| State
of India - Himachal Pradesh |
 |
|
|
| |
 QUICK
FACTS Climate
(Degree C.): Summer
Max: 33. Min: 14.
Winter Max: 15 Min:
0 | Best Season: April
to October | Languages
Spoken: Pahari, Hindi
and English | Capital:
Shimla
Overview:
Few places in the
world are as richly
endowed as Himachal
Pradesh in terms of
geographical diversity.
Low rolling hills
climbing on to touch
the core of the Himalaya
Mountains, peaks that
are several thousands
metres high and never
lose their perennial
snows, rivers in deep
gorges and placid
mountain, lakes, thick
forests, green Alpine
Meadows, all form
a part of this immense
spectrum. A tour to
Himachal Pradesh offers
the visitors plenty
of opportunities to
explore breathtaking
locales and enjoy
wonderful sightseeing.
Visit the numerous
hill resorts, wildlife
destinations and pilgrim
sites on your tour
to Himachal Pradesh.
Geography
of Himachal Pradesh:
Himachal Pradesh has
an area of more than
55,673 sq.kms. Located
in altitudes ranging
from 450 meters to
6500 meters above
sea level, Himachal
Pradesh is veiled
from the plains by
the Shivalik range
of mountains. There
is a gradual increase
in elevation from
west to east and from
south to north. The
state is geographically
divided as (1) The
outer Himalayas or
the Shivaliks (2)
The lesser Himalayas
or the central zone
(3) The great Himalayan
and Zaskar or the
northern zone. Himachal
Pradesh is bordered
by Jammu and Kashmir
on north, Haryana
on south, Punjab on
west and south-west,
Uttaranchal on south
-east and Tibet on
the east.
 History
of Himachal Pradesh:
Known as 'Deva Bhoomi
' or the Land of the
Gods, the history
of Himachal Pradesh
dates back to the
pre historic times.
Its evidence is found
in the Bangana valley
of Kangra, Sirsa valley
of Nalagarh, and Markanda
valley of Sirmour.
Large portion of the
Himachal was inhabited
by tribes like the
Koilis, Halis, Dagis,
Dhaugris, Dasa, Khasas,
Kinnars and Kirats.
In 1009 AD Himachal
Pradesh was witness
to the invasion of
Mahmud Ghazni, who
looted the wealth
from the temples.
From 1043 AD to 1804
AD it was under the
rule of the Rajputs,
till the attack by
Maharaja Ranjit Singh
in 1804 AD, which
put an end to the
Rajput reign. During
the late 1760s, the
Gorkhas came to power
in Nepal and eventually
began their conquest
in Himachal. They
conquered Himachal
and ravaged it. The
Anglo Gorkha War in
1815-16, led to conquer
by the British Empire
in most parts of the
Himachal. And Shimla
became the summer
capital of the British.
In 1956 after India
gained its independence,
Himachal Pradesh became
a union territory,
and it was elevated
to the status of statehood
in the year 1971.
 Tourist
Places of Himachal
Pradesh:
Endowed with abundant
natural beauty, pilgrimage
sites and options
for adventure sports
there is no doubt
that Himachal has
emerged as one of
the most popular destinations
of India. With a number
of hill stations offering
panoramic views, Himachal
is the perfect getaway
from your boring and
hectic schedules.
Shimla and Manali
top the charts of
the most famous hill
stations of not only
Himachal but also
the rest of India.
Other must visit destinations
in Himachal include
Dalhousie, Dharamshala,
Mc ledogunj, Chail,
Chamba and Kinnaur.
Fairs
and Festivals of Himachal
Pradesh:
The land of Gods,
Himachal Pradesh has
an astonishing number
of 2000 local deities.
No doubt fairs and
festivals form an
integral part of the
lives of the people
here. These festivals
symbolize the peace
and joy of the people
and also are a true
reflection of their
traditions. People
gather in large groups
and dance to the tune
of the folk songs
of the Himachal. Most
of the fairs and festivals
are connected with
the various seasonal
changes. Some of the
famous and widely
celebrated fairs and
festivals of Himachal
include: Baisakhi,
Lohri, Himachal's
Winter Carnival, Nalwari
fair, Holi, Shimla's
Summer Festival, Gugga
fair, Fullaich Festival,
Kullu Dussehra, Doongri
Fair, Minjar Fair,
Sajo Festival, Pori
Festival, Ladarcha
Utsav-Spiti.
Cuisine in
Himachal:
Being a cold state,
the cuisine of the
Himachal is prepared
in a manner so as
to maximize heat and
energy in its people.
Here, more emphasis
is put on non vegetarian
food. Green vegetables
until recently rarely
found it's entry in
the Himachal dishes.
Some of the festive
dishes of Himachal
include: Sidu, a kind
of bread made from
wheat flour with a
stuffing of fat. Dham
- Made of Rice, Moong
Dal and a dish of
Rajma Cooked in Yoghurt.
Ankalos made of rice
flour. Indra - A dish
specially prepared
in the Shimla district
using Urad dal and
Bada. Aktori and Patande
(a sort of pancake)
are some of the other
local Himachali dishes.
Shopping
in Himachal:
Due to its topographical
distinction from the
rest of India, the
art and craft of Himachal
is quite unique and
interesting. Having
abundant pine, deodar,
walnut, horse chestnut
and wild black mulberry,
Himachal Pradesh is
the hot spot for wood
work and wood carving.
For the ladies you
have the artistic
and elaborate Pahari
jewellery sold on
the various bazaars
of Himachal. Being
a hilly and cold state,
Wool is considered
to be a pious accessory
in Himachal. You can
chose from a beautiful
variety of woolen
garments right from
the popular Himachali
caps to shawls, sweater,
carpets and rugs.
Leather craft, embroidery,
paintings, metal work,
pottery are some other
famous handicrafts
items that you can
purchase during your
tour to Himachal Pradesh. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
