Himachal Pradesh is a northern Indian state in the Himalayas. It’s home to scenic mountain towns and resorts such as Dalhousie. Host to the Dalai Lama, Himachal Pradesh has a strong Tibetan presence. This is reflected in its Buddhist temples and monasteries, as well as its vibrant Tibetan New Year celebrations. The region is also well known for its trekking, climbing and skiing areas.
| Himachal Pradesh | ||
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| State | ||
      From Top, left to right: Dashair and Dhankar Lake,
Hidimba Devi Temple, Bhimakali Temple, Lahaul, Mount Kinnaur Kailash, Shimla Town Hall at The Ridge |
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Location in India
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State map
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| Coordinates (Shimla): 31°6′12″N 77°10′20″ECoordinates: 31°6′12″N 77°10′20″E | ||
| State |  India |
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| Statehood | 25 January 1971† | |
| Capitals | Shimla Dharamshala (Second Capital in Winter) |
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| 12 Districts | ||
| Government | ||
| • Governor | Acharya Dev Vrat[1] | |
| • Chief Justice | Surya Kant[2] | |
| • Chief Minister | Jai Ram Thakur (BJP) | |
| • Legislature | Unicameral[3] (68 seats) | |
| • Parliamentary constituency | 4 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 55,673 km2(21,495 sq mi) | |
| Area rank | 18th[4] | |
| Population (2011)[5] | ||
| • Total | 6,864,602 | |
| • Rank | 21st | |
| • Density | 123/km2 (320/sq mi) | |
| Language | ||
| • Official | Hindi[6] | |
| • Additional official | English[6] | |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) | |
| ISO 3166 code | IN-HP | |
| HDI |  0.720 (High) |
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| HDI rank | 9th (2017)[7] | |
| Literacy | 83.78%[8] | |
| Website | www |
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