HIMACHAL PRADESH

HIMACHAL PRADESH  

 

 

Himachal Pradesh Is a state in the northern part of India. Situated in the Western Himalayas, it is one of the eleven mountain states and is characterized by an extreme landscape featuring several peaks and extensive river systems. Himachal Pradesh shares borders with the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to the north, and the states of Punjab to the west, Haryana to the southwest, and Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh to the south. The state shares a border to the east with the Tibet Autonomous Region in China.

The predominantly mountainous region comprising the present-day Himachal Pradesh has been inhabited since pre-historic times having witnessed multiple waves of human migration from other areas. Through its history, the region was mostly ruled by local kingdoms some of which accepted the suzerainty of larger empires. Prior to India's independence from the British, Himachal comprised the hilly regions of Punjab Province of British India. After independence, many of the hilly territories were organized as the Chief Commissioner's province of Himachal Pradesh which later became a union territory. In 1966, hilly areas of neighboring Punjab state were merged into Himachal and it was ultimately granted full statehood in 1971.

Himachal Pradesh is spread across valleys with many perennial rivers flowing through them. Almost 90% of the state's population lives in rural areas. Agriculture, horticulture, hydropower and tourism are important constituents of the state's economy. The hilly state is almost universally electrified with 99.5% of the households having electricity as of 2016. The state was declared India's second open-defecation-free state in 2016. According to a survey of CMS – India Corruption Study 2017, Himachal Pradesh is India's least corrupt state.

SHIMLA :

Shimla is the capital of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, in the Himalayan foothills. Once the summer capital of British India, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway, completed in 1903. It’s also known for the handicraft shops that line The Mall, a pedestrian avenue, as well as the Lakkar Bazaar, a market specializing in wooden toys and crafts. 

MANALI :      

     

      

Manali is a high-altitude Himalayan resort town in India’s northern Himachal Pradesh state. It has a reputation as a backpacking center and honeymoon destination. Set on the Beas River, it’s a gateway for skiing in the Solang Valley and trekking in Parvati Valley. It's also a jumping-off point for paragliding, rafting and mountaineering in the Pir Panjal mountains, home to 4,000m-high Rohtang Pass.

CHANDIGARH :

   

 

Chandigarh, the capital of the northern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, was designed by the Swiss-French modernist architect, Le Corbusier. His buildings include the Capitol Complex with its High Court, Secretariat and Legislative Assembly, as well as the giant Open Hand Monument. The nearby Rock Garden is a park featuring sculptures made of stones, recycled ceramics and industrial relics.

SIGHTSEEING HIGHLIGHTS :

  • Mughal architectural wonder - Pinjore Garden
  • Explore the bustling Mall Road of Shimla
  • Visit Bollywood's Favourite - Christ Church
  • Buy designer shawls at Kullu Shawl Factory
  • Enjoy the traditional Himachali folk dance
  • Get spiritual at Vashista Kund & Hidimba Mandir
  • Wealth from waste at Rock Garden, Chandigarh
  • White water rafting at Beas River

 

MODES OF TRANSPORT : 

1. AIRWAYS :
The fastest way to reach from Pune to Shimla is flight to Chandigarh International Airport, then cab to Shimla and takes 6h 54m. The recommended way to reach from Pune to Shimla is flight to Indira Gandhi International Airport, then bus to Shimla and takes 15h 30m. Flights from Go Air, Spicejet, AirAsia etc.
 
2. RAILWAYS :
There are no direct trains from Pune till Himachal and you will have to travel by train from the Pune Junction till Chandigarh. From here, take a train to Kalka or Shimla which takes about half an hour to an hour. You can also travel by car or taxi from Chandigarh to Kalka or Shimla.
3. ROADWAYS :
 BY ROAD IT WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY 34 HRS TRAVEL IF TRAVELLING IN A CAR WHICH  WILL COVER AROUND 1,768.2 KMS via NH52 (THE SHORTEST ROUTE ) .
THERE ARE FEW MORE ROUTES TO TRAVEL BY ROAD FROM PUNE TO SHIMLA BUT THE FASTEST IS VIA NH52 .