Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is a Himalayan state in northern India, famed for its snow-capped peaks, hill stations and apple orchards. Its capital is Shimla, a former British summer capital. A premier destination for mountain tourism and adventure, it is often called the land of the gods.

Himachal Pradesh is almost entirely mountainous, rising from foothills to high Himalayan ranges, with deep valleys, rivers and glaciers. The terrain spans subtropical foothills to cold high-altitude deserts. The climate varies sharply with elevation.

The state has a rich hill culture of temples, festivals and crafts, with strong Hindu and Tibetan Buddhist influences, especially in the Lahaul and Spiti valleys. Dharamshala is the home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile.

Home to numerous hill kingdoms, the region came under British influence, which developed Shimla as the summer capital of the Raj. It became a full Indian state in 1971 and built an economy on agriculture, hydropower and tourism.