Portal:Himachal Pradesh/Intro

Himachal Pradesh is a state in the north-west of India. Himachal Pradesh is spread over 55,673 square kilometres (21,495 sq mi) and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on north, Punjab on west and south-west, Haryana on south, Uttarakhand on south-east and by Tibet area of China on the east. The literal meaning of Himachal Pradesh is Land of snowy mountains.

Himachal Pradesh was also known as Deva Bhoomi (i.e. the land of the gods). The Aryan influence in the region dates back to the period before the Rigveda. After the Anglo Gorkha war British colonial government came into power. In 1950 Himachal was declared as the union territory but after State of Himachal Pradesh Act 1971 Himchal emerged as the 18th state of Indian Union.

The state is located in altitudes ranging from 450 metres (1,476 ft) to 6,500 metres (21,325 ft) above sea level. The state capital is Shimla (formerly British India's summer capital under the name Simla); other major towns include Solan, Dharamsala, Kangra, Mandi, Kullu, Chamba, Hamirpur, Dalhousie and Manali.
Himachal is out those states in India which has got one of the highest per capita income. Due to the abundance of perennial rivers, Himachal also sells hydro electricity to other states such as Delhi, Punjab & Rajasthan.
90% of the state population constitutes of Hindus. The major communities are of Brahmins, Rajputs, Kannets, Rathis and Kolis.