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Profile of Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh has seen a rapid transformation in its status since the time it had first attained the status of an independent state in 1970. From being one of the backward states of the country, Himachal has emerged to become the fourth highest earner with respect to the per capita income.

Profile of Himachal Pradesh


Let us first delve into the History of Himachal Pradesh.

History of Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is one of the most beautiful states of India and it is also the backbone of the Indian tourism industry. Its long and illustrious history and architectural marvels dating back to the colonial era have given it a charming and glorious heritage which is hard to find anywhere else. The state owes its origins to the year 1948 when it was first established as a union province of India. Himachal Pradesh was much larger then and it consisted of some hills that now belong to Punjab. In January 1950 Himachal was conferred the status of a part C state. In 1970 a special act was passed by the parliament and Himachal Pradesh formally emerged as the 18th state of India.

History of Himachal Pradesh


From a conglomerate of small mutually divisive regions like Bangal, Chamba, Dhami and Bilaspur to one of the most bustling and popular tourism centers of India; Himachal Pradesh has come a long way. Here is a snapshot of how the journey was like.

Pre Historical Era in Himachal Pradesh

The seed of human life was first sown in the world in Himachal according to Hinduism. Manu (the ancestor of all men) set up home in Manu-Alay (now known as Manali) and recreated life. Local Himachali tribes worship Manu to the point of religious submission still today.

It is estimated that about 2 million years ago man existed in the hills of Himachal Pradesh especially around the Bangana valley of Kangra, Nalagarh Valley, Sirsa Valley and Markanda Valley. Indus Valley Civilization which is one of the largest and the most prehistoric civilizations flourished here between 1750 B.C and 2250 B.C. The Indus Valley warriors uprooted the Ganga Plain inhabitants to the northern plains and they themselves settled in the hills.

Though according to Indian history and anthropology the Kols and Mundas were the original migrants to the Himachal Hills, traces of many more tribes were found there. In the Vedic times there were tribes known as Dasas, Nishadas, and Dasyus there.

Ancient History of Himachal Pradesh


As time rolled by these tribes gave birth to new sub tribes of Kinnars, Yakshas and Nagas. If you are familiar with the ethnicity of Himachal you will find traces of these tribes in modern day Kinnauris and Nagapattis.

In the second phase of migration in Himachal Pradesh Bhota and Kirata tribes or Mongloids (who currently occupy the Lahaul and Spiti region) came to Himachal.

The third wave of migration brought the fair skinned aquiline featured Aryans who embraced Himachal leaving their Central Asian homes. The prehistoric history of Himachal laid the base of Himachali culture as manifested today.

Primitive History of Himachal Pradesh

The epic of Indian culture; the Mahabharata defined the Himachal Pradesh as a conglomerate of small republic kingdoms each having a separate cultural unit. The different kingdoms of Himachal are as follows.

Audumbras

The earliest kingdom of Himachal existed in the lower hill range of Jwalamukhi and Pathankot. In 2 B.C they formed a separate state.

Trigarta

This is a state which existed in the fertile foothills which is drained by three rivers of Sutlej, Ravi and Beas.

Foothills of Himachal Pradesh

Kulata

Kulata was also known as Kilata and it was an independent kingdom. This is now a part of the Kullu Valley and it had Naggar as its capital.

Gupta Empire

Chandra Gupta Maurya the erstwhile glorious Indian ruler had managed to takeover a huge chunk of the Indian empire. The historical figure Ashoka (who happens to be the grandson of Chandra Gupta Maurya) came under the influence of Buddhism after becoming tired of war and strife. He was responsible for spreading Buddhism in Himachal and he set up many stupas in Kullu Valley. The wide spread prevalence of Buddhism in Himachal owes its origins to king Ashoka.

Kulindas

Like Trigarta, Kulindas was a kingdom which lay between 3 rivers namely Sutlej, Beas and Yamuna. This area now falls under the Shimla and the Sirmour regions in Himachal. The prehistoric kingdom of Kulindas was an independent republic which had a central assembly of its own.

Harsha

When the Gupta Empire collapsed, fierce and cruel Rana and Thakur clans ruled the kingdom. When king Harsha conquered these petty chieftains and laid the foundation of a new kingdom all the citizens of the erstwhile Gupta kingdom were again benefitted from a stable rule.

History of Rajput Rule of Himachal Pradesh

It was when scores of years had passed away after King Harsha’s death that Rajput rulers climbed the hills of Himachal leaving the plains of Rajasthan and Indus. These rulers moved to form new sub states after intensive cross fighting amongst themselves. 

Medieval History of Himachal Pradesh


Some of these states were Kangra, Bilaspur, Keonthal, Kunihar, Sirmour, Bushahar, Nurpur, Mandi, Baghal, Nalagarh, Dhami and Keonthal. As you may have noticed these states are now relected in the names of districts of modern Himachal Pradesh.

Mughal History of Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh existed in a peaceful state under the Rajput rule till the Muslim invasion started in North India. Mohamed Ghaznavi began the Muslim invasion in Himachal Pradesh by conquering Kangra in the early parts of the 10th century. Sikander Lodi and Timur scoured through the lower range of hills of Himachal and took over several forts there.

The Mughal dynasty was not able to rule for a very long time in Himachal and the small rulers of the Hill states took good advantage. The first ones to regain independence were the Katoch rulers of the Kangra valley when Maharaja Sansar Chand began his independent rule which continued for about 50 years. Sansar Chand ruled the states of Suket, Guler, Datarpur, Siwan, Bilaspur, Jaswan and Guler for many years.

Gorkha and Sikh War History in Himachal Pradesh

The Gorkha tribe which was actually a fierce warrior tribe first came into power in Nepal in the year 1768. Gorkhas began a military rule in Himachal and started to increase their territorial rule. Gorkhas took over the states of Sirmour and Shimla and under the leadership of Amar Singh Thapa they captured Kangra too after defeating Sansar Chand in the year 1806. The only place which the Gorkhas could not capture was the Kangra fort which was protected by Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. Spurred by this defeat the Gorkhas expanded towards Southern part of Himachal and created the anglo-gorkha war. This resulted in the British becoming defensive about their territory and they tried to drive away the Sikh warriors resulting in the Khalsa wars.

1857 Revolt History of Himachal Pradesh

When the first war of Independence occurred there was a huge baggage of mental and economic angst that the commoners had accumulated during the years against the unfairness of the British. Himachal Pradesh was not politically active and their rulers (Bushahr was an exception) remained aloof. Some rulers also wanted independent rule so they started aiding the revolutionaries of 1857. Bushahr actively rose against the rule of the British Indian Company.

British Rule History in Himachal Pradesh

British Rule formally claimed Himachal Pradesh after the hills were captured under the queen’s name after the 1858 proclamation. Unlike many other kingdoms, the areas of Chamba, Bilaspur and Mandi prospered under the rule of the British. When the First World War began, these rulers contributed to the war efforts of the British with lots of manpower.

Modern History of Himachal Pradesh


The kingdoms of Siba, Bilaspur, Suket, Mandi and Nurpur contributed extensively as allies of British. This is why Himachal gained a lot of peace and prosperity during this period. The Britishers preferred Himachal Pradesh as their holiday home during the hot Indian summers and they built many palaces and monuments here. This is why cities like Shimla and Manali have such amazing examples of British architecture.

History of Freedom Struggle in Himachal Pradesh

The inhabitants of Himachal Pradesh participated in the freedom struggle and were led by a few specific political figures of that era. Praja Mandal led the agitations against the strict British Rule in Himachal. In most kingdoms in Himachal, agitations and protests were more for social reforms than for overthrowing the British Rule. In the Sirmour state, the Pajhota agitation was led by the commoners and this protest was a part of the Quit India Movement that started in 1942.

In Mandi an uprising was organized under the leadership of Gadhar Party and large gatherings were organized in Suket and Mandi. Plans were made to murder the superintendent of Mandi and to destroy the bridge over Beas. Unfortunately the Mandi conspiracy failed when the leaders were caught and sentenced to prison. Dr. Y.S. Parmar, Satya Dev, Padma Dev and Shivanand Ramaul were the important freedom fighters in Himachal Pradesh. The Congress Party was very active in Himachal Pradesh in the area near the Kangra Valley.

Post Independence History of Himachal Pradesh

In the post independence era a lot of developments took place in Himachal Pradesh. Some of the important developments were:

  • The Office of Chief Commissioner was established on 15th April 1948.
  • Himachal Pradesh became a Union Territory on November 1st 1956.
  • On 18th December 1970 the state of Himachal Pradesh became a new state and was formally recognized as the 18th state of India.

Since then Himachal Pradesh has gained a lot of acclaim for its beautiful landscape and rich culture of art and craft.

To know about the city-wise history of Himachal Pradesh, click on the links below: History of Shimla | History of Manali | History of Kullu | History of Hamirpur

Geography of Himachal Pradesh

The state has derived its name from the great Himalayan Ranges and is also known as the “Land of Snowy Mountains.” The state has total area of 55,673 square KM and has common border with many Indian states. Due to its varied terrain and climatic conditions, the state houses diverse range of flora and fauna and rich mineral sources. Read this article to get acquainted with the geographical features of Himachal Pradesh.

Location of Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is located in the western part of the Himalayan Ranges. The location of this state is at 30°22'40" - 33°12'40" N latitude and 75°45' 55" - 79°04' 20" E longitude. The state is situated in the north India and shares its boundaries with Jammu & Kashmir in its north, Punjab in its west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in its south east. The state has China bordering its eastern part. This state has rough terrain and most of its places are located on hilly areas. The height of Himachal ranges from 350 – 7000 M. The state is divided into three major geographical regions. They are:

Geography of Himachal Pradesh

Outer Himalayan Region or Shivalik Region

The height of this region ranges from 350 – 1500 M. The upper part of this region has districts Bilaspur, Una, Kangra, and Hamirpur and lower part of this region has districts Mandi, Sirmaur and Solan.

Middle Himalayan Region

The altitude of this region ranges from 1500 – 4500 M. This region has upper areas of districts Shimla, Kangra, Chamba included in it and some parts of Mandi and Sirmaur.

Greater Himalayan Region or Alpine Zone

This region has places that have altitude more than 4500 m. The areas included in this region are some parts of Districts Lahaul & Spiti, Pangi, Kinnaur and the Sutlej River area.

Weather and Climate of Himachal Pradesh

Weather of Himachal Pradesh

Due to diverse topography across the entire state, many parts of Himachal enjoy extreme climatic conditions. Climatic conditions of Himachal vary with its altitude. Those areas that are located at a height of 450 – 900 M have tropical sub-humid climate. The areas that fall within the altitude range of 900 – 1800 M have temperate and warm climate. Temperate and cool climate is there in the areas that have an altitude range of 1900 – 2400 M and Cold Alpine Climate is there in the areas that are located at an altitude of 2400 – 4800 M. High mountain regions of Himachal are in the east and north parts of the state. Maximum temperature of this state reaches about 30°C and the minimum temperature is 2° C.

Himachal Pradesh Pradesh enjoys spring, summer, monsoon and winter season and the spring is the most pleasant one. Most of the visitors prefer to come to this state during spring as the weather remains very comfortable during these months. Spring ranges from middle of February to middle of April. Summer months are from March - June and temperate rise is quite considerable in some regions of the state. Monsoons range from June to August and the state gets its maximum rainfall in July and August. Visitors are advised to avoid coming here during monsoons as soil erosion, landslides and floods are common phenomenon during monsoons.

The lowest rainfall in the state is recorded in Spiti (about 50 mm) and the highest rainfall is recorded in Dharamsala. Winter months in Himachal Pradesh Pradesh range from December - March. Winter climate is extreme in the high mountain areas. Adventure seekers prefer to visit here during winters to enjoy ice skating, ice hockey and other winter sports.

Nature of Soil and Minerals in Himachal Pradesh

The State of Himachal Pradesh has varieties of soil found in it. They are Brown, Brown-Grey and Sedimentary soils. Presence of these types of soils are helpful in agriculture and are mostly found in the places Shimla, Kangra, Kullu, Hamirpur, Solan and Una. These states are huge producers of crops in Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh has rich source of minerals like Mica, Uranium, Iron Ore, Limestone, Lead, Slate, and Gypsum which has helped in setting up industries in different districts of the state.

Flora and Fauna of Himachal Pradesh

A large part of Himachal Pradesh State is covered with forest. The state has forest area categorized into 6 important types. The total area covered by forest is about 21,325 Sq Km. the forest types of this state are- Mountain Temperate Region, Mountain sub-tropical region, Sub-Alpine Region, Moist Tropical Region, Alpine-Scrub Region and Dry Tropical Region. Southern parts of Himachal Pradesh fall under sub-tropical/sub-tropical moist forest areas. The important trees found in this region are Shisam and Sal trees.

Flora of Himachal Pradesh


Central part of the state enjoys Sub-Tropical Alpine Forest and has trees like Oak, Blue Pine and Deodar Trees. The uppermost part of the state is covered with Alpine Forest where plenty of Birches, Rhododendrons and Alders can be seen. Varieties of fruits like apples, apricots etc. are grown in this state. Cultivation of tulips,roses, marigolds, gladiolas, lilies, carnations and chrysanthemums are also done in this state and visitors can enjoy looking at the colorful flowerbeds in the months of spring and summer.

Fauna in Himachal Pradesh


Himachal Pradesh is the home of diverse animals and birds. Huge lakes located all over the state are the house of many water animals and are visited by many species of migratory birds. The main fauna of Himachal Pradesh are Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, Ghoral, Tragopan, Monal etc. More than 1200 species of birds and 360 species of animals are found all over the state. Because of such a wide range of animals and birds, the state has many sanctuaries and natural parks in it.

Hot Springs of Himachal Pradesh

The State of Himachal Pradesh is blessed with many hot springs. These hot springs visited by tourists of all ages as they are known to have therapeutic features. Majority of these springs are located in the valleys of Satluj and Beas. In Himachal Pradesh three different types of hot springs are found. They are Thermal Springs, Mineral Springs and Simple Springs. All these springs get originated from beneath the ground but mineral springs have different types of minerals dissolved in them. Some of them are Vashist Hot Spring Kullu, Manikaran Hot Spring Kullu, Tattapani Hot Spring Mandi, Hot Spring at Kasol, Khirganga Hot Spring at Kullu.

Lakes in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is blessed with numerous lakes ranging from big to small ones. 1% of the entire area of this state has lakes. Some of these lakes are natural ones and have been created centuries ago. These lakes get water from springs that are created by melting of mountain snowand through underground springs.

Some of the famous lakes of Himachal Prades are
Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake Kangra, Gobind Sagar Lake Bilaspur, Khajjiar Lake Chamba, Manimahesh Lake Chamba, Prashar Lake Mandi, Chandra Tal Lake Kunzum Pass, Suraj Tal Lake, Dashir Lake Manali, Nako Lake Kinnaur, Rewalsar Lake Mandi, Lama Dal Lake Chamba.

Also Explore: Lakes in Manali

Waterfalls of Himachal Pradesh

Waterfalls in Himachal Pradesh

For anyone watching the glistening water gushing down the rocks from a great height is a sight to behold. Because of its wonderful geographical location, Himachal Pradesh State has no dearth of waterfalls which are can be watched while you are traveling from one district to the other. You can enjoy watching these waterfalls immediately after the monsoons.

Some of the famouswaterfalls of Himachal are Chadwick Waterfall Shimla, Bhagsu Waterfall Mcleod Gang, Jogini Waterfall Manali, Jana Waterfall Manali, Rahala Waterfall Manali and Satdhara Waterfall Dalhousie.

Rivers of Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh has many small rivers flowing through the state but there are five major rivers passing through the state. The famous rivers are Sutlej River, Beas River, Ravi River, Chenab River, Yamuna River etc.

Mountain Peaks of Himachal Pradesh

Mountain peaks of Himachal Pradesh have always been attracting tourists who seek fun and solitude. Mountain Peaks of Himachal Pradesh are favorite spots for the trekkers who keep coming here from all over the world. The state has important mountain ranges like Pir Panjal Range, Dhauladhar Range and the Great Himalayan Ranges. The largest one is the Pir Panjal Range. Zaskar Range of Himachal Separate the Lahaul & Spiti District from Tibet. There are about 42 mountain peaks in Himachal Pradesh.

Mountain Peaks in Himachal Pradesh

Some Famous Peaks in Himachal are Kinnaur Kailash Peak, Indrasen Peak, Deo Tibba Peak, Hanuman Tibba Peak, Shitidhar Peak etc.

Other peaks of Himachal Pradesh are Shilla, Narshing Tibba, Choordhar, Shacha, Cholang, Solang, Inder Kila, Patalsu, Pishu, Barakanda and others.

Passes in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh has many passes making their ways through the mountain ranges and these passes are the important links connecting one part of the state to the other part. Some of the famous passes are Barlacha Pass, Pin Parvati Pass, Rohtang Pass, Kunzum Pass etc

Some other passes of Himachal Pradesh are Manali Pass, Asha Gali, Sara Umga Pass, Chauri Pass, Dulhi Pass and Chabia Pass.

Valleys of Himachal Pradesh

Valleys in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh houses many important valleys like Chamba Valley, Green Valley, Kangra Valley, Parvati Valley, Pin Valley, Solang Valley, Malana Valley, Spiti Valley, Pangi Valley and Kinnaur Valley.


Also Explore: Geography of Manali | Geography of Kullu | Geography of Shimla | Hill Stations in Shimla | Seven Hills of Shimla | Geography of Hamirpur

Business and Economic Growth in Himachal Pradesh

The income of Himachal Pradesh is largely driven by a few sectors like horticulture, tourism and transport, forest produce and hydroelectric power generation. The H.P government has been placing a lot of effort in developing the infrastructure of Himachal Pradesh to cope with the burgeoning tourist inflow to the state.

Industrial Development in Himachal Pradesh

Government Business Boards in Himachal

1. Central Silk Board or Sericulture Board
2. Khadi and Village Commission of Industries
3. All India Board of Handloom
4. All India Board of Handicraft
5. Industrial Survey Board
6. Industrial Estate Board
7. Small Scale Industry Board
8. Marketing and Emporia Board
9. Financial and Industrial Assistance Board
10. Medium and Big Scale Industry Board
Post the statehood status of Himachal Pradesh a lot of stress was laid on the development of industrial hubs near Parwanoo, Shamshi, Chambaghat, Braotiala, Nagrota Bagwan and Mehatpur. There are separate district industry center officer in each of these areas. There is a 100% government sponsored scheme which came into existence in 1978 which enabled the set up of District Industry Centers. The Rural Industry Training Institutes for Girls were established by Government and this also spurred the involvement of local Himachali women in cottage industries and micro production units.
Himachal Pradesh
is running at 6.2 this fiscal year which is more than ’s aggregate economic growth rate. The economy is highly dependent on hydroelectric power, horticulture and tourism affiliated activities. Per capita income of is INR 92,300 for 2013-2014. Food Grain Production is at 15.16 Lakh tones 2013-2014. Fruit Production is at 8.28 Lakh tones 2013-2014 (apples constitute 89% of this) 494 medium and large scale industries are present in the state while 39,819 small scale industries are present. The hydropower generation of is 23,000 Mega Watt which is about 25% of the total Hydropower capacity of the country. Only 36% of the power generation is tapped till now. According to 2014 survey, about 161.46 lakh tourists were attracted to last year. attracts more than 30% of the total tourist traffic. is well connected by state buses and narrow gauge line trains and the state has currently 63 helipads.

Zone Wise Business Development in Himachal

The development of Himachal Pradesh has not been even. The districts of Kangra, Solan, Una and Sirmour are better developed. About 90% of the medium and large scale industries are present in these districts.

Business and Economy of Himachal Pradesh

The districts of Bilaspur, Shimla, Kinnaur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Lahaul-Spiti and Mandi are industrially non developed though some of these are rich tourism hubs.

Industry for Food Products is centered around Solan and Kangra
Industry for Beverages is centered around Solan and Una
Textile and Chemical Products Industries are centered around Solan
Paper and Steel Product Industries are centered around Sirmour and Kangra
Agricultural and Food Processing Industry in Himachal

Presently the Food Products and Processing Industries are largely restricted to traditional agricultural pursuits and reworking horticulture raw materials. About 8000 small scale industries and 27 large scale industries are present in the state and they provide employment to 30,000 people. There are large plantations of tomatoes, cauliflowers, apples, olives, apricots and plums. Kullu, Parwanoo and Mandi have separate public sector processing units. Though the production is robust large amount of fruits and vegetables are wasted every year due to improper storage conditions.

Packaged fruit preparations like Jams, jellies and compotes of Himachal are quite famous and some cottage industry associations like Bhuirra women’s association have even exported their products outside India. Its estimated that vertical integration of the farming sector along with consolidation of different activities in the horticulture and agriculture industries would lead to better production quality. He H.P government is in the process of setting up Agri Parks and centralized processing and packaging units for the use of local farmers.

Textiles and Garments Business in Himachal

Spinning textiles is one of the primary occupations of the Himachal Pradesh population and this is one sector which has attracted a lot of foreign investment as well as tourist attraction. Majorly all hosiery industries are concentrated in the backward areas and they are a part of SSI industries.
Did You Know?? About 8% of the yarn production of India comes from Himachal!!!


Roughly 16,000 people and weavers are employed in this sector. Major products are shawls, sweaters, mufflers, patti, jackets and caps. There are clusters of micro businesses and small industries in Kullu, Udaipur, Shillai and Hamirpur. The business clusters in these areas will provide a platform for the artisan community to connect with apt marketing measures and engage them in skill up gradation programs along with training and liasoning.

It’s important to note here that Himachal Pradesh has a huge population of sheep and yaks; the wools of which are used in making warm garments in the industries. Pashmina production is also very robust in this state.

Cement Business in Himachal Pradesh

Cement Business in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh has developed rapidly to become one of the major cement suppliers of India. There are huge natural reserves of limestone in Himachal and quality limestone is a major ingredient of cement. Currently there are 4 large cement plants operating in various areas in Himachal with total production crossing 30 Lakh tonnes.
Did You Know?? The domestic consumption of cement is only 10 tonnes so the rest is exported out!!!

M/s ACC Cement in SunderNagar, M/S CCI Ltd in Mandi, M/S Gujarat Ambuja Cement Ltd in Jogindernagar  and M/S Larsen and Toubro in Chamba are the four major players while plans are on for Grasim Industries too to set up a plant in Alsindi.

A quality assessment and environmental protection unit is proposed to be set up by the H.P government and this will advise all cement production units on pollution control and safety specifications.

Handloom Business in Himachal

Handloom Industry is the highest grosser in the rural sector of Himachal Pradesh. Importance of the handloom industry is that the investment is low value as most artisan community members use family learned skills without any formal training.
Did You Know?? There are more than 42,000 handlooms in Himachal Pradesh which primarily use wool as a base!!!
Shawls are a major product of Himachal and they can be categorized into Pashmina shawls, Kullu Shawls, Kashmiri Stitch Shawls etc. Apart from shawl weavers, the carpet weaving community in Himachal is also very strong. The weaving is concentrated in areas like Mandi, Kullu, Lahaul Spiti, Kinnaur, Kangra and Chamba districts in Himachal Pradesh. A developmental project called Hill Area Development Project has been set up with cooperation from Himachal Pradesh Government of India.  Deen Dayal Hathkargha Yojana and Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojna are two schemes which empower artisans and weavers of Himachal Pradesh.

Sericulture Business in Himachal

Sericulture industry is village oriented and comprises of labor intensive activities. The process of silk production is very interesting right from cultivation of silk worms and planting of food plants to rearing the worm and then extracting the silk reels. There are other processes like dyeing, twisting, finishing and printing.

Sericulture has a lot of potential to develop as an extensive business providing employment to a large chunk of the rural depressed community. At present only 10,000 families are engaged in sericulture.

Medicinal Plant and Aromatic Herb Business in Himachal

Farming Business in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is endowed with nature’s bountiful treasures of herbs and plants; some of them being quite rare and valuable. Some plants available here are bharani, hyphota, banakasha, karu, kesar, guchhi, pettish, dhoop root, tej patta etc. The Himalayan National Park is a good source f these herbs and plants. These herbs are brought by foreigners and then sold outside India for a very high price thus draining Himachal Pradesh of its wealth. Lack of botanical knowledge and research plagues the herbal industry. Herb collectors along with Himachal Pradesh Government have proposed to set up a cooperative society for research, quality analysis, marketing and selling of herbs. Herbal based clusters are also in the process of being set up in various forest reserve areas of the state.

Tourism Business in Himachal Pradesh

Tourism of HimachalThe Central Government as well as Himachal Pradesh Government has put together a concrete infrastructure development and tourism development plan for the strengthening of the tourism business in Himachal Pradesh. The tourism industry corporation contributes more than 200 crores per year by way of luxury tax and sales tax to Government of India and therefore tourism can be defined as the main business of Himachal. In the year 2012-2013 more than 9 million tourists visited Himachal Pradesh out of which 200 lakh were foreigners.

Himachal is blessed with a rich treasure chest of places which have natural, architectural and historical splendor. The association with rishis and saints like Vyas, Markandey, Parashar, Vashist, Lamas etc have given this state the name “Dev Bhoomi”. There are numerous hot water springs (Vashist), ancient forts (Mandi, Shimla), beautiful monasteries (Lahaul Spiti region) and magnificent colonial architecture (Shimla and Manali) in Himachal Pradesh. All these factors have contributed in their own way to bring in tourist traffic to Himachal Pradesh.The H.P government is working extensively on promoting sustainable tourism and eco tourism models which will bring in money and employment to the state without disturbing its fragile ecological balance.

Export Business in Himachal Pradesh

The Central Government has allotted 6300 Lakh INR for the development of tourism in Himachal. 1545 tourism projects are currently running in various areas of Himachal Pradesh.

The tourism hubs of Himachal are Shimla, Kullu, Manali, Dharamsala, Dalhousie,Chamba, Solan, Kangra, Saharanpur, Lahaul Spiti, Leh, Chail, Kasauli, Paharpur, Manikaran  draw maximum tourist traffic. Apart from these areas there are hundreds of beautiful scenic spots inside Himachal which lie untrodden by tourists. Work is going on to make these places accessible to the tourism community.

Also Read: Business and Economy of Manali | Business in Kullu | Business and Economy of Shimla


Society in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh has already reached to the height of fame for its lofty mountains, picturesque valley, gushing rivers and plenty of tourist spots. Over the years lots of development has happened in the state but lots more is supposed to happen in order to provide healthy living condition and strong economic background to everyone. Government of Himachal Pradesh is looking after the welfare of its citizens so that proper education is provided to the children, economic disparity can be removed and women and under privileged people could sufficiently to fulfill their basic needs but it may not be possible for the government to manage the welfare of its people alone.

Welfare societies are there to look after social welfare and empowerment of women, children and rural people. Child rights, awareness about health and sanitation, improvement of economic condition, basic education, environment conservation, vocational training and drug abuse are some of the issues that these societies look after. Read below to know more about welfare societies in Himachal Pradesh.

Child Welfare Society in Himachal Pradesh

Society in Himachal Pradesh

Government has setup a Child Welfare Society to look after the basic needs of children. Primary education is provided to the children of rural areas and children living below poverty line. Primary health care, protection against child abuse (sexual, drug and others), vocational training and other activities for overall growth of children are arranged by these children welfare societies. Read about some of the child welfare societies in Himachal Pradesh.

Cvalik Foundation

This foundation works for promoting education to the children especially the ones living in the remotest areas of Himachal Pradesh. Through various training programs on environment preservation, self-confidence building etc. children get to improve their quality of life.

Contact Address:

Cvalik Foundaion
Him Vihar
Cantonment Road   
Dharamsala
Phone No.: 01892 222 603 / 9815 425 675
Email Id.:
cvalikfoundation@gmail.com

Himachal Pradesh has government run homes spread across all the districts having capacity ranging from 25 to 100. They are Bal Ashram Sujanpur ( Hamirpur); Bal Ashram Tutikandi and Balika Ashram Mashobra in Shimla, Bal Ashram and Balika Ashram in Chamba; Bal Ashram Pragpur in Kangra, Children Home Sudernagar in Mandi, Observation Home in Una, Balika Ashram Tissa in Chamba, Balika Ashram Rockwood in Shimla run by Kasturba Gandhi Memorial Trust and others.

Women Welfare Societies in Himachal Pradesh

Women Welfare in Himachal Pradesh

Many welfare societies in Himachal Pradesh are working for the protection of basic rights of women. Primary education, health and sanitation awareness, birth control, nurturing of child etc. are the issues that are taken care of well by these welfare societies.

Apart from these issues, such welfare societies also lend their helping hands to the women in need when they need shelter and legal advice against any kind of domestic and legal violence. Read about such welfare societies of Himachal Pradesh.

Matri Bhumi Social Welfare Society Mandi

This welfare society conducts education programs for the women of this state so that they could develop themselves and bring up their children in much better way. Child welfare and sanitation issues are also handled by this welfare society. Trainings to earn livelihood is also offered.

Contact Address:

46/10, Chobata Bazar
Mandi
Himachal Pradesh – 175 001
Phone No.: 01905 25164
Contact Person:
Chandra Sekhar Sharma

Some other welfare societies of Himachal Pradesh working for women are - Mahila Samaj Kalyan Samiti Sirmour, Mahila Jagruq Vikas Trust in Shimla, Mahila Kalyan Avam Vikas Samiti Shimla, Mata Bhekli Education and Welfare Society Kullu and others.

Rural Development Welfare Societies in Himachal Pradesh

People living in many parts of Himachal Pradesh are still not able to get all their basic needs of lives. During the harsh climate, it becomes difficult for these families to sustain. Rural Development welfare societies of Himachal Pradesh help the people of rural Himachal to get educated, get trained, earn livelihood, and know techniques to increase agricultural products, to get primary healthcare etc. find below the information about such welfare societies in Himachal Pradesh.

Incredible Himachal

Incredible Himachal is carrying out various programs for rural development in Himachal Pradesh. Financial schemes for the farmers, imparting knowledge about latest farming technologies, Jan-Dhan Yojna scheme, health camps, eye camps, distribution of cloth and food etc. are the activities handled by Incredible Himachal organization.

Healthcare Organizations in Himachal Pradesh

Apart from helping in the rural development of Himachal Pradesh, this organization also work arrange for programs like One Tree-One Life, Blood Donation Camps, Arogya Himachal etc.

Contact Address:

C 35/3 Vikas Nagar
Shimla
Himachal Pradesh – 171009
Phone No.: 9816 999 599 / 9418 890 090
Email Id.:
incrediblehimachalngo@gmail.com

Nav Chetana Society

NGOs in Himachal Pradesh

Nav Chetna is an organization based at Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh that has been working for improving the social economic condition of the people living at the margin or below the poverty line. The organization is helping these families through vocational trainings, education and through the schemes started by the state government. Nav Chetna is working in coordination with the various departments of the state government (Horticulture, Agriculture, and Animal Husbandry) and is running a project ATMA for the rural and urban people of Himachal Pradesh. This society has been working seamlessly on different types of tribal issues of Himachal Pradesh.

Contact Address:
Bakshi Niwas
Mohalla Surara, near Boys School
District Chamba
Himachal Pradesh – 176310
Phone No.: 01899 224 357 / 9418 461 222
E-Mail: navchetnaindia@gmail.com
Contact Person: Puneet Bakshi

Old People Welfare Societies in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh has welfare societies to look after the elderly people especially those who do not have anyone from the family or friends to look after them. Disabled, sick and poor elderly people are given shelter, food, and medical care by these welfare societies. State run old age homes as well as old age homes run by NGOs or private organizations are there in many districts of Himachal Pradesh. HP State Social Welfare Board Shimla, The Suket Senior Citizens Home Trust Mandi, HP State Welfare Board Shimla, Home for the Aged at Garli in Kangra, Kanchen Duggal Memorial Old Age Handicapped Society in Lahaul & Spiti, Palampur Rotary Helpage Foundation at Palampur are some of the welfare societies working in Himachal Pradesh.

Red Cross Society Himachal Pradesh

Child Welfare in Himachal Pradesh

In the field of social welfare in Himachal Pradesh, role of Red Cross Society cannot be underestimated. The main activities performed by the Red Cross Society Himachal Pradesh (a wing of Indian Red Cross Society) are relief during disasters, family welfare, child welfare, blood banks, hospital services for the wounded and the sick and community service.

Indian Red Cross Society (Himachal Pradesh Branch)
Red Cross Bhavan
Barnes Court
Shimla
Himachal Pradesh - 171002
Phone No.: 0177 2621 868 / 9418 985 899
Email Id: ranaps9@gmail.com, hpredcross@gmail.com

Environment Welfare Societies Himachal Pradesh

Educating people especially the school children about keeping the environment clean and green is the main objective of environment welfare societies of Himachal Pradesh. Planting trees, campaigning for green environment, promoting solar energy usage, waste management, arranging workshops and seminars of various environmental issues are the main activities of these welfare societies. Many of these societies work in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment & Forest and Ministry of Education. Read here about few such societies and their achievements in Himachal Pradesh.

Paryavaran Mitra Program

Paryavaran Mitra Program is an initiative that is taken across the nation to have young leaders from different schools of the nation who could manage various issues related to environment. The ultimate aim of this program, an initiative taken by Ministry of Environment & Forest, is to encourage students to know about various environmental issues and implement the solutions to have clean and green surroundings leading to healthy living conditions.

Website: www.paryavaranmitra.in, www.ceeindia.org

Paryavaran Avam Gramin Vikas Sansthan Kanda Ghat

Paryavaran Avam Gramin Vikas Sansthan is a society that works for promoting management of natural resources and implementation of eco-sustainable environment. The society also works for rural development in entire Himachal Pradesh.

Various development programs are undertaken by this society to increase the agricultural products.

Contact Address:

Kohari, Kanda Ghat
Kangra
Phone no.: 01792 256 373

Some other societies in Himachal Pradesh that are working on environment protection are Himalaya Nature Society, Mountain Forum Himalayas Shimla, and Society for Development & Environment Protection Solan, People’s Action for Himalayan Awakening and Livelihood Sirmour and others.

Also Read: Society in Shimla | Society in Hamirpur | NGOs in Hamirpur

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