The State’s Rivers Are Believed By The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board To Hold 25% Of India’s Hydroelectric Potential And The Himachal Government Has Get On On A Major Dam-Construction Programme. Several Himachal States Had Kings From Bengal; The Best-Known State Being Mandi, Founded In 1527. During The Colonial Period Many Rajas Cast In Their Lot With The British Only To Lose Their Kingdoms And Titles On Sovereignty. The British ‘Discovered ‘Himachal After Their Wars With The Sikhs And The Gurkhas, And Little Bits Of England Were Created At Shimla, Dalhousie And Dharamsala During The Late 19th Century.

In 1948 The State Of Himachal Pradesh Was Formed, Liberating Many Villages From The Feudal System. By 1966 The Pahari-Speaking Parts Under Punjabi Management (Including Kangra, Kullu, Lahaul And Spiti) Were Added. Full Statehood Was Achieved In 1971.

Himachal Pradesh Is Dominated By Mountains Rising Steeply From The Punjabi Plains. The Tallest Peaks Are Leo Purgyal ( 6791 M ) Near Nako In Kinnaur; Kinnaur Kailash ( 6050 M ) Overlooking Eastern Kinnaur; And Deo Tibba ( 6001 M ) Not Far From Manali.

In The West Of The State Is The Peaceful Kangra Valley And The Wonderfully Rugged Chamba Valley Separated By Snowcapped Dhaula Dhar Range. The Pir Panjal Range Separates The Chamba Valley From The Remote Pattan Valley ( Upper Chenab River Valley ) In The Far North.