Introduction - Himachal Pradesh

Famous for its natural beauty, culture and adventure activities, Himachal Pradesh is one of the biggest tourist destinations in India. Situated in the Western Himalayas, it is bordered by states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east.

The state has many important pilgrimage centres with prominent Hindu temples like Naina Devi Temple and the Chamunda Devi temples. Hinduism is the major religion in Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh has the highest proportion of Hindu population among all the states and union territories in India.

As the Dalai Lama decided to use his time in exile from the Tibetan struggle in Dharamshala, Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh is also very prominent. It can be traced back to the spread of Buddhism in the early 8th century. With the influx of Tibetan refugees into India, in the last over 50 years (since 1959), popularity and practice of Tibetan Buddhism has been notable.

Tourism in Himachal Pradesh is a major contributor to the state's economy and growth. The mountainous state with its Himalayan landscapes attracts tourists from all over the world. Hill stations like Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Dalhousie, Chamba, Khajjiar, Kullu and Kasauli are popular destinations for both domestic and foreign tourists.

Himachal has a rich heritage of handicrafts. These include various kinds of handlooms, carpets, metal work, embroidered chappals, grass shoes, religious paintings, wood work, horse-hair bangles, and various other household items.