Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is wrapped in snow most of the time. Many parts of the state
have a distinctly Austrian look with conifer-clad mountains, chalet-like huts
with overhanging balconies and serene blue valleys watered by snow-fed streams.
Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, is still very much a Raj township in
appearance and atmosphere.

Himachal Pradesh stores numerous wonderful hill stations, which are
particularly cool in summers. Shimla, Dalhousie, Kullu, Kasauli, Manali, Chail
and Kufri are a few of the hill Stations which offer breathtaking scenery.
Dharmasala, where the Dalai Lama lives, is another important centre on the
tourist map. The foremost shrine in Kangra town is the Brajeshwari Devi temple.
30-km from Kangra is Jwalamukhi, one of the most revered temples in northern
India. The Kangra Museum has an impressive art collection.


Capital: Built in the mid-eighteenth century, Shimla was highly popular among
the British royalty after it was named the 'Summer Capital of India'. The
Parliament used to move up to the hills to get a break from the hot Indian
summers. The town is a picturesque place dotted with charming bungalows and
shops made of stone. A perfect setting for romance or to go on a idle holiday.
The best way to see Shimla is to pick up a tour book, which tells a small
history of the buildings and churches.



History: Aryan groups filtered into the more productive valleys during the
Vedic Period. Later, the Mauryans, Guptas and the Mughals sought to exercise
varying degrees of control over trade and pilgrimage routes into this area and
between India and Tibet. Lahul and Spiti was controlled by Ladakh from the
decline of the Mughal Empire (about the mid-18th century) until the early
1840s, when it briefly came under Sikh rule. British domination followed the
Anglo-Sikh Wars and continued, directly or indirectly, for the next 100 years.
In 1948, it was constituted as an administrative unit comprising 30 princely
states.

The People: Himachalis lead a simple and quiet life, tending their orchards,
fields and flocks. The population is composed of a variety of distinctive hill
tribes: Gadis, Gujaris, Kinnauris, Lahulis, Pangwalis, and Rajputs. Hindi (the
official state language) and Pahari are the principal languages. Himachal
Pradesh is the least urbanized state in India; the urban population accounts
for less than 10 per cent of the total. The simple people of Himachal still
hold their gods in awe.

Culture: Keeping alive their rich highland identity, they remain immersed in
the annual rounds of fairs and festivals full of music, song and dance. The
Shimla hills, the Kullu valley (including the town of Manali), and Dalhousie
are tourist attractions. Skiing, golfing, fishing, trekking, and mountaineering
are activities for which Himachal Pradesh is ideally suited.

Occupation: Most people in Himachal Pradesh earn their keep by agriculture,
pastoralism, horticulture, and forestry. The state's main industrial products
are agricultural implements, turpentine, and resin at Nahan, television sets,
fertilizer, beer, and liquor at Solan, cement at Rajban, processed fruit at
Parwanoo, and electronics near Shimla. Thousands of artisan-based, small-scale
industrial units are also in operation.

Handicrafts: Exquisitely designed shawls of Kinnaur, the distinctive woollen
caps of Kullu, and the embroidered handkerchiefs of Chamba are some of the very
attractive examples of local weaving. Himachal Pradesh is also known for its
Kangra Valley School of Paintings.


CLIMATE: The State can be divided into two regions: the Southern part, which is
almost as hot as the plains and the northern region having a temperate summer
and a winter with extreme cold and heavy snowfall. The rainfall is around 180
cms. Best time to visit Himachal is during the months Mid-May to Mid-October.

Population: 6 million

Festivals: Shivratri festival in Mandi in Feb/March; Sul Mata festival in
Chamba in March; Kangra Valley Tea Festival in April; Shimla Summer Festival in
May; Kulu Dussehra, which begins when festivities in the rest of the country
have ended in October; Renuka Fair, held on the banks of Renuka lake in
November.

Tourist Offices:
Himachal Pradesh Tourist Information Counter - The Mall, Shimla- 171001,
Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh Tourist Information Counter - The Mall, Manali - 175131,
Himachal Pradesh.

Department of Tourism & Civil Aviation - Daizy Bank Estate, Shimla- 171001
Himachal Pradesh.