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Himachal Pradesh was carved out as a Chief Commissioner's Province in 1948 and later became a Union Territory. Full statehood was conferred by the Himachal Pradesh Act, and the state came into existence as the 18th state on 25 January 1971. The 1966 date instead marks the merger of hill areas of Punjab into the Union Territory.
Himachal Pradesh follows a dual-capital arrangement: Shimla is the summer capital and Dharamshala, in Kangra district, is the winter capital. The practice of shifting the seat of government dates back to the colonial era and was retained after reorganisation. Mandi and Solan are important towns but hold no capital status.
The bharal, or blue sheep, is the principal wild prey of the snow leopard across the trans-Himalayan tracts of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. Snow leopards are apex predators of these alpine and cold-desert ecosystems and depend heavily on bharal and ibex populations. The other animals listed occur in the state but are not the characteristic prey of the snow leopard in that habitat.
Kunzum La, at roughly 4,550 metres, connects the Lahaul valley with the Spiti valley and is the gateway to the Kaza side. Rohtang links Manali with Lahaul, Baralacha La links Lahaul with Ladakh, and Shipki La lies on the border with Tibet in Kinnaur. Each pass therefore serves a different corridor.
The Beas rises at Beas Kund, a glacial source below the Rohtang Pass in the Kullu region, and flows through the Kullu valley before entering Punjab. Suraj Tal feeds the Bhaga, Bara Shigri feeds the Chandra, and Manimahesh lake drains towards the Ravi basin. Knowing these sources helps distinguish the four major river systems of the state.
Kullu Dussehra revolves around Lord Raghunath, the presiding deity of the Kullu valley, whose rath is drawn from the temple to the Dhalpur ground. Unlike Dussehra elsewhere, the Kullu festival begins on Vijayadashami and continues for about a week with participation of hundreds of village deities. Hadimba, Bhimakali and Bajreshwari are important local goddesses with separate temples and fairs.
The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 under the criterion of outstanding biodiversity significance. It protects a transition zone between the Himalayan and trans-Himalayan ecosystems and is noted for species such as the snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear and western tragopan. The inscription made it Himachal Pradesh's first natural World Heritage property.
The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, known as the Vidhan Sabha, has 68 elected members, each representing a single-member constituency. The state does not have a Legislative Council, so it has a unicameral legislature. The number has remained 68 since the reorganisation of constituencies in the state.
Reo Purgyil, standing at about 6,816 metres in Kinnaur district near the Tibet border, is the highest mountain peak in Himachal Pradesh. Shilla in Spiti and Kinner Kailash in Kinnaur are prominent but lower summits. Hanuman Tibba, near Manali, is lower still and is a popular trekking peak rather than the state's highest point.
The Kalka-Shimla Railway was inscribed in 2008 as an extension of the Mountain Railways of India listing, joining the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. It is a narrow-gauge line built in the early twentieth century and is celebrated for its engineering, tunnels and viaducts. The other listings are World Heritage properties located elsewhere and unconnected to this railway.
Himachal Pradesh currently has 12 districts, a number fixed after the 2017 reorganisation of Lahaul and Spiti. Kangra is the most populous district, while Lahaul and Spiti is the largest by area and the least densely populated.
The Western Tragopan, locally called jujurana or 'king of birds', is the state bird of Himachal Pradesh. It is a threatened pheasant of the high western Himalayan forests, and its conservation is linked to protected areas such as the Great Himalayan National Park.
The Bhakra Dam is a concrete gravity dam across the Sutlej at Bhakra in Bilaspur district. Its reservoir, Gobind Sagar, supports irrigation and hydropower and is one of independent India's earliest large multipurpose projects.
Bilaspur was a separate Part C state after 1948 and was merged into Himachal Pradesh on 1 July 1954, becoming one of its districts. The other dates relate to the initial formation of the state, the transfer of Punjab hill areas, and full statehood.
The Atal Tunnel runs for about 9 km beneath the Rohtang Pass and links Manali in Kullu district with the Lahaul valley. Inaugurated in 2020, it gives year-round access to Lahaul when the Rohtang road is snowbound.
Renuka Lake lies in Sirmaur district near Nahan and is regarded as the largest natural lake in Himachal Pradesh. It is associated with the annual Renuka fair and a wildlife sanctuary, and its outline is often compared to a reclining woman.
Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar became the first Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh in 1952, when it was still a Part C state. He is often called the architect of the state for his role in its political evolution and development.
Tabo Monastery stands in the Spiti valley and was founded in 996 CE, making it one of the oldest continuously functioning Buddhist monasteries in India. Its murals and stucco images have earned it the description 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'.
The Shanan Power House is at Jogindernagar in Mandi district and was commissioned in 1932 during the British period. It uses the waters of the Uhl river and is counted among the oldest hydroelectric stations still in operation in India.
Bara Shigri lies in the Chandra valley of Lahaul, within Lahaul and Spiti district, and is the largest glacier in Himachal Pradesh. It feeds the Chandra river and has been studied for its response to climate change.
The deodar cedar is the official state tree of Himachal Pradesh and is a tall conifer characteristic of temperate Himalayan forests. It is widely associated with Shimla and other high-altitude districts of the state.
Himachal Day is celebrated on 15 April, marking the creation of Himachal Pradesh as a Chief Commissioner's Province in 1948. The 25 January date is associated with full statehood in 1971 and is a separate observance.
Kangra was the most populous district in the 2011 Census because of its large number of towns and villages in western Himachal Pradesh. Shimla and Mandi recorded lower population totals than Kangra.
The Chandra and Bhaga rise on opposite sides of the Baralacha La range and meet at Tandi in Lahaul, where they form the Chenab. Tandi is therefore the confluence point for these two tributaries.
Nathpa Jhakri is a large run-of-the-river project on the Sutlej in Kinnaur and Shimla districts. The Sutlej is the longest river within Himachal Pradesh and supports several major hydroelectric schemes.
Kangra tea is grown in the Kangra valley, mainly around Palampur and Dharamshala, where the climate suits tea cultivation. It received a geographical indication tag for the distinctive tea produced in this region.
The Minjar fair is a traditional fair held in Chamba town, usually in July or August, and is linked to the local agricultural cycle and royal traditions. It is distinct from the Kullu Dussehra and the Mandi Shivratri fair.
Sach Pass lies in the Pir Panjal range and provides the road link between Chamba and the Pangi valley. It is a high mountain pass that remains closed for several months because of snow.
The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve covers the high-altitude cold desert of Lahaul and Spiti and was included in UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere network. It is a separate designation from the Great Himalayan National Park World Heritage Site.
The Indian National Congress won 40 of the 68 Assembly seats in the 2022 Himachal Pradesh elections, giving it a majority. The Bharatiya Janata Party won 25 seats and moved to the opposition benches.
The snow leopard is the official state animal of Himachal Pradesh. It is a high-altitude predator associated with the state's alpine and cold-desert habitats, especially in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. The other animals occur in the Himalaya but are not the state animal of Himachal Pradesh.
Kullu Dussehra is held at Dhalpur Maidan in Kullu town, usually beginning on Vijayadashami. It is known for the assembly of local deities and is a major cultural event of Himachal Pradesh. Mandi hosts the Shivratri fair, while Chamba hosts the Minjar fair.
Himachal Pradesh touches the Tibet region of China along its northern and eastern boundaries, particularly in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. It does not share an international boundary with Nepal, Bhutan or Myanmar. This border geography is important for the state's strategic location in the western Himalaya.
Kunzum Pass lies on the route from Keylong in Lahaul to Kaza in Spiti. Rohtang Pass connects Manali with Lahaul, while Baralacha La lies on the Manali-Leh route. Shipki La is a border pass in Kinnaur district.
The Great Himalayan National Park is located in Kullu district and is recognised for its rich Himalayan biodiversity. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. The other districts have different protected areas and do not contain this national park.
Chamba rumal is a traditional embroidered textile craft associated with Chamba district. It is known for fine needlework and has received geographical indication recognition. It is not a shawl, a metal craft or a tea variety.
Jai Ram Thakur was the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh from 2017 until the 2022 Assembly elections. After the results, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu succeeded him as Chief Minister. Virbhadra Singh, Prem Kumar Dhumal and Kaul Singh Thakur were earlier political leaders of the state.
Lahaul-Spiti is the largest district of Himachal Pradesh by area, covering a vast high-altitude cold-desert region. Kangra is the most populous district, while Chamba and Kinnaur are large but smaller in area than Lahaul-Spiti. District area rankings are distinct from population rankings.
Reo Purgyil, in Kinnaur district near the Tibet border, is the highest peak in Himachal Pradesh, rising above 6,800 metres. Shilla, Kinner Kailash and Hanuman Tibba are notable Himachal peaks but are lower. The question tests the distinction between well-known peaks and the state's highest summit.
The Kalka–Shimla Railway was inscribed in 2008 as part of the Mountain Railways of India. It is a narrow-gauge line opened in 1903 and is known for its engineering and Himalayan scenery. The other years do not match its UNESCO inscription.
The Western Tragopan, locally called Jujurana, is the state bird of Himachal Pradesh. It is a high-altitude pheasant associated with temperate forests of the western Himalayas. The other birds listed occur in the region but do not hold official state-bird status.
The state flower of Himachal Pradesh is the pink rhododendron, botanically Rhododendron campanulatum. It grows in high-altitude Himalayan areas and is associated with the state's alpine and sub-alpine landscapes. The other flowers listed are not the official state flower.
Dharamshala was announced as the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh in 2017, while Shimla continues to function as the summer capital. The arrangement was intended to decentralise administration and reduce seasonal concentration of offices in Shimla. The other towns listed are important district headquarters but were not given winter-capital status.
Renuka Lake in Sirmaur district is a Ramsar-designated wetland, recognised for its ecological and cultural importance. Himachal Pradesh has other Ramsar sites as well, including Pong Dam Lake and Chandertal. The lakes named in the other options are not Ramsar sites.
The Bhakra Dam is built across the Sutlej River near the Himachal Pradesh–Punjab border. Its reservoir, Gobind Sagar, supports hydroelectric generation and irrigation in the region. The Beas, Ravi and Yamuna have other important projects but not the Bhakra Dam.
Mandi town hosts the annual international Shivratri fair, which is known for the assembly of local deities and their palanquins. The fair is an important religious and cultural event in the state. Rampur, Kullu and Chamba host other well-known fairs and festivals.
The Atal Tunnel connects Manali in Kullu district with the Lahaul Valley, passing beneath the Rohtang Pass. It reduces travel time and improves year-round access to Lahaul. The tunnel does not directly connect Manali with Kangra, Spiti or Parvati Valley.
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu became Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh after the 2022 Assembly elections. Jai Ram Thakur was the incumbent Chief Minister before the election. Virbhadra Singh and Prem Kumar Dhumal are former Chief Ministers of the state.
Bara Shigri glacier lies in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, in the high Himalayan region near the Chandra valley. It is among the state's most extensive glaciers and feeds meltwater into the local river system. Chamba, Kinnaur and Kangra have other glaciers and mountain features but not Bara Shigri.
Hamirpur district recorded the highest literacy rate among Himachal Pradesh districts in the 2011 Census. Its high literacy level is often linked to a dense network of schools and strong educational participation. Kangra is the most populous district, but population size does not determine the literacy ranking.