Himachal Pradesh - the land of the eternal snow peaks – moves to the transition zone from the plains to the high Himalayas and in the trans-Himalayan region of Lahaul and Spiti actually crosses the mighty barrier to the Tibetan plateau. It is a complex mosaic of hills, lush valleys and snow-clad peaks. Jammu and Kashmir borders the state in the north, Punjab in the west, Haryana in the south, Uttar Pradesh in the southeast and Tibet in the east. Abundant green grassland and wide valleys set against imposing snow-clad mountains; crystal clear lakes, flowing rivers and spurting streams; fruit laden groves and soft terraces of corn and tea are characteristics of Himachal Pradesh.

It is one of the most visited travel destination in India attracting lakhs of tourists every year. The wide range of adventure activities also draws many foreign tourists. The huge number of hill resorts, pilgrimage centers, adventure sports destinations and wildlife attracts a wide range of tourist traffic. The state also has many national parks and sanctuaries which pulls many nature lovers towards its vast natural heritage. The state has many dams that harness the hilly rivers to generate electric power. These dams often act as a tourist destination with Bhakra dam on Sutlej river being the most famous one.

The scenic hill station Shimla which is the capital of the city has now become a tourist hub. The beautiful valleys of the state a acts as a geographical divide and tells us about the cultural diversity of the state. Himachal Pradesh is a land of jade forests and fresh air. As much as 68% of the land area is covered with jungles. While the foothills and valleys are a refreshing green, the areas above the snow line are almost bare

Manali a popular hill station of the state offers paragliding which is an ecstatic experience of its own. Apart from that the rivers of the state are an excellent White water rafting destinations. The state has many peaks which presents tremendous opportunities for trekker around the globe.

Many ayurvedic medicines are produced all across the state. The rich cultural and natural heritage is preserved through many centuries by various customs and traditions.

Historical Background

The foothills of Himachal were inhabited by people from the Indus Valley Civilization which flourished between 2700 and 1750BC. The region has significance in the Hindu mythology and ancient scriptures such as the Vedas and Puranas. Ashoka the great king of the Mauryan Empire spread Buddhism here and erected many stupas, the remains of which can still be found in some of the places. After the Mauryan Empire the region was divided into many small kingdoms ruled by thakurs and ranas. The region was under control of Varman dynasty till 1000 AD and then was under the powerful influence of the Mughal invaders and then the rulers. In the early 16th century Mughal influence was beginning to be felt in Chamba and Kangra, but due their own difference and quarrels they could not stand up against the Mughals. The hill rulers continued warring well in the 18th century, it was then Sansar Chand (of the famed Katoch dynasty) of Kangra became a mighty figure in the latter half of the century. In the beginning of the 19th century the British were making there presence felt in the region and after the Anglo-Gorkha war as many as 21 states went under their control. The Anglo Sikh war in 1845 strengthened the presence of the British in the entire region, including Punjab and little bits of England were created in Shimla, Dalhousie and Dharamsala in that period. During the time of the first war of independence the region was entirely under British control and barring a few small incidences the authority of the British remain unchallenged.

When India gained Independence, the collective Punjab hill states were integrated into a single, centrally administered unit under the charge of a chief commissioner. A name was given to this unit – Himachal Pradesh. In 1954, Bilaspur was added, and in 1966, the rest of the region of Himachal Pradesh was merged into ‘The Mountain State’. In 1971, it was granted statehood, and became the 18th state of the Indian Republic.

People and Cultures

Most of the people in Himachal depend on agriculture for livelihood. Many people derive their income from sheep, goats, and other cattle. Almost ninety percent of the people live in villages and small towns. The villages are mostly self-contained with a few shops to take care of basic necessities of life.The folk songs of Himachal Pradesh are full of charm. They are usually based on a religious or a romantic theme. During a village fair dancing is usually spontaneous and is symbolic of the peace and joy of the people. Most of the people in Himachal are Hindus. There is a sizable number of Buddhists who live in Himachal. The temple architecture has also been influenced by local constraints such as availability or lack of availability of certain construction materials. Most of the upper hill temples are made of wood and more similar to Pagodas in design.