|
|
|
Home :: Himachal
Tour :: About Himachal Pradesh
About Himachal
Himachal Pradesh came under British control in the middle of the 19th century. The British annexed Kangra District, which includes present-day Kangra, Kullu, Hamirpur and Lahaul and Spiti districts in 1846 at the conclusion of the First Anglo-Sikh War. The remainder of Himachal Pradesh was made up of a number of princely states. India became independent of the United Kingdom in 1947 and current Himachal Pradesh was a part of Punjab. Till October 1966, Himachal Pradesh comprised only of six hills. In November 1966, it was expanded with the inclusion of some of the hilly towns of Punjab like Shimla, Kangra, Kullu, Lahaul, Spiti, Nalagarh tehsil of Ambala district, and certain areas of Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur districts. Himachal Pradesh was formed into 10 districts and was declared the 18th state of India on January 25, 1971, with Shimla as its capital. Himachal Pradesh ("Snowy Mountain State") 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 extremely high passes that are snowbound except between mid-July and mid-October form where there is a major road to Jammu town. Himachal Pradesh is 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. It is veiled from the plains by the Shivalik range of mountains. (Shivalik literally means the tresses of Lord Shiva). There is a general increase in elevation from west to east and from south to north. Himachal has rich flora. Forests cover about 38% of the area. Several varieties of vegetation from the Himalayan meadows and high altitude birch and down to the tropical shrub and bamboo forests of the low foothills are found here. It has a variety of wild life too. There is great diversification in the climatic conditions of Himachal due to variation in elevation. It varies from hot and sub-humid tropical in the southern Low tracts, warm and temperate (900-1800M), cool and temperate (1900-2400M) and cold alpine and glacial (2400-4800M) in the northern and eastern high mountain ranges. The main season is the spring from mid- Feb to March-April. The air is cool and fresh. Colourful flowers adorn the valleys, forest slopes and meadows. In the hill stations, the climate is pleasant and comfortable. The rains start at the end of June. The entire landscape becomes green and fresh. Streams begin to swell and springs are replenished. The heavy rains in July and August cause damage leading to erosion, floods and landslides. Himachal provides water to both the Indus and Ganges basins. The major river systems of the region are the Chandrabhaga or the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, the Sutlej and the Yamuna. These perennial rivers are fed by snow and rainfall and are protected by a fairly extensive cover of natural vegetation. The Himachali economy is mainly dependent on tourism and apples. Kullu, Manali, Shimla, Palampur and Dharamshala are famous tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh. There are also some natural minerals in the state. There are two large cement factories catering not only to the people of Himachal but also selling in other states. The state has got significant service class and is one of highest per capita income states in India. 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 Buddhists. About 90% 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. 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. How to Get There Rail : Himachal is connected by rail till Chandigarh, Kalka, Pathankot, Una and Kiratpur Sahib. It is also connected from Kalka to Shimla by narrow gauge. Road: Among all hill states, Himachal has the highest density of road connection. Most villages and towns are connected by road. Airport : Delhi- Shimla- Delhi:
Jagson airline flies to Shimla- please check with the airline for firm flying
schedule.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
