Saturday, August 17, 2024 Himachal Pradesh launches 11 new initiatives to enhance tourism, with major projects in Dharamshala and Nadaun, aiming to boost the state’s appeal. According to the recent announcement, 11 significant projects have been initiated, including a convention center in Dharamshala with an allocation of INR 161.91 crore, the beautification efforts in Palampur and Nagrota Bagwan costing INR 95.
50 crore, and a wellness center in Nadaun valued at INR 91.42 crore. Additionally, an ice skating and roller skating rink in Dharamshala, with a budget of INR 39.
51 crore, is also part of these developments. The Chief Minister instructed the officials to accelerate these projects to ensure their completion within the designated timeframes. Himachal Pradesh, situated in northern India, lies within the Western Himalayas and is acknowledged as one of the thirteen mountainous states.
Known for its dramatic landscape, the state boasts towering peaks and extensive river systems. As the northernmost state of India, Himachal Pradesh shares borders with the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to the north, Punjab to the west, Haryana to the southwest, Uttarakhand to the southeast, and a small boundary with Uttar Pradesh to the south. To the east, it shares an international boundary with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
Often referred to as Dev Bhoomi or Dev Bhumi, meaning ‘Land of Gods,’ and Veer Bhoomi, or ‘Land of the Brave,’ Himachal Pradesh has a rich cultural and historical heritage. The mountainous region now known as Himachal Pradesh has been inhabited since prehistoric times and has seen various waves of human migration. Throughout its history, the area was predominantly ruled by local kingdoms, many of which recognized the authority of larger empires.
Before India gained independence from British rule, Himachal was part of the hilly regions of Punjab Province in British India. Post-independence, the region was reorganized as the Chief Commissioner’s Province of Himachal Pradesh and later became a Union Territory. In 1966, the hilly regions of neighboring Punjab were integrated into Himachal, and the state achieved full statehood in 1971.
Himachal Pradesh is characterized by its vast valleys, through which numerous perennial rivers flow. The state’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, horticulture, hydropower, and tourism. As of 2016, 99.
5% of households in the hilly state had access to electricity, making it almost entirely electrified. In the same year, Himachal Pradesh was declared India’s second open-defecation-free state. Furthermore, a 2017 survey by CMS-India Corruption Study identified Himachal Pradesh as the least corrupt state in the country.
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