Cult culture of Himachal Pradesh

Ethnicity

About 90% of the population of Himachal Pradesh is Hindus. There main communities are
Brahmins, Rajputs, Kannets, Rathis and Kolis. The tribal population of the state comprise
of the Gaddis, Kinnars, Gujjars, Pangawals and Lahaulis. The Gaddis are the traditional
shepherds who migrate from the alpine pastures to the lower regions during the
winters. The Kinnars are the inhabitants of the Kinnaur region and practiced
polyandry and polygamy. The Gujjars are nomads who rear buffalo herds. The Pangawals
of the Pangi region of the Chamba district are both low and high caste Hindus. The
Lahaulis of Lahaul and Spiti region are mainly Buddhists.

Arts and Craft

Thapada is a large embroidered shawl, which is a specialty of the handicraft of Himachal Pradesh.
Other items of craft include the Kohana, a kind of a wall hanging, pillow covers, blouses
and caps adorned with fine embroidery. The embroidered caps of the Kulu, Sirmair,
Kinnaur and Lahaul regions are also very famous. The shawls from Kulu, woolen rugs
and carpets from Lahaul, depicting the traditional Pahadi designs.

Beautiful patchwork quilts, rag dolls and elephants are also made in the area and
comprise a necessary parts of bride's trousseau. The wool products are made in either the
Byangi wool. Dyeing and printing of fabrics has been a traditional craft in the area. The
Farahada and the Chhiba people do this work traditionally. Weaving of wool is a major
cottage industry in itself. The highlanders of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur weave dresses
from it for special occasions such as festivals and weddings.
 The Dom tribe is well known for producing fine
household articles made of bamboo. They
are later painted in bright colors. They
manufacture boxes, sofas, chairs, baskets,
racks and several articles used in daily
life. Leather craft is extremely developed
and the slippers and shoes made in
Chamba are in large demand. The
Himachalis are adept at the art of making
pots and statuettes with clay in many
shapes and sizes. These include pitchers,
bowls, platters, cups, lamps and small and
large pots. These are decorated with
white patterns drawn with Golu clay.
Toys and figures of gods and goddesses
are made during festivals. The metal ware
of Himachal Pradesh includes attractive utensils, ritualistic vessels, idols and silver
jewellery. The local goldsmiths also craft fine gold ornaments. The jewellery by the
woman of Kulu, Sirmaur, Kinnaur, Pangwati and Bharmor region is very attractive.

Dance and Music

The dance and music of the state is mainly religion-oriented where gods are invoked during the
festivals by singing and dancing. This practice has continued since ancient times. The
major dance of the state are the Rakshasa (dem0on) dance, the Kayang Dance, the
Bakayang dance, the Bnayangchu dance, the Jataru Kayang dance, Chohara dance, Shand
and Shabu dances, Lang-dar-ma dance, Nati dance, Jhanjhar dance, Jhoor dance, Gi
dance and Rasa dance.

Musical instruments like Ranasingha, Karna, Turhi, Flute, Ektara, Kindari, Jhanjh, Manjara, Chimta,
Ghariyal, and Ghunghru are played to provide music for the songs and the dances.

Fairs and Festivals

Fairs and festivals are an integral part of the Indian way of life. The colorful state of Himachal
Pradesh has many fairs and festivals to celebrate throughout the year. The National Snow
Statue Competition at Kufri near Shimla begins in the New Year. The ice-skating in
Shimla begins around this time. The bonfires of Lohri, a festival to mark the sowing of
the Rabi crop light up the night sky on January 13 every year. The skiing competitions
are held at Solang Nullah in Manali in the month of February. A fair in the memory of
the sage Baba Barbhag Singh is held at around the same time at Una. It is believed that
the Baba had magical powers, which were used towards altruistic ends. The little kites
dapple the horizon with their color during the Basant Panchami, the arrival of the spring.

Shivratri or the festival to celebrate the marriage of Shiva in March signifies ritual
gaiety at the famous Baijnath shrine. The cattle fair is held at Nalwari in Bilaspur. Chait
 Durga Asthami is celebrated in the Shakti shrines at Hathkoti, Chitpurni, Jwalamukhi and
Vajreshwari. Color and fun mix on Holi, the festival of colors at the Gurudwara at Paonta
Sahib in Sirmaur. In April, Chhat celebrations are held in Kullu and Chamba. Paonta
Sahib welcomes Hindu and Sikh devotees on Baisakhi. The Navratri begins this month.
Fairs are held in Chamba, Bilaspur, Kangra and
Rohru village in Shimla district.

A colorful celebration takes place around the old temple of

Hidimba at Kullu, Doongri in May. Banjar
Mela in Kullu also starts in the second half of
the month. Paragliding season begin in Bir in
Kangra. A variety of cultural events are held at
Shimla, Dharamshala and Dalhousie during the
month of June. The Prashar Fair is held in
Mandi off the Prashar Lake. The Red Cross
Fair in Shimla is a big draw with the tourists.
The Himachal Folk Costumes Programme and
the Flower Show in Shimla attracts active
participation of the locals. Lahaul celebrates a unique festival called Cheeshu.

Haryali is celebrated in Kangra and Sirmaur and Shravan Sankranti in Nahan in the month of July.
Buffalo fights are the highlight of the Sari fair held at Arki in the month of August. The
Lahaul Festival is held near Keylong. Kaza's Ladarcha Fair is a commercial fair held on
the old trade routes to Tibet and Afghanistan. The Manimahesh Yatra starts in the district
of Chamba. The famous fair of Naina Devi in Bilaspur also takes place during August.

In the first week of September, Fullaich (Phulech) take place in Kinnaur while Kangra plays host to
Sair. Chamba is the location for the colorful fair of Rath-Rathni. Dussehra is one of the
most sacred festivals of the Hindu religion and is celebrated in October. The much talked
about Dussehra celebrations start in Kullu with Navratri. The Pong Dam is the site of
water sports championship held in the same month.

Diwali is celebrated throughout the state. On the banks of Sutlej, the Lavi fair is celebrated for three
days. At Sirmaur, idols of Parasuram are immersed in the waters of Renuka Lake. Shimla
has the tradition of celebrating Christmas since the days of the British Rule. To take part
in the festivities, people come from far off places. The International Himalayan festival is
held in Dharamshala in the second week of December. Attire

Sari is the most common garment that Himachali women wear nowadays. Traditional dresses
comprises of Kameez, Kurta and Salwar in distinctive Himachali style. The Gaddi
women wear the long knee length gown known as Juan chadiyan and their Chola, a white
woolen garment. They wear a coat or waistcoat during winters. One can also see flap
caps made of wool during winters. Woolen shirts with long coats and sleeveless woolen
jackets on the top of the coat are the most preferred dress for men. These days men can
be seen in shirts and trousers along with denims.
Cuisine

There is no specific cuisine of Himachal Pradesh. The influence of a long and close association with
Punjab and large-scale migration of Tibetans can be on the cuisine of the state. Some of
the unique Himachali recipes include Nasasta, a sweetmeat of the Kangra region; Indra,
dish made of Urad dal; Baadi / Ghaunda, and Bada/Poldu of the Shimla region. The
popular dishes of the state are Pateer, Chouck,
Bhagjery and chutney of Til. Non-vegetarian food
is quite popular and preferred in Himachal
Pradesh.

Geographical Information

Location

The state of Himachal Pradesh has boundaries with the

Jammu and Kashmir in the North, Uttar
Pradesh in the Southeast, China on
east, Haryana in the South and Punjab in
the West. It is located between 30"22' and
30"12' north latitude and between 75"47'
and 79"4' east longitude. The
mountainous state has altitudes ranging
from 350 to 7000 meters (1050 ft. to
21000 ft.) above the sea level.

Physical Features

The altitude of Himachal Pradesh varies from 350 m to 7000 m above sea level. The physiography
of Himachal Pradesh can be divided into three zones. They are the outer Himalayas or the
Shivaliks, the inner or the middle Himalayas and the greater Himalayas or the Alpines.
The Shivaliks include the districts of Hamirpur, Kangra, Una, Bilaspur, and the lower
parts of Solan, Sirmaur and Mandi. The altitude of lower Himalayas ranges between 350
m to 1500 m and the rainfall in this zone ranges between 150 cm to 175 cm. The middle
region includes the parts of Sirmaur, Mandi and parts of Kangra, Shimla and Chamba and
experiences rainfall between 75 cm to 100 cm. This zone remains under snow for almost
give to six months. The Alpine zone is at an altitude of 4,500 m and beyond and
comprises of the Kinnnaur and Pangi tehsils of Chamba and some parts of Lahaul and
Spiti.
Climate

The climate varies from semi-tropical to semi-arctic from place to place depending on the altitude of
the region. The months from April to June are pleasant and comfortable at higher altitude
and humid in the lower hills. The months of July to September are the month of rainfall.
Himachal Pradesh experiences average annual rainfalls of about 160-cm. the entire state
becomes lush green and all the springs and streams are filled again. The winter season
begins from October to February and is very severe. Heavy snowfall occurs during this
season.

Flora and Fauna

The 63.9 % of the total area is under the thick forest cover. The vegetation is a blend of the Ban Oak
Forest, Moist Deodar Forest, Western Mixed Coniferous Forest, Moist Temperate
Deciduous Forest, Himalayan Alpine Pastures, and Rhododendron Scrub Forest. The
lower ranges have the growth of blue pine while the higher altitudes have firs. The flora
includes pine, cedar, deodar, bamboo, spur, oak etc. There are around 1200 species of
bird and 359 species of animals in Himachal Pradesh. The major species of wildlife in the
state are Snow Leopard, musk Deer, Blue Sheep, Ibex, Wolf, Leopard, Rhesus macaque,
Common Langur, Himalayan Black Bear, Goral, Muntjac and Serow. Two National
Parks and a few Wildlife Sanctuaries have been established in Himachal Pradesh to
protect the unique fauna of the state. The park has the largest remaining population of
Himalayan Tahr in the Himachal Pradesh.
Hill Stations of
Himachal
Pradesh

Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, is also

called the "Queen of the Hill Stations". It was named
after its patron Goddesses Shyamla Devi, an
incarnation of the Goddesses Kali. It was a small
village made popular by the British who established
Shimla as there summer capital in 1864
AD. The entire city is spread over a 12 km long ridge
commanding the view of terraced hillsides and
cultivations. Shimla has the thick growth of forests of
oak, pine, fur and rhododendron. There are variety of
adventure sports like skiing, trekking, angling and
golf for the tourists for their leisure activities.
Manali is a small hill town in the valley of
Kullu. It is referred to as the "Cradle between the
Lesser Himalaya". Manali is one of the most
beautiful and popular hill station known for lush and
fresh scenic beauty. It is also a gateway to Lahaul and
Spiti.
Dalhousie is at a distance of 80 km from Pathankot.
It is nestled in the outer inclines of Dhaulandhar
range. The hill station is well known for its pleasant
climate and beautiful scenery. It is spread over five
hills and is different from other hill stations. The
thick growth of deodars, pine and red and pink
rhododendrons can be seen all around the hill station.
Dalhousie is a gateway to the Chamba valley.
Kufri is a small hill station near Shimla. It is an
important tourist place because of its closeness with
Shimla. The place is known for trekking and hiking
trails. There are nature parks and picnic spots at
Kufri. In winters, one can indulge in the winter sports
like skiing and tobogganing.
Dharamshala, at an altitude of 4000 m above sea
level, it is located on spur of Dhaulandhar range. The
town has rich growth of deodar and pine forests as
well as tea gardens. Dharamshala literally means 'the
holy refuge'. It was founded and developed by the
British in 1855 as their summer resort. It is famous as
the abode of the Dalai Lama and is called as the
"Little Lhasa' because of the large number of Tibetan
population. Their 'Government in Exile' has
headquarters in Dharamshala.
Chail is a very small hamlet and a hill station where
you can discover nature at its best untouched by the
pollution, deforestation and modern construction. It is
an ideal getaway for fresh and tranquil environment
in the lap of the nature.

Himachal Pradesh District Map

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 Himachal Pradesh District Map

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Himachal Pradesh covers total area of 56,019 km2
and has a population of 6,077,248 people.

Facts and Figures of Himachal

Pradesh
Area 55,673 sq km
Population 6,077,248
Hinduism (95.89 %), Buddhists,
Religion
Others
Annual Rainfall 180 cm
Maximum Temperature 30°C
Minimum Temperature 2°C
Capital Shimla
Language Hindi, English and Himachali
Literacy Rate 77.13%
Per Capita Income Rs. 18,920 in 2000-01
Urbanization Ratio 8.7% (1991)
Best Time to Visit March to October

History of Himachal Pradesh

The
state of

Himachal Pradesh was called 'Deva Bhoomi '

or the Land of the Gods. There are
evidences of the existence of the pre-
historic humans in this region. It is generally believed that large inhabitants of this region
had actually migrated from Central Asia and the Indian plains from time to time. The first
race to enter Himachal Pradesh was Proto-Australoid followed by Mongoloid and the
Aryan. The Rig Veda mentions about Dasyus and Nishads living in this region and their
powerful king Shambra who had 99 forts. From the early period of its history, tribes like
the Koilis, Halis, Dagis, Dhaugris, Dasa, Khasas, Kinnars and Kirats inhabited it.
 The Aryan influence over this area dates back to the period before the Rig
Veda. The Aryans with their superior war tactics defeated the local tribes and settled here
permanently. The period also saw the establishment of small Janapadas or Republics in
Himachal Pradesh. They maintained a good relationship with the Mauryans so that they
can remain independent for a long time. They lost their independence with the rise of the
Guptas in the North Gangetic plains. After the decline of the Guptas, several small
kingdoms ruled this hilly state and established their power in its different regions. Sankar
Varma, the king of Kashmir exercised his influence over the regions of Himachal Pradesh
in about 883 AD.

This region witnessed the invasion of Mahmud of Ghazni in 1009 AD. In about 1043
AD, the Rajputs ruled over this territory. The Mughal rulers erected several works of art
as an admiration of this land. The Rajputs, under the leadership of Sansar Chand owned
this region in 1773 AD, till the attack by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1804 AD, which
crushed the Rajput power here. The Gurkhas conquered this area and ravaged it.

In about the early 19th century AD, the British exercised their influence and annexed the
areas of Shimla after the Gurkha War of 1815-16. The British established many hill
stations in this region to protect themselves from the extreme heat and dust of the
northern plains in the summer. Shimla became the summer capital of India and even
today, many old houses and buildings tell the story of English grandeur.

Himachal Pradesh was made a centrally administered territory in 1948 with the
integration of 31 hill states and obtained additional regions in 1966. It had the status of a
union territory after independence till it was granted statehood in 1971.
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Tourist Places of Himachal
Pradesh
The Kullu Valley is also known as the Valley of the Gods. Rudyard Kipling has written,
"Surely the Gods live here; this is no place for men". It is situated on the banks of the
river Beas on the lower reaches of the Himalayas. Kullu is known for
its ancient temples, apple orchards and the annual Dusshera Festival. Kullu is also
famous for its handicrafts and woolens like shawl, caps, puhla, namdas and patoos. The
best time to visit Kullu is during Dusshera in the month of October.

A few kilometers from Manali is the Rohtang Pass, a place known for the divergent
landscapes. You will find the rich greenery of the Kullu valley along with bare, brown
mountains, glaciers and snowfields. The place looks lovely in the crisp sunlight. The
Rohtang Pass lies in the district of Lahaul and Spiti. Due to its difficult terrain, not many
tourists have ventured into this region. The place is untouched by the outside world of
modernity.

Chamba is one of the oldest princely states and dates back its origin to 6th century AD.
The town of Chamba is located in the colorful valley surrounded by the Shivalik ranges
and has the district headquarters. It is well known for its medieval temples and Chaugan,
a public promenade. The architecture of the buildings of Chamba reflects the aura of its
former rulers. Chamba is also famous for its local festivals.

Kangra is a small town and was the capital of the erstwhile rulers of the Chand dynasty.
The hill station is placed at the foothills of the mighty Dhaulandhar range. There are
many old temples to visit besides enjoying the picturesque environs.

Khajjiar is a modest grass-covered meadow located in the enchanting valley of Chamba.

It is an ideal getaway for picnic while traveling between Dalhousie and Chamba. The
calmness of place provides a soothing effect to the tired tourists.
Kinnaur is a land of rich green valley, ripe orchards, vineyards, snow-covered peaks and
cold desert mountains. The place is ideal for adventure sports like trekking; mountain
climbing etc. the place attracts both young and old equally. The colorful dresses of the
Kinnauri women and their sweet folk songs make the valley all the more bright and
cheerful.

Mandi is district made out of two princely starts of Mandi and Suket. It is situated on the
left bank of the river Beas at an altitude of 800 m. above the sea level. It is comparatively
hotter than other hill stations of Himachal Pradesh. Mandi means a market place. At one
time, there were almost 360 forts out of which only 10 are left. You can take a look at
some of the 81 Hindu temples in the area. There are a couple of lakes to be visited.

Discover Himachal by HPTDC Transport having a large fleet of well maintained luxury
coaches/ AC Volvo Buses operating within and outside the state. HPTDC provides Luxury
Coaches and organizes Sight-Seeing Tours, Special Tours and Packages to meet the exclusive
travel needs of tourists.

SCHEDULE BUS SERVICES (LUXURY COACHES)

Sr. No. Station/ Places Departure Time Tariff Per Seat
(One Way)
1 Manali - Delhi & vice versa Manali : 05.00 PM Rs. 675/- per seat
(Non A/C Deluxe Coach) Delhi : 07.00 PM
2 Manali - Chandigarh (one way) Manali : 07:30 AM Rs. 415/- per seat
(Non A/C Deluxe Coach)
3 Manali - Kalka (one way) Manali : 07:30 AM Rs. 450/- per seat
(Non A/C Deluxe Coach)
4 Manali - Delhi & vice versa -1st Service Manali : 05.30 PM Rs. 1000/- per
(AC Volvo Coach) Delhi : 06.30 PM seat.
5 Manali - Delhi & vice versa - 2nd Manali : 06.00 PM Rs. 1100/- per
Service (Hi-tech) Delhi : 07.00 PM seat.
(AC Volvo Coach)
6 Manali - Leh & vice versa Departure Manali : 11.00 Rs. 1800/- per
(w.e.f 1st July to 15th September) AM seat.
Night stay at Keylong
Arrival at Leh : 07.00 PM (including
Departure Leh : 05.00 PM boarding)
Night stay at Keylong
Arrival at Manali : 03.00
PM
(on demand)
7 Shimla - Delhi & vice versa Shimla : 08.30 PM Rs. 700/- per seat
(AC Volvo Coach) Delhi : 08.30 PM
8 Shimla - Manali & vice versa Shimla : 08.30 AM Rs. 450/- per seat
(Deluxe Coach) Manali : 08.30 AM
9 Shimla - Manali & vice versa Shimla : 08.00 PM Rs. 450/- per seat
(Deluxe Coach - Night Service- During Manali : 08.00 PM
Season only)
10 Delhi - Dharamshala & vice versa Delhi : 05.30 PM Rs. 500/- per seat
(Non A/C Deluxe Coach) D'shala : 06.30 PM
Tariff subject to change without notice.

SIGHT SEEING TOURS AROUND SHIMLA

Departure / Arrival
Sr. No. Station/ Places Tariff Per Seat
Time
1 Shimla - Kufri - Fagu - Chini Bunglow Departure : 11:00 AM Rs. 190/-per seat.
-Naldehra & back Arrival : 06.00 PM

2 Shimla - Fagu - Matiana - Narkanda & back Departure : 10:30 AM Rs. 245/-per seat.
Arrival : 06.30 PM
3 Shimla - Kufri - Chail & back via Kiarighat Departure : 10:30 AM Rs. 220/- per seat.
Arrival : 06.00 PM
4 Shimla - Naldehra - Tattapani & back Departure : 10:30 AM Rs. 220/- per seat.
Arrival : 05.30 PM
 SIGHT SEEING TOUR DISTANCE (To & Fro)
Shimla - Kufri - Naldehra 085 KM
Shimla - Narkanda 130 KM
Shimla - Chail 110 KM
Shimla - Naldehra - Tattapani 106 KM

SIGHT SEEING TOURS AROUND MANALI

Departure/ Arrival
Sr. No. Station/ Places Tariff Per Seat
Time
1 Manali - Kothi- Rahla Fall- Rohtang Departure : 10:00 AM Rs. 250/- per seat.
Pass & back Arrival : 05.00 PM
2 Manali - Naggar - Solang & back Departure : 10:00 AM Rs. 200/- per seat.
Arrival : 05.00 PM
3 Manali - Kullu - Manikaran & back Departure : 09:30 AM Rs. 275/- per seat.
Arrival : 06.30 PM
4 Manali - Kullu - Bajoura & back Departure : 10:30 AM Rs. 150/- per seat.
Arrival : 05.00 PM

SIGHT SEEING TOUR DISTANCE (To & Fro)

Manali - Rohtang Pass 110 KM
Manali - Naggar 070 KM
Manali - Manikaran 180 KM
Manali - Bajoura 110 KM

Transport reservations available at HPTDC Marketing Offices & General Sales Agents
(Transport reservations are not available online)

SPECIAL TOURS

HPTDC arranges Special Tours by luxury coaches to suit exclusive tourist needs. The charges
for hiring HPTDC Luxury coaches is as following:

Sr. No. Type of Vehicle Revised Transport Tariff per Km.

In Plains In Hills In High Hills
Super Deluxe Non A/C
1 Rs. 39/- Rs. 41/- Rs. 44/-
35 Seater Coach
Super Deluxe Non A/C
2 Rs. 39/- Rs. 41/- Rs. 44/-
27 Seater Coach
3 Non A/C Rs. 13/- Rs. 15/- Rs. 19/-
 12 Seater Coach

The minimum condition of 200 km per day would be chargeable for hill area and 250 km per day
for plain area.
The tariff is subject to change without notice. The minimum coverage condition does not apply for
local sight seeing tours.

PACKAGE TOURS FOR GROUPS : HPTDC conducts package tours to Leh and Kaza from
Manali and Shimla. This journey through rugged mountains across cold deserts and high passes
offers a unique experience.

PACKAGE TOUR DISTANCE (To & Fro)

Manali - Leh 960 KM
Shimla - Kaza 860 KM
Shimla - Kalpa 480 KM

LEAVE TRAVEL TOURS:

HPTDC also organises LTC / LTA Tours for Holiday destinations in Himachal Pradesh and all
over India