Tourism in Himachal Pradesh
Tourism in Himachal Pradesh relates to tourism in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. This is popularly known for its Himalayan landscapes and hill-stations. Many outdoor activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, ice-skating, trekking, rafting, and heli-skiing are tourist attractions in Himachal Pradesh.
Until the British reign, tourism in Himachal Pradesh was very limited to a few places around the hills and some spiritual destinations. The British developed hill stations during their reign one of them being Shimla which they called The Summer Capital of India. After the British rule, tourism in Himachal Pradesh was on the rise with the highest number of tourists in the mid 1980s and 1990s.[1]
Shimla, the state capital, is popular among tourists. The Kalka-Shimla Railway is a mountain railway which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[2] Shimla is also a skiing attraction in India. Other hill stations include Manali, Kinnuar, Kasol, Parvati Valley, Chamba, Kullu, Kinnar Kailesh, and Kasauli.
Dharamshala, home of the Dalai Lama, is known for its Tibetan monasteries and Buddhist temples. Many trekking expeditions also begin here.
The Ridge is a large road in Shimla which is the centre of most cultural activities of Shimla. Annadale is also a major tourist spot in Shimla with an Army Heritage Museum, a Golf Course, helipad and lush green nature.
The state has 5 Shakti Peeths[3] - Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi Temple, Bajreshwari Mata Temple, Shri Chamunda Devi Mandir and Naina Devi Temple.
Himachal is also known for its adventure tourism activities like ice skating in Shimla, paragliding in Bir, Himachal Pradesh and Solang Valley, rafting in Kullu, skiing in Manali, boating in Bilaspur, fishing in Tirthan Valley, trekking and horse riding in different parts of the state.[4]
The state has some of the highest mountain passes in the world[5] - Rohtang Pass, Baralacha La, Kunzum La, Borasu Pass and Hamta Pass.
Religious tourism
The 5 Shakti Peeths[3] - Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi Temple, Bajreshwari Mata Temple, Shri Chamunda Devi Mandir and Naina Devi Temple attract a constant flow of tourists all year long.
Adventure tourism
Rafting, paragliding, skiing, hot air balooning and trekking are among the reasons that adventure seekers visit the state.[6]
Flora and fauna
The Great Himalayan National Park is found in the Kullu district which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has an area of 620 sq km and ranging from an altitude of 1500 meters to 4500 meters and was created in 1984. There are various forest types found here such as Deodar, Silver Fir, Spruce, Oak and Alpine pastures.[7] In the Great Himalayan National Park, there are a variety of animals found such as Snow Leopard, Himalayan Yak, Himalayan Black Bear, Western Tragopan, Monal and Musk Deer. This National Park is a trail to many hikers and trekkers too.[1] Moreover, there are sanctuaries which are tourist spots such as Naina Devi Sanctuary in Bilaspur district with an area of 120 sq km , Gobind Sagar Sanctuary with an area of 100 sq km and Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary. There are animals such as Indian porcupine and giant flying squirrel found here. The Gobind Sagar Lake has fish species such as Mrigal, Silver carp, Katla, Mahaseer and Rohu are found here.[7] Narkanda located in at an altitude of around 8850 feet is known for its apple orchards. It is located between the river valleys of Giri and Sutlej.[8]
Fairs and festivals
There are a variety of festivals celebrated by the locals of Himachal Pradesh who worship gods and goddesses. There are over 2000 villages in Himachal Pradesh which celebrate festivals such as Kullu Dussehra, Sujanpur Holi Festival, Chamba’s Minjar, Renuka ji Fair, Lohri, Halda, Phagli, Lossar and Mandi Shivratri.[1] There approximately 6000 temples in Himachal Pradesh with a known one being Bijli Mahadev. The temple is seen as a 20-meter structure built in stone which, according to locals, is known to attract lighting. They say that this is a way the Gods show their blessings.[9]
In August 2020 the Himachal Pradesh Government announced that they will be running vistadome buses inside Rohtang tunnel for tourists.[10]
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Skiing in Manali
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Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh
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8th century rock cut temple at Masrur
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Statistics
Domestic tourism
Domestic tourism in Himachal Pradesh has seen significant fluctuations over the past few years.
| Year | Arrivals |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 87,00,000 |
| 2019 | 88,57,000 |
| 2020 | 21,63,000 |
| 2021 | 19,73,000 |
| 2022 | 1,50,00,000 |
| 2023 | 1,59,00,000 |
| 2024 | 1,80,00,000[11] |
Foreign tourism
Himachal Pradesh, a state in northern India known for its scenery and culture, attracts tourists from all over the world.
| Year | Arrivals |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 4,00,000 |
| 2014 | 4,00,000 |
| 2015 | 4,00,000 |
| 2016 | 4,00,000 |
| 2017 | 4,00,000 |
| 2018 | 2,00,000 |
| 2019 | 2,00,000 |
| 2020 | 41,803 |
| 2021 | 5,000 |
| 2022 | 29,000 |
| 2023 | 63,000 |
| 2024 | 83,000[12] |
References
- ^ a b c him_admin. "Himachal Tourism Official Website". Himachal Tourism Official Website. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ^ "UNESCO World Heritage Site". unesco. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
- ^ a b "Shakti Peeth In Himachal Pradesh". 28 February 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
- ^ "Himachal Tourism". himachaltourism.gov.in. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
- ^ "1 Mountain Passes of Himachal - High Altitude Treks & Pass in Himachal Pradesh". www.euttaranchal.com. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
- ^ "Himachal Tourism". himachaltourism.gov.in.
- ^ a b Jreat, Manoj (2004). Tourism in Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publishing. ISBN 9788173871573.
- ^ "Narkanda: The gateway to apple country". Hindustan Times. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ^ Sengar, Resham. "At Bijli Mahadev temple in Himachal, lightning strikes the Shiva lingam every year". Times of India Travel. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ^ "Himachal Pradesh to run vistadome buses inside Rohtang tunnel for tourists". Hindustan Times. 16 August 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ^ "Himachal Pradesh sees record tourist footfall in 2024 with 83,000 foreigners, 1.80 crore domestic visitors". The Times of India. 26 March 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
- ^ "Himachal Pradesh sees record tourist footfall in 2024 with 83,000 foreigners, 1.80 crore domestic visitors". The Times of India. 26 March 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 22 June 2025.