Himachal

Up until the 19th century, Himachal Pradesh’s tourism was confined to a small number of pilgrimages to a small number of religious sites scattered throughout the hills. Tourism was not acknowledged in the State until the British built their network of hill stations. Shimla’s designation by the British as “The Summer Capital of India” in 1864 gave the tourism industry a boost. After independence, increased infrastructure spending resulted in the opening up of the State’s tourism industry. The 1980s and 1990s saw the greatest growth in tourism, nevertheless.