A record number of 459 candidates, including 27 women, were in the fray.
The Election Commission had set up 7,253 polling stations for 46,08,359 electors, including 23,76,587 men.
Congress leader and five-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh cast vote at his native place in Rampur town, around 120 km from here, while Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal exercised his franchise in Samirpur, now part of Bhoranj constituency.
Virbhadra Singh is contesting the elections from Shimla (rural) and Dhumal from Hamirpur constituency.
"We will form the government. This is my belief," Commerce Minister Anand Sharma told reporters after casting his ballot in Shimla.
