~:Abode of Snow:~HIMACHAL PRADESH

Where it is located?

GEOGRAPHYTopography mainly hilly.38% of total land is forest.Average altitude ranges from 450 m. to

6500 m above sea level.Hilly region divided into:

-Shivaliks or Outer Himalayas -Lesser Himalayas -The Great Himalayan & Zaska.Climate & weather is cool throught the

year.

The beauty of Himachal unleashes after the rainy season with lush green cover on mountains.

Chief rivers : Indus and Ganges;• Chenab• Beas• Ravi• Yamuna• Sutlej• Spiti

AFTER RAINY SEASON

EARLY WINTER

CENSUSAREA: 55,673 sq kmNO. OF DISTRICTS: 12CAPITAL: ShimlaPOPULATION: 68.56 lakhSEX RATIO: 974/1000 malesLITERACY RATE: 83.78%% OF TOTAL POPULATION: 0.57DENSITY OF POPULATION: 123/Sq km

FACT: No city over 1 lakh population.

PEOPLE & CULTURELANGUAGES:-Official language: Hindi Prominent language: Pahari Other languages: Punjabi, Dogri, Kangri

& KinnauriRELIGIONS:- 95.77% - Hindus(Rajputs, Brahmins &

Mahajans-High caste; Artisans-Lower caste) 1.63% - Muslims >1% - Buddhists 0.1% - Christians

FESTIVALS:- Dusshera of Kullu : 7day fest

to mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya.

Ladarcha Fest, Spiti : A fair, celebrated in 3rd week of august. Get-together of visitors and traders.

Khepa Fest, Kinnaur: Fest of chasing demons and most famous.

Doongri Fest, Kullu : Colourful fest to mark the advent of spring.

Minjar Fest, Chamba : 7-day carnival depiciting the cultural bonding of people. Local diety taken in a pocession for immersion.

Shivratri Fair, Mandi : A week long fair at Baijinath’s Shiva temple in Feb and March.

PEOPLE:- The people of Himachal love colour. Their dress patterns follow the local climate. The people of Lahaul wear long gowns and

trousers but their gowns do not have mandarin sleeves.

They wear grass or leather boots. Their caps indicate the region they come from.

MAJOR CROPS & FOOD:-

Cultivate cash crops like wheat, maize, rice and barley.

Best Dishes : Indra – A dish prepared by Urad dal and Bada in Shimla district. Siddu – Made from Soybean or Walnut.

Not To Be Missed : Enjoying Makki or fresh Corn flour i.e grounded in water propelled-mill and is eaten with milk at breakfast.

ECONOMY The economy of the state is highly

dependent on three sources: hydroelectric power, tourism and agriculture.

The first five year plan allocated Rs.5.27 crore to Himachal.

It has started from 1951. More than 50% of this expenditure

was incurred on road construction Himachal now ranks fourth in respect

of per capita income Agriculture contributes over 45%

Over 93% of the population in Himachal depend directly upon agriculture which provides direct employment to 71% of its people.

The Economy of the Himachal Pradesh is currently the third fastest growing economy in India.

How To Reach Himachal?Shimla:- By Air: From Delhi airport to Jubbarhati air port. By Rail: Shimla is connected by a broadgauge line up

to Kalka (90 km). The journey between Kalka and Shimla takes about six hours and is one of the finest ways of enjoying the landscape. The Shivalik Express is a deluxe train on this route. Delhi (380 km), Chandigarh (120 km) and Kalka (90 km) from Shimla.

By Road: Shimla is connected by road to all major cities in north India. Taxi cabs for Shimla are available at Delhi, Chandigarh, Ambala and Kalka.Buses can also be chartered.

TOURISM Shimla The old Christ Church, with its beautiful

stained glass windows, is one of Shimla's most prominent landmarks. There are plenty of adventure sports and short hikes on offer in the vicinity as well.

Manali Manali, with its soothing backdrop of the

Himalayas, offers a blend of tranquility and adventure that makes it one of northern India's most popular destinations. Located in the Kullu Valley.

Dharmashala & Ganji The towns of Dharamsala and

MacLeod Ganj are home to the exiled Tibetan Government. The Dalai Lama resides in Dharamsala, and many Tibetans have followed him there.

Famous Places in Manali

The pass lies at a picturesque location with the rivers Beas and Chenab that lies to the southern and northern side of Rohtang Pass. Rohtang Pass is famous for its picturesque views of the valley and various hidden waterfalls. Rohtang Pass is a must visit on your trip Kullu-Manali.

Rohtang Pass

Situated atop a hillock the Hidimba Devi Temple is surrounded by thick deodar forests and was built in 1553. The temple is dedicated to the Rakshasa Hidimba who was also the wife of the Pandava Bhima.

Hidimba Temple

Solang valley is also known as the ‘Snow Point’ and is famous for hosting various winter adventure sports like skiing, parachuting and paragliding etc. The views from the point are magnificent and give views to snow capped peaks and glaciers.

Solang Valley

Nehru Kund refers to a natural cold water spring that originates from the Brighu River. The springs are located 5 Kilometers from Manali on the national highway to Leh towards Keylong.

Nehru Kund

Sultanpur Palace was formerly called as the Rupi Palace and is newly built on the remnants of the older which was damaged in an earthquake. The palace houses various wall paintings and its marvelous blend of Pahari style architecture and colonial style.

Sultanpur Palace

Beas River is often described as the Heart of Kullu valley and is known for its various camping spots and water sports. The river also marks the eastern border of Alexander the Great’s empire in 326 BC. The flow of the river is very fast and is not fit for swimming, but is the perfect for Rafting.

Beas River