income and employment in Himachal. Over 93% of the population in Himachal depend directly upon agriculture which provides direct employment to 71% of its people. The main cereals grown are wheat, maize, rice and barley.

Himachal has a rich heritage of handicrafts. These include woolen and pashmina shawls, carpets, silver and metal ware, embroidered chappals, grass shoes, Kangra and Gompa style paintings, wood work, horse-hair bangles, wooden and metal utensils and various other house hold items. These aesthetic and tasteful handicrafts declined under competition from machine made goods and also because of lack of marketing facilities. But now the demand for handicrafts has increased within and outside the country.

Himachal is extremely rich in hydel resources. The state has about 25% of the national potential in this respect. It has been estimated that about 20,300MW of hydel power can be generated in the State by constructing various major, medium, small and mini/micro hydel projects on the five river basins. The state government has been giving the highest priority for its development, as hydel generation can not only meet the growing need of power for industry, agriculture and rural electrification, but can also be the biggest source of income to the state by way of sale of electricity to the neighbouring states.

Culture
Himachal Pradesh is an almost completely mountainous state in Northern India. Till recently, it was one of the few states that had remained largely untouched by external customs largely due to its difficult terrain. The modern technology has changed that very rapidly. The state however still retains a lot of its old charm. Himachal Pradesh is a multireligional, multicultural as well as multilingual state like other Indian states. The Hindu communities residing in Himachal include the Brahmins, Rajputs, Kannets, Rathis and Kolis. There are also tribal population in the state which mainly comprise Gaddis, Kinnars, Gujjars, Pangawals and Lahaulis. The handicraft that come out of this state and is worth appreciating are the carpets, leather works, shawls, paintings, metalware, woodwork and paintings. Pashmina shawl is the product which is highly in demand not only in Himachal but all over the country. Colourful Himachali caps are also famous art work of the people. Music and dance of Himachal Pradesh reflects its cultural identity. Through their dance and music, they entreat their gods during local festivals and other special occasions. There are also dances that are specific to certain regions of the state. Apart from the fairs and festivals that are celebrated all over India, there are number of other fairs and festivals also that are at the high point of Himachal Pradesh. These festivals are the time for the Himachalis to adorn colourful dress and accessories and get mixed up with the rest of their kins. The day to day food of Himachalis is very similar to the rest of the north India. They too have lentil, broth, rice, vegetables and bread. As compared to other states in north India non vegetarian is more preferred. Some of the specialities of Himachal include Pateer, Chouck, Bhagjery and chutney of Til.

Government
The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly has no pre-Constitution history. The State itself is a post-Independence creation. It first came into being as a centrally administered territory on 15 April 1948 by the integration of 30 erstwhile princely states. Himachal Pradesh is governed through a parliamentary system of representative democracy, a feature the state shares with other Indian states. Universal suffrage is granted to residents. The Legislature of Himachal Pradesh is unicameral and at present, the Assembly has a strength of 68. The tenure of the Assembly is five years unless it is sooner dissolved. There are 14 House Committees in the Assembly. In 2003 the state legislative assembly was won by the Indian National Congress. The main opposition is the Bharatiya Janata Party. Governments have seen alternates between BJP & Congress all the times. No third front ever has become significant.

Subdivisions
Himachal Pradesh is divided into 12 districts namely,Kangra, Hamirpur, Mandi, Bilaspur, Una, Chamba, Lahul and Spiti, Sirmaur, Kinnaur, Kullu, Solan and Shimla. A district of Himachal Pradesh is an administrative geographical unit, headed by a Deputy Commissioner or District Magistrate, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service. The district magistrate or the deputy commissioner is assisted by a number of officers belonging to Himachal Administrative Service and other Himachal state services. A Superintendent of Police, an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and related issues of the district. He is assisted by the officers of the Himachal Police Service and other Himachal Police officials.

Transport
The geography of Himachal presents considerable challenge to the development of transport infrastructure. Nevertheless, the state has made significant progress in road connectivity in the last few decades. Himachal at present has the highest road density among all the hill states of India. There are three airports in the state of Himachal Pradesh. They are at Bhuntar, Gaggal and Jubbarhatti. The air routes connect the state with Delhi and Chandigarh. There are no international airports in Himachal Pradesh. Vayudoot services connect Jubbarhatti, 23 km from Shimla, with Kullu, Chandigarh and Delhi. Jagson Airlines has flights from Delhi to Shimla.

Himachal Pradesh is not very well connected by railways as it is not a easy task to construct railway lines in the high altitude and rugged terrain. The Pathankot-Jogindernagar line is the longest railway line connecting Punjab with Himachal Pradesh. The other railway tracks pass through Shimla, Solan and Una. Shimla is connected with Kalka by a narrow gauge railway line, which in turn is connected with the major cities in India. Himachal has two narrow gauge rail tracks. The Kalka-Shimla Railway track has a length of 96 kilometers. It passes through 102 tunnels and crosses 864 bridges.

It is difficult to construct and maintain new roads in the hilly areas of the state. Most of the important places of Himachal Pradesh are well connected with the roadways. Eight national highways (NH) pass through the state with a total length of 1235 km. Few of the roads get closed during winters and monsoon seasons due to snowfall and landslides. Regular bus services connect Shimla with Chandigarh, Kullu, Manali, Delhi, Mandi, Pathankot, Amble, Chail and Dehradun. Local taxis are the major local transport here. District Hamirpur has got the highest road density in the country.

Demographics
The population of Himachal in 2001 stood at 6,077,248 as per the provisional results of the Census of India 2001. The population of Himachal Pradesh includes estimated population of entire Kinnaur district, where the population enumeration of Census of India, 2001 could not be conducted due to natural calamity. In terms of population it holds the same position (twenty first) among States and Union territories as at the previous census. The population of the State rose by 17.53% between 1991-2001. The sex ratio (i.e., the number of females per thousand males) of population was recorded as 970, which has declined from 976 in the previous census. Total literacy of the State rose to 77.13% from 63.94% in 1991.

The tribal population of the state comprise of the Gaddis, Kinnars, Gujjars, Pangawals and Lahaulis. The Gaddis are the traditional shepherds who migrate from the alpine pastures to the lower regions during the winters. The Kinnars are the inhabitants of the Kinnaur region and have traditionally practiced polyandry and polygamy. The Gujjars are nomads who rear buffalo herds. Himachal also has a sizeable population of Tibetans.

About 95% of the population of Himachal Pradesh consists of Hindus. There main communities are Brahmins, Rajputs, Kannets, Rathis and Kolis. Other religions are Sikhism and Buddhism. The Lahaulis of Lahaul and Spiti region are mainly Buddhists.

The major spoken languages include Hindi, Punjabi, Mahasui, Kulluyi, Lahauli, Kinnauri, Chambyali, Sirmauri, Bilaspuri, Pahari, Dogri, Kangri.

Education


Himachal Pradesh has one of the highest literacy rates in India. Hamirpur District is among the top districts in the country for literacy. Education rates among women are quite encouraging in the state.

Himachal Pradesh was under the British control in the mid 19th century. The state was also the summer capital of India during the British colonial Rule. Hence, the standard of education in the state has reached to a considerably high level as compared to other states. The state has several reputed educational institutes for higher studies.

The Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) and the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Hamirpur are some of the pioneer institutes located in the state. Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry has earned a unique distinction in India for imparting teaching, research and extension education in horticulture, forestry and allied disciplines. The government is working constantly to prepare various plans and projects in order to strengthen the education system of the state. Recently, the State Government has decided to start three nursing colleges to develop the health system in the state. There are over 10,000 primary schools, 1,000 secondary schools and more than 1,300 high schools in Himachal. The state government has decided to start up with 3 major nursing colleges to develop the health system in the state. In meeting the constitutional obligation to make primary education compulsory, Himachal has now became the first state in India to make elementary education accessible to every child in the state.

Media and Communication
Though situated in a remote part of the country, Himachal Pradesh has an active community of journalists and publishers. Several newspapers and magazines are published in more than one language, and their reach extends to almost all the Hindi speaking states. Radio and TV have permeated significantly. Judging by the number of people writing to these media, there is a very large media-aware population in the state.

The Telegraph, The Statesman, Asian Age, Hindustan Times, Punjab Kesari and The Times of India are the newspapers published here. Vernacular newspapers such as those in Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and Nepali are also read by selected readership.

Doordarshan is the state-owned television broadcaster. Multi system operators provide a mix of Nepali, Hindi, English and international channels via cable. All India Radio is a public radio station. Private FM stations are also available in few cities like Shimla. BSNL, Reliance Infocomm, Tata Indicom, Hutch and Airtel are available cellular phone operators. Broadband internet is available in select towns and cities and is provided by the state-run BSNL and by other private companies. Dial-up access is provided throughout the state by BSNL and other providers.