Himachal Pradesh is a state in north India. It is spread over 21,495 sq mi ( 55,673 km² ),and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by Tibet on the east. The literal meaning of Himachal Pradesh is Region of snowy mountains.Himachal Pradesh was also known as Deva Bhumi ( the land of the gods ). The Aryan influence in the region dates back to the period before the Rigveda. After the Anglo Gorkha War, the British colonial government came into power. It was initially part of Punjab, except the Siba State of Punjab Hills which was under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh until 1857.In 1950 Himachal was declared as a union territory but after the State of Himachal Pradesh Act 1971, Himachal emerged as the 18th state of the Indian Union.Himachal has many prestigious boarding schools.