What is the Capital of Himachal Pradesh?

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: September 25th, 2023

The state of Himachal Pradesh is famous for its scenic beauty and landscapes that attract thousands of tourists all year round. The state has multiple hill stations that bring a ton of tourism through activities like trekking, climbing, skiing and camping. What’s interesting about the state is that it has two capitals.

The summer capital of Himachal Pradesh is the beautiful hill station of Shimla. And the winter capital is Dharamshala which is also the abode of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile. It was announced as the second or the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh in the year 2017 by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Table of content

1. The summer capital of Himachal Pradesh is Shimla and the winter capital is Dharamshala.
2. Why Does Himachal Pradesh Have 2 Capitals?
3. What is the Capital of Himachal Pradesh?

Answer:

The summer capital of Himachal Pradesh is Shimla and the winter capital is Dharamshala.

Both Shimla and Dharamshala are mountain cities that attract a plethora of tourists every year and bring a lot of revenue to the state of Himachal. Also, Shimla was also the summer capital of British India. Declaring Dharamshala as the second capital of Himachal Pradesh was a political move by the government.

Why Does Himachal Pradesh Have 2 Capitals?

Just like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh also has 2 capitals for the summer and winter months. But why does it require 2 capitals? According to the CM of the state, having 2 capitals would improve the condition of the lower-lying areas of HP including Kangra, Chamba, Hamirpur and Una districts and help the people who had to travel to Shimla for work. Hence, the move was meant to bring parity and establish unity in the state.

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