The earliest known inhabitants of the region were tribals called Dasas. Later, Aryans came and they assimilated in the tribes. In the later centuries, the hill chieftains accepted suzerainty of the Mauryan empire, the Kaushans, the Guptas and Kanuaj rulers. During the Mughal period, the Rajas of the hill states made some mutually agreed arrangements which governed their relations. In the 19th century, Ranjit Singh annexed/subjugated many of the states. When the British came, they defeated Gorkhas and entered into treaties with some Rajas and annexed the kingdoms of others. The situation more or less remained unchanged till 1947. After Independence, 30 princely states of the area were united and Himachal Pradesh was formed on 15th April, 1948. With the recognition of Punjab on 1st November, 1966, certain areas belonging to it were also included in Himachal Pradesh. On 25th January, 1971, Himachal Pradesh was made a full-fledged State.
The State is bordered by Jammu & Kashmir on North, Punjab on West and South-West, Haryana on South, Uttar Pradesh on South-East and China on the East.
Places to See:
The
Kullu Valley is also known as the Valley of the Gods. Rudyard Kipling has written, "Surely the Gods live here; this is no place for men". It is situated on the banks of the river Beas on the lower reaches of the Himalayas. Kullu is known for its ancient temples, apple orchards and the annual Dusshera Festival. Kullu is also famous for its handicrafts and woolens like shawl, caps, puhla, namdas and patoos. The best time to visit Kullu is during Dusshera in the month of October.
A few kilometers from Manali is the Rohtang Pass, a place known for the divergent landscapes. You will find the rich greenery of the Kullu valley along with bare, brown mountains, glaciers and snowfields. The place looks lovely in the crisp sunlight. The Rohtang Pass lies in the district of Lahaul and Spiti. Due to its difficult terrain, not many tourists have ventured into this region. The place is untouched by the outside world of modernity.
Chamba is one of the oldest princely states and dates back its origin to 6th century AD. The town of Chamba is located in the colorful valley surrounded by the Shivalik ranges and has the district headquarters. It is well known for its medieval temples and Chaugan, a public promenade. The architecture of the buildings of Chamba reflects the aura of its former rulers. Chamba is also famous for its local festivals.
Kangra is a small town and was the capital of the erstwhile rulers of the Chand dynasty. The hill station is placed at the foothills of the mighty Dhaulandhar range. There are many old temples to visit besides enjoying the picturesque environs.
Khajjiar is a modest grass-covered meadow located in the enchanting valley of Chamba. It is an ideal getaway for picnic while traveling between Dalhousie and Chamba. The calmness of place provides a soothing effect to the tired tourists.
Kinnaur is a land of rich green valley, ripe orchards, vineyards, snow-covered peaks and cold desert mountains. The place is ideal for adventure sports like trekking; mountain climbing etc. the place attracts both young and old equally. The colorful dresses of the Kinnauri women and their sweet folk songs make the valley all the more bright and cheerful.
Mandi is district made out of two princely starts of Mandi and Suket. It is situated on the left bank of the river Beas at an altitude of 800 m. above the sea level. It is comparatively hotter than other hill stations of Himachal Pradesh. Mandi means a market place. At one time, there were almost 360 forts out of which only 10 are left. You can take a look at some of the 81 Hindu temples in the area. There are a couple of lakes to be visited.
Access:
How to reach Himachal Pradesh by Air: The most important airport in the state is in Kullu and is only 23kms away. Jagson Airlines operate between Delhi Kullu.
How to reach Himachal Pradesh by Road: The state has very good road connection to the major cities of the North India. Chandigarh is at a distance of only 117kms whereas, Delhi 343kms, Ambala 151kms and Dehradun 240kms. During monsoons a few roads gets closed in fear of landslides.
How to reach Himachal Pradesh by Rail: In hilly areas, it is difficult to construct railway tracks. Kalka (90kms away) is the most important Railway Station in the state. A narrow-gauge railway track connects Shimla with Kalka. There are a few other railway tracks also passing through important destinations in the state.
