However, it was declared a fullfledged state on 25.1.71 with 12 districts. It is larger in area than Punjab, Haryana and Kerala. It is located in the north-west of India in the lap of Himalaya. In the east it has borders with Tibet. It has an elevation from 450 to 6800 mts.
Southern region is warm in summer and the northern is extremly cold with heavy snow.
Himachal Pradesh has been on the path of progress since Independence. The population has almost stabilized at about 5 million, thanks to high literacy and effective family planning programs. Every village in the state has electricity and drinking water now. Himachal is literally a power house when it comes to hydro-electricity. The state has many dams that harness the hilly rivers to generate electric power.