Himachal Pradesh (literally meaning "Province in the lap of the Himalayas") is the northernmost state of India and is situated in the Western Himalayas, characterized by its extreme landscape featuring several peaks and extensive river systems. It borders the states of Punjab to its south-west, Haryana and Uttarakhand to its south, and the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to its north. It also shares an international border with China. It is also known as "Dev Bhoomi" (Land of Gods) and "Veer Bhoomi" (Land of the Brave).
Through its history, the region was most ruled by locals, some of whom were under the protection of larger empires. It was part of the Punjab province during British rule and after independence over 30 princely states were united to form Himachal Pradesh on 15 April 1948. On 1 November 1966, the hilly areas of Punjab state were merged into to Himachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh was was made an union territory, eventually being granted full statehood in 1971.
Apart from being celebrated for its landscape, the state is also known for its good performance in social and economic development indicators as compared to the rest of the country. It is considered to be one of the least corrupt states of India, was declared the second open-defecation free state of India in 2016, and is also almost universally electrified with 99.5% electrification for rural households. [1]
Further reading[]
- Himachal Pradesh Government Official Website
- [India Today]: Himachal Pradesh turns 45 today: Some interesting facts about the state
- Ejatlas's Feature on Himachal Pradesh
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