Scenic hills and DALES OF HIMACHAL

Richly endowed with snowy peaks, green valleys, misty woods, azure lakes and flowerfilled meadows, the tiny state of Himachal Pradesh is a traveler's paradise

- 

Riding high in the mighty Himalayas, comprising the world's tallest mountains, the tiny state of Himachal Pradesh (pop. 6.8 million) is richly endowed with spectacular, scenic landscapes. This is a traveller's paradise gifted with snowy peaks, deep gorges, green valleys, misty woods, turquoise blue rivers, azure lakes and flower-filled meadows. It is also a large landmass (55,673 sq.km) of contrasts: the picturesque valleys of Kullu and Kangra are a melange of colors, while the barren terrain of Lahaul and Spiti offers stark lunar landscapes.

Despite being one of India's most literate states, the majority of Himachalis lead simple, pastoral lives, tending apple orchards, fields and flocks while keeping their rich art, culture and traditions alive in a succession of fairs and festivals, replete with music, song and dance. For visitors the state offers salubrious locales for rest and recreation and opportunities for trekking, mountaineering, fishing, riverrafting, skiing and paragliding.

Himachal is a hydel powerhouse with its many dams harnessing fast-flowing rivers to generate electricity. The state exports electricity to high productivity farmers in Punjab and Haryana and to industries across the northern plains. This is possible because it is the least urbanised state in India - its urban population accounting for less than 10 percent of the total. It has only 55 towns, of which only the capital, Shimla, has a population exceeding 80,000.

Shimla