Himachal Pradesh lies in the snow-covered lap of the Himalayas, stretching from the plains to the high mountainous region. Each city, town and village in Himachal Pradesh has its own uniqueness and mysteries that everyone would like to discover. There are many interesting facts about Himachal Pradesh that most people do not know. Below is a list of interesting facts about Himachal Pradesh, which can provide a deep insight into the wealth and abundance of this beautiful state.

1. If you have not tried to understand the deeper meaning of the word "Himachal", you have lost the basic idea of the ultimate existence of this enchanted state. It is a combination of the Sanskrit words, 'he' and 'anchal', which mean 'snow' and 'hug' respectively. It is no coincidence that the country is nestled in the snow-covered Himalayas.

2. The state is made up of four districts, Mandi, Champa, Mahasu and Surmore, with 30 princely states, which led to the formation of Himachal Pradesh as a union territory in 1948. Finally, in 1971, the district acquired the status of state and became the 18th district. been to India.

3. Shimla is the summer capital of Himachal Pradesh, which stands on seven hills and is commonly known as the "Queen of the Hills".

4. The winter capital of Himachal Pradesh is Dharamsala, lovingly referred to as "India's little Lhasa" because it is the home of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and the Tibetan government in exile.

5. Shimla is home to the only natural ice rink in South Asia. This is the oldest ice rink in Asia.

6. Himachal Pradesh emerged after independence, so it does not have a pre-constitutional history.

7. Bir Billing is the first place in India where paragliding was done in 2015. It is one of the most natural paragliding sites in the world.

8. Do you know the incredible sex ratio of Himachal? Hammerpur has 1096 females, Lhol Spiti 1033 females, Kangra has 1013 females and Mandi 1012 females per 1000 males. It is one of the highest in the country.

9. It is a predominantly rural state and approximately 90% of the population of Himachal Pradesh lives in rural areas.

10. Shimla has the largest urban population in the state, which is about 25% of the total.

11. The village of Malana in the Parvati Valley in Himachal Pradesh is one of the oldest democracies in the world. The locals are believed to have pure Aryan genes and are descendants of Alexander the Great. This town is isolated from the rest of the world and tourists cannot touch anything here or stay there at night.

12. The village of Malana produces world famous cannabis, also known as Malana Karim. It has won the title of "Best Cannabis" twice; Once in 1994 and again in 1996 at the High Times Cannabis Cup.

13. Due to its topography, Himachal Pradesh has a huge network of state and national roads, totaling 28,208 kilometers, comprising 8 national highways and 19 state highways.

14. Not surprisingly, the Himachal Pradesh animal is the snow leopard, which has demonstrated the state's commitment to conserving this endangered species. This elusive big cat can be found in an elevated part of the state and is found below the snow line in winter.

15. The Western Tragopan is the state bird of Himachal Pradesh. The West Tragopan population is threatened by various anthropogenic factors. This bird is endemic to the northwestern Himalayas and this is of great concern from the "State of India Birds 2020".

16. The flower symbol of Himachal Pradesh is the pink rhododendron, known locally as 'Gulabi Buransh'. It is originally a native of Asia and is a rare type of rhododendron found only near the treeline in the higher ranges.

17. The Indian cedar or Himalayan cedar is the symbol of the tree in Himachal Pradesh, a symbol of prosperity and respect.

18. The agricultural sector provides direct employment for more than 65% of the population of Himachal Pradesh. Due to its mountainous terrain, the state's economy is predominantly mixed farming, pastoral, pastoral selfie, and horticultural farming.

19. About 22% of the country's GDP is attributed to income from agriculture and related sectors.

Also Read: 5 Best Treks to Do in Himachal Pradesh Between July and October

20. The Kalka-Shimla railway is fondly known as the toy train. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and this railway holds the record for covering the highest slope of over 5,800 feet, at just 96 km. The train crosses more than 800 bridges and 100 tunnels during the journey.

21. Himachal Pradesh is the second least corrupt state in the country, followed by Kerala. The astonishing beauty of Himachal Pradesh attracts a large number of tourists, however the friendly nature, sincerity and kind demeanor of the locals add to the visitor experience.

22. According to government records, Himachal Pradesh is the third best state in terms of overall performance and development.

23. In 2013, Himachal Pradesh was declared the first smoke-free state in the country.

24. Himachal Pradesh has about 17,000 educational institutes, including two medical schools, three universities and one engineering school, a state with the highest literacy rate.

25. According to the data recorded in 2020, the literacy rate in Himachal Pradesh is 86.6%. With a Dickey male literacy rate of 89.53% and a female literacy rate of 75.93%, Himachal Pradesh ranks fourth in India's literacy rate, followed by Kerala, Delhi, and Uttarakhand.

26. With a staggering 37,033 square kilometers of forest area, constituting 66.52 percent of Himachal Pradesh's total land area, it is among the greenest states in the country.

27. Includes 33 wildlife sanctuaries and two national parks. With nearly 12,000 square kilometers of area under wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, Himachal Pradesh is home to a host of exotic plants and animals along with species of wildlife. Among them, the Great Himalayan National Park has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, which is home to some rare species, such as the bark deer and the snow leopard.

28. This magnificent state is home to one of the largest glaciers in Asia. The Bara Shigri Glacier is located in the Lahaul Spiti region and feeds the Chenab River. With a length of 30 km, it is the second longest glacier in the Himalayas after the Gangotri glacier.

29. The national highway connecting Ladakh to Manali takes travelers from the highest mountain passes and is among the highest circulating roads in the world.

30. The Great Himalayan National Park is located in the Tirthan Valley. It has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This national park extends over an area of approximately 1,200 square kilometers and is home to a great variety of flora and fauna.

31. Reo Purgyil is the highest mountain peak in Himachal Pradesh with a height of 6,816 meters above sea level.

32. Himachal Pradesh is home to 17 high altitude mountain passes and there are up to 70 mountain passes in the state. The Dhauladhar mountain range contains the maximum number of mountain passes.

33. The Chail Cricket Stadium is famous for being the highest cricket ground in the world. It was built in 1891 and is located in Chail, Himachal Pradesh at an altitude of 2,444 meters above sea level.

34. Himachal is popularly known as the land of the gods. The state is mentioned in many ancient Hindu texts and is home to many religious centers, including ancient temples and monasteries. The locals of each town have their own customs and deities that are characteristic of this culturally rich country.

35. The production, distribution and use of polyethylene bags made of non-biodegradable materials is prohibited in the country.

36. Known as the "fruit bowl of India", Himachal Pradesh has a variety of fruits including apples, pears, peaches, apricots, and plums. The volume of fruit production in Himachal Pradesh is about 3 billion a year.

37. In addition, the state also produces nuts such as cashews, peanuts, peanuts, dried apricots, pistachios, Chicago nuts or pine nuts and hazelnuts. Among them, the shilgoza or rare pine nut is grown only in the state.

38. Himachal Solan is popularly known as "Mushroom City" due to the expansion of mushroom production in the city.

39. The hill town of Khajjiar is widely known as "Switzerland in miniature" due to its exceptional natural beauty and picturesque areas.

40. Followed by Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal is the second largest apple producer in India. On average, Himachal produces more than 4 tons of apples every year. Apples are the most important fruit crop in Himachal Pradesh, accounting for about 49% of the total fruit growing area and about 85% of the total fruit production. The area planted with apples increased from 400 hectares in 1950-51 to 3,025 hectares in 1960-1961 and 111,896 hectares in 2016-2017.

41. The home of many prominent Indian celebrities like Preity Zinta, Kangna Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Mohit Chauhan and Yami Gautam belongs to Himachal Pradesh. Also, famous sportsmen from Himachal who carry the glories of India internationally are Vijay Kumar (shooting), Anuja Jong (shooting), Deepak Thakur (hockey), Samrish Jong (shooting), Suman Rawat (athletics) and Ajay Thakur (Kabaddi).

42. One of the most famous and busiest festivals in Himachal Pradesh is Kullu Dussehra, which is a 7-day festival. It was started by the 17th century king, Jagat Singh.

43. Located in the Kullu district and the Parvati Valley, Kasol is an attractive mountain town popularly known as "Mini Israel". Frequented by Israeli tourists, many of the city's facilities have signs in Hebrew.

44. According to Hindu mythology, the summit of Champa Kailash in Himachal Pradesh is the abode of the Hindu god Shiva. Overlooking Lake Manimash, the area is considered sacred and auspicious by Hindus.

45. Most of the cities, villages and towns of the state are located in the foothills of the Dawaladhar mountain range.

46. The famous Sanskrit scholar Acharya Dewakar Dat Sharma is said to have baptized the state in 1948.

47. Civilization is believed to have flourished in present-day Himachal region 4,000 years ago, during the period of the Indus Valley civilization.

48. With its lush vegetation and dense forests, it is not surprising that Himachal Pradesh is home to more than 350 species of animals and 450 species of birds.

49. According to government reports, Himachal Pradesh has completed 100% of sanitation services. Every home in the state has a bathroom.

50. Poverty levels in Himachal Pradesh, due to its rapid development, experienced a sharp decline from 36.8% in 1993 to 8.5% in 2011.

Also Read: 5 Most Beautiful Villages To Explore In Himachal Pradesh- Ngtraveller

51. India's first elections were held in Kalpa, Kinnor district, Himachal Pradesh. This was done because the Kinnor region was isolated from the rest of the country for more than 6 months a year due to heavy snowfall. Therefore, the first electoral college of India was installed in Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh.

52. India's oldest elector, Shyam Saran Negi, hails from Kalpa in Himachal Pradesh. He is a retired teacher who cast his first vote in the 1951 general election and has voted in every general election since then.

53. It is home to some of the oldest running boarding schools in the country established during the British era, such as Bishop Cotton School (Shimla), Lawrence School (Sanawer), Jesus Convent, Mary (Shimla) and Gorton Mission School (Kotgarh) . .

54. The state consists of several hydroelectric plants producing surplus electricity, which are sold to Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan. Himachal Pradesh accounts for 25% of India's total hydroelectric potential.

55. Himachal Pradesh is famous for its adventure activities and sports. From snowboarding, paragliding, fishing, rafting, and skiing to trekking and horseback riding, this place is full of adventures that one can explore.

56. At Shivalik Fossil Park, located in Surmore County, the Department of Archeology discovered fossils that are 85 million years old.

57. The Spiti Valley lies at an average altitude of 3,800 meters above sea level, which is the highest elevation in Himachal Pradesh.

58. Comic Village is the highest freeway connected town in the world. This is the highest settlement located at an altitude of 4587 meters above sea level. The voting table is also considered the highest in the world.

59. Hickem village is home to the highest post office in the world, connecting the small villages in this isolated area. This attractive town is located at an altitude of 4,440 meters above sea level.

60. Langza is a Himalayan village located in the Spiti Valley and is famous for its Fossil Village. This is one of the most popular towns in the state where tourists can find fossils of marine animals and plants that were found in the Tethys Sea millions of years ago.

61. Shimla mirch or capsicum is native to Himachal Pradesh. Pepper cultivation was first introduced by the British.

62. Himachal Pradesh also has the second oldest church in North India, located in Shimla and erected in 1857. Christ Church is an architectural marvel known for its stained glass windows and neo-Gothic architecture.

63. Himachal Pradesh has many important minerals such as gypsum, mica, clay, barite, limestone, iron, lead, and pyrite.

64. Some of the most famous fairs and festivals in Himachal Pradesh are Baisakhi, Lavi, Holi Fair and Kullu Dussehra. Large numbers of tourists flock to Kullu for the Dussehra festival.

65. The indigenous folk dances of Himachal Pradesh are Goga, Lozar Shona Choksam, Gurihi and Klu Nati.

66. Himachal Pradesh is the first state in India to launch a paperless e-government solution, known as eVidhan.

67. Himachal Pradesh's literacy rate is higher than the country's average literacy rate. This state also has its own IIT at Mandi, which is among the most reputable educational institutions.

68. Himachal Pradesh is dynamically famous for its apple production and is also among the largest producers of food grains. The state's food grain production is approximately 1,579,000 tons.

69. Due to the wide range of agro-climatic conditions with an altitude range of 2000 to 4500 meters above sea level, Himachal Pradesh has a wide margin for growing several important crops in the state. The approximate production of vegetables in the state is 900 thousand tons.

70. Himachal Pradesh, the world famous apple grower, is also known for producing other fruits like plum, lychee, mango, guava, pumpkin, papaya and berries. The approximate fruit production in the state is 1,027,000 tons.

71. Virpadra Singh was the longest-serving Chief Minister. He was in the office for 21 years and 11 days.

72. St. S. Chakravarti was the first ruler of Himachal Pradesh.

73. The city of Kangra and most of the other mountainous districts of Punjab merged with the state in 1966.

74. If a non-farm requests the purchase of agricultural land, he declares the purpose of purchasing the land for the government. Management decides within a specific time frame.

75. Some of the main industrial districts of the state are Badi, Parwanu, Mahatpur, Shamsi, Jagrit and Bilaspur.

Also Read: Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand - Which State is better for Holidays? Ngtraveller

76. Affectionately known as the "Land of the Gods", Himachal Pradesh is home to some of the country's famous temples such as Tara Devi Temple, Jakhu Temple, Hadimba Devi Temple, Naina Devi Temple, Baba Palak Nath Temple and Jwala Devi Temple. Chintpurni Temple and Chamunda Devi Temple.

77. Himachal Pradesh is home to some of the oldest and most famous Buddhist monasteries in the world and is one of the most popular destinations for followers of Buddhism. Popular monasteries in Himachal Pradesh are Ki Monastery, Namgyal Monastery, Sherpaling Monastery, Guru Gantal Monastery, Tapu Monastery, Dhankar Monastery, Kongri Monastery, Tsuglagkhang Complex, and Lalong Monastery.

78. Famous churches in Himachal Pradesh are St. Michael's Cathedral, Christ's Church, and St. John's Church.

79- High glacier lakes are some of the best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh including Chandratal Lake, Dal Lake, Gobind Sagar Lake, Khajjiar Lake, Manimayesh Lake, Naku Lake, Parashar Lake, the Suraj Tal Lake, Sirulsar Lake and Renuka Lake.

80- Lake Suraj Tal is the highest lake in Himachal Pradesh and the third highest lake in India. Lake Suraj Tal is located at an altitude of 4,890 meters above sea level and is the 21st highest lake in the world.

81. The famous Gurudwaras in Himachal Pradesh are the Gurudwara Bhangani Sahib, Paonta Sahib and Rewal Sahib Gurudwara that pilgrims go to throughout the year.

82. There is a 500-year-old mummy, Sangha Tenzin, on display at the Gyo Monastery in the Lahol and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.

83- There are 169 tehchel / subs in Himachal Pradesh and the state includes 59 cities.

84- Himachal Pradesh has 3226 grams of panchayats.

85. Himachal Pradesh is famous for its handicrafts, such as carpets, paintings, leather goods, shawls, etc. It is an important market for looms and handicrafts.

86- Before the independence of India from the British, Himachal consisted of the mountainous regions of the Punjab province of British India.

87. In 1966, the mountainous regions of neighboring Punjab were incorporated into Himachal and were finally granted full status in 1971.

88. In 1972-1973, the state was reorganized into 12 provinces.

89. Bilaspur joined the State in 1954.

90. Lentils, rice, vegetables and chapati constitute the staple food of the State.

Also Read: Tourists can now enjoy paragliding, river rafting in Himachal Pradesh

91. Located in the western Himalayas, it is one of eleven mountain states and is characterized by a rugged landscape with several peaks and extensive river systems.

92- Himachal Pradesh is the northernmost state of India and shares borders with the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to the north, the states of Punjab to the west, Haryana to the southwest and Uttarakhand to the southeast, and a very narrow zone . border. with Uttar Pradesh to the south. The country also shares an international border to the east with the Tibet Autonomous Region in China.

93. The mountainous area is electrified almost worldwide with 99.5% of homes having electricity as of 2016.

94. Himachal Pradesh was a colony of people from the Indus Valley civilization that flourished here between 2250 and 1750 BC. 

95. According to local folklore, both Kols and Mundas were the original inhabitants of the hills of present-day Himachal Pradesh, followed by Bhutas and Keratas.

96. The Himachal drainage system is made up of rivers and glaciers. The rivers of the Himalayas intersect with the entire mountain range.

97- Himachal Pradesh supplies water to the Indus and Ganges basins. The sanitation systems in the area are Chandra Bhaga or Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej and Yamuna. These rivers are perennial and feed on snow and rain.

98. Four of the five rivers of the Punjab run through the state and three of them originate here.

99- Himachal Pradesh is a state of the Indian Himalayas (IHR) and is one of the richest reservoirs of biodiversity in the world.

100- Tourism in Himachal Pradesh is a major contributor to the economy and growth of the state. The Himalayas attracts tourists from all over the world.

101- Hinduism is the main religion in Himachal Pradesh. More than 95% of the total population adhere to Hinduism and mainly follow the Shaivism and Shaktiz traditions.

We bet you don't know most of the things about this incredible case. Aside from going on vacation to various places here, we haven't really looked at the facts that make Himachal Pradesh among the best tourist spots and the best states in the country. Also, being a favorite vacation destination, it is home to hidden gems and some amazing tourist destinations in India. So next time you travel to Himachal Pradesh, you can definitely flaunt your knowledge and make the most of it.