The 10 Most Populated Cities In Himachal Pradesh

Jan J George [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

The Indian state of Himachal Pradesh is synonymous with spectacular natural beauty. Situated in the Western Himalayas, this state is bordered by Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir to the west, southeast, southwest, and north respectively. It has an international border with Tibet to the east and a small border with the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh to the south. Mountainous landscape predominates in Himachal Pradesh. Population in this state is thus significantly lower than in many other parts of India. The state occupies an area of 55,673 square km and houses a population of 6,864,602 individuals. Here is a list of the most populous cities of Himachal Pradesh:


1. Shimla

Shimla or Simla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and also its most populous city. It occupies an area of 35.34 square km and houses a population of 169,578 individuals. The population density of the city is 4,800 persons per square km. It is located at an elevation of 7,467 feet. Shimla is a beautiful city that was chosen to serve as the summer capital by the British during British Raj. Following the independence of India, Shimla became Punjab’s capital city and later the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It is the major hub of commerce, education, healthcare, and culture of the state. Tourism is the main driver of Shimla’s economy. Tourists from across the country and abroad visit this city to enjoy its spectacular scenery. 

2. Solan

Solan is Himachal Pradesh’s second largest city. It serves as the headquarters of the Solan district. Solan is located at a distance of 46 km from Shimla on the Kalka-Shimla National Highway-22, and is at an average elevation of 5,200 feet. Solan houses a population of only 39,256 people. Solan that derives its name from a local goddess called Shoolini Devi, is nicknamed the "Mushroom city of India” due to the vast mushroom farming area located around the city. It is also known as the "City of Red Gold” as tomatoes are mass-produced in the area. 

3. Dharamshala

A popular tourist town in Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala is the third most populous city in the state. It is the headquarters of the Kangra district. Dharamshala houses the residence of the much-revered Dalai Lama. The Central Tibetan Administration is also headquartered here after their expulsion from Tibet. Quite recently in January 2017, Dharamshala was declared the second capital of Himachal Pradesh sharing the title with Shimla. The city encompasses an area of 27.6 square km and hosts a population of 30,764 people.

4. Baddi 

With a population of 29,911 people, Baddi is the state’s fourth biggest city. It is an industrial town located in the Shivalik Hills region in the Solan District in the southwestern part of the state. The town is home to many pharmaceutical companies that have their R&D and manufacturing plants in this town. It is often regarded as the biggest pharmaceuticals hub in Asia. Leading pharma brands like Cipla, Ranbaxy Laboratories, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, and others have their offices and factories in the area. The town contributes about 50% of the total revenues of Himachal Pradesh generated from its industrial sector.

5. Nahan

Nahan is a small town located in the Sirmaur District of Himachal Pradesh. It houses a population of 28,899 individuals making it the state’s fifth most populous city. An Indian Army Special Forces Training School is located here. Nahan is a very beautiful town with many cultural and natural attractions in and around it. As such, it is a fast-growing tourist center in the state.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himachal_Pradesh