Explore the Himachal Pradesh political map showing the 12 districts, district headquarters and capital of Himachal Pradesh state of India.
District of Himachal Pradesh
S.N.
District Name
Headquarter Name
1
Bilaspur
Bilaspur
2
Chamba
Chamba
3
Hamirpur
Hamirpur
4
Kangra
Dharamsala
5
Kinnaur
Reckong Peo
6
Kullu
Kullu
7
Lahaul and Spiti
Kyelang
8
Mandi
Mandi
9
Shimla
Shimla
10
Sirmaur
Nahan
11
Solan
Solan
12
Una
Una
About Himachal Pradesh
Geographical Location and Size
Himachal Pradesh is a northern state of India, positioned in the western Himalayas. Neighbours are Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in the north, Punjab in the west, Haryana in the southwest, Uttarakhand in the southeast and Tibet (China) in the east. The state is 21,495 square miles (55,673 square kilometres) and thus one of the Indian states. It is located between 30.38° N and 33.12° N latitudes and 75.47° E and 79.04° E longitudes. It is famous for its mountains, with an altitude of 1,640 feet (500 meters) in the foothills and over 22,000 feet (6,700 meters) in the high Himalayan ranges.
Capital and Major Cities
Himachal Pradesh has Shimla as its capital and was also the summer capital of British India. Shimla is the administrative and tourism capital of the state. The seat of the Dalai Lama and the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile is Dharamshala, the winter capital. Other major cities include the very popular tourist resort of Manali, Kullu, famous for its picturesque location and Mandi, an emerging educational and commercial hub. The population of the state is about 7.3 million people and the literacy rate is estimated at 83%.
Economy and Industries
The economy of Himachal Pradesh is mainly agricultural and it has agriculture, horticulture and forestry as its main stay. One of the leading economic activities is apple farming; Himachal Pradesh is among the leading apple producing states in India and produces more than 450,000 metric tons of apples each year. Other important crops include maize, wheat, barley and vegetables. Tourism is another important sector that supports the economy of the state through revenue generation. This is because; Himachal Pradesh is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India owing to its beautiful scenery, adventure sports, and religious places.
The state has a growing industrial base, focusing on hydroelectric power generation. Himachal Pradesh has more than 23,000 megawatts of hydroelectric potential and provides power to northern India through several large projects. Other industries include pharmaceuticals, cement making, and handloom handicrafts. The Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial belt is also a major hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and a significant contributor to the state’s economy.
Culture and Heritage
Himachal Pradesh is a land that has been shaped by the Hindu, Buddhist and tribal cultures. It is famous for its music, dances like Nati, and festivals like the Dussehra of Kullu, Shivratri of Mandi, and Losar of Lahaul-Spiti. The state has its own architectural taste and the temples and monasteries which are made of wood and stone. The Hidimba Devi Temple in Manali, Jwala Ji Temple in Kangra and Key Monastery in Spiti Valley are some of the famous religious places.
Tourism and Natural Attractions
Tourism is a very big industry in the state and Himachal Pradesh is famous for its beautiful landscapes, hill stations and adventure activities. Tourist places are Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Kullu, Dalhousie, Chamba. The state has several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, including the Great Himalayan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Pin Valley National Park. Other recreational activities include trekking, paragliding, river rafting and skiing for the adventure seekers.
Infrastructure and Connectivity
Himachal Pradesh has 45,000 km (over 28,000 miles) of roads (all-weather roads) to and among major towns and villages. There are only three domestic airports in the state: Shimla, Bhuntar (Kullu-Manali) and Kangra (Dharamshala). Railway lines are not very extensive due to the mainly mountainous region, but the Kalca — Shimla railway is a significant landmark and has been put on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. The state government has been spending on enhancing the physical and the digital infrastructure to facilitate the growth of tourism and economy.
Education and Development
Himachal Pradesh has also achieved a literacy rate of over 83%, one of the highest in India, and so has made considerable progress in education. Some of the prestige institutions are the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, Himachal Pradesh University and the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Hamirpur. The government has concentrated on enhancing primary and secondary education, so that it is available to children living in remote mountainous areas.
History of Himachal Pradesh
Ancient History and Early Civilizations
Ancient history of Himachal Pradesh stretches back to ancient times, and the region has been inhabited as early as the Indus Valley Civilization, or as recent as the foothills of the Himalayas. Early tribes include the Koli, Hali and Dagi. The state is also mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures like Rigveda and Mahabharata where it is referred to as a part of different kingdoms like Kambojas, Trigartas and Audumbaras. The Mahabharata, for instance, mentions the Pandavas spending a significant period in the region while in exile.
Medieval Period and the Rise of Kingdoms
During the medieval period of India, Himachal Pradesh was a land of small hill kingdoms which were ruled by several small hill kingdoms having their own culture and political systems. The region can be said to be occupied by powerful dynasties of Thakurs, Ranas and Rajas who established principality states within the region. By seventh century CE, Rajput clans came into power and there were small kingdoms of Chamba, Kullu, Mandi and Kangra. The oldest forts of India, one of them is Kangra Fort which was developed as a seat of power. The area was also influenced by the Mauryan and Gupta empires and thus the cultural development. Buddhism also thrived, especially in the Lahaul and Spiti districts which were influenced by Tibetan Buddhism.
Mughal and Sikh Influence
The Mughals had also, in the 16th and 17th centuries, sought to seize control of Himachal Pradesh. Emperor Akbar annexed several hill states and the region was under Mughal control for quite a time. But as the territory was very mountainous, Mughal rule was not direct and the rulers of the various states still ruled their states on their own. The Sikh influence in the region was seen to grow after the decline of the Mughals with the help of Maharaja Ranjit Singh who annexed a part of Kangra and its neighbouring regions to the Sikh Empire in early nineteenth century.
British Rule and the Formation of Hill States
In the mid 19th century, the British took control of Himachal Pradesh. The British governed over hill states and incorporated them into the governance structure of British India. Shimla, the present capital of Himachal Pradesh was chosen as the summer capital of British India in 1864 because of its healthy climate. Infrastructure like roads and railways were also developed during the British rule to facilitate administration and trade. The princely states of Chamba, Mandi and Bilaspur were placed under British suzerainty but they had the internal autonomy.
Post-Independence and State Formation
When India became independent in 1947, the princely states of Himachal Pradesh were integrated to form the Chief Commissioner's Province of Himachal Pradesh on April 15, 1948. It was recognized as a Part C state in 1951. The state's integration of two decades of hill areas from Punjab led to an expansion of the state. Himachal Pradesh, the 18th state of India, got its full statehood on January 25, 1971. It was a historic achievement for the state as well as a recognition of the state's entity within the Indian Union.
Modern Development and Economic Growth
Himachal Pradesh has made significant progress since attaining statehood in various sectors like education and healthcare, infrastructure and so on. It has one of the top literacy rates among the states of India and has rapidly growing tourism, hydroelectric power generation and industrial development. Its economy is still mainly dependent on agriculture and horticulture, where apples are leading. Over the past few decades, Himachal Pradesh has become a model state for sustainable development in terms of economic development and environmental protection.
The history of Himachal Pradesh demonstrates the state’s strength, the richness of its people, and the important position of the area in India’s growth over the centuries. The state has a rich heritage of early civilizations and medieval kingdoms, played a significant role during the British rule and is still evolving while maintaining its heritage and natural beauty.
