Stuee.Singh at 05:59, 17 February 2026

2026-02-17T05:59:32Z

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{{Short description|Region in northern India}}
{{distinguish|Sub-Himalayan Range}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2015}}

[[File:India topo big.jpg|thumb|The parts of India marked in brown and white on this map lie in the IHR]]The '''Indian Himalayan Region''' (abbreviated to '''IHR''') is the section of the [[Himalayas]] within the [[Republic of India]], spanning thirteen [[States and union territories of India|Indian states and union territories]], namely [[Ladakh]],<ref>{{Cite web | title=Beijing Tidak Akui Wilayah Persatuan Ladakh, Jubir Klaim Bentrokan Perbatasan Adalah Sisa Perselisihan Sejarah Pakistan-India | url=https://rmol-id.translate.goog/read/2020/09/30/454408/beijing-tidak-akui-wilayah-persatuan-ladakh-jubir-klaim-bentrokan-perbatasan-adalah-sisa-perselisihan-sejarah-pakistan-india?_x_tr_sl=id&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp | access-date=2026-01-10 | website=rmol-id.translate.goog}}</ref> [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]],<ref>{{Cite web | title=Kashmir: Pakistan to seek International Court of Justice ruling | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49414213 | access-date=2026-01-10 | website=www.bbc.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=Kashmir: What to Know About the Disputed Region {{!}} Council on Foreign Relations | url=https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/kashmir-what-know-about-disputed-region | access-date=2026-01-10 | website=www.cfr.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=Think Tank Warns of Growing Gap in Jammu and Kashmir -THINK TANK JOURNAL | url=https://thinktank.pk/2024/03/11/think-tank-warns-of-growing-gap-in-jammu-and-kashmir/ | access-date=2026-01-10 | website=thinktank.pk}}</ref> [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Sikkim]], [[West Bengal]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Nagaland]], [[Manipur]], [[Mizoram]], [[Tripura]], [[Meghalaya]], and [[Assam]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.niti.gov.in/sustainable-development-indian-himalayan-region#:~:text=The%20Indian%20Himalayan%20Region%20is,)%2C%20stretching%20across%202500%20km. |title=SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE INDIAN HIMALAYAN REGION |author= |date= |website= |publisher=[[NITI Aayog]] |access-date=13 Jun 2023
|quote=The Indian Himalayan Region is spread across 13 Indian States/Union Territories (namely Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Assam and West Bengal), stretching across 2500 km.}}</ref><ref name="oneill_khecheopalri">{{cite journal |last1=O'Neill |first1=Alexander |display-authors=etal |date=25 February 2020 |title= Establishing Ecological Baselines Around a Temperate Himalayan Peatland |journal= Wetlands Ecology & Management |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=375–388 | doi=10.1007/s11273-020-09710-7 |bibcode=2020WetEM..28..375O |s2cid=211081106 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gbpihedenvis.nic.in/indian_him_reg.htm|title=Indian Himalayan Region - ENVIS Centre on Himalayan Ecology, GBPIHED}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/ihr.htm|title = Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)}}</ref> The region is responsible for providing water to a large part of the [[Indian subcontinent]] and contains various flora and fauna.<ref>[http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=18068406 Sustainable development of the Indian Himalayan region : Linking ecological and economic concerns]</ref>

Physiographically, the Himalayas start from the foothills of south (Sivaliks) and extend up to the Tibetan plateau of the north (Trans-[[Himalayas|Himalaya]]). Three major geographical entities, the Himadri (greater Himalaya), Himachal ([[lesser Himalaya]]) and the [[Sivaliks]] (outer Himalaya), extend almost uninterrupted throughout its length and are separated by major geological fault lines. Huge but older waterways like the [[Indus River|Indus]], [[Sutlej]], Kali, [[Koshi River|Kosi]] and [[Brahmaputra River|Brahmaputra]] cut steep gorges through the main Himalayan range to escape into the Great Plains, establishing their antecedence.

The northernmost range of mountains are the trans-Himalayan [[Karakoram]] Mountains that continue from India into Pakistan and China. To the south of the Karakoram Range lie the [[Zanskar Range|Zanskar]] and [[Ladakh range]]s.

Some of the highest mountains on Earth are also found in the region. Many perennial, glacier-fed rivers flow from the Himalayas.

==Trans-Himalaya==
Trans-Himalaya ranges in India include the Karakoram, Zanskar and Ladakh ranges that run through Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. At the eastern end, some portion of the [[Kangri Karpo]] (a trans-Himalayan range) forms part of the northern boundary of Arunachal Pradesh with Tibet.

===Karakoram Range===
{{main|Karakoram}}
The Karakoram is a giant range, which geographically divides India and [[Central Asia]]. The range consists of high mountain peaks like [[K2]], Rimo and Teram Kargri. The [[Karakoram Pass|Korakoram Pass]] acts as the main connector between the markets of [[Yarkant County|Yarkand]], Leh and [[Kashgar]].

===Ladakh Range===
{{main|Ladakh Range}}
To the north of the Leh lies the Ladakh Range which is an important part of the Trans-Himalayan range that merges with the [[Kailash Range]] in Tibet. Here, the important passes are the famous [[Khardung La]], and [[Digar La]], which lie to the northeast of Leh.

===Zanskar Range===
{{main|Zanskar Range}}
The Zanskar Range lies to the north of the main Himalaya. It acts as a backbone of Ladakh south of the Indus River, extending {{convert|250|km|mi}} from the [[Suru River (Indus)|Karcha (Suru) River]] near [[Kargil]] in the northwest to [[Tso Kar]] in the southeast. The range separates [[Indus Valley]] from the [[Zanskar River|Zanskar Valley]]. It is divided from the main Himalaya by the [[Stod Valley|Stod]], [[Tsarap River|Tsarap]] and [[Zanskar River|Zanskar valleys]]. Some of the main passes are the [[Fotu La|Fatu La]], on the Leh-Srinagar road, while the main trekking passes into the Zanskar valley are Singge La, the Cha Cha La and the Rubrang La.

==Middle Himalaya==

===Pir Panjal Range===
{{main|Pir Panjal Range}}
To the south of the main Himalayas lies the lesser Himalayan Pir Panjal Range, with an average height of {{convert|5000|m}}, in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. The Kashmir valley is bounded by this range to its west and south. The resort town of [[Gulmarg]] is located on the northern slope of the range. Important passes include the [[Banihal pass]], the Pir Panjal pass, the [[Sinthan top|Sinthan pass]] and the [[Rohtang pass]].

===Dhauladhar Range===
{{main|Dhauladhar}}
To the south of the Pir Panjal lies the Dhauladhar range. It lies to the north of the [[Kangra valley]], from where it appears to rise almost vertical. It forms the water divide between the [[Ravi River|Ravi]] and Beas rivers. In the west it divides the Chenab valley and the Tawi Valley. It is located mostly in Himachal Pradesh.

==Sivalik Hills==
The southern most range of the Himalayas are the Sivaliks. Sivaliks extend over a width of 10–50 km, and have an altitude varying between 900 m and 1100 m.

These ranges are called by different names in different regions:
*Jammu Hills in Jammu region
*Mishmi Hills in Arunachal Pradesh

These parts consist of thick gravel and alluvium.

The valley lying between the Lesser Himalayas and Shivalik ranges are called as Duns. Dehradun, Kalka Dun, Kiyarda Dun and Jammu Dun are some of the prominent Duns. It is the southern most region of the Himalayas.

== See also ==

* [[Himalayan Rim]]
* [[Mainland India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{wikivoyage inline|Himalayan North}}
* [http://gbpihedenvis.nic.in/ENVIS%20Monograph/ENVIS%20Monograph%203.pdf Resource Information Database of Indian Himalaya]
{{coord missing|India}}

[[Category:Regions of India]]
[[Category:Himalayan Rim]]

Indian Himalayan Region - Revision history

Stuee.Singh at 05:59, 17 February 2026