Shimla: As Himachal Pradesh celebrates its 54th Statehood Day on Jan 25, the hill state has earned a unique identity among the states in the country with its breathtaking landscapes and talented professionals, who have earned a name in their respective fields. Be it the level of education or per capita income, Himachal is counted among the leading states in the country.
Here is a look at Himachal Pradesh and the specialty it offers:
Apple Bowl of India: It won't be an exaggeration to call Himachal Pradesh the fruit basket of the country. Especially in apple production, Himachal stands 2nd in the list after Jammu and Kashmir earning it the sobriquet of 'Apple Bowl of India'. On an average, every year about 3 crore boxes of apples reach the market from Himachal. That means, if you are eating an apple, it may be from an orchard in Shimla or Kullu. Apart from this, orange, pear, plum, peach, guava and stone fruit are also grown in the state.
A cup of Kangra tea: Whenever there is talk of tea, Assam or Darjeeling usually come to out mind. But the tea of Kangra district of Himachal is also very famous. There are tea gardens present in Palampur, whose aroma and taste are said to be among the best in the world. The Kangra tea has also earned the GI tag of the European Union.
Highest post office and polling booth:Tashigang village located at an altitude of about 15,256 feet (4650 meters) in Lahaul Spiti district is the world's highest polling booth. There were 52 voters here in the assembly elections held in the year 2022. Similarly, the world's highest post office and gym is present in Hikkim village of Lahaul Spiti. Situated at an altitude of 14,567 feet, this village was earlier the world's highest polling booth. Next time you visit this highest post office, do not miss sending postcards to your friends from there for memories.
Country's first voter:India's first voter was also from Himachal. Master Shyam Saran Singh Negi of Kinnaur district was the first to cast his vote in the country's first Lok Sabha elections. The first elections in the country were held in the beginning of 1952, but in view of the snowfall alert, voting was conducted in the tribal areas of Himachal in October 1951. Then Shyam Saran Negi was the first to cast his vote, although this was revealed after about 56 years in 2007. Shyam Saran Negi died on 5 November 2022 at the age of 105, three days after he had cast his vote from home for the assembly elections.
Rashtrapati Bhavan:Most people know about Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, but do you know that apart from this, there are also Rashtrapati Bhavans in two more states in the country? 'Rashtrapati Nilayam' located in Hyderabad, Telangana and 'Retreat' located in Shimla, Himachal are the additional presidential residences of the country. The President keeps coming to both these places for a stay of a few days. The retreat located in Himachal has now been opened for the common people as well.
Bhakra Dam: Today, big dams have been built across the country but in 1963, Bhakra Dam was the largest dam built in the country. This dam built on Gobind Sagar Lake in Bilaspur was among the tallest dams in the world at that time. Six to seven decades ago, this was no less than an achievement for a country like India. Even today, it is the third largest dam in the country in terms of carrying capacity. Whereas in terms of height, after Tehri Dam, Bhakra Dam comes next.
Atal Tunnel:The Atal Tunnel connecting Kullu and Lahaul districts is also a wonder in itself. The 9.02 km long tunnel built at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet, is the world's highest single tube highway tunnel. This tunnel has been constructed by BRO and with its help access to Lahaul Spiti has become easier. This has made it easier for tourists to visit the beautiful areas of Lahaul. The tunnel also serves a strategic purpose providing all weather connectivity to Leh in Ladakh for the Indian Army.
Dev tradition and temples:Himachal Pradesh is also called Devbhoomi. The divine traditions and culture here make it different from other states. It is believed that gods reside on the mountains and the process of following the orders of the gods and organizing fairs or celebrating festivals has been going on here for years. Apart from Shaktipeeths like Naina Devi, Jwala Ji as well as Shiva temples like Baijnath, Bhootnath, there are also many religious pilgrimages like Kinnar Kailash Yatra, Manimahesh Yatra.
Kullu Dussehra: The most perfect example of Dev traditions in Himachal Pradesh is the Kullu Dussehra. The world famous Kullu Dussehra lasts for about a week and it starts on the culmination of Dussehra across the country. All the gods and goddesses of Kullu district also participate in the festival. Here the deities arrive riding on the shoulders of Haryans and the administration makes arrangements for the deities' stay till the conclusion of the fair.
Four Paramvir Chakra winners: The small hill state with a population of only 70 lakhs is not only known for its divine tradition and natural views. Bravery is also the identity of Himachal and this is the reason why most of the youth joining the country's army are from Himachal. Four bravehearts of Himachal, Martyr Major Somnath Sharma, Martyr Captain Vikram Batra, Lieutenant Colonel Dhan Singh Thapa and Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar have been awarded the highest honor Param Vir Chakra for their indomitable courage and bravery.
Till now only 21 brave men have been awarded Paramvir Chakra. Major Somnath Sharma was the country's first and Captain Vikram Batra was the last Paramveer.
Dalai Lama's house: Tibetan religious leader Dalai Lama's house is also in Himachal. There are many Tibetan monasteries in Dharamshala and McLeodganj in Kangra district. Both these places are very beautiful and lakhs of tourists come here every year. After China's invasion of Tibet in around 1960, the Dalai Lama left his country and took refuge in India.