Until the nineteenth century, tourism in Himachal Pradesh was largely limited to a small number of pilgrims visiting spiritual sites in the hills. It was only when the British established a series of hill stations that tourism began to gain recognition in the region. A significant turning point came in 1864 when the British declared Shimla as the “Summer Capital of India.” After independence, increased investment in infrastructure led to the expansion of tourism across the state. However, the most significant boost to tourism occurred during the 1980s and 1990s, when the industry truly began to flourish.