Himachal Pradesh GK: Quick Answer
Himachal Pradesh became a full state on 25 January 1971 (the 18th state of India). It has 12 districts, an area of 55,673 sq km and a population of 68,64,602 (Census 2011). The capital is Shimla, and Dharamshala is the winter capital. In October 2026 the Chief Minister is Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the Governor is Kavinder Gupta.
The basic numbers on this page are taken from the Himachal Pradesh government's own pages: the state portal himachal.nic.in, the HP Statistical Abstract 2024-25 and the HP Public Relations "HP at a glance" page.
Key takeaway: Himachal Day = 15 April (formed in 1948 by merging 30 princely states). Statehood Day = 25 January 1971. 12 districts, 3 divisions (Shimla, Mandi, Kangra). Largest district = Lahaul and Spiti, smallest = Hamirpur, most populous = Kangra. State animal = Snow Leopard, state bird = Western Tragopan (Jujurana).
Himachal Pradesh at a Glance (Official Figures)
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 55,673 sq km | HP Statistical Abstract 2024-25 |
| Population (Census 2011) | 68,64,602 (males 34,81,873; females 33,82,729) | himachal.nic.in |
| Population density | 123 per sq km | Census 2011 |
| Sex ratio | 972 females per 1,000 males | Census 2011 |
| Literacy | 82.80% (male 89.53%, female 75.93%) | HP PR "at a glance" |
| Rural population | about 90% (61.76 lakh) | Statistical Abstract |
| Districts / divisions | 12 / 3 | Statistical Abstract (31.03.2025) |
| Tehsils / sub-tehsils / blocks | 115 / 78 / 92 | Statistical Abstract (31.03.2025) |
| Altitude range | 350 m to 6,975 m above sea level | himachal.nic.in |
| Capital | Shimla (winter capital: Dharamshala) | State government |
| Vidhan Sabha seats | 68 (unicameral) | ECI |
| Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha seats | 4 / 3 | ECI / Rajya Sabha |
| High Court | Shimla |
Borders: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in the north, Punjab in the west and south-west, Haryana in the south, Uttarakhand and a small stretch of Uttar Pradesh in the south-east, and China (Tibet) in the east.
History of Himachal Pradesh: Formation Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 15 April 1948 | 30 princely hill states merged into a centrally administered "Chief Commissioner's Province" with 4 districts: Chamba, Mandi, Mahasu and Sirmaur. Celebrated as Himachal Day |
| 1951 | Became a Part 'C' State under a Lieutenant Governor, with a 36-member assembly |
| 1954 | Part 'C' State of Bilaspur merged with Himachal |
| 1 November 1956 | Became a Union Territory (assembly abolished) |
| 1960 | Kinnaur district carved out of Mahasu |
| 1 November 1966 | Hill areas of Punjab (Kangra, Shimla, Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti and Nalagarh tehsil) merged; area became 55,673 sq km |
| 25 January 1971 | Full statehood: 18th state of India |
| 1 September 1972 | Districts reorganised: Hamirpur and Una carved out of Kangra; Solan formed; Mahasu merged into Shimla (12 districts) |
| 19 January 2017 | Dharamshala declared the second (winter) capital |
The first Chief Minister was Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar, called the "architect of Himachal Pradesh". Shimla was the summer capital of British India.
Districts of Himachal Pradesh 2026 (All 12)
| District | Headquarters | Exam fact |
|---|---|---|
| Bilaspur | Bilaspur | Bhakra Dam / Gobind Sagar; Naina Devi temple |
| Chamba | Chamba | Ravi valley; Minjar fair; Chamba Rumal; Khajjiar |
| Hamirpur | Hamirpur | Smallest district by area; highest literacy |
| Kangra | Dharamshala | Most populous district (15.10 lakh); Pong Dam; tea |
| Kinnaur | Reckong Peo | Kinnauri apple and shawl; Sutlej enters via Shipki La |
| Kullu | Kullu | Kullu Dussehra; Great Himalayan National Park |
| Lahaul and Spiti | Keylong | Largest district by area and least populous; Key and Tabo monasteries |
| Mandi | Mandi | International Shivratri fair; Prashar and Rewalsar lakes |
| Shimla | Shimla | State capital; Kalka–Shimla railway |
| Sirmaur | Nahan | Renuka lake; Paonta Sahib |
| Solan | Solan | "Mushroom City"; Baddi pharma hub |
| Una | Una | Chintpurni temple; Vande Bharat to Amb Andaura |
District populations as per Census 2011: Kangra 15,10,075; Mandi 9,99,777; Shimla 8,14,010 (top three).
Geography of Himachal Pradesh: Rivers, Lakes and Passes
Rivers of Himachal Pradesh
| River | Key fact |
|---|---|
| Sutlej | Enters India at Shipki La (Kinnaur); Bhakra Dam and Nathpa Jhakri project |
| Beas | Rises at Beas Kund near Rohtang; Pong Dam (Maharana Pratap Sagar) in Kangra |
| Ravi | Rises in Bara Bhangal (Kangra); flows through Chamba; Chamera projects |
| Chenab (Chandrabhaga) | Formed by the Chandra and Bhaga at Tandi in Lahaul |
| Yamuna | Forms the border with Uttarakhand near Paonta Sahib; Giri and Tons are tributaries |
Lakes of Himachal Pradesh
- Renuka Lake (Sirmaur): the largest natural lake of HP and a Ramsar site.
- Chandra Taal (Lahaul and Spiti) and Pong Dam Lake (Kangra): Ramsar sites. HP has 3 Ramsar sites (see our Ramsar sites list).
- Prashar and Rewalsar (Mandi), Khajjiar (Chamba, called "Mini Switzerland of India"), Suraj Tal near Baralacha La, Dal Lake near McLeodganj.
- Gobind Sagar (Bhakra, Bilaspur) and Maharana Pratap Sagar (Pong, Kangra) are reservoirs.
Mountain passes and tunnels
- Rohtang Pass (Kullu–Lahaul), Baralacha La (Lahaul–Ladakh road), Kunzum Pass (Lahaul–Spiti), Shipki La (border trade pass with Tibet). Memory trick: "R-B-K-S".
- Atal Tunnel, Rohtang: about 9.02 km, opened on 3 October 2020, the world's longest highway tunnel above 10,000 feet; it links Manali with Lahaul.
- Mountain ranges: Shivalik (outer), Dhauladhar (lesser Himalaya, above Dharamshala), Pir Panjal and the Great Himalaya / Zanskar in the north-east. Reo Purgyil in Kinnaur is usually given as the highest peak of the state.
Dams and Hydro Power Projects in Himachal Pradesh
| Project | River | District |
|---|---|---|
| Bhakra Dam (Gobind Sagar) | Sutlej | Bilaspur (dam at the Punjab border) |
| Pong Dam (Maharana Pratap Sagar) | Beas | Kangra |
| Nathpa Jhakri | Sutlej | Kinnaur / Shimla |
| Karcham Wangtoo | Sutlej | Kinnaur |
| Chamera I, II, III | Ravi | Chamba |
| Pandoh Dam (Beas–Sutlej link) | Beas | Mandi |
| Larji | Beas | Kullu |
Because of its hydro potential, Himachal is often called "Urja Pradesh"; it is also called "Devbhoomi" (land of gods) and the "Apple State".
National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of Himachal Pradesh
Himachal has 5 national parks and 26 wildlife sanctuaries (as per the WII/MoEFCC lists used in our national parks and wildlife sanctuaries notes).
| National Park | District | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Great Himalayan National Park | Kullu | UNESCO World Heritage Site (2014); Western Tragopan |
| Pin Valley National Park | Lahaul and Spiti | Snow leopard habitat; cold desert |
| Inderkilla National Park | Kullu | Notified 2010 |
| Khirganga National Park | Kullu | Notified 2010 |
| Col. Sherjung Simbalbara National Park | Sirmaur | Notified 2010; Shivalik sal forests |
Important sanctuaries: Kibber (largest in HP, Spiti), Pong Dam Lake, Chail, Dhauladhar and Churdhar.
State Symbols of Himachal Pradesh
| Symbol | Name |
|---|---|
| State animal | Snow Leopard |
| State bird | Western Tragopan (Jujurana) |
| State flower | Pink Rhododendron (Buransh) |
| State tree | Deodar (Himalayan cedar) |
| Official languages | Hindi; Sanskrit is the second official language (2019) |
Culture of Himachal Pradesh: Fairs, Dances and Crafts
Fairs and festivals
| Fair / festival | Place | When |
|---|---|---|
| International Kullu Dussehra | Dhalpur Maidan, Kullu | October (starts on Vijayadashami, runs 7 days) |
| International Shivratri Fair | Mandi | February–March |
| Minjar Fair | Chamba | July–August (Ravi, maize-tassel symbol) |
| International Lavi Fair | Rampur Bushahr (Shimla) | November (trade fair) |
| Renuka Ji Fair | Sirmaur | October–November |
| Phulaich (Ukhyang) | Kinnaur | Festival of flowers |
| Losar | Lahaul, Spiti, Kinnaur | Tibetan New Year |
Folk dances
Nati (Kullu and Shimla; a mass Kullu Nati performance by women at Kullu Dussehra is in the Guinness World Records as the largest folk dance), Dangi (Chamba), Jhoori, Lahauli and Kayang (Kinnaur). More in our folk dances state-wise note.
Crafts and GI tags
Kullu Shawl, Kangra Tea, Chamba Rumal, Kinnauri Shawl and Kinnauri Apple are among Himachal's GI tags; the GI register's last entry on 31 March 2026, Himachal Handmade Galicha, is also from HP. See GI tags in India 2026. Kangra painting (miniature style) and Pahari painting are classical art forms of the region.
Temples and monasteries
- Shaktipeeths and temples: Jwalamukhi and Brajeshwari (Kangra), Chintpurni (Una), Naina Devi (Bilaspur), Bhimakali (Sarahan, Shimla), Hidimba Devi (Manali), Baijnath (Kangra).
- Masroor rock-cut temples (Kangra): monolithic temples of the 8th century.
- Tabo Monastery (Spiti, founded 996 CE), Key (Kye) Monastery and Dhankar (Spiti). The Dalai Lama has lived in McLeodganj (Dharamshala) since 1960.
Himachal Pradesh Railways, Roads and Airports
- Kalka–Shimla Railway (narrow gauge, about 96 km, opened 1903) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2008) under "Mountain Railways of India".
- Pathankot–Jogindernagar (Kangra Valley Railway) is the other narrow-gauge line.
- The New Delhi–Amb Andaura Vande Bharat Express (22447/22448) is the only Vande Bharat to enter Himachal. See the Vande Bharat train list 2026.
- Airports: Gaggal (Kangra), Bhuntar (Kullu) and Jubbarhatti (Shimla).
Himachal Pradesh Government 2026: Who's Who
| Post | Name (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Governor | Kavinder Gupta (President's communique of 12.10.2026; see our Governors and CMs list) |
| Chief Minister | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (since 11 December 2022) |
| Deputy Chief Minister | Mukesh Agnihotri |
| First Chief Minister | Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar |
Office-holders change, so check the date before you rely on any name in an exam that is months away.
Common Mistakes in Himachal GK Questions
- 15 April vs 25 January. 15 April is Himachal Day (formation in 1948); 25 January is Statehood Day (1971).
- Largest district is Lahaul and Spiti, not Kangra. Kangra is the most populous.
- Winter capital is Dharamshala, not Kangra town. Dharamshala is the headquarters of Kangra district.
- Bhakra is on the Sutlej; Pong is on the Beas. Students often swap them.
- Snow Leopard is the state animal. The Musk Deer was the earlier state animal, so older books may still list it.
Himachal Pradesh GK MCQs (With Answers)
- When did Himachal Pradesh become a full-fledged state? Answer: 25 January 1971.
- Himachal Day is celebrated on: Answer: 15 April.
- How many districts does Himachal Pradesh have? Answer: 12.
- Which is the largest district of Himachal Pradesh by area? Answer: Lahaul and Spiti.
- Which is the smallest district of Himachal Pradesh by area? Answer: Hamirpur.
- What is the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh? Answer: Dharamshala.
- Who was the first Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh? Answer: Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar.
- The state bird of Himachal Pradesh is: Answer: Western Tragopan (Jujurana).
- Pong Dam is built on which river? Answer: Beas.
- Which national park of Himachal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Answer: Great Himalayan National Park (2014).
- The Atal Tunnel was opened on: Answer: 3 October 2020.
- Which is the largest natural lake of Himachal Pradesh? Answer: Renuka Lake (Sirmaur).
- Minjar fair is celebrated in which district? Answer: Chamba.
- The Chandra and Bhaga rivers meet at Tandi to form: Answer: Chenab.
- As per Census 2011, the sex ratio of Himachal Pradesh is: Answer: 972.
Timed practice: SSC CGL General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 01, RRB NTPC Geography Mock Test 01 and RRB Group D GK Mock Test 01.
Himachal Pradesh GK FAQs
What is the capital of Himachal Pradesh?
Shimla is the capital. Dharamshala was declared the second (winter) capital on 19 January 2017.
How many districts are there in Himachal Pradesh in 2026?
12: Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan and Una.
What is the area and population of Himachal Pradesh?
55,673 sq km, and 68,64,602 people as per Census 2011, with a density of 123 per sq km.
Who is the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh in 2026?
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister since 11 December 2022. The Governor in October 2026 is Kavinder Gupta.
Which is the state animal of Himachal Pradesh?
The Snow Leopard. The state bird is the Western Tragopan, the state flower the Pink Rhododendron and the state tree the Deodar.
How many Lok Sabha seats are there in Himachal Pradesh?
4 Lok Sabha seats (Shimla, Mandi, Hamirpur and Kangra), 3 Rajya Sabha seats and 68 assembly seats.
Which is the highest peak in Himachal Pradesh?
Reo Purgyil in Kinnaur district is usually given as the highest peak of Himachal Pradesh.
Practice Next
- Related notes: states and capitals of India 2026, mountain passes of India, major dams of India, important lakes in India and Indian rivers origin and end.
- Mock tests: SSC CHSL General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 01 and RRB NTPC GK Mini Mock Test 02.
- Exam details: SSC CGL 2026 and RRB NTPC 2026.
- Browse all study notes.