1. Establishment Year and Status
* Establishment as State: January 25, 1971, when it became the 18th state of the Indian Union.
* Initial Formation: The region was originally formed as the Chief Commissioner's Province of Himachal Pradesh on April 15, 1948, through the integration of 30 princely states.
2. Borders
Himachal Pradesh is located in the Western Himalayas and is bordered by:
* North: Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory and Ladakh Union Territory.
* West and South-West: Punjab.
* South: Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
* South-East: Uttarakhand.
* East: Tibet Autonomous Region of China (International border).
3. Population (as per 2011 Census)
* Total Population: 6,856,509
* Density: Approximately 123 persons per sq km.
4. Languages Spoken
* Official Languages: Hindi and Sanskrit (Additional official language).
* Principal Languages Spoken: Hindi and various Pahari languages (Indo-Aryan languages, including dialects like Kangri, Mandyali, Kulluvi, etc.).
* Other Languages: In the tribal regions bordering Tibet (Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur), languages belonging to the Sino-Tibetan family are also spoken.
5. Religion (in Present - 2011 Census)
Himachal Pradesh is overwhelmingly Hindu majority.
| Religion | Percentage |
| :--- | :--- |
| Hinduism | Approx. 95.17% |
| Islam | Approx. 2.15% |
| Buddhism | Approx. 1.15% |
| Sikhism | Approx. 1.12% |
| Others (Christianity, Jainism, etc.) | Less than 0.5% |
6. Chief Ministers List with Tenure Dates (since statehood in 1971)
| No. | Chief Minister | Party | Took Office | Left Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | Indian National Congress (INC) | 25 Jan 1971 | 10 Mar 1977 |
| 2 | Shanta Kumar | Janata Party | 10 Mar 1977 | 15 Feb 1980 |
| 3 | Thakur Ram Lal | INC | 15 Feb 1980 | 7 Apr 1983 |
| 4 | Virbhadra Singh | INC | 8 Apr 1983 | 5 Mar 1990 |
| 5 | Shanta Kumar | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) | 5 Mar 1990 | 15 Dec 1992 |
| | President's Rule | | 15 Dec 1992 | 3 Dec 1993 |
| 6 | Virbhadra Singh | INC | 3 Dec 1993 | 24 Mar 1998 |
| 7 | Prem Kumar Dhumal | BJP | 24 Mar 1998 | 6 Mar 2003 |
| 8 | Virbhadra Singh | INC | 6 Mar 2003 | 30 Dec 2007 |
| 9 | Prem Kumar Dhumal | BJP | 30 Dec 2007 | 25 Dec 2012 |
| 10 | Virbhadra Singh | INC | 25 Dec 2012 | 27 Dec 2017 |
| 11 | Jai Ram Thakur | BJP | 27 Dec 2017 | 11 Dec 2022 |
| 12 | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu | INC | 11 Dec 2022 | Incumbent |
Note: Yashwant Singh Parmar also served as CM of the Part-C State of Himachal Pradesh before 1971.
7. President's Rule Imposed
* Number of times: Once
* Dates: From December 15, 1992 to December 3, 1993.
* Reason: Imposed after the dismissal of the Shanta Kumar-led BJP government by the Central government following the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
8. Famous Places and Products
Famous Places (for worldwide/India):
The state is renowned for its stunning Himalayan landscapes, colonial hill stations, and spiritual sites.
* Shimla: The capital city and famous "Queen of Hills," known for the Mall Road, Ridge, and Kalka-Shimla Railway (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
* Manali & Kullu: Major tourist hubs, famous for their scenic valleys, adventure sports (paragliding, river rafting), and high mountain passes like Rohtang Pass (now via Atal Tunnel).
* Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj: Home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile, a global center for Tibetan culture and Buddhism.
* Spiti Valley & Lahaul: Cold desert mountains known for their rugged, raw beauty, ancient Buddhist monasteries (like Key Monastery), and unique culture.
* Chamba & Dalhousie: Known for colonial charm, ancient temples, and beautiful meadows like Khajjiar (often called the "Mini Switzerland of India").
Famous Products (for worldwide/India):
* Himachali Apples (Worldwide/India): The state is one of India's leading producers of apples, particularly from the Shimla and Kinnaur regions, which are famous for their quality and taste.
* Kullu Shawls and Caps (India/Worldwide): Hand-woven woolen shawls and traditional caps (often with colorful borders) are famous for their intricate patterns and warmth.
* Kangra Tea (India/Worldwide): Grown in the Kangra region, this unique variety of tea has received Geographical Indication (GI) status and is gaining global recognition.
* Pahari Paintings (India): Miniatures and folk art from the Kangra, Chamba, and Basholi schools, characterized by their natural colors and themes.
* Handicrafts and Woodwork (India): Items like carved wooden artifacts, leather chappals (sandals) from Chamba, and metalwork.
