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Himachal Pradesh, India

Himachal Pradesh
हिमाचल प्रदेश
State
Himachal Pradesh seal.svg
Seal
Himachal Pradesh
Location in India
State map
State map
Coordinates (Shimla): 31°6′12″N 77°10′20″E / 31.10333°N 77.17222°E / 31.10333; 77.17222Coordinates: 31°6′12″N 77°10′20″E / 31.10333°N 77.17222°E / 31.10333; 77.17222
Country  India
Statehood 25 January 1971
Capitals Shimla
Dharamsala (2nd Capital in Winter)
Districts 12
Government
 • Governor Acharya Dev Vrat
 • Chief Justice Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir
 • Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh (INC)
 • Legislature Unicameral (68 seats)
 • Parliamentary constituency 4
Area
 • Total 55,673 km2 (21,495 sq mi)
Area rank 18th
Population (2011)
 • Total 6,864,602
 • Rank 21st
 • Density 123/km2 (320/sq mi)
Language
 • Official Hindi
 • Additional official English
Languages
Time zone IST (UTC+05:30)
ISO 3166 code IN-HP
HDI Increase 0.652 (medium)
HDI rank 3rd (2011)
Literacy 82.80%
Website www.himachal.nic.in
It was elevated to the status of state by the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970

Himachal Pradesh ([ɦɪmaːtʃəl prəd̪eːʃ]; literally "Snow-abode") is a state of India located in Northern India. It is bordered by Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab and Chandigarh on the west, Haryana on the south-west, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east. The name was coined from Sanskrit him 'snow' and achal 'mountain', by Acharya Diwakar Datt Sharma, one of the state's most eminent Sanskrit scholars.

Himachal Pradesh is famous for its natural beauty, hill stations, and temples. Himachal Pradesh has been ranked fifteenth in the list of the highest per capita incomes of Indian states and union territories for year 2013-14. Many perennial rivers flow in the state, and numerous hydroelectric projects set up. Himachal produces surplus hydroelectricity and sells it to other states such as Delhi, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Hydroelectric power projects, tourism, and agriculture form important parts of the state's economy.

The state has several valleys, and more than 90% of the population living in rural areas. Practically all houses have a toilet and 100% hygiene has been achieved in the state. The villages have good connectivity with roads, public health centres, and now with high-speed broadband.

Shimla district has maximum urban population of 25%. It has incorporated environmental protection and tourism development has been aided with a government ban on the use of polyethylene bags, reducing litter, and tobacco products, to aid people's health. According to a 2005 Transparency International survey, Himachal Pradesh was ranked the second-least corrupt state in the country, after Kerala.


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