🗻 Classification of the Himalayan Ranges – Lattitudional Division

The Himalayas in India are divided into five major divisions based on their location and geological features.

1️⃣ Trans-Himalayas (Also known as Tibetan Himalayas)

Located to the north of the Greater Himalayas, this division includes the high-altitude ranges found in Ladakh and surrounding regions.
Important ranges in order from north to south are:

Karakoram Range
Ladakh Range
Zanskar Range
Kailash Range

2️⃣ Greater Himalayas (Also known as The Himadri)

This is the highest and most continuous range of the Himalayas, running from west to east.
It includes many of the world’s tallest peaks, such as Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, and Nanga Parbat.
No named sub-ranges are specified here, as this division is geologically one massive unit.

3️⃣ Lesser Himalayas (Also known as The Middle Himalayas or The Himachal)

This division lies south of the Greater Himalayas and contains important hill ranges that vary regionally:

In Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh: Pir Panjal Range
In Himachal Pradesh: Dhauladhar Range
In Uttarakhand: Mussoorie Range and Nag Tibba Range
In Nepal: Mahabharat Lekh
In Arunachal Pradesh: Dafla, Miri, Abor, and Mishmi Hills

4️⃣ Shiwaliks (Also known as The Outer Himalayas)

This is the youngest and southernmost range of the Himalayas, forming the foothills.

They are known by different names in various regions:

In the Jammu region: Jammu Hills
In Himachal Pradesh: Shivalik Hills
In Uttarakhand: Dhang Range and Dundwa Range
In Nepal: Churia Ghat Hills

5️⃣ Eastern Hills (Also called Purvanchal)

Located in the northeastern part of India, these hills form the eastern extension of the Himalayas.
The Purvanchal Hills include the following important hill systems:

Patkai Hills
Naga Hills
Manipur Hills
Mizo or Lushai Hills
Tripura Hills

📚 Pro Tip for Exams: Remember the sequence from Trans-Himalayas → Himadri → Himachal → Shiwaliks → Purvanchal to tackle map-based and theory questions efficiently.

🏔️ Classification of Himalayan Ranges – Longitudinal or Regional Division

📍 Kashmir Himalayas (also called Punjab Himalayas)
🧭 Kumaon Himalayas (includes Kumaon – eastern part and Garhwal – western part)
🌄 Nepal Himalayas (includes Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Bhutan Himalayas)
🌿 Assam Himalayas

🏔️ Kashmir Himalayas (Also Called Punjab Himalayas)

📍 Location: Between Indus and Sutlej rivers
🌊 Drainage: Includes basins of Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej

⛰️ Mountain Ranges Included:

Trans-Himalayas: Karakoram, Ladakh, Zanskar
Greater Himalayas
Lesser Himalayas: Pir Panjal, Dhauladhar

❄️ Glaciers:

Siachen Glacier
Baltoro Glacier

💧 Lakes:

Freshwater: Dal Lake, Wular Lake
Saltwater: Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri

🌾 Unique Landforms:

Famous for Karewas (lacustrine deposits ideal for saffron cultivation)

🛕 Important Pilgrimage Sites:

Vaishno Devi
Amarnath Cave

🛣️ Major Passes:

Zoji La – Zanskar Range
Banihal Pass – Pir Panjal Range
Fotu La (Photu La) – Zanskar Range
Khardung La – Ladakh Range

🧭 Kumaon Himalayas

(Includes Kumaon – Eastern Part and Garhwal – Western Part)

📍 Location: Between Sutlej and Kali rivers
📏 Elevation: Higher than Kashmir Himalayas

🏔️ Major Peaks:

Nanda Devi (⛰️ Highest in the region)
Trisul
Badrinath
Gangotri
Kedarnath
Yamunotri

💧 Notable Lakes:

Nainital
Bhimtal
Suraj Tal

🛣️ Mountain Passes:

Mana Pass
Niti Pass (Both in the Greater Himalayas)

[UPSC CSE 2003] Nanda Devi Peak forms a part of :
a) Assam Himalayas
b) Kumaon Himalayas
c) Nepal Himalayas
d) Punjab Himalayas

ANS : b) Kumaon Himalayas

🌄 Nepal Himalayas

(Includes Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Bhutan Himalayas)

📍 Location: Between Kali and Teesta rivers
📏 Elevation: Higher than Kumaon Himalayas — Tallest section of the Himalayas

🏔️ World-Renowned Peaks:

Mount Everest (🌍 Highest peak in the world)
Kanchenjunga
Makalu
Lhotse
Dhaulagiri
Annapurna

🌐 Coverage:

Eastern Nepal
Sikkim
Darjeeling Hills
Parts of Bhutan

🌿 Assam Himalayas

📍 Location: Between Teesta and Brahmaputra rivers
🌐 Coverage: Entirely within Arunachal Pradesh

⛰️ Ranges Included:

Dafla
Miri
Abor
Mishmi

🌊 Major Rivers:

Dihang
Dibang
Lohit
Kameng
Subansiri
Brahmaputra

🏔️ Highest Peak:

Namcha Barwa

🛣️ Important Passes:

Sela La
Jelep La
Bomdi La

🧊 Major Glaciers of the Himalayas (Range-Wise & State Wise) India

Explore the range-wise classification of glaciers in the Indian Himalayas, crucial for UPSC, HPAS, and State PSC exams. Glaciers are the lifelines of the Indian subcontinent’s river systems, and their geographic distribution follows the structure of the Himalayan ranges.

1️⃣ Karakoram Range Glaciers

📍 Region: Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir (including PoK)

Siachen Glacier – 🌍 Largest in India and outside polar regions (75 km), source of Nubra/Shyok
Baltoro Glacier – Major glacier in PoK, source of Braldo River
Biafo Glacier – 67 km, joins Hispar at Hispar La
Hispar Glacier – 62 km, merges with Biafo
Godwin-Austen Glacier – Near K2, tributary of Baltoro
Rimo Glacier – Source of Shyok River
Chong Kumdan Glacier – Feeds Shyok
Khurdopin Glacier – Source of Shimshal River
Bilafond Glacier – Feeds Saltoro River
Other Glaciers – Trango, Rakhiot, Diamir, Panmah, Chogo Lungma

2️⃣ Ladakh Range Glaciers

📍 Region: Ladakh

Machoi Glacier – Near Zoji La, source of Sind and Drass Rivers
(Note: Siachen is also partially associated with Ladakh Range)

3️⃣ Zanskar Range Glaciers

📍 Region: Ladakh

Drang Drung Glacier – Near Pensi La, source of Doda River
Shafat Glacier – Feeds Suru River
Pensilungpa Glacier – Northwest Zanskar Valley, source of Suru

4️⃣ Pir Panjal Range Glaciers

📍 Region: Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir

Sonapani Glacier – Longest in Pir Panjal (15 km)
Bara Shigri Glacier – Largest in HP, feeds Chandra River
Chhota Shigri Glacier – Near Rohtang, feeds Chandra
Bhadal Glacier – Source of Ravi (Bhadal Nallah)
Beas Kund – Source of Beas River
Other Glaciers in HP – Gangstang, Miyar, Dudhon, Parbati, Lady of Keylong, Chandranahan, Mukkila, Gora

5️⃣ Greater Himalayas (Himadri) Glaciers

📍 Region: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim

🔹 Uttarakhand (Garhwal):

Gangotri Glacier – Largest in Garhwal, source of Bhagirathi
Yamunotri Glacier – Source of Yamuna
Chorabari Glacier – Source of Mandakini
Tipra Glacier – Pushpawati River (Valley of Flowers)
Hemkund Glacier – Fed by Saptrishi & Hathi Parvat
Bandarpunch Glacier – Feeds Yamuna & Ganga
Other Glaciers – Khatling, Bhagirath Kharak, Arwa, Kedar Bamak, Kalabaland, Poting, Bagini

🔹 Uttarakhand (Kumaon):

Pindari Glacier – Source of Pindar
Milam Glacier – Gori Ganga
Kafni Glacier – Kafni River
Namik Glacier – Ramganga
Others – Meola, Sona (Panchachuli), Ralam

🔹 Himachal Pradesh (Shared with Pir Panjal):

Bara Shigri, Chhota Shigri, Beas Kund, Lady of Keylong, etc.

[HPAS 2022] Milam Glacier is located in:

a) Karakoram region
b) Pir Panjal region
c) Nepal region
d) Kumaun Garhwal region ✅

Correct Answer: d) Kumaun Garhwal region

6️⃣ Eastern Himalayas (Sikkim Region) Glaciers

📍 Region: Sikkim

Zemu Glacier – Largest in Eastern Himalayas, base of Kanchenjunga, feeds Teesta
Teesta Khangse Glacier – Major source of Teesta River
South Lhonak Glacier – Prone to GLOF events
Rathong Glacier – Source of Rathong (Rangeet tributary)

🧠 Key Insights for Exams:

🌊 Glaciers are primary sources of India’s major Himalayan rivers – Bhagirathi, Yamuna, Ganga, Teesta, Brahmaputra.
🔁 Match glacier + river + range combinations for accurate map-based questions.
📍 Glaciers are concentrated in Trans-Himalayas, Greater Himalayas, and Middle Himalayas – rare in Shiwaliks.

⛰️ Top 25 Most Important Himalayan Passes in India – State-wise

🏔️ Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (UTs)

Zoji La – Connects Srinagar to Kargil to Leh (crucial pass in the Great Himalayas)
Banihal Pass – Tunnel route from Jammu to Srinagar via Pir Panjal
Pir Panjal Pass – Historic route linking Jammu with the Kashmir Valley
Razdan Pass – Connects Kashmir Valley to Gurez Valley
Pensi La – Connects Zanskar Valley to Kargil
Khardung La – 🌍 One of the world’s highest motorable roads, connects Leh to Nubra Valley
Chang La – On the way to Pangong Lake from Leh
Umling La – 🌏 Highest motorable pass in the world, in eastern Ladakh
Karakoram Pass – Lies on the ancient Silk Route from Ladakh to Xinjiang (China)
Lanak La – Route from Ladakh to Tibet
Burzil Pass – Connects Kargil to Astore Valley in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (Strategic location)

🌄 Himachal Pradesh

Rohtang Pass – Famous route from Kullu Valley to Lahaul & Spiti
Bara Lacha La – On Manali–Leh highway (NH-3); near Suraj Tal
Shingo La – Links Lahaul (HP) and Zanskar (Ladakh)
Shipki La – Gateway where Sutlej River enters India from Tibet
Debsa Pass – High-altitude trek route between Kullu and Spiti

🏞️ Uttarakhand

Lipulekh Pass – Located near Dharchula, gateway to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
Mana Pass – Close to Badrinath, ancient trade route to Tibet
Niti Pass – Lies in Chamoli district, another Indo-Tibetan trade route
Muling La – Glacier-fed pass north of Gangotri Glacier

🏔️ Sikkim

Nathu La – Strategically important, connects Gangtok to Chumbi Valley (Tibet)
Jelep La – Located east of Kalimpong, also leads into Tibet

🌿 Arunachal Pradesh

Bum La – Situated near Tawang, leads directly to Tibet
Sela Pass – Scenic and vital route between Bom Di La and Tawang
Diphu Pass – Located at India-China-Myanmar tri-junction
Pangsau Pass – Connects Arunachal with Myanmar, part of historic Ledo Road

🧭 Quick Mnemonic Tips by State:

Ladakh: 🏔️ High-altitude + Silk Route passes – Umling La, Khardung La, Karakoram
HP: 🏞️ River and tourism-linked – Rohtang, Bara Lacha La
UK: 🚩 Religious and strategic – Lipulekh, Mana, Niti
Sikkim & Arunachal: 🧱 Border security passes – Nathu La, Bum La, Diphu