Himachal Pradesh (Sanskrit meaning: Snow-laden Mountain Province) is a state in northern India near the western Himalayas. It was granted full statehood in 1971. Himachal shares borders with the state of Jammu and Kashmir to the north. The state also shares an international border to the east with Tibet.
Himachal Pradesh is spread across valleys with many perennial rivers flowing through them. Agriculture, horticulture, hydropower, and tourism are important constituents of the state’s economy. We visited this state early May of 2025 for the first time.