Himalayan Jewel- Himachal Pradesh at a Glance
Nestled in the Himalayas, the world's mightiest mountain ranges, Himachal is blessed with some of the most spectacular landscapes anywhere. Truly a travellers paradise, with mighty snow peaks, deep gorges, lush green and golden valleys, flower filled meadows, misty woods, fast flowing icy rivers, glaciers and enchanting lakes. While the picturesque valleys of Kullu, Kinnaur and Kangra are a riot of colours, in marked contrast the barren terrain of Lahaul & Spiti have a stunning lunar landscape like beauty.

For the visitor there are superb locations for relaxing and sight seeing. There are also tremendous opportunities for trekking, mountaineering, fishing, river rafting, skiing, para-gliding, ice skating and golf.

Having an excellent network of roads and communication facilities, Himachal has a clean and peaceful environment.

History of Himachal
After Indian Independence, a Union Territory of Hill states was created. It primarily consituted of hill states around Shimla. Himachal Pradesh became a full fledged state of the Republic of India on January 25, 1971.

Himachal means 'Land of Snow' in Hindi. The physiography of Himachal Pradesh is portrayed with an intricate mosaic of hills, valleys, fast flowing & turbulent rivers and soaring high mountains covered with snow. And like three circles bound together by high ranges, narrow passes, fast flowing rivers and a rich cultural tradition, the tracts of Kinnaur, Spiti and Lahaul seems to hold the essence of the 2500 km long Himalayas.

Traditionally the region has strong ties with neighboring Tibet and there are marked cultural and religious similarities. Tucked away in mountain folds for centuries, this is one pocket of the world that has both charm and mystery. Kinnaur, Spiti and Lahaul offers a touch of exotica and more than just a dash of adventure. On the other hand Dharamsala is the seat of  Dalai Lama and his Govt. in exile

Himachal Tourism a pioneer in the development of tourism infrastructure in Himachal, has Himachal's largest complete package of tourism services, including accommodation, catering, transport and sports activities

People and Culture
Ninety percent of the people of Himachal live in villages and small towns. The villages are mostly self-contained with a few shops to take care of basic necessities of life. Most villages have a temple, where people congregate for worship. In many parts of the Himachal the village Gods are carried on palanquins to village fairs. On Dussehra the largest congregation of village Gods takes place at Kullu.

The folk songs of Himachal Pradesh are full of charm. They are usually based on a religious or a romantic theme. People gather in a circle in village fairs and dance to the tune of these songs. The dancing is usually spontaneous during a village fair and is symbolic of the peace and joy of the people.


Wildlife
Himachal Pradesh has a varied topography, climate and forest cover and is endowed with a vast variety of flora and fauna. From times immemorial, this tract is known for its wilderness, landscapes, beautiful forests and wildlife. In Himachal Pradesh, out of the total geographical area of 55,670 sqkm, the forest area as per legal classification is 37,691 sq km. At present there are 32 Sanctuaries, 2 National Parks and 3 Games Reserves.


Pilgrimmage
Himachal was known since the earliest of times as "Devabhoomi", the abode of the Gods. The splendid heights of the Himalyan ranges, with its great scenic beauty and aura of spiritual calm seem the natural home of the Gods. Two thousands or more temples all over the State, reiterate this fact.

Being a State full of isolated valleys and high ranges, several different styles of temple architecture developed and there are temples with carved stone shikharas, pagoda style shrines, temples that look like Buddhist Gompas or Sikh Gurudwaras etc. Several of them are important places of pilgrimage and each year attract thousands of devotees from all over the country

Himachal Tourism a pioneer in the development of tourism infrastructure in Himachal, has Himachal's largest complete package of tourism services, including accommodation, catering, transport and sports activities.