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CivilsTap Himachal

HIMACHAL DARSHAN

A Comprehensive book on

General knowledge of Himachal Pradesh

Vishal Thakur

Rajat Thakur Kriti Sharma

CivilsTap Publications

Himachal Darshan

English-1^st Edition (2025-26)

ISBN: 978-81-983186-8-8

Published in India by:

CivilsTap Publications

Punjab Kesari Building,

First Floor,

Sector 25D,

Chandigarh

Call @ 81467-30048

Visit us at:

www.civilstaphimachal.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, photographic, electronic, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of the Author.

Information contained in this book has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, neither Publisher nor its Author guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein. Although every effort has been made to ensure that the book is free from errors or omissions, neither the Publisher nor its Author shall be responsible for any errors, omissions or damages arising out of use of this information.

Printed and bound in India by:

M/S Amit Arts, Sector 82, Mohali

CONTENTS

PART – A: Geography of Himachal Pradesh

Geography of Himachal Pradesh	2
Introduction	2
State Symbols of Himachal Pradesh	3
Physiography of Himachal Pradesh	3
Soils	6
Climate of Himachal Pradesh	8
Valleys and Lakes	12
Peaks in Himachal	39
Glaciers, Spring & Waterfalls	45
Mountain Passes in Himachal Pradesh	52
River System in Himachal Pradesh	60
Protected Area Network	81
National Parks in Himachal Pradesh	81
Conservation Reserves in Himachal Pradesh	83
Wetlands in Himachal Pradesh	84
Important Bird Areas (IBAs)	86
UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites in Himachal Pradesh	87
Zoos/Nature Parks in Himachal Pradesh	87
Pheasantries in Himachal Pradesh	88
Rescue & Rehabilitation Centers in Himachal Pradesh	88
Bird Park in Himachal Pradesh	88
Durgesh Aranya Zoological Park	88
Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve	89
Wildlife Sanctuaries in Himachal Pradesh	89
Geographic Indications of Goods	91
Population Census	95

PART – B: Culture of Himachal Pradesh

Culture of Himachal Pradesh	99
Temples in Himachal Pradesh	99
Temple Architecture in Himachal Pradesh	100
Buddhist Temples/Monasteries Architecture in Himachal Pradesh	109
Paintings in Himachal Pradesh	117
Fairs And Festivals of Himachal Pradesh	123
Tribes of Himachal Pradesh	137
Caste System in Himachal Pradesh	151
Folk Dances and Dramas	154
The Musical Instruments	159
Pahari Language and Dialects	160

PART – C: History of Himachal Pradesh

Ancient History of Himachal Pradesh	163
Sources of History	163
Important Clans of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu	168
Nomenclature and Rank in Hill States	169
Inhabitants of Himachal Pradesh	169
Janapadas	171
Modern and Medieval History	177
Turkish Invasion of Kangra	177
Tughlaq Dynasty and Kangra	178
Mughals and Chamba	184
Mughals and Sirmaur	184
Sikh and Hill State	185
Gurkhas and Hill States	186
Hill States and The British	191
History of Kangra	195
Sources of History of Kangra district	197
Important Kings of Kangra	200
Offshoots of Kangra	211
Important Personalities of Kangra	221
Geography of Kangra	225
Demography and Geographical Profile	227
Geography of District	230
Economy	230
Chamba State	234
Sources	235
Chamba State: Important Kings	236
Geography of Chamba	254
Demographic Profile and Population Distribution	256
Geography of District	258
Economy	258
History of Bilaspur	260
Reason Behind Naming Kehlur	260
Sources of History of Bilaspur	262
Geography of Bilaspur	281
People & Languages	283
Demography of Bilaspur	283
Administrative Set Up	284
Economy	286
Distict Kullu	288
Seven Waziris of Kullu	288
Historical Sources	288
Some Important Rulers of Kullu	291
Economy	302
Fairs & Festivals	304
Important Personalities of Kullu District	305
Geography of Kullu	309
Demography of Kullu District	309
Geography	310
Economy	311
District Una	314
Jaswan	314
Kutlehar	315
Important Personalities of UNA	316
Geography of Una	317
District Hamirpur	320
History	320
Places of Historical Interest	323
Important Personalities of Hamirpur	324
Geography of Hamirpur	324
District Kinnaur	327
Origin of Kinnaur	327
Ancient History of Kinnaur	328
Medieval History	329
Important Personalities of Kinnaur	335
Geography of Kinnaur	335
Demography	336
District Lahaul & Spiti	338
Different Names of Lahaul	339
Spiti	346
Fairs and Festivals	347
Places of Interest	348
Demography	352
District Mandi	355
Suket	357
Mandi State	365
Places of Interest	371
Important Personalities of Mandi	375
Geography of Mandi	376
Demography	377
District Shimla	380
Princely Stats of Shimla District	380
History of Shimla City	388
British and Shimla	388
Freedom Struggle Movement in Shimla	396
Mahatama Gandhi’s Visits to Shimla	396
Other Facts	397
Places of Interest	398
Important Personalities of Shimla	399
Demography	402
Population Comparison Between Census 2011& 2001	402
Administrative Set Up	402
District Solan	405
History of Solan	406
Important Personalities of Solan	412
Places of Interest	413
Geography of Solan	413
Demography	414
Population Comparison Between Census 2011& 2001	414
Administrative Set Up	415
Teshsils	415
Sub Tehsils	415
Blocks	415
Constituencies	415
Municipality	415
Economy	416
District Sirmaur	419
History	419
Important Personalities of Sirmaur	431
Geography of Sirmaur	432
Economy	434
Famous Fair and Festivals	434
Demography	434
Revolts in Himachal Pradesh	437
Revolts in Himachal Pradesh	437
1. Dumh Movement (1859) – Bushahr State	437
2. People’s Movement in Suket (1862)	437
3. Movement in Mandi State (1870)	438
4. Movement in Nalagarh (1877)	438
5. Revolt in Suket (1878)	438
6. Jhugga Satyagraha (Bilaspur, 1883)	438
7. Farmers' Movement in Chamba (1895)	439
8. Theog Peasant Movement (1898)	439
9. Dodra Kwar Revolt, 1906	440
10. Mandi Revolt , 1909	440
11. Mandi Conspiracy (1914)	440
12. Revolt in Suket (1924)	441
13. Bilaspur Struggle or Dandra Conflict (1930-1933)	441
14. Chamba Agitation, 1939:	442
15. Pajhota Kisan Andolan (Sirmour, 1942)	442
Freedom Struggle Movement in Himachal Pradesh	444
1. 1848 Revolt	444
2. 1857 Revolt	444
3. Non-Cooperation Movement	445
4. Rise of Revolutionary Activities	446
5. Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930 and Himachal Pradesh	448
6. Individual Satyagraha	448
7. Quit India Movement and Himachal Pradesh	449
Praja Mandal Movements	450
Important Facts	450
Establishment of the Himalayan Hill Regional Council	451
Major Praja Mandal Movements in Himachal Pradesh	452
Bilaspur Praja Mandal (1946-1948)	452
Rampur Bushahr Movement (1945-1948)	453
Dhami Riyasati Mandal (1939)	454
Kunihar Struggle (1939-1948)	455
Sirmour Praja Mandal (1939-1948)	456
Suket Satyagraha (1945-1948)	456

PART – D: Economy of Himachal Pradesh

Economy of Himachal Pradesh	461
State Income Macroeconomic View	461
Banking and Institutional Finance	465
Agriculture and Horticulture	467
Animal Husbandary	471
Forestry, Envionment and Water Reasource Management	475
Industries	477
Power	480
Labour & Employment	483
Tourism Road and Transport	486
Education	490
Health	497
Social Welfare	499

PART – E: Polity of Himachal Pradesh

Administrative History	508
Administrative History of Himachal Pradesh	508
Chief Commissioner and Advisory Council	508
Part “C” States	509
Union Territory	509
Integration of Punjab Areas	510
Attaining Full Statehood	511
Important Institutions	512
Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC)	512
Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA)	512
HP Lokayukta	512
Himachal Pradesh High Court	514
Local Self Governance	515
Lok Sabha	517
Rajya Sabha	518
First Legislative Assembly Elections, 1951-52	518
Legislative Assembly Elections 2022	520
Chief Ministers in Himachal Pradesh	522
Governors of Himachal Pradesh	523
Himachal Pradesh Public Service Guarantee Act, 2011	524
Important Acts	526

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