Himachal Pradesh
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Himachal Pradesh (हिमाचल प्रदेश) is a state in northwest India. Neighbouring regions are Tibet (China) to the east, Jammu and Kashmir to the north and northwest, Punjab to the southwest, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to the south and Uttaranchal to the southeast.
It is 55,658 sq km (21,490 sq mi) and the Population in 1991 was given as: 5,111,079. It was established as an administrative unit in 1948 by combining some 30 hill states and it was made the 18th state of India on January 25, 1971.
The state capital is Shimla, and it also contains the towns of Dharamsala, Kangra, Mandi, Kullu, Chamba, Dalhousie and Manali. Much of the state is mountainous with the Himalayas in the north and east and the smaller Shiwalik (or Shivalik) range in the south. The Ghaggar River originates in the Shivalik range. The main rivers are the Sutlej (home of the Bhakra Nangal Dam Project) and the Beas. The bridge on the Sutlej River at Kandraur, Bilaspur is one of the highest bridges in Asia.
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Districts
Himachal_Pradesh_map.jpg
Culture
The major spoken languages are Kangri, Pahari, Punjabi, Hindi and Mandiali. Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism are the main religions. Dharmshala, in the western area of the state is the home of the Dalai Lama and many Tibetan refugees.
Politics
See Also: List of political parties in the state
In 2003 the state legislative assembly was won by the Indian National Congress. The main opposition is the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Transportation and Communication
Roads are the main mode of transport. Transportation can be slow and dangerous especially during monsoon season due to the narrow and winding roads and to frequent landslides and washouts. The government-owned Himachal Road Transport Corporation runs a network of buses across the state. Most areas have telephone and mobile phone services.
References
- Verma, V. 1996. Gaddis of Dhauladhar: A Transhumant Tribe of the Himalayas. Indus Publishing Co., New Delhi.
- Handa, O. C. 1987. Buddhist Monasteries in Himachel Pradesh. Indus Publishing Co., New Delhi. ISBN 81-85182-03-5.
External links
- Official website of Himachal Pradesh Government (http://himachal.nic.in/welcome.asp)
- Website about Himachal Pradesh (http://www.ibiblio.org/himachal/)
- A Portal to art & culture of Himachal (http://www.123himachal.com/)
- Guide to Himachal (http://www.himachalonline.com)
- News about Himachal Pradesh (http://www.himvikas.org/)
- "Dharamsala Net" with lots of links about Dharamsala (http://www.dharamsalanet.com/index.htm)de:Himachal Pradesh
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