7 Exciting Things That Himachal Pradesh Is Famous For
The very name of Himachal Pradesh evokes different images in the minds of people. Some perceive it as a famous tourist destination while others consider it as a cradle of ancient culture and civilization. Still some others perceive Himachal as a giant hydroelectric producer, while others see it as a symbol of modernity and so on.
All these interpretations of Himachal Pradesh are true and show how important and significant is this small hilly state located in the northern part of India. Himachal Pradesh is surrounded by neighbouring states of Jammu Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west, Haryana on the southwest, Uttarakhand on south-east and Punjab as well as the country, China on the east.
Formed in the 1950s, Himachal Pradesh was led by Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar, the first Chief Minister of the state. A great freedom fighter, social reformer and a visionary leader, Dr. Parmar laid a strong foundation of modern and prosperous Himachal Pradesh. As the CM, he made great plans and efforts to put the state on the path of development.
The results of his visionary approach are visible to all as Himachal Pradesh today has occupied a coveted place among the highly developed states of India. Under his able guidance, Himachal Pradesh made great progress in various spheres.
Under the subsequent chief ministers Sh. Thakur Ram Lal, Sh. Virbhadra Singh, Sh. Shanta Kumar, Sh. Prem Kumar Dhumal and presently serving Chief Minister Sh. Jai Ram Thakur, the tempo of progress has been continuing unabated. So it is hardly a surprise that Himachal Pradesh has become one of the gem states of India where modernity and ancient culture survive and thrive side by side.
If you are planning to visit Himachal Pradesh in the future, or are just a knowledge seeker keen to know more about what exactly are the attractions and achievements of this beautiful hilly state, just stay tuned.
1. Ancient and vibrant culture
Himachal Pradesh is the land where Rishis and Munis (sages) used to pray and meditate in ancient times. In their prayers, they invoked Gods to bestow peace and prosperity on the people here. So Himachalis have a great and unshakeable faith in Rishis, Munis and Gods due to which Himachal Pradesh is also called Devbhoomi.
Jamdagni (Jamlu), Sukh Dev, Parashar and Rishyasringa are the famous Rishis who meditated in this region. Many ancient temples associated with these sages and various Hindu Gods like Lord Shiva, Raghunath, etc. are situated in Himachal Pradesh. Locals and people from outside the state and country visit these temples for seeking blessings from the Rishis and Gods.
Not only sages, but kings too played an important role in shaping the rich history and culture of Himachal Pradesh. One such famous king was Katoch Rajput King Maharaja Sansar Chand.
Thus, the sages and kings have immensely contributed towards the glorious heritage and ancient culture of HImachal Pradesh which is still alive and thriving.
Customs, fairs, dances, dresses, handicrafts, food items (including snacks), architecture of houses and temples, etc. are a part of rich and thriving culture of Himachal Pradesh
2. Natural Beauty
One of the biggest attractions to visit and explore Himachal Pradesh is its unmatched natural beauty. Towering mountains, snow-clad peaks, mighty rivers, lakes, streams, waterfalls, trees and vegetation and wildlife have helped to make Himachal Pradesh one of the most breathtaking and beautiful places on earth.
While traveling in a vehicle that moves on the serpentine shaped roads gives you a great glimpse of limitless natural beauty of this hilly state and immense pleasure, walking on foot lets you actually enjoy its real beauty and spend some relaxing moments in the lap of nature.
The nature here heals, refreshes and engages you like no other. The experience you get here is unmatched and unbeatable which pulls you to visit Himachal Pradesh again and again as one time visit is never enough .
3. Hydroelectric power
The founders and architects of modern India saw the great potential of hydroelectric power in the country’s progress and development. So they rightly went for construction of dams for taming the mighty and turbulent rivers of Himachal Pradesh like Beas, Sutlej and others and producing electricity from them.
Some of the famous and noteworthy dams in Himachal Pradesh are Bhakra Dam, Larji and Nathpa Bhakra Jhakri. The dams are an engineering feat and viewers’ delight in which many planners, engineers, labourers and workers worked together tirelessly to make them a reality. It is only because of their hard work, dedication and great sacrifices made by them, these dams finally came into existence and became valuable assets for the country.
The electricity produced by these dams and water stored and channelized by them are immensely contributing to the development and prosperity of Himachal Pradesh and its neighboring states. While electricity is being used for powering industries and for domestic consumption, water is being utilized for agriculture purposes.
4. Sports
Naturally gifted, able bodied and full of stamina, people of Himachal Pradesh have transformed into excellent players and sportsmen. Their contribution is visible in various sports disciplines like cricket, hockey, athletics, kabaddi, volleyball, mountaineering, etc.
Suman Rawat, Dalip Singh Rana and Varun Kumar are just a few names among illustrious and accomplished players of Himachal Pradesh who have made it big in the world of sports. They have made their parent state proud because of their towering sporting achievements.
5. Adventure sports
Himachal Pradesh is one of the leading destinations in the entire world for adventure sports. It offers exciting avenues and great facilities for people who love indulging in various adventure sports. These include paragliding, trekking, rock climbing, river rafting, rappelling, angling, ice skiing, ice skating, heli-skiing, zorbing, mountain biking and jeep safari.
6. Agriculture
Agriculture is one of the primary activities undertaken by people in rural areas of Himachal Pradesh for livelihood and sustenance. Apart from growing wheat, rice and maize, they also produce various oilseed crops like sunflower, soybean, groundnut, mustard and toria. Moreover, they grow pulses like moong, bean, urd, rajmah and gram lentil. If you happen to be in a village in Himachal Pradesh, don’t be surprised if you get to view one of these crops blooming on the farms.
7. Horticulture
Himachal Pradesh is also a major producer of fruits like apples, mangoes plums, kiwis, pears and others. Not only are these fruits consumed locally, but are also sent to other parts of India and even exported to foreign countries. Producing and selling fruits is a prime source of income generation for many farmers in the far-flung areas of Himachal Pradesh. Fruits produced by them not only give nourishment to the eaters, but also add joy to their lives.
Some of these fruits are further processed as jams, juices, etc.
Just like fruits, villagers in Himachal Pradesh also rear, produce and sell vegetables like peas, tomato, cauliflower, potatoes, cabbage and corn which are greatly contributing to the village economy of the state. Organically grown and fresh, these vegetables have an unbeatable taste and are rich in nutrition value.
Now you have a good knowledge of various things that Himachal Pradesh is famous for. So you can better plan your upcoming visit to this hilly state to enjoy its ancient culture, breathtaking natural beauty, simple yet rich lifestyle and other great aspects.
In this land of Gods and Rishis, you surely will get the real peace and happiness that you were looking for so long. Also, you will get to meet lovely and helpful people here who are eager to welcome and embrace you with open arms. When you are coming to Himachal Pradesh?