?Himachal Pradesh India
Shimla
Coordinates: 31°06′40″N 77°09′14″E / 31.111, 77.154
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area	55,780 km² (21,537 sq mi)
Capital	Shimla
Largest city	Shimla
District(s)	12
Population • Density	6,077,248 (20th) • 109 /km² (282 /sq mi)
Language(s)	Hindi, Pahari
Governor	V. S. Kokje
Chief Minister	Prem Kumar Dhumal
Established	25 January 1971
Legislature (seats)	Unicameral (68)
ISO abbreviation	IN-HP
Website: himachal.nic.in
Portal: Himachal Pradesh
Seal of Himachal Pradesh

Coordinates: 31°06′40″N 77°09′14″E / 31.111, 77.154

Himachal Pradesh (Hindi: हिमाचल प्रदेश, pronounced [hɪmaːtʃəl prəd̪eːʃ] (help·info)) is a state in the north-west of India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Indian Standard Time ( IST) is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka, with a Time offset of UTC+530. UTC+530 is the Timezone for Indian Standard Time Sri Lanka Time The geography of India is diverse with landscape ranging from snow-capped mountain ranges to deserts plains rainforests hills and plateaus To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions  Areas between 10000 km² and 100000 km² are listed here Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of Indian state Shimla [ʃɪmla] ( Hindi: शिमला originally called Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh Shimla [ʃɪmla] ( Hindi: शिमला originally called Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh A district is an administrative division of a state in India India is divided into twenty-eight states and seven Union territories (UT In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume This is a list of the States of India in order of population The Constitution of India envisages Hindi as the primary official language to be used by the Union Government, with English as the subsidiary official language Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is Pahari (or Pahaari) is a general terms for a range of dialects spoken across the Himalayan range not limited to a single country in the subcontinent Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje was the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, India, from 2003 to 2008 Prem Kumar Dhumal (Born 1944 is the current Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh. The States Reorganization Act of 1956 was a major reform of the boundaries and governance of India 's states and territories. Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or Parliamentary chamber ISO 3166-2 is the second part of the ISO 3166 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO ISO 3166-2IN is an ISO standard which defines Geocodes it is the subset of ISO 3166-2 which applies to India. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Himachal Pradesh is spread over 55,780 square kilometres (21,537 sq mi)^[1] and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on north, Punjab on west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on south, Uttarakhand on south-east and by Tibet on the east. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. ( Dogri: जम्मू और कश्मीर Urdu: جموں و کشمیر is the northernmost state of India. Punjab (ਪੰਜਾਬ पंजाब pəɲdʒaːb is a state in northwest India. Haryana (हरियाणा Punjabi: ਹਰਿਆਣਾ hərɪjaːɳaː is a state in northern India. Uttar Pradesh (उत्तर प्रदेश اتر پردیش pronounced, Translation: Northern Province) referred to as '''U Uttarakhand ( Hindi: उत्तराखण्ड or उत्तराखंड Uttar + Akhand i Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European The literal meaning of Himachal Pradesh is Land of snowy mountains. ^[2]

Himachal Pradesh was also known as Deva Bhoomi (the land of the gods). The Aryan influence in the region dates back to the period before the Rigveda. The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge" After the Anglo Gorkha war, the British colonial government came into power. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located It was initially in Punjab, except Siba State of Punjab Hills, under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh till 1857 ^[3] In 1950 Himachal was declared as the union territory but after State of Himachal Pradesh Act 1971 Himchal emerged as the 18th state of Indian Union. At the time of Indian independence, "British India " was divided into two sets of territories the first being the territories under the direct control of

Himachal Pradesh has one of the highest per capita incomes of any state in India. Due to the abundance of perennial rivers, Himachal also sells hydro electricity to other states such as Delhi, Punjab & Rajasthan. Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population Punjab (ਪੰਜਾਬ पंजाब pəɲdʒaːb is a state in northwest India. Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area ^[4] The economy of the state is highly dependent upon three sources i. e. Hydel power, tourism and agriculture. ^[5]

95% of the state population constitutes of Hindus. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical The major communities are of Brahmins, Rajputs, Kannets, Rathis and Kolis. Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India Rathi or Rathee is a clan of Jats found in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana in India. The Koli community is found throughout India Kolis are found in Maharashtra Gujrat AndhraPradesh and rest of India As per the survey conducted in 2005 by Transparency International Himachal Pradesh is ranked second least corrupt state in the country after Kerala. Transparency International ( TI) is a leading international Non-governmental organization addressing corruption Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; ^[6]

Contents 1 History 2 Geography and climate 3 Flora and fauna 4 Subdivisions 5 Government 6 Economy 7 Transport 8 Demographics 9 Culture 10 Education 11 Media and communication 12 Notes 13 References 14 External links

History

Main article: History of Himachal Pradesh

The history of the area that now constitutes Himachal Pradesh dates back to the time when the Indus valley civilisation flourished between 2250 and 1750 BCE. The Indus Valley Civilization (Mature period 2600&ndash1900 BCE abbreviated IVC, was an ancient Civilization that flourished in the Indus River basin ^[7] Tribes such as the Koilis, Halis, Dagis, Dhaugris, Dasa, Khasas, Kinnars and Kirats inhabited the region from pre-histotic era. During the Vedic period, several small republics known as "Janapada" existed which were later conquered by the Gupta Empire. The Vedic Period (or Vedic Age) is the period in the History of India during which the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, were being The Gupta Empire ( Hindi: गुप्त राजवंश was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 320 to 550 C ^[8] After a brief period of supremacy by king Harshavardhana, the region was once again divided into several local powers headed by chieftains, including some Rajput prinicipalities. Harsha or Harshavardhana (हर्षवर्धन or "Harsha vardhan" ( 590 &ndash 647) was an Indian emperor who ruled Northern India Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India These kingdoms that enjoyed a large degree of independence were devastated by Muslim invaders a number of times. ^[7] Mahmud Ghaznavi conquered Kangra at the beginning of the 10th century. Mahmud of Ghazni (محمود غزنوی Maḥmūd-e Ghaznawī ( November 2, 971 - April 30, 1030) also known as Yāmīn Timur and Sikander Lodi also marched through the lower hills of the state and captured a number of forts and fought many battles. Timur also written Emir Timur or Amir Temur ( Chagatai: تیمور - Tēmōr " Iron " (1336 – 19 February 1405 among Sikandar Lodhi (born Nizam Khan died November 21, 1517) was the second ruler of the Pashtun Lodhi Dynasty. ^[7] Several hill states acknowledged Mughal suzerainty and paid regular tribute to the Mughals. ^[9]

The Gorkhas, a martial tribe came to power in Nepal in the year 1768. Prithvi Naraya Shahdev and Sri Teen Maharaja Jung Bahadur The Way of Sacrifice The Rajputs Pages 28-30 Graduate Thesis South Asian Studies Department Dr Marcus Valerius Martialis (known in English as Martial) (March 1 40 AD - ca A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally consists of a Social group existing before the development of or outside of States Many anthropologists use Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. ^[7] They consolidated their military power and began to expand their territory. A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking ^[7] Gradually the Gorkhas annexed Sirmour and Shimla. Sirmaur is the most south-eastern district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Shimla [ʃɪmla] ( Hindi: शिमला originally called Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh With the leadership of Amar Singh Thapa, Gorkhas laid siege to Kangra. Amar Singh Thapa was the General of the Nepalese forces of western front in the Anglo-Nepalese War. They managed to defeat Sansar Chand, the ruler of kangra, in 1806 with the help of many provincial chiefs. Sansar Chand (c1765-1823 was a famous ruler of the state of Kangra in what is now the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. However Gorkhas could not capture Kangra fort which came under Maharaja Ranjeet Singh in 1809. Maharaja Ranjit Singh (ਮਹਾਰਾਜਾ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ also called "Sher-e-Punjab" ("The Lion of the Punjab" (1780-1839 was a After the defeat the Gorkhas began to expand towards the south of the state. Prithvi Naraya Shahdev and Sri Teen Maharaja Jung Bahadur The Way of Sacrifice The Rajputs Pages 28-30 Graduate Thesis South Asian Studies Department Dr However,Raja Ram Singh,Raja of Siba State re-captured the fort of Siba from the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Samvat 1846. ^[7]

This led in the Anglo-Sikh 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. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands The Sutlej River (alternatively spelled as Satluj River (ਸਤਲੁਜ शतद्रु or सुतुद्री, ستلج and सतलुज is the longest ^[7] Thus the British gradually emerged as the paramount powers. ^[7] 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. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of Sepoys of British East India Company 's army on the 10th of May 1857 in the town of Meerut, ^[7] People of the hill states were not politically alive as the people in other parts of the country. ^[7] They remained more or less inactive and so did their rulers with the exception of Bushahr. ^[7] Some of them even rendered help to the British government during the revolt. Among them were the rulers of Chamba, Bilaspur, Bhagal and Dhami. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Bilaspur is a city and a Municipal council in Bilaspur District in the state of Himachal The rulers of Bushars rather acted in a manner hostile to the interests of British. ^[7]

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. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Bilaspur is a city and a Municipal council in Bilaspur District in the state of Himachal ^[7] 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. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Amongst these were the states of Kangra, Jaswan,Datarpur,Guler, Nurpur, Chamba, Suket, Mandi and Bilaspur. Nurpur may refer to Nurpur Bangladesh Nurpur India Nurpur Noon, a historical village of Pakistan WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Bilaspur is a city and a Municipal council in Bilaspur District in the state of Himachal ^[7]

After independence the Chief Commissioner's province of H. P. came into being on 15 April 1948. Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The province comprised of the hill districts around Shimla and southern hill areas of the former Punjab region. Shimla [ʃɪmla] ( Hindi: शिमला originally called Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh Punjab ( ਪੰਜਾਬ پنجاب, पंजाब پنجاب also Panjab (پنجاب meaning "Land of the Five Rivers") (c Himachal became a part C state on 26 January 1950 with the implementation of the Constitution of India. Events 1340 - King Edward III of England is declared King of France. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Constitution of India ( Hindi: भारतीय़ संविधान see names in other Indian languages) is the supreme law of India. Himachal Pradesh became Union Territory on 1 November 1956. A Union Territory is a sub-national administrative division of India. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[7] On 18 December 1970 the State of Himachal Pradesh Act was passed by Parliament and the new state came into being on 25 January 1971. Events 218 BC - Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal 's Carthaginian forces defeat those of the Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Thus Himachal emerged as the eighteenth state of Indian Union. ^[7]

Geography and climate

Main article: Geography of Himachal Pradesh

Himachal is situated in the western Himalayas. Khajjiar is a small Hill station in Chamba District, Himachal Pradesh, India. Covering an area of 55,780 kilometres (34,660 mi),^[1] Himachal Pradesh is a mountainous state with elevation ranging from about 350 metres (1,148 ft) to 6,000 metres (19,685 ft) above the sea level. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit Mean sea level (MSL is the average (mean height of the Sea, with reference to a suitable reference surface ^[10]

The drainage system of Himachal is composed both of rivers and glaciers. Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from a given area "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there "Glacial" and "Glaciation" redirect here For the geological periods see Glacial period. Himalayan rivers criss-cross the entire mountain chain. In fact the rivers are older than the mountain system. ^[11] Himachal Pradesh provides water to both the Indus and Ganges basins. The Indus River { Sanskrit: सिन्धु Sindhu; Urdu: urd {{Nastaliq سندھ}} Sindh; Sindhi: snd The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent A drainage basin is an extent of Land where Water from Rain or Snow melt drains downhill into a body of water such as a River, ^[12] The drainage systems of the region are the Chandra Bhaga or the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, the Sutlej and the Yamuna. HeadMarala3jpg|200px|right|thumb|A View of Marala Headworks on Chenab near Sialkot]] The Chenab River (ਚਨਾਬ, चनाब چناب literally 'Moon( The Ravi River (रवि ਰਾਵੀ راوی is a River in Pakistan and India. The Sutlej River (alternatively spelled as Satluj River (ਸਤਲੁਜ शतद्रु or सुतुद्री, ستلج and सतलुज is the longest For the goddess of the river who is sometimes called Yamuna see Yami The Yamuna (Sanskrit यमुना These rivers are perennial and are fed by snow and rainfall. A perennial stream or perennial river is a Stream or River (channel that has continuous flow in parts of its bed all year round during years of normal They are protected by an extensive cover of natural vegetation. ^[12]

There is great variation in the climatic conditions of Himachal due to extreme variation in elevation. The climate varies from hot and sub-humid tropical in the southern tracts to cold, alpine and glacial in the northern and eastern mountain ranges with more elevation. ^[13] The state has areas like Dharamsala that receive very heavy rainfall, as well as those like Lahaul and Spiti that are cold and almost rainless. Broadly Himachal experience three seasons; hot weather season, cold weather season and rainy season. 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 28 °C (82 °F) to 32 °C (90 °F). Temperature is a physical property of a system that underlies the common notions of hot and cold something that is hotter generally has the greater temperature The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 ^[14] Winter lasts from late November till mid March. Snowfall is common in alpine tracts (generally above 2,200 metres (7,218 ft) i. "Snowfall" redirects here For other uses see Snow (disambiguation or Snowfall (disambiguation. e. in the Higher and Trans-Himalayan region). ^[14]

Flora and fauna

Main article: Wildlife of Himachal Pradesh

According to 2003 Forest Survey of India report, legally defined forest areas constitute 66. Forests in Himachal Pradesh currently cover an area of nearly 21325 km² which is about 38 Forest Survey of India (FSI is a government organization in India under the union Ministry of Environment and Forests for conducting forest surveys and studies 52% of the area of Himachal Pradesh, although area under tree cover is only 25. 78%. ^[15] Vegetation in the state is dictated by elevation and precipitation. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. In Meteorology, precipitation (also known as one class of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric The southern part of the state which is at lower elevation has both tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests and tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests. The tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forest Biome, also known as tropical dry forest, is located at tropical and subtropical latitudes Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests (TSMF also known as tropical moist forests, are a Tropical and Subtropical Forest ^[15] A part of the Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests, the vegetation is dominated by sal, sisham, chir pine, dry deciduous and moist broad-leafed forests. The Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests is a subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of India, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation. Botany Autumn leaf color. See --> In Botany and Horticulture, deciduous Plants, including The temperate region grows oaks, deodar, blue pine, fir and spruce. Cedrus deodara (Deodar Cedar Himalayan Cedar or Deodar Hindi, Sanskrit: देवदार devadāru; Chinese: 雪松 This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation. Firs ( Abies) are a genus of between 45-55 species of Evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. Spruce refers to Trees of the genus Picea, a genus of about 35 species of Coniferous Evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae 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. Alder is the common name of a Genus of Flowering plants ( Alnus) belonging to the Birch family (Family Betulaceae) Birch is the name of any Tree of the genus Betula ( Bé-tu-la) in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the Rhododendron (from the Greek: rhodos, "rose" and dendron, "tree" is a genus of flowering plants in the family Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region it refers to the Ground cover provided by plants The rhododendrons can be seen along the hillsides around Shimla from March to May. Rhododendron (from the Greek: rhodos, "rose" and dendron, "tree" is a genus of flowering plants in the family Shimla [ʃɪmla] ( Hindi: शिमला originally called Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh

Himachal is also said to be the fruit bowl of the country with orchards scattered all over the place. ^[16] 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. Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs was a singing group, active in the late 1950s and early 1960s Chrysanthemums, often called 'mums' are a genus ( Chrysanthemum) of about 30 species of perennial Flowering plants in the family Asteraceae Tulipa, commonly called tulip, is a Genus of about 150 species of bulbous Flowering plants in the family Liliaceae. The state government is gearing up to make Himachal Pradesh as the flower basket of the world.

Himachal Pradesh is a well known habitat to a variety of animals. There are around 1200 bird and 359 animal species in the state. ^[17] This includes the leopards, ghoral, snow leopard, musk deer (the state animal) and Western Tragopan (the state bird). The leopard (lɛpɚd Panthera pardus) is an Old World Mammal of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four roaring The snow leopard ( Uncia uncia) sometimes known as the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia from Afghanistan Northern The Western Tragopan or Western Horned Tragopan ( Tragopan melanocephalus) is a medium sized brightly plumaged Pheasant found along the Himalayas It has 12 major national parks and sanctuaries – the largest number in the Himalayan region. The Great Himalayan National Park in Kullu district was created 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. Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP is the newest addition to India 's National parks located in Kullu region in the state of Himachal Pradesh WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Kullu is the capital town of the Kullu District, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, Pin Valley National Park is located in the cold desert area of the Spiti valley, in the Lahul and Spiti district within the Indian state of Himachal A desert is a Landscape or region that receives very little precipitation. ^[16]

Subdivisions

Main article: Districts of Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is divided into 12 districts namely, Kangra, Hamirpur, Mandi, Bilaspur, Una, Chamba, Lahul and Spiti, Sirmaur, Kinnaur, Kullu, Solan and Shimla. right|thumb|200px|Kangra Kangra is the most populous district of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Hamirpur (हमीरपुर is a district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Mandi is the central district of Himachal Pradesh, India. There is also a town called Mandi, which has a distinguished history and interesting Bilaspur is a district of Himachal Pradesh state, India. It is famous for the manmade Govind Sagar Lake on the Sutlej River which Una ( Punjabi: ਅੰਬਾਲਾ is one of the districts of Himachal Pradesh, India, and shares its border with the Hoshiarpur District of Chamba is the northwestern district of Himachal Pradesh, in India. Sirmaur is the most south-eastern district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Geography A mountainous area ranging in altitude from 2320 to 6816 metres Kinnaur is one of the smallest districts in India by population Gallery See also Lug Valley Kullu Valley See notes Solan is one of the districts of Himachal Pradesh India. It contains the town of the same name called Solan. Shimla district lies between the Longitude 7700" and 7819" east and Latitude 30 The state capital is Shimla which was formerly British India's summer capital under the name Simla. Shimla [ʃɪmla] ( Hindi: शिमला originally called Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh

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 Deputy Commissioner (DC or District Magistrate (DM or District Collector is the head of the revenue administration of an Indian district The Indian Administrative Service ( IAS) is the administrative Civil service of the Indian government. The district magistrate or the deputy commissioner is assisted by a number of officers belonging to Himachal Administrative Service and other Himachal state services. Each district is subdivided into Sub-Divisions, governed by a sub-divisional magistrate, and again into Blocks. A Sub-Divisional Magistrate is a title sometimes given to the head official of a Country subdivision, an administrative unit that is sometimes below the level of District Blocks consists of panchayats (village councils) and town municipalities. The Panchayat is a South Asian Political system. ‘Panchayat’ literally means assembly ( yat) of five ( panch) wise and respected elders chosen A municipality is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly denotes a City, Town, or Village, or 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. A Superintendent of Police or Senior Superintendent of Police or Deputy Commissioner of Police is an officer belonging to the elite Indian Police Service Indian police redirects here For other uses see Indian police (disambiguation. He is assisted by the officers of the Himachal Police Service and other Himachal Police officials.

Government

Main article: Government of Himachal Pradesh

The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly has no pre-Constitution history. Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a Legislature, or to one of its chambers. A constitution is a system for government often Codified as a written document that establishes the rules and principles of an autonomous political entity The State itself is a post-Independence creation. It came into being as a centrally administered territory on 15 April 1948 from the integration of thirty erstwhile princely states. Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[18]

Himachal Pradesh is governed through a parliamentary system of representative democracy, a feature the state shares with other Indian states. A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in American English) is a System of government in which Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of the people's representatives Universal suffrage is granted to residents. Universal suffrage (also universal adult suffrage, general suffrage or common suffrage) consists of the extension of the right to vote to The legislature consists of elected members and special office bearers such as the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker who are elected by the members. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation Assembly meetings are presided over by the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker in the Speaker's absence. The judiciary is composed of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and a system of lower courts. In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State The Himachal Pradesh High Court (हिमाचल प्रदेश उच्च न्यायालय is the High Court of the state of Himachal Pradesh Executive authority is vested in the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister, although the titular head of government is the Governor. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. The Governor is the head of state appointed by the President of India. Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state The President of India or Rashtrapati ( Hindi: राष्ट्रपति a Sanskrit Neologism, lit The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly is appointed as the Chief Minister by the Governor, and the Council of Ministers are appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Council of Ministers reports to the Legislative Assembly. The Assembly is unicameral with 68 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or Parliamentary chamber A Member of the Legislative Assembly, or MLA, is a representative elected by the voters of an Electoral district to the Legislature or Legislative ^[19] Terms of office run for 5 years, unless the Assembly is dissolved prior to the completion of the term. Auxiliary authorities known as panchayats, for which local body elections are regularly held, govern local affairs. The Panchayat is a South Asian Political system. ‘Panchayat’ literally means assembly ( yat) of five ( panch) wise and respected elders chosen

Governments have seen alternates between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) & Indian National Congress (INC), no third front ever has become significant. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP (भारतीय जनता पार्टी, Translation: Indian People's Party) founded in 1980 is a major Political Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. In 2003, the state legislative assembly was won by the Indian National Congress and Virbhadra Singh was elected as the chief minister of the state. Virbhadra Singh (born June 23, 1934) is a former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, India. In the assembly elections held in December 2007, the BJP secured a landslide victory. The BJP won 41 of the 68 seats while the Congress won only 23 of the 68 seats. BJP's Prem Kumar Dhumal was sworn in as Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh on 30 December 2007

Economy

Main article: Economy of Himachal Pradesh

Gross State Domestic Product at Current Prices figures in millions of Indian Rupees
Year	Gross State Domestic Product
1980	7,940
1985	13,720
1990	28,150
1995	66,980
2000	135,900
2005	230,240
2007	254,350

The era of planning started in Himachal in 1948 along with the rest of India. Prem Kumar Dhumal (Born 1944 is the current Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh. Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Agriculture See also Agriculture (Himachal Agriculture contributes nearly about 45% to the net state domestic product The word million In standard English, the -lli- in million is pronounced with an l-sound followed by a The rupee (रुपया ( code: INR) is the Currency of India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The first five year plan allocated Rs. The Economy of India is based in part on planning through its Five-year plans, developed executed and monitored by the Planning Commission. 5. 27 crore to Himachal. A crore is a unit in the Indian numbering system and was formerly a unit in the Persian numbering system still widely used in Bangladesh, India, Maldives 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. At the time of Indian independence, "British India " was divided into two sets of territories the first being the territories under the direct control of ^[4]
Agriculture contributes over 45% to the net state domestic product. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture 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. Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many Barley ( Hordeum vulgare) is an annual Cereal Grain, which serves as a major animal Feed crop, with smaller amounts used for
Himachal has a rich heritage of handicrafts. Handicraft, also known as craftwork or simply Craft, is a type of work where useful and decorative devices are made completely by hand or using only simple tools 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. Pashmina refers to a type of fine Cashmere wool and the Textiles made from it A carpet is any loom-woven felted textile or grass floor covering Silver (ˈsɪlvɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol " Ag " (argentum from the Ancient Greek: ἀργήντος - argēntos gen 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. Hydropower, hydraulic power or water power is power that is derived from the Force or Energy of moving water which may 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. A drainage basin is an extent of Land where Water from Rain or Snow melt drains downhill into a body of water such as a River, The state is also the first state in India to achieve the goal of having a bank account for every family. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ^[4]
As per the current prices, the total GDP was estimated at Rs 25,435 crore (Rs 254,350,000,000), as against Rs 23,024 crore (Rs 230,240,000,000) in the year 2004-05, showing an increase of 10. A crore is a unit in the Indian numbering system and was formerly a unit in the Persian numbering system still widely used in Bangladesh, India, Maldives A crore is a unit in the Indian numbering system and was formerly a unit in the Persian numbering system still widely used in Bangladesh, India, Maldives 5%. ^[20]

Transport

Main article: Transport in Himachal Pradesh

Roads are the major mode of transport in the hilly terrains of Himachal Pradesh. The development of tribal areas in Himachal Pradesh is one of the major steps taken by the state government for its economic development The Kalka-Shimla Railway is a narrow gauge Railway in North-West India travelling along a mostly mountainous route from Kalka to Shimla The state has road network of 28,208 km (17,528 mi),^[21] including eight national highways (NH) that constitute 1,234 km (767 mi). ^[21] Some roads get closed during winter and monsoon seasons due to snowfall and landslides. A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind which lasts for several months "Snowfall" redirects here For other uses see Snow (disambiguation or Snowfall (disambiguation. A landslide is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement such as rock falls deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows which can occur Regular bus services connect Shimla with Chandigarh, Kullu, Manali, Delhi, Mandi, Pathankot, Ambala, Chail and Dehradun. Shimla [ʃɪmla] ( Hindi: शिमला originally called Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh Chandigarh ( ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, चंडीगढ़) also called The City Beautiful WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Kullu is the capital town of the Kullu District, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, Manali may refer to Manali Himachal Pradesh Manali Tamil Nadu Manali Thrissur Kerala Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population Pathankot ( Punjabi: ਪਠਾਨਕੋਟ Hindi: पठानकोट Pashto: پٹھان ڪوٽ a city and a Municipal committee in WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ambala ( Hindi: अम्बाला Punjabi ਅੰਬਾਲਾ) is a city and a Chail may refer to Chail Himachal Pradesh Chail Uttar Pradesh Chail Sanctuary the Chail meteorite Dehradun (देहरादून, also sometimes spelled Dehra Doon, is the capital city of the state of Uttarakhand (earlier called Uttaranchal Local taxis are the major local transport here. District Hamirpur has got the highest road density in the country. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Hamirpur is a town and the district headquarters of Hamirpur district in the Himalayan state of Himachal ^[22]

Railway track is accessible only to a few places in Himachal Pradesh. The Pathankot–Jogindernagar line connectsPunjab with Himachal Pradesh. Pathankot ( Punjabi: ਪਠਾਨਕੋਟ Hindi: पठानकोट Pashto: پٹھان ڪوٽ a city and a Municipal committee in WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Jogindarnagar or Jogindar Nagar is a town and a Nagar panchayat in Mandi district Punjab (ਪੰਜਾਬ पंजाब pəɲdʒaːb is a state in northwest India. The other railway tracks pass through Shimla, Solan and Una. Shimla [ʃɪmla] ( Hindi: शिमला originally called Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Solan is a city and a Municipal committee in Solan district in the Indian state Shimla is connected with Kalka by a narrow gauge railway line, which in turn is connected with the major cities in India. Shimla [ʃɪmla] ( Hindi: शिमला originally called Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Kalka ( Hindi: कालका is a city and a Municipal committee in Panchkula district India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Himachal has two narrow gauge rail tracks. The Kalka-Shimla Railway track has a length of 96 kilometers. The Kalka-Shimla Railway is a narrow gauge Railway in North-West India travelling along a mostly mountainous route from Kalka to Shimla It passes through 102 tunnels and crosses 864 bridges. ^[23][24]

There are three domestic airports in the state—Shimla Airport, Bhuntar Airport serving Kullu and Manali, and Gaggal Airport serving Kangra and Dharamsala. A domestic airport is an Airport which handles only domestic flights or flights within the same Country. Shimla Airport is an Airport located in Simla (previously known as Shimla in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Bhuntar Airport, alternatively known as Kullu Manali Airport or Kullu Airport, is an Airport located in Bhuntar in the Indian WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Kullu is the capital town of the Kullu District, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, Manali, (alt 1950 m or 6398 ft in the Beas River Valley, is an important hill station in the Himalayan mountains of Himachal Pradesh Gaggal Airport, alternatively known as Kangra Airport or Dharamsala-Kangra Airport, is an Airport located in Gaggal near Kangra in The air routes connect the state with Delhi and Chandigarh. Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population Chandigarh ( ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, चंडीगढ़) also called The City Beautiful There are no international airports in Himachal Pradesh. Jagson Airlines has flights from Delhi to Shimla. Jagson Airlines is an Airline based in Delhi, India. It operates scheduled and charter services within India and to Bhutan and Nepal Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population Shimla [ʃɪmla] ( Hindi: शिमला originally called Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh ^[25]

Demographics

The population of Himachal in 2001 stood at 6,077,248 as per the provisional results of the Census of India 2001. ^[26] 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. Geography A mountainous area ranging in altitude from 2320 to 6816 metres Kinnaur is one of the smallest districts in India by population ^[26] In terms of population it holds the same position (twenty first) among States and Union territories as at the previous census. ^[26] The population of the State rose by 17. 53% between 1991-2001. ^[26] 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. ^[26] Total literacy of the State rose to 77. Literacy in India is an indispensable means for effective social and economic participation contributing to human development and poverty reduction says UNESCO. 13% from 63. 94% in 1991. ^[26]

The tribal population of the state comprise of the Gaddis, Kinnars, Gujjars, Pangawals, Lahaulis and Spitians. The Gaddis and Shipis are a tribe living mainly in the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The Gujjar ( Hindi: गुज्जर Urdu: گجر or Gurjar (Hindi गुर्जर Urdu گُرجر are an ethnic group in India and ^[27] 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^[27]

About 95. 4% of the population of Himachal Pradesh consists of Hindus, Muslims 2. 0%, Sikhs 1. 2% and Buddhists 1. 2% ^[28]. There main communities are Brahmins, Rajputs, Kannets, Rathis and Kolis. Himachal Pradesh has the highest proportion of Hindu population in India. Other religions are Sikhism and Buddhism. Sikhism ( IPA: or; ਸਿੱਖੀ sikkhī, IPA:) founded on the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The Lahaulis of Lahaul and Spiti region are mainly Buddhists. ^[26]

The major spoken languages include Hindi, Punjabi, Mahasui, Kulluyi, Lahauli, Kinnauri, Chambyali, Sirmauri, Bilaspuri, Pahari, Dogri, Kangri. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is Punjabi (pa ਪੰਜਾਬੀ in Gurmukhi script pa-PK {{Nastaliq پنجابی}} in Shahmukhi script Pañjābī in Transliteration) is an Pahari (or Pahaari) is a general terms for a range of dialects spoken across the Himalayan range not limited to a single country in the subcontinent Not to be confused with the Dogrib language. Dogri (डोगरी or ڈوگرى is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken by The Kangri is a dialect spoken in northern India, predominantly in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, by the people of Kangra valley ^[27]

Some of the achievements in human development by the state are listed below^[29]-

• The life expectancy at birth was 62. Life expectancy is the average number of years of life remaining at a given age 8 years (higher than the national average of 57. 7 years) for the period 1986–1990. ^[29]
• The Infant mortality rate has fallen down from 118 in 1971 to 62 in 1999. Infant mortality is defined as the number of deaths of Infants (one year of age or younger per 1000 live births
• The crude birth rate has declined from 37. Crude birth rate is the natality or Childbirths per 1000 people per year 3 in 1971 to 22. 6 in 1998 i. e. below the national average of 26. 5 in 1998.
• The crude death rate has declined from 15. Mortality rate is a measure of the number of Deaths (in general or due to a specific cause in some population scaled to the size of that population per unit time 6 in 1971 to 7. 7 in 1998.
• The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined from 4. The total fertility rate ( TFR, sometimes also called the fertility rate, period total fertility rate (PTFR or total 7 to 3. 6.
• Overall literacy grew by 34. 65% between the period 1981 and 2001.

Kullu district is leading with the value of 0. Gallery See also Lug Valley Kullu Valley See notes 534 in Human development index (HDI) ^[29]

Languages of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in Himachal Pradesh are the Sunam language 558 (1998), Gahri language 4,000 (1997), Jangshung language 1,990 (1998),Kanashi language 1,400 (2002 Chauhan), Kinnauri language 48,778, Kinnauri Bhoti language 6,000 (1998), Chitkuli language 1,060 (1998), Pattani language 11,000 (1997), Shumcho language 2,174 (1998) and the Tukpa language 723 (1998)^[30]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Himachal Pradesh

Himachal was one of the few states that had remained largely untouched by external customs, largely due to its difficult terrain. With the technological advancements the state has changed very rapidly. It is a multireligional, multicultural as well as multilingual state like other Indian states. Some of the most commonly spoken languages includes Hindi, Punjabi, Pahari, Dogri, Kangri and Kinnauri. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is Punjabi (pa ਪੰਜਾਬੀ in Gurmukhi script pa-PK {{Nastaliq پنجابی}} in Shahmukhi script Pañjābī in Transliteration) is an Pahari (or Pahaari) is a general terms for a range of dialects spoken across the Himalayan range not limited to a single country in the subcontinent Not to be confused with the Dogrib language. Dogri (डोगरी or ڈوگرى is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken by The Kangri is a dialect spoken in northern India, predominantly in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, by the people of Kangra valley Kinnauri, also known as Kanauri Kanor Koonawur or Kunawar is a Tibeto-Burman language ( Sino-Tibetan stock spoken in the Kinnaur district of the ^[27] The Hindu caste communities residing in Himachal include the Brahmins, Rajputs, Kannets, Rathis and Kolis. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India The Koli community is found throughout India Kolis are found in Maharashtra Gujrat AndhraPradesh and rest of India ^[31] There are also tribal population in the state which mainly comprise Gaddis, Kinnars, Gujjars, Pangawals and Lahaulis. The Gaddis and Shipis are a tribe living mainly in the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. In the culture of the Indian subcontinent, a hijra ( Hindi: हिजड़ा Urdu: حجڑا is usually considered a member of "the Third The Gujjar ( Hindi: गुज्जर Urdu: گجر or Gurjar (Hindi गुर्जर Urdu گُرجر are an ethnic group in India and ^[32]
The state is well known for its handicrafts. The carpets, leather works, shawls, paintings, metalware, woodwork and paintings are worth appreciating. Pashmina shawl is one of the product which is highly in demand not only in Himachal but all over the country. Himachali caps are also famous art work of the people. Extreme cold winters of Himachal necessitated wool weaving. Nearly every household in Himachal owns a pit-loom. Wool is also considered as pure and is used as a ritual cloth. The well known woven object is the shawl, ranging from fine pashmina to the coarse desar. Kullu is famous for its shawls with striking patterns and vibrant colours.

Local music and dance reflects the cultural identity of the state. Himachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the northwest corner of the country Himachali dance forms are highly varied and quite complicated Through their dance and music, they entreat their gods during local festivals and other special occasions. Apart from the fairs and festivals that are celebrated all over India, there are number of other fairs and festivals also that are of great significance to Himachal Pradesh.

Shimla, the state capital is home to Asia's only natural Ice skating rink^[33]. Shimla [ʃɪmla] ( Hindi: शिमला originally called Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh

The day to day food of Himachalis is very similar to the rest of the north India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country They too have lentil, broth, rice, vegetables and bread. The lentil or daal or pulse ( Lens culinaris) is a bushy Annual plant of the legume family grown for its lens-shaped Seeds Broth is a Liquid in which Bones Meat, Fish, Cereal grains or Vegetables have been simmered and strained out Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however Bread is a Staple food prepared by Baking a Dough of Flour and Water. As compared to other states in north India non vegetarian is more preferred. ^[32] Some of the specialities of Himachal include Pateer, Chouck, Bhagjery, Patrode, Beduan and chutney of Til.

Famous people associated with Himachal include English author Rudyard Kipling, Indian film personalities Dalip Singh Rana, Anupam Kher, Preity Zinta, Amrish Puri (who studied here), and Prem Chopra (brought up here), economist and former vice-president of World Bank Shahid Javed Burki, Satyananda Stokes who introduced apple in the region, writer Idries Shah, ornithologist Allan Octavian Hume (had his home here), and former general of Pakistan Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq who studied here. Joseph Rudyard Kipling (30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936 was an English Author and poet Dalip Singh Rana He is currently signed to WWE on its ''SmackDown'' brand. Anupam Kher (अनुपम खेर born March 7, 1954) is an actor in Hindi films in India. Preity Zinta (प्रीति ज़िंटा priːt̪ɪ zɪɳʈaː born January 31 1975 is an Indian Film actress. Amrish Lal Puri ( Hindi: अमरीश पुरी Urdu: اَمریش پُری June 22, 1932 – January 12, 2005) Prem Chopra ( Devanagari: प्रेम चोपड़ा is an actor in Hindi and Punjabi films The World Bank is an internationally supported Bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e Shahid Javed Burki ( Urdu: شاہد جاوید برکی) is a professional economist who has served as Finance Minister of Pakistan and as a Vice President Satyananda Stokes ( 16 August 1882 - 14 May 1946) was an American who moved to India and adopted it as his own country Idries Abutahir Shah ( 16 June, 1924 &ndash 23 November, 1996) ( ادریس شاه) also known as Idris Shah, né Ornithology (from Greek ὄρνις ὄρνιθος ornis, ornithos, "bird" and λόγος logos, "knowledge" is the branch of Allan Octavian Hume ( June 6, 1829 - July 31, 1912) son of Joseph Hume was a Civil servant in British governed India Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq ( Arabic: محمد ضياء الحق) (b

Education

Main article: Education in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh has one of the highest literacy rates in India. Universities Public Universities Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla Dr ^[34] Hamirpur District is among the top districts in the country for literacy. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Hamirpur is a town and the district headquarters of Hamirpur district in the Himalayan state of Himachal ^[34] Education rates among women are quite encouraging in the state. ^[34]
The standard of education in the state has reached to a considerably high level as compared to other states in India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ^[34] The state has several reputed educational institutes for higher studies.

The Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) and the NIT, Hamirpur are some of the pioneer institutes located in the state. Introduction Established in 1970 Himachal Pradesh University is a Public university in Shimla, India. National Institute of Technology Hamirpur (commonly referred to as NIT Hamirpur) is a public technical university located at Hamirpur in Himachal 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. Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry in district Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India is the first University of its kind ^[34]

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. ^[35] The state government has decided to start up with 3 major nursing colleges to develop the health system in the state. ^[34] 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. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country A state is a political association with effective Sovereignty over a geographic Area and representing a Population. ^[36]

The State has got Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital. Besides that their is Himachal Dental College which is the first recognised Dental Institute in the State. ^[37]

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. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is 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. The Statesman is among the leading daily Newspapers of India. The Asian Age is an Indian daily newspaper The Asian Age has editions in four major cities in India and one in London. Hindustan Times ( HT) is a leading newspaper in India, published since 1924 with roots in the independence movement The Times of India ( TOI) is a leading English-language Broadsheet Daily newspaper in India. Vernacular newspapers such as those in Hindi, Punjabi and Nepali are also read by selected readership. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is Punjabi may refer to The Punjabi language of Pakistan and India Punjabi grammar List of Punjabi Nepali is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in Nepal, Bhutan, and some parts of India and Myanmar (Burma
Doordarshan is the state-owned television broadcaster. Doordarshan (दूरदर्शन literally Tele-Vision) is the public television broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati, a public Multi system operators provide a mix of Nepali, Hindi, English, and international channels via cable. A multiple system operator (MSO is an operator of multiple Cable television systems English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States All India Radio is a public radio station. All India Radio (abbreviated as AIR) officially known as Akashvani ( Devanagari: आकाशवाणी ākāshavānī ( Urdu: اکاشوانی Private FM stations are also available in few cities like Shimla. Shimla [ʃɪmla] ( Hindi: शिमला originally called Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh BSNL, Reliance Infocomm, Tata Indicom, and Airtel are available cellular phone operators. Reliance Communications (formerly Reliance Infocomm) along with Reliance Telecom and Flag Telecom, is part of Reliance Communications Ventures (RCoVL Introduction Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL is a part of the Tata Group of companies an Indian conglomerate Bharti Airtel, formerly known as Bharti Tele-Ventures Limited (BTVL is India 's largest cellular service provider with more than 75 million subscribers as of August Broadband internet is available in select towns and cities and is provided by the state-run BSNL and by other private companies. The term broadband can have different meanings in different contexts Dial-up access is provided throughout the state by BSNL and other providers. Dial-up Internet Access is a form of Internet access via Telephone lines The user's computer or Router uses an attached Modem connected to a

Notes

References

Ahluwalia, M. S. (1998), Social, Cultural and Economic History of Himachal Pradesh, Indus Publishing, ISBN 8173870896, <http://books.google.co.in/books?id=tG0fnF0VRk0C&dq=himachal+history&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0>. Retrieved on 2008-03-31 Batta, R. N. (2000), Tourism and the Environment: A Quest for Sustainability, Indus Publishing, ISBN 8173871108, <http://books.google.co.in/books?id=lDJrdjwM7qYC&dq=himachal&lr=&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0>. Retrieved on 2008-03-31 Singh, Sarina (2005), India, Lonely Planet, ISBN 1740596943, <http://books.google.co.in/books?id=Fk8FQa2ZSFQC&dq=himachal+history&lr=&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0>. Retrieved on 2008-03-31 Tiwari, A. K. (2000), Infrastructure and Economic Development in Himachal Pradesh, Indus Publishing, ISBN 8173871051, <http://books.google.co.in/books?id=aaXQwI5j9-MC&dq=himachal&lr=&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0>. Retrieved on 2008-03-31 Verma, V. (1995), The Emergence of Himachal Pradesh: A Survey of Constitutional Developments, Indus Publishing, ISBN 8173870357, <http://books.google.co.in/books?id=QpWloqN5LTAC&dq=himachal+history&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0>. Retrieved on 2008-03-31 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (2002), Himachal Pradesh Human Development Report 2002, Government of Himachal Pradesh, ISBN 0195219155, <http://www.undp.org.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128&Itemid=216>. Retrieved on 2008-03-31 Statistics and Data, Planning Department, Government of Himachal Pradesh External links Himachal Pradesh travel guide from Wikitravel Official website of Himachal Pradesh Government Census 2001 Himachal Pradesh Development Report Himachal Tourism Website Himachal tourism department Co. Himachal tourism overview Culture Website: http://myhimachal.com Website Himachal The Voice of Himachal: http://www.himvani.com Himachal Handicrafts: http://www.www.himbodh.com Education and Research and training: http://www.himalayanrendezvous.com/info/contribution.html

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