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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Himalayan mountain range in India}}<br />
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{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}<br />
[[File:Dhauladhar.jpg|thumb|A cottage in the laps of Dhauladhar ranges in the Kangra valley.]]<br />
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'''Dhauladhar''' ({{langx|hi|[[wikt:धौलाधार|धौलाधार]]}}) ({{lit|The White Range}}){{sfnp|Singh|2000|p=2}}{{efn|The word “Dhaula” {{lang|hi|धौला}} means absolutely pure, clear, ''nirmal'' (clean), and ''dhar'' {{lang|hi|धार}} means range.}} is a mountain range which is part of a [[Lower Himalayan Range|lesser Himalayan]] chain of mountains in northern India. It rises from the [[Siwalik Hills|Shivalik]] hills, to the north of [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh|Kangra]] and [[Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India|Mandi]]. [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh|Dharamsala]], the headquarters of [[Kangra district]] and the [[winter capital]] of the [[Indian state|state]] of [[Himachal Pradesh]], lies on its southern [[Spur (mountain)|spur]] in the [[Kangra Valley]].<ref name=imp>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V11_293.gif Dhaula Dhar] ''[[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]]'', v. 11, ''p. 287.''</ref> [[Chamba, Himachal Pradesh|Chamba]] lies to the North of this range.<br />
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== Overview ==<br />
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The Dhauladhar range is one of the ranges of the [[Himalayas|Middle Himalayas]]. They begin from near [[Dalhousie, India|Dalhousie]] at the northwest end of Himachal Pradesh and pass through the state to the vicinity of the bank of the [[Beas River]] in the [[Kulu district]] of Himachal Pradesh. They begin to merge with the [[Pir Panjal]] near [[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]]. They are entirely in Himachal Pradesh. They are distinctive in their typical dark granite rocky formations with a remarkably steep rise culminating in sharp streaks of snow and ice at the top of their crested peaks. This distinctive profile is best seen from the [[Kangra Valley]] from where they seem to shoot up almost vertically.<br />
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The elevation of the Dhauladhars ranges widely from 3,500 m to nearly 6,056 m. The highest peak in the range is the [[Hanuman Tibba]], 5,982 metres (19,626&nbsp;ft) above sea level. There are several peaks which are close to 5500&nbsp;m (17,000&nbsp;ft). From the banks of the [[Beas River]] in Kulu, the range curves towards the town of [[Mandi, Himachal Pradesh|Mandi]], Himachal Pradesh, India. Then, running north, it passes through Bada Bhangal, joins the [[Pir Panjal Range]] and moves into Chamba.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}<br />
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[[File:Dhauladhar peak from McLeod Ganj.jpg|thumb|596x596px|Moon Peak (4,650 metres) in the Dhauladhar range from [[McLeod Ganj]].|alt=|center]]<br />
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The Dhauladhars have a peculiar topography. Although mostly composed of [[granite]], the flanks of the range exhibit frequent formations of [[slate]] (often used for the roofs of houses in the region), [[limestone]] and [[sandstone]]. Ascending from any side is difficult, given the near vertical incline. This calls for highly technical trekking and mountaineering. There is very little habitation on the range given the harsh conditions. But meadows abound near the crest providing rich pastures for grazing where large numbers of [[Gaddi people|Gaddi]] shepherds take their flocks. The top of the crest is buried under vast expanses of thick snow. [[Triund]], approached from the hill station of [[McLeod Ganj]], is the nearest and most accessible snow line in the Indian Himalayas. The range has rich flora and fauna.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}<br />
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Peaks, virgin and scaled, have drawn mountaineers from all over the world. Some of the well-known ones are Mun (4610 m) near Dharamshala, [[Manimahesh Kailash Peak|Manimahesh Kailash]] ({{lang|hi|मणिमहेश कैलाश}}) (5653 m) in the sacred Manimahesh region, Gauri Junda (4946 m), near the Talang pass, which is commonly referred to as the 'Dhauladhar Matterhorn',<ref>[https://peakvisor.com/peak/dhauladhar-matter-horn.html Dhauladhar Matter Horn] ''Peakvisor''</ref> Christmas (4581 m), Toral (4686 m), Dromedary (4553 m), Riflehorn (4400 m), Lantern (5100 m), Arthur's Seat (4525 m), Camel (4520 m), Slab (4570 m), and several other named and unnamed peaks.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}<br />
Due to the position of the range it receives two [[monsoon]]s a year with heavy rains; where the mountains have not been heavily logged, there are dense pine and [[Cedrus deodara|Deodar]] forests.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}<br />
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There are [[glacial lake]]s in the Dhauladhars. Prominent among them is the [[Lama Dal|Lam Dal]] which is the biggest with a circumference of about 2.5&nbsp;km. It is a very [[sacred lake]] and considered to be the abode of [[Lord Shiva]] alongside [[Manimahesh Lake]]. Each year pilgrims take a holy dip in August and September just when the [[Manimahesh]] [[yatra]] begins. There are other very sacred lakes like the Nag Dal/Nag Chattri Dal. This lake owes its history to the Bhagsunag Temple and is considered sacred. It is dedicated to the Nag Devta or the Lord King Cobra. The other beautiful lakes are the Chanderkup Dal above the [[Lama Dal|Lam Dal]], [[Kareri Lake]] below the Minkaini Pass, [[Dehnasar Lake]] across the Sari Pass and the very sacred Kali Kund just 150 m below the Lam Dal at an elevation of 3900 m and approachable from Minkiani Pass (4250 metres).<br />
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One of the major passes across this range is the [[Indrahar Pass]]. At an altitude of 4,342 metres (14,245&nbsp;ft) above mean sea level, near the tourist town of [[Dharamshala]] in Himachal Pradesh, Indrahar Pass forms the border between [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh|Kangra]] and [[Chamba, Himachal Pradesh|Chamba]] districts. It is part of a popular trekking route from Dharamshala Including [[Triund|Triund Trek]], Mun Peak Expedition from the [[Indrahar Pass]], [[Kareri Lake|Seven Lake Trek Lake]] starting from [[Kareri Lake]], [[Kareri Lake|Kareri Lake Trek]], [[Lama Dal|Lam Dal Lake Trek]] increases substantial tourist traffic during the trekking season between April and October.<br />
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The Dhauladhar mountain range became visible after 30 years in [[Jalandhar]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], less than 200&nbsp;km away, after pollution levels came down amidst the [[COVID-19 lockdowns|COVID-19 lockdown]] in March 2020.<ref>[https://www.hindustantimes.com/it-s-viral/mountain-range-in-himachal-pradesh-visible-from-jalandhar-in-punjab-see-pics/story-i8WTNfT9nAl8k7gp5TJTGI.html Mountain range in Himachal Pradesh visible from Jalandhar in Punjab] ''Hindustan Times''</ref><br />
[[File:SAVE 20250922 143436.jpg|center|thumb]]<br />
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== Gallery ==<br />
{{gallery |perrow=3<br />
|File:Dhauladhar mountain ranges,view from Dharamshala.jpg|Dhauladhar mountain ranges, view from Dharamshala<ref>[https://www.justahotels.com/blogs/awe-inspiring-dhauladhar-view-adventurous-paragliding-activities-in-dharamshala/ Dhauladhar View] ''jüSTa''</ref><br />
|File:Panoramic view of McLeod Ganj during winters, 2005.jpg|<!--Needs caption--><br />
|File:Montaro Dhauladhar (foto de Dharamsala).jpg|Dhauladhar from [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh|Dharamsala]]<br />
|File:Snow peaked dhauladhar mountain ranges.jpg|<!--Needs caption--><br />
|File:Ghoomakad hut overlooking the Dhauladhars and Dharamshala.jpg|A panoramic view of the Dhauladhar range showing its ascent from Dari(1100m) in the Kangra Valley to Kundli Pass(4550m)<br />
|File:Dharamsala-douladhar-range.jpg|Dhauladhar range<br />
}}<br />
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== See also ==<br />
* [[Rupin Pass]]<br />
* [[Indrahar Pass]]<br />
* [[Kundli Pass]]<br />
* [[Jalsu Pass]]<br />
* [[Minkiani Pass]]<br />
* [[Thamsar Pass]]<br />
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== Notes ==<br />
{{Notelist}}<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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=== Works cited ===<br />
* {{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Mian Goverdhan |year=2000 |title=Himachal Pradesh: History, Culture & Economy |edition=5th |editor-first=C.L. |editor-last=Gupta |editor2-first=Kulbhushan |editor2-last=Chandel |publisher=Minerva Publishers & Distributors |location=Shimla}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{Commons category}}<br />
* [http://www.flyoctane.com/ team "flyoctane" paragliding professional in India, now at Himachal Pradesh.]<br />
* [http://www.mcllo.com Mcllo.com - Dhauladhar Trek -An Informative, Travel and Community website of Kangra Valley, Dharamsala, McleodGanj]<br />
* [https://www.holidaymoods.in/kareri-lake-trek Kareri Lake Trek Dhauladhar]<br />
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[[Category:Geography of Kangra district]]<br />
[[Category:Mountains of Himachal Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Himalayas]]</div>Sergdpd