North India · Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Sources: wikimedia
About Himachal Pradesh
- Mountains
Where it is
Himachal Pradesh is a mountain state in northern India in the western Himalaya, between Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand, where the Beas, Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab rivers cut deep valleys; Shimla is its summer capital and Dharamshala its winter capital.
History
For centuries the hills were divided among small kingdoms ruled by rajas, such as Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Mandi. The British made Shimla the summer capital of British India in 1864, and after independence the hill states were joined together in 1948; Himachal Pradesh became a full state on 25 January 1971.
People
Hindi is the official language and Sanskrit an additional one, while Pahari languages such as Mandeali, Kangri and Kinnauri are spoken in the valleys. Village deities are honoured at fairs such as Kullu Dussehra, and Himachal is known for its hand-woven Kullu shawls and caps.
Known for
- Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala
- The Kalka–Shimla mountain railway
- Apple orchards
- Trekking, skiing and paragliding
- The Buddhist valleys of Lahaul and Spiti
Did you know?
The narrow-gauge Kalka–Shimla Railway, opened in 1903, is part of the Mountain Railways of India UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.