<P> After independence, the Chief Commissioner's Province of Himachal Pradesh . was organized on 15 April 1948 as a result of integration of 28 petty princely states (including feudal princes and zaildars) in the promontories of the western Himalaya . These were known as the Simla Hills States and four Punjab southern hill states under the Himachal Pradesh (Administration) Order, 1948 under Sections 3 and 4 of the Extra-Provincial Jurisdiction Act, 1947 (later renamed as the Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947 vide A.O. of 1950). The State of Bilaspur was merged into Himachal Pradesh on 1 April 1954 by the Himachal Pradesh and Bilaspur (New State) Act, 1954 . </P> <P> Himachal became a part C state on 26 January 1950 with the implementation of the Constitution of India and the Lieutenant Governor was appointed . The Legislative Assembly was elected in 1952 . Himachal Pradesh became a union territory on 1 November 1956 . Some areas of Punjab State--namely Simla, Kangra, Kulu and Lahul and Spiti Districts, Nalagarh tehsil of Ambala District, Lohara, Amb and Una kanungo circles, some area of Santokhgarh kanungo circle and some other specified area of Una tehsil of Hoshiarpur District, besides some parts of Dhar Kalan Kanungo circle of Pathankot tehsil of Gurdaspur District--were merged with Himachal Pradesh on 1 November 1966 on enactment by Parliament of Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 . On 18 December 1970, the State of Himachal Pradesh Act was passed by Parliament, and the new state came into being on 25 January 1971 . Himachal became the 18th state of the Indian Union with Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar as its first chief minister . </P> <P> Himachal is in the western Himalayas . Covering an area of 55,673 square kilometres (21,495 sq mi), it is a mountainous state . Most of the state lies on the foothills of the Dhauladhar Range . At 7,025 m Shilla is the highest mountain peak in the state of Himachal Pradesh . </P> <P> The drainage system of Himachal is composed both of rivers and glaciers . Himalayan rivers criss - cross the entire mountain chain . Himachal Pradesh provides water to both the Indus and Ganges basins . The drainage systems of the region are the Chandra Bhaga or the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, the Sutlej, and the Yamuna . These rivers are perennial and are fed by snow and rainfall . They are protected by an extensive cover of natural vegetation . </P>

The state of himachal accounts for how much area of india