Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh (; literally "Snow-abode") is a state of India located in Northern India. It is bordered by Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab and Chandigarh on the west, Haryana on the south-west, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east.  The name was coined from Sanskrit him 'snow' and anchal 'lap', by Acharya Diwakar Datt Sharma, one of the state's most eminent Sanskrit scholars.

Himachal Pradesh is famous for its natural beauty, hill stations, and temples. Himachal Pradesh has been ranked fifteenth in the list of the highest per capita incomes of Indian states and union territories for year 2013-14. Many perennial rivers flow in the state, and numerous hydroelectric projects set up. Himachal produces surplus hydroelectricity and sells it to other states such as Delhi, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Hydroelectric power projects, tourism, and agriculture form important parts of the state's economy.

The state has several valleys, and more than 90% of the population living in rural areas. Practically all houses have a toilet and 100% hygiene has been achieved in the state. The villages have good connectivity with roads, public health centres, and now with high-speed broadband.

Shimla district has maximum urban population of 25%. It has incorporated environmental protection and tourism development has been aided with a government ban on the use of polyethylene bags, reducing litter, and tobacco products, to aid people's health.
According to a 2005 Transparency International survey, Himachal Pradesh was ranked the second-least corrupt state in the country, after Kerala.

 History 

The history of the area that now constitutes Himachal Pradesh dates to the Indus valley civilisation that flourished between 2250 and 1750 BCE. Tribes such as the Koili, Hali, Dagi, Dhaugri, Dasa, Khasa, Kinnar, and Kirat inhabited the region from the prehistoric era.

During the Vedic period, several small republics known as Janapada existed which were later conquered by the Gupta Empire. After a brief period of supremacy by King Harshavardhana, the region was divided into several local powers headed by chieftains, including some Rajput principalities. These kingdoms enjoyed a large degree of independence and were invaded by Delhi Sultanate a number of times. Mahmud Ghaznavi conquered Kangra at the beginning of the 10th century. Timur and Sikander Lodi also marched through the lower hills of the state and captured a number of forts and fought many battles. Several hill states acknowledged Mughal suzerainty and paid regular tribute to the Mughals.

thumb|left|Sansar Chand (c. 1765–1823)

The Gurkha people, a martial tribe, came to power in Nepal in the year 1768. They consolidated their military power and began to expand their territory. Gradually, the Gorkhas annexed Sirmour and Shimla. Under the leadership of Amar Singh Thapa, the Gurkha laid siege to Kangra. They managed to defeat Sansar Chand Katoch, the ruler of Kangra, in 1806 with the help of many provincial chiefs. However, the Gurkha could not capture Kangra fort which came under Maharaja Ranjeet Singh in 1809.  After the defeat, the Gurkha began to expand towards the south of the state.  However, Raja Ram Singh, Raja of Siba State, captured the fort of Siba from the remnants of Lahore Darbar in Samvat 1846, during the First 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. The British gradually emerged as the paramount power in the region. In the revolt of 1857, or first Indian war of independence, arising from a number of grievances against the British, the people of the hill states were not as politically active as were those in other parts of the country. They and their rulers, with the exception of Bushahr, remained more or less inactive. Some, including the rulers of Chamba, Bilaspur, Bhagal and Dhami, rendered help to the British government during the revolt.

thumb|Rock Cut Temple, Masroor|218x218px
The British territories came under the 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. During World War I, virtually all rulers of the hill states remained loyal and contributed to the British war effort, both in the form of men and materials. Among these were the states of Kangra, Jaswan, Datarpur, Guler, Nurpur, Chamba, Suket, Mandi, and Bilaspur.

After independence, the Chief Commissioner's Province of H.P. was organized on 15 April 1948 as a result of integration of 28 petty princely states (including feudal princes and zaildars) in the promontories of the western Himalaya. These were known as the Simla Hills States and four Punjab southern hill states under the Himachal Pradesh (Administration) Order, 1948 under Sections 3 and 4 of the Extra-Provincial Jurisdiction Act, 1947 (later renamed as the Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947 vide A.O. of 1950). The State of Bilaspur was merged into Himachal Pradesh on 1 April 1954 by the Himachal Pradesh and Bilaspur (New State) Act, 1954.

Himachal became a part C state on 26 January 1950 with the implementation of the Constitution of India and the Lieutenant Governor was appointed. The Legislative Assembly was elected in 1952. Himachal Pradesh became a union territory on 1 November 1956. Some areas of Punjab State—namely Simla, Kangra, Kulu and Lahul and Spiti Districts, Nalagarh tehsil of Ambala District, Lohara, Amb and Una kanungo circles, some area of Santokhgarh kanungo circle and some other specified area of Una tehsil of Hoshiarpur District, besides some parts of Dhar Kalan Kanungo circle of Pathankot tehsil of Gurdaspur District—were merged with Himachal Pradesh on 1 November 1966 on enactment by Parliament of Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. 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. Himachal was the 18th state of the Indian Union.

 Geography and climate 
thumb|218x218px|Amazing climate in Triund during September
Himachal is in the western Himalayas. Covering an area of , it is a mountainous state. Most of the state lies on the foothills of the Dhauladhar Range. At 6,816 m Reo Purgyil is the highest mountain peak in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

The drainage system of Himachal is composed both of rivers and glaciers. Himalayan rivers criss-cross the entire mountain chain.
Himachal Pradesh provides water to both the Indus and Ganges basins. The drainage systems of the region are the Chandra Bhaga or the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, the Sutlej, and the Yamuna. These rivers are perennial and are fed by snow and rainfall. They are protected by an extensive cover of natural vegetation.

Due to extreme variation in elevation,  great variation occurs in the climatic conditions of Himachal . The climate varies from hot and subhumid tropical in the southern tracts to, with more elevation, cold, alpine, and glacial in the northern and eastern mountain ranges. 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 experiences three seasons: summer, winter, and rainy season. Summer lasts from mid-April till the end of June and most parts become very hot (except in the alpine zone which experiences a mild summer) with the average temperature ranging from . Winter lasts from late November till mid March. Snowfall is common in alpine tracts (generally above  i.e. in the higher and trans-Himalayan region).

 Flora and fauna 

upright|thumb|Asian paradise flycatcher in Kullu
thumb|Himalayan monal at Birds Park in Shimla
thumb|right|Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus). Solan (Himachal Pradesh). 28-July-2013
According to 2003 Forest Survey of India report, legally defined forest areas constitute 66.52% of the area of Himachal Pradesh. Vegetation in the state is dictated by elevation and precipitation. The state endows with a high diversity of medicinal and aromatic plants.Kala, C.P. (2002) Medicinal Plants of Indian Trans-Himalaya: Focus on Tibetan Use of Medicinal Resources. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, India. 200 pp. Lahaul-Spiti region of the state, being a cold desert, supports unique plants of medicinal value including Ferula jaeschkeana, Hyoscyamus Niger, Lancea tibetica, and Saussurea bracteata.Kala, C.P. (2000) Status and conservation of rare and endangered medicinal plants in the Indian trans-Himalaya. Biological Conservation, 93 (3): 371-379.Kala, C.P. (2005) Health traditions of Buddhist community and role of amchis in trans-Himalayan region of India. Current Science, 89 (8): 1331-1338.

Himachal is also said to be the fruit bowl of the country,http://hpmc.gov.in/himachal.htm with orchards being widespread. 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. The state government is gearing up to make Himachal Pradesh as the flower basket of the world.

Himachal Pradesh has around 463 bird 77 mammalian, 44 reptile and 80 fish species. Great Himalayan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Pin Valley National Park are the national Parks located in the state. The state also has 30 wildlife sanctuaries and 3 conservation reserves.

 Government 

|left|thumb|Town Hall in Shimla
The Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh has no pre-Constitution history. 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.

Himachal Pradesh is governed through a parliamentary system of representative democracy, a feature the state shares with other Indian states. Universal suffrage is granted to residents. The legislature consists of elected members and special office bearers such as the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker who are elected by the members. 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. Executive authority is vested in the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister, although the titular head of government is the Governor. The Governor is the head of state appointed by the President of India. 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). 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.

In the assembly elections held in November 2012, the Congress secured an absolute majority. The Congress won 36 of the 68 seats while the BJP won only 26 of the 68 seats. Virbhadra Singh was sworn-in as Himachal Pradesh's Chief Minister for a record sixth term in Shimla on 25 December 2012. Virbhadra Singh who has held the top office in Himachal five times in the past, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Urmila Singh at an open ceremony at the historic Ridge Maidan in Shimla.

Administrative Divisions

The state of Himachal Pradesh is divided into 12 districts which are grouped into three divisions, Shimla, Kangra and Mandi. The districts are further divided into 62 subdivisions, 78 blocks and 149 Tehsils.

  Divisions   Districts Kangra  Chamba, Kangra, Una Mandi  Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, Mandi Shimla  Kinnaur, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan
Administrative StructureDistricts12Divisions3Sub-Divisions62Blocks78Tehsils149Urban Local Bodies49Towns59Gram Panchayats3226Villages20690Police Stations125Lok Sabha Seats4Rajya Sabha Seats3Assembly Constituencies68

 Economy 

thumb|left|200px|Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla Montage - Clockwise from top: Skyline at Shimla Southern Side, Rashtrapati Niwas, Town hall, Night view of Shimla and Christ Church.

+ Gross State Domestic Product at Current Pricesfigures in crores of Indian Rupees Year Gross State Domestic Product 1980 794 1985 1,372 1990 2,815 1995 6,698 2000 13,590 2005 23,024 2007 25,435201057,452201382,5852016110,511

The era of planning in Himachal Pradesh started in 1948 along with the rest of India. The first five-year plan allocated 52.7 million to Himachal. 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 faraway areas. Himachal now ranks fourth in per capita income among the states of the Indian Union.

Agriculture contributes over 45% to the net state domestic product. It is the main source of income and employment in Himachal. Over 93% of the population in Himachal depends directly upon agriculture, which provides direct employment to 71% of its people. The main cereals grown are wheat, maize, rice and barley.Economy of Himachal by Agriculture @ webindia123.com Suni System (P) Ltd. Retrieved on- 2015-07-28 Apple is the principal cash crop of the state grown principally in the districts of Shimla, Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba and some parts of Sirmaur and Lahaul-Spiti with an average annual production of 5 lakh tonnes and per hectare production of 8 to 10 tonnes. The apple cultivation constitute 49 per cent of the total area under fruit crops and 85% of total fruit production in the state with an estimated economy of 3500 crore. Apples from Himachal are exported to other Indian states and even other countries. In 2011-12, the total area under apple cultivation was 1.04 lakh hectares, increased from 90,347 hectares in 2000-01.

Hydropower is also one of the major sources of income generation for the state. The identified Hydroelectric Potential for the state is 27,436 MW in five river basins and annual hydroelectricity production is 8,418 MW.

As per the current prices, the total GDP was estimated at  254 billion as against  230 billion in the year 2004–05, showing an increase of 10.5%.

 Agriculture 
thumb|Himalayas from Kullu Valley

Land husbandry initiatives such as the Mid-Himalayan Watershed Development Project, which includes the Himachal Pradesh Reforestation Project (HPRP), the world's largest clean development mechanism (CDM) undertaking, have improved agricultural yields and productivity, and raised rural household incomes.

 Heritage 
Himachal has a rich heritage of handicrafts. 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. 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.

 Tourism 

thumb|Kalpa in June 2015.
Tourism in Himachal Pradesh is a major contributor to the state's economy and growth. The mountainous state with its diverse and beautiful Himalayan landscapes attracts tourists from all over the world. Hill stations like Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie, Chamba, Dharamsala and Kullu are popular destinations for both domestic and foreign tourists. The state has many important pilgrimage centres with prominent Hindu temples like Naina Devi Temple, Vajreshwari Devi Temple, Jwala Ji Temple, Chintpurni, Chamunda Devi Temple, Baijnath Temple, Bhimakali Temple, Bijli Mahadev, Renuka Lake and Jakhoo Temple. Like Uttarakhand, the state is also referred to as "Dev Bhoomi" (literally meaning Abode of Gods) due to its mention in ancient holy texts and occurrence of large number of historical temples in the state.
thumb|Triund is a famous campsite for travellers and trekkers on the way to Mount Dhauladhar.
The state is also known for its adventure tourism activities like ice skating in Shimla, paragliding in Bir-billing and Solang valley, rafting in Kullu, skiing in Manali boating in Bilaspur and trekking, horse riding and fishing in different parts in the state. Spiti Valley in Lahaul & Spiti District situated at an altitude of over 3000 metres with its picturesque landscapes is an important destination for adventure seekers. The region also has some of the oldest Buddhist Monasteries in Asia.

The state is also a famous destination for film shooting. Movies like Roja, Henna, Jab We Met, Veer-Zaara, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Highway have been filmed in Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal hosted the first Paragliding World Cup in India from 24 October to 31 October in 2015. Venue for paragliding world cup was Bir Billing, which is 70 km from famous tourist town Macleod ganj, located in the heart of  Himachal in Kangra District. Bir Billing is the centre for aero sports in Himachal and considered as best for paragliding. Buddhist monasteries, trekking to tribal villages, mountain biking are other activities to do here.

 Transportation 

thumb|Aircraft at Shimla airport
thumb|Kalka-Shimla Railway

Air
Himachal has three domestic airport in  Kangra, Kullu and Shimla districts. The air routes connect the state with Delhi and Chandigarh.
Bhuntar Airport is in Kullu district, around  from district headquarters.
Gaggal Airport is in Kangra district, which is around 10 kilometres from Kangra
Shimla Airport is around  west of the city.

Railway
Himachal is famous for its narrow-gauge railways. One is the Kalka-Shimla Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and another is the Pathankot-Jogindernagar Railway. The total length of these two tracks is . The Kalka-Shimla Railway passes through many tunnels, while the Pathankot–Jogindernagar meanders through a maze of hills and valleys. It also has broad-gauge railway track, which connects Amb (Una district) to Delhi. A survey is being conducted to extend this railway line to Kangra (via Nadaun). Other proposed railways in the state are Baddi-Bilaspur, Dharamsala-Palampur and Bilaspur-Manali-Leh.

Road
Roads are the major mode of transport in the hilly terrains. The state has road network of , including eight National Highways (NH) that constitute  and 19 State Highways with a total length of . Some roads get closed during winter and monsoon seasons due to snow and landslides. Hamirpur has the highest road density in the state.

 Demographics 

 Population 
thumb|Traditional home, Manali

Himachal Pradesh has a total population of 6,864,602 including 3,481,873 males and 3,382,729 females as per the final results of the Census of India 2011. This is only 0.57 per cent of India's total population, recording a growth of 12.81 per cent. The total fertility rate (TFR) per woman is 1.8, one of lowest in India.

In the census, the state is placed 21st on the population chart, followed by Tripura at 22nd place. Kangra district was top ranked with a population strength of 1,507,223 (21.98%), Mandi district 999,518 (14.58%), Shimla district 813,384 (11.86%), Solan district 576,670 (8.41%), Sirmaur district 530,164 (7.73%), Una district 521,057 (7.60%), Chamba district 518,844 (7.57%), Hamirpur district 454,293 (6.63%), Kullu district 437,474 (6.38%), Bilaspur district 382,056 (5.57%), Kinnaur district 84,298 (1.23%) and Lahaul Spiti 31,528 (0.46%).
 
The life expectancy at birth in Himachal Pradesh is 62.8 years (higher than the national average of 57.7 years) for 1986–1990. The infant mortality rate stood at 40 in 2010, and the crude birth rate has declined from 37.3 in 1971 to 16.9 in 2010, below the national average of 26.5 in 1998. The crude death rate was 6.9 in 2010. Himachal Pradesh's literacy rate almost doubled between 1981 and 2011 (see table to right).

Languages

Hindi is the sole official language of Himachal Pradesh and is spoken by the majority of the population (89.01%). English is given the status of an additional official language.

 Religion 

Hinduism is the main religion in Himachal Pradesh, which ranks first in India in terms of the proportion of Hindus present within it. More than 95% of the total population belongs to the Hindu faith, the distribution of which is evenly spread throughout the state.
Himachal Pradesh  thus has the one of the highest proportions of Hindu population in India (95.17%).
 
Other religions that form a small percentage are Islam, Buddhism and Sikhism. Muslims are mainly concentrated in Sirmaur, Chamba, Kangra and Una districts where they form 1.31-6.27% of the population. The Lahaulis of Lahaul and Spiti region are mainly Buddhists. Sikhs mostly live in towns and cities and constitute 1.16% of the state population. The Buddhists, who constitute 1.15%, are mainly natives and tribals from Lahaul and Spiti, where they form a majority of 62%, and Kinnaur, where they form 21.5%.

 Culture 

thumb|Himalayan landscape, Nako Lake and village shown
thumb|Nako Village

Himachal Pradesh 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. Himachal Pradesh is a multireligional, multicultural as well as multilingual state like other Indian states. Some of the most commonly spoken languages are Hindi, Punjabi, Pahari, Dogri, Mandeali, Kangri and Kinnauri. The Hindu communities residing in Himachal include the Brahmins, Rajputs, Kannets, Rathis and Kolis. There are also tribal population in the state which mainly comprise Gaddis, Kinnars, Gujjars, Pangawals and Lahaulis.

Himachal is well known for its handicrafts. The carpets, leather works, shawls, Kangra paintings, Chamba rumals, metalware, woodwork and paintings are worth appreciating. Pashmina shawl is one of the products which is highly in demand not only in Himachal but all over the country. Himachali caps are also famous art work of the people.

Local music and dance reflects the cultural identity of the state. 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, including the temple fairs in nearly every region that are of great significance to Himachal Pradesh.

The day to day food of Himachalis is very similar to the rest of the north India. They too have lentil, broth, rice, vegetables and bread. As compared to other states in north India non-vegetarian cuisine is more preferred. Some of the specialities of Himachal include Mhanee,Madhra,Pateer, Chouck, Bhagjery and chutney of Til.

Shimla, the state capital, is home to Asia's only natural ice skating rink.

 Notable people 
thumb| Kalachakra Temple in the main street of Mcleod ganj
Prominent people associated with Himachal include:
 Shanta Kumar (member of Lok Sabha)
 Jagat Prakash Nadda (member of Lok Sabha and Health Minister of India)
 Anurag Thakur (member of Lok Sabha and President of Board of Control for Cricket in India)
Swatantra Kumar Head NGT, ex Justice, Supreme Court of India.
 Sobha Singh (Painter)
 The Great Khali, professional wrestler
Dev Anand, an Indian actor studied here.
 Anupam Kher, an Indian actor
 Amrish Puri (who studied here),
 Prem Chopra (brought up here),
 Subhash Chander, News Personality
 Mohit Chauhan, an Indian singer
 Anand Sharma (member of Rajya Sabha and former Union Cabinet Minister for Commerce and Industry of the Government of India), 
 Mehr Chand Mahajan Third Supreme Court Chief-Justice and former chief Minister of Kashmir in 1947,
 Shahid Javed Burki economist and former vice-president of World Bank,
 Pritam Singh, is the brand ambassador of the state
 Preity Zinta, Bollywood actress
 Kangana Ranaut, Bollywood actress,
 Yami Gautam,  Bollywood actress,
 Siddharth Chauhan, Independent Filmmaker
 Namrata Singh Gujral, an American actress
 Satyananda Stokes who introduced apples to the region,
 Idries Shah writer, Sufi teacher and sage,
 Allan Octavian Hume ornithologist had his home here,
 Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq former general of Pakistan who studied here,
 Hamid Karzai president of Afghanistan who studied here,
 Vijay Kumar won silver medal in 25m shooting in 2012 Summer Olympics,
Ms. Suman Rawat Mehta,Arjuna Awardee.Won a bronze medal in the 1986 Asian Games in 3000m race. 
 Major Som Nath Sharma, PVC (1923–1947) was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra,
 Captain Vikram Batra PVC (9 September 1974 – 7 July 1999)  posthumously awarded with the Param Vir Chakra,
 Captain Saurabh Kalia (1976–1999) posthumously awarded with the Maha Vir Chakra
 Naib Subedar Sanjay Kumar , PVC ( 3 March 1976) is an Indian Army soldier, a Junior Commissioned Officer and recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military award.
 Shyam Saran Negi, named as the first voter of independent India.
 Ram Kumar, abstract artist.

Natural Resources
Himachal has been blessed with abundance of resources like forests, rivers and lakes. It's hydro-electric power production is still to be fully utilized.

One of the oldest Shanan power house at Joginder Nagar commissioned in 1928, used to feed Lahore city and helped in building legendary Bhakra Nangal Project.

Himachal forests are known for conifurous trees. Pine, Kail, Devdar, Baan. Rich flora and fauna adds to the beauty of this land. Herbs and medicinal plants amply contribute to many local and national pharmacies. Not so famous Kangra tea is mostly organic and health booster. Himachal honey is also in great demand.

 Education 

thumb|Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital at Shimla
thumb|Indian Institute of Advanced Study at Shimla
Hamirpur District is among the top districts in the country for literacy. Education rates among women are quite encouraging in the state. The standard of education in the state has reached a considerably high level as compared to other states in India with several reputed educational institutes for higher studies.

The Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Himachal Pradesh University Shimla, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT, CSIR Lab), Palampur, the National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, 
Indian Institute of Information Technology Una, the Central University Dharamshala, AP Goyal (Alakh Prakash Goyal) Shimla University, the Bahra University (Waknaghat, Solan), the Baddi University of Emerging Sciences and Technologies Baddi, IEC University, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, Manav Bharti University Solan,  the Jaypee University of Information Technology Waknaghat, Eternal University, Sirmaur & Chitkara University Solan are some of the pioneer universities in the state. CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalya Palampur is one of the most renowned hill agriculture institutes in world. 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. Further, state-run Jawaharlal Nehru Government Engineering College started in 2006 at Sundernagar.

There are over 10,000 primary schools, 1,000 secondary schools and more than 1,300 high schools in Himachal. The state government has decided to start three major nursing colleges to develop the health system in the state. In meeting the constitutional obligation to make primary education compulsory, Himachal has become the first state in India to make elementary education accessible to every child.

The state has Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Kumarhatti. Besides that there is Himachal Dental College which is the state's first recognised dental institute.

 State profile 

thumb|Kalpa, a typical town in Himachal Pradesh
thumb|Sunrise in Himachal Pradesh, at Kinnaur Kailash
thumb|Sunshine on a snowy mountain at Himachal Pradesh
thumb|Snowy mountain range appears to be in sky
Source: Department of Information and Public Relations.
 Area  55673 km2 Total population  6,864,602 Males  3,481,873 Females  3,382,729 Population density  123 Sex ratio  972census 2011 Rural population  6,176,050 Urban population  688,552 Scheduled Caste population  1,729,252 Scheduled Tribe population  392,126 Literacy rate  83.78% Male literacy  90.83% Female literacy  76.60% Districts  12 Sub-divisions  62 Tehsils  149 Sub-tehsils  35 Developmental blocks  78 Towns  59 Panchayats  3,226 Panchayat smities  77 Zila parishad  12 Urban local bodies  49 Nagar nigams  2 Nagar parishads  25 Nagar panchayats  23 Census villages  20,690 Inhabited villages  17,495 Health institutions  3,866 Educational institutions  17,000 Motorable roads  33,722 km National highways  8 Identified hydroelectric potential  23,000.43 MW in five rivers basins i.e. (Yamuna, Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Himurja) Potential harnessed  10,264 MW Food grain production  1579,000 tonnes Vegetable production  900,000 tonnes Fruit production  1,027,000 tonnes Per capita income  130,067 (2015–16) Social Security pensions  237,250 persons, annual expenditure: over  600 million Investment in industrial areas   273.80 billion, employment opportunities: Over 337,391 Employment generated in government sector  80,000
 
Census 2011-

Largest District (km²)
(1)	Lahul and Spiti	13841
(2)	Chamba	6522
(3)	Kinnaur	6401
(4)	Kangra	5739
(5)	Kullu	5503

Percentage of Child
(1)	Chamba 13.55%
(2)	Sirmaur 13.14%
(3)	Solan 11.74%
(4)	Kullu 11.52%
(5)	Una 11.36%

High Density
(1)	Hamirpur	407
(2)	Una	338
(3)	Bilaspur	327
(4)	Solan	300
(5)	Kangra	263

Top Population Growth
(1)	Una 16.26%
(2)	Solan 15.93%
(3)	Sirmaur 15.54%
(4)	Kullu 14.76%
(5)	Kangra 12.77%

High Literacy
(1)	Hamirpur 89.01%
(2)	Una 87.23%
(3)	Kangra 86.49%
(4)	Blaspur 85.87%
(5)	Solan	 85.02%

High Sex Ratio
(1)	Hamirpur	2042
(2)	Kangra	       1012
(3)	Mandi	       1007
(4)	Chamba	        986
(5)	Bilaspur	981

 See also 

 Outline of Himachal Pradesh
 Bittu Bhaizee
 Geography of Himachal Pradesh
 List of districts of Himachal Pradesh
 Tourism in Himachal Pradesh
 Outline of India
 Bibliography of India
 Index of India-related articles

 Notes 

 References 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statistics and Data, Planning Department, Government of Himachal Pradesh

 External links 

 Government 
 The Official Site of Himachal Pradesh
 The Official Tourism Site of Himachal Pradesh, India  

 General information 
 Himachal Pradesh Encyclopædia Britannica entry
  
   

 
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Category:States and territories established in 1971
Category:1971 establishments in India
Category:Punjabi-speaking countries and territories