Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is a state in India. Area of this state is 55,673 sq kms and population is 6,077,900 as per census 2001. Shimla is its capital city. Principal languages of this state are Hindi and Pahari.

History and Geography

Himachal Pradesh is the land of legends and beauty. In Puranic chronicles, Himachal has been referred to as the abode of Yakshas, Gandharvas and Kinnars. In prehistoric times, it was inhabited by Kolls, Kirats and Nagas. Later, the Indo-Tibetans from the north, Indo-Aryans from the Indus valley and Khasas from Central Asia, migrated to this land of eternal snows and tranquil solitude. 'Mahabharata' and 'Kumar Sambhava' held this land in high esteem where Kunindas and Audumbaras established multi-tribal Kingdoms. During the medieval period, when there were invasions from the north-west, ruling clans of Rajputana and adjoining areas migrated to the hills and established their fiefdoms. These clans were primarily responsible for civilizing the local people besides patronising Pahari art and monumental architecture, which has no other parallel in the annals of Indian art. The north-eastern part of the State is decorated with snow-covered, silver-headed mountains, halcyon lakes and green stretches of prairies. The State is rich in flora and fauna. In the north it is contiguous to Jammu and Kashmir, and in the south-east, it adjoins the hilly areas of Uttar Pradesh. In the south and on the western side, the territory is bordered by Haryana and Punjab respectively, whereas on the east it borders Tibet. The State came into being as a union territory in April 1948, as a result of integration of 30 princely states spread over 27,000 sq km. In 1954, when another 'C' class State of Bilaspur merged with Himachal Pradesh, its area increased to 28,241 sq km. The position remained unchanged till 1966, when on reorganisation of the states, the hilly areas of Punjab were merged with the state increasing its size to 55,673 sq km. Proportionately, the population also increased from 1.4 million to 2.8 million, now standing at 60,77,248 according to census 2001.

Districts

Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh Chamba District Hamirpur District in Himachal Pradesh Kangra District Kinnaur District Kullu District Lahaul and Spiti District Mandi District Shimla District Sirmaur District Solan District Una District

Lok Sabha and their Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) constituencies

There are 4 Lok Sabha and 68 Vidhan Sabha constituencies in the state.

1 Kangra Lok Sabha Constituency - 1 Churah Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC), 3 Chamba Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 4 Dalhousie Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 5 Bhattiyat Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 6 Nurpur Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 7 Indora Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC), 8 Fatehpur Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Himachal Pradesh, 9 Jawali Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 12 Jawalamukhi Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 13 Jaisinghpur Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC), 14 Sullah Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 15 Nagrota Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Himachal Pradesh, 16 Kangra Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 17 Shahpur Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Himachal Pradesh, 18 Dharamshala Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 19 Palampur Vidhan Sabha Constituency and 20 Baijnath Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC).

2 Mandi Lok Sabha Constituency - 2 Bharmour Vidhan Sabha Constituency (ST), 21 Lahaul and Spiti Vidhan Sabha Constituency (ST), 22 Manali Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 23 Kullu Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 24 Banjar Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 25 Anni Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC), 26 Karsog Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC), 27 Sundernagar Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 28 Nachan Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC), 29 Seraj Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 30 Darang Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 31 Jogindernagar Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 33 Mandi Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 34 Balh Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC), 35 Sarkaghat Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 66 Rampur Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Himachal Pradesh (SC) and 68 Kinnaur Vidhan Sabha Constituency (ST) .

3 Hamirpur Lok Sabha Constituency in Himachal Pradesh - 10 Dehra Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 11 Jaswan Pragpur Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 32 Dharampur Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Himachal Pradesh, 36 Bhoranj Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC), 37 Sujanpur Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Himachal Pradesh, 38 Hamirpur Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Himachal Pradesh, 39 Barsar Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 40 Nadaun Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 41 Chintpurni Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC), 42 Gagret Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 43 Haroli Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 44 Una Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Himachal Pradesh, 45 Kutlehar Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 46 Jhanduta Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC), 47 Ghumarwin Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 48 Bilaspur Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Himachal Pradesh and 49 Sri Naina Deviji Vidhan Sabha Constituency.

4 Shimla Lok Sabha Constituency (SC) - 50 Arki Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 51 Nalagarh Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 52 Doon Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 53 Solan Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC), 54 Kasauli Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC), 55 Pachhad Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC), 56 Nahan Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 57 Sri Renukaji Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC), 58 Paonta Sahib Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 59 Shillai Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 60 Chopal Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 61 Theog Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 62 Kasumpti Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 63 Shimla Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 64 Shimla Rural Vidhan Sabha Constituency, 65 Jubbal Kotkhai Vidhan Sabha Constituency and 67 Rohru Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC).