In Himachal Pradesh here, every town, every little hamlet, holy shrine, and the land around is steeped in a culture and history that goes back over four millennia. Bordering Tibet in the east and bound by the states of Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, Himachal is a favourite destination for tourists as well as pilgrims.
A visit can be amazingly invigorating, with a view of towering snow clad peaks glistening in early morning glow, or rippling waters in rivers and streams, a fragrant breeze whispering some long-forgotten tale through towering pine forests, or stark brown mountains standing guard over this timeless land.
Himachal Pradesh has a temperate climate for most part of the year. However, the lower reaches can get hot and humid during summers with temperatures touching 38° C. The Kangra and Kullu valleys, Chamba and Shimla get rains from June till middle of September. In the north, Lahaul-Spiti does not receive any rainfall and consequently have a dry desert type climate. Winters are cold, with much of the higher reaches getting heavy snowfall.
Area 55,673 sq km
Population 6,077,248
Capital City Shimla
Language Hindi, Pahari
Religion Hindu, Buddhists, Muslim, Christians
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