Four Himalayan Ranges of Himachal Pradesh: A Comprehensive Geographic Analysis
Overview of the Four Himalayan Ranges
The mountainous landscape of Himachal Pradesh comprises four distinct parallel Himalayan ranges running from south to north. These are:
- Outer Himalayas (Shiwaliks)
- Lesser Himalayas (includes both Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges)
- Greater Himalayas (Himadri)
- Trans-Himalayas (Zanskar Range)
Each range has distinct geological, climatic, and topographical characteristics that define the state’s physiography.
Quick Comparison Memory Trick
| Feature | Shivalik | Dhauladhar |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Tresses of Shiva (Hair) | White Peaks |
| Mnemonic Tip | Hair → Black → Shiva | White → Snow → Sharp Peaks |
| Name Link | Shiva ↔ Shivalik/manak parvat | Maulak ↔ Dhauladhar |
1. The Outer Himalayas: Shiwalik Range
🗺️ Geographic Extent and Characteristics
The Shiwalik Range, also known as the Outer Himalayas, forms the southernmost and youngest mountain range of Himachal Pradesh. This range extends along the southern boundary of the state from east to west with an average elevation of approximately 600 meters, though altitudes can vary from 600 to 1,500 meters.
🏔️ Shiwalik Range (Outer Himalayas – Lowest & youngest)
Una District:
Chintpurni Dhar, Jaswan Dhar, Dholasan (Dionsan) Dhar, Ramgarh Dhar, Chaumaukhi Dhar
Hamirpur District:
Jakh Dhar, Chabutra Dhar, Sola Singhi Dhar
Kangra District:
Kali Dhar
Chamba–Kangra Border:
Hathi Dhar
Bilaspur District:
Kot Dhar, Naina Devi Dhar, Rattapur Dhar, Jhanjhiara Dhar, Tiun Dhar, Bandla Dhar, Bhadarpur Dhar
Mandi District:
Sikandar Dhar, Vairkot Dhar, Lindi Dhar, Kamlah Dhar
Sirmaur District:
Dharti Dhar, Sian Dhar, Lai Dhar, Jaitak Dhar
Shimla District:
Tara Devi Hills
⛰️ Major Peaks in Shiwalik Range
- Churdhar (3,647 meters) – Sirmaur district (highest and most prominent in the Shiwalik Range).
- Hatu Peak (3,400 m) – Shimla district
- Shali Tibba (2,870 m) – Shimla district
- Nag Tikkar (2,780 m) – Shimla district
🚶 Passes
No significant high passes due to low altitude, but Jaitak and Nahan gaps are minor cross routes between ridges.
🏞️ Basin & Physiographic Function
- Separates Himachal Pradesh from the Punjab–Haryana plains.
- Rivers such as the Swan, Markanda, and Giri originate here.
2. The Lesser Himalayas (Middle Himalayas)
This division consists of two major ranges:
A. Dhauladhar Range
🗺️ Geographic Extent and Characteristics
- Branches off from the Great Himalayan Range near Badrinath (Uttarakhand) and extends westward.
- Elevation: 3,500 m to 6,056 m.
- Steep, snow-clad, rugged topography.
- At Bara Bhangal, the northern flank of the Dhauladhar impinges against the southern flank of the Pir Panjal, forming a significant mountain knot.
- Districts: Kinnaur, Shimla, Mandi, Kullu, Kangra, Sirmaur.
🏔️ Important Dhars:
- Kinnaur: Baspa Dhar
- Shimla: Hatlu Dhar, Chandernahan Dhar, Shalli Dhar
- Mandi: Goggar Dhar, Guma Dhar, Darang Dhar, Jhanjheri Dhar, Shikari Devi Dhar, Pangna Dhar
- Kullu: Pung Dhar, Jalori Dhar, Riyara Dhar, Shitti Dhar
- Kangra: Paprola Dhar
- Sirmaur: Choor Dhar (Choordhar), Haripur Dhar, Taproli Dhar
⛰️ Major Peaks in Dhauladhar Range
- Hanuman Tibba (5,982 m) – Kangra district (also known as Hanuman Ji Ka Tibba or White Mountain).
- Moon Peak (4,650 m)
- Nagru (4,020 m) – Mandi district
- Minkiani Pass (4,300 m) – near Kareri Lake
- Indrahar Pass (4,342 m) – trekking pass between Kangra and Chamba
- Cholang (3,270 m) – Kangra district
🚶 Important Passes in Dhauladhar Range
- Indrahar Pass (4,342 m) – border between Kangra and Chamba.
- Tamsar Pass (4,572 m) – connects Kangra with Bara Bhangal.
- Talang Pass (4,640 m) – one of the highest in Dhauladhar.
🌊 River Gorges Through Dhauladhar
- Ravi River exits Himachal Pradesh at Kheri (not necessarily “cuts” there).
- Beas River meets Sainj tributary at Larji (nature of gorge varies).
- Sutlej River passes near Rampur Bushahr (Dhauladhar influence indirect).
🏞️ Basin Function
- Separates the Ravi–Beas basin from the Chenab basin.
- Forms the southern boundary of Chamba district, effectively separating Chamba from Kangra.
B. Pir Panjal Range
🗺️ Geographic Extent and Characteristics
- Largest of the Lesser Himalayan ranges.
- Bifurcates from the Great Himalayan Range near the bank of the Sutlej River.
- Forms a water divide between Chenab on one side and Beas–Ravi on the other.
- Elevation: 4,000 m to 6,280 m.
- Wider and more massive than the Dhauladhar Range.
- Districts: Chamba, Kullu, Lahaul, Mandi.
- Important Dhars: Manimahesh Dhar, Pangi Dhar, Chatar Dhar, Dagani Dhar.
⛰️ Major Peaks in Pir Panjal Range
- Indrasan (6,221 m) – highest peak.
- Deo Tibba (6,001 m) – second highest.
- Shikar Beh (6,280 m) – Kullu district.
- Mukar Beh (6,000–6,070 m) – Kullu district.
- Manali Peak (5,600 m)
- Ladakhi Peak (5,300 m)
- Shiti Dhar (Shitindhar) Peak (5,294 m)
- Friendship Peak (5,289 m) – popular among trekkers.
- Pir Panjal Peak (5,972 m) – Chamba district.
- Harmukh Peak (5,142 m) – highest peak in the western Pir Panjal.
🚶 Important Passes in Pir Panjal Range
- Rohtang Pass (3,978 m) – connects Manali (Kullu Valley) with Keylong (Lahaul Valley).
- Sach Pass (4,414 m) – connects Chamba with Pangi Valley.
- Jalori Pass (3,135 m) – connects Inner and Outer Seraj in Kullu.
- Hamta Pass – connects Chandra Valley (Lahaul) with Kullu Valley.
🏞️ Basin Separation Function
- Pir Panjal Range separates the Chenab River drainage from the Beas and Ravi Rivers.
- It does not separate the Spiti basin (that function belongs to the Greater Himalayas and Zanskar Range).
3. The Greater Himalayas (Himadri)
🗺️ Geographic Characteristics
- Highest and most continuous range of Himachal Pradesh.
- Elevation: 5,000 m to 7,000 m.
- Lies along the eastern boundary of the state.
- Separates the Spiti River basin from the Beas River basin.
- Districts: Kullu, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba.
⛰️ Major Peaks in Greater Himalayas
- Gya (6,795 m) – Spiti district
- Parvati Parvat (6,633 m) – Spiti & Kullu
- Kullu Pumori (6,553 m) – Lahaul-Spiti
- Mukila (6,517 m) – Lahaul-Spiti
- Papsura (6,446 m) – “Evil Peak”
- Dharamsura (6,446 m) – “Good Peak”
- Solang Peak (5,975 m) – Kullu
- Manimahesh Kailash (5,660 m) – Chamba
- Srikhand Mahadev (5,182 m) – Kullu
🚶 Important Passes in Greater/Trans-Himalaya Region
- Shipki La (4,500 m) – connects Kinnaur with Tibet.
- Kunzum Pass (4,520 m) – connects Lahaul with Spiti.
- Pin Parbati Pass (5,320 m) – connects Kullu with Spiti.
- Baralacha La (4,890 m) – in Pangi Range, connects Lahaul with Ladakh.
🏞️ Basin Function
- The Great Himalayan Range separates Spiti drainage (north) from Beas drainage (south).
4. The Trans-Himalayas (Zanskar Range)
🗺️ Geographic Extent
- Lies north of the Great Himalayan range.
- In Himachal Pradesh, this zone is represented by the Zanskar Range, forming the easternmost range of the state.
- Separates Spiti and Kinnaur from Tibet and Ladakh.
- Districts: Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti.
⛰️ Major Peaks in Zanskar Range
- Reo Purgyil (Leo Pargial or Leo Pargil) – 6,816 m (22,362 ft), highest peak in Himachal Pradesh. Located in Kinnaur district on the HP–Tibet border.
- Shilla Peak (Shila) – conflicting altitudes:
- Traditional surveys: 7,025–7,026 m
- Modern surveys: 6,132 m (20,118 ft)
- Etymology: Shi = death; Shi-la = peak of death; locally means place of monastery / gateway to heaven.
- Leo Pargial North Peak (6,791 m)
- Ninjeri (6,646 m) – Kinnaur
- Manirang (6,593–6,597 m) – Kinnaur & Spiti
- Shipki (6,068–6,608 m) – Kinnaur
- Kinnaur Kailash (6,050 m) – Kinnaur
🚶 Important Passes in Zanskar Range
- Shipki La (4,500 m) – connects Kinnaur with Tibet.
- Parang La (5,580 m) – connects Spiti Valley with Ladakh.
- Baralacha La (4,890 m) – connects Lahaul with Ladakh (southern Zanskar end).
🏞️ Basin Function
- Separates Spiti and Kinnaur basins from Tibet and Ladakh.
- Region is arid; part of Trans-Himalayan cold desert.
Summary of Corrected Information
- Trans-Himalayas (Zanskar): Separate Spiti and Kinnaur from Tibet and Ladakh.
- Shiwaliks: Separate HP from Punjab, Haryana, and the northern plains.
- Dhauladhar Separation: Branches off from the Great Himalayan Range near Badrinath (Uttarakhand).
- Pir Panjal Separation: Bifurcates from the Great Himalayan Range near the bank of the Sutlej River.
- Dhauladhar–Pir Panjal Junction: Ranges meet at Bara Bhangal.
- Basin Separation (Dhauladhar): Ravi–Beas basin from Chenab basin.
- Basin Separation (Great Himalayas): Spiti basin from Beas basin.