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Western Himalayas
The Western Himalayas are the western half of the Himalayas, in northwestern India, far-western Nepal and northern Pakistan. Western Himalayas mainly span from Pakistan through northern India (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand), and regions like Dolpa, Mustang and Humla in Nepal. Four of the five tributaries of the Indus River in Punjab (Beas, Chenab, Jhelum, and Ravi) rise in the Western Himalayas; while the fifth, the Sutlej cuts through the range after rising in Tibet Autonomous Region of China
Included within the Western Himalayas are the Zanskar Range, the Pir Panjal Range, Gurans Himal, the Saipal Range and the Dhauladhar Range, and western parts of the Sivalik Range and the Great Himalayas. The highest point is Nanga Parbat (26,660 feet or 8,126 metres), at the northwestern end of the region. It is part of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot.
Climate in high altitudes of the Western Himalayas is poorly known due to the difficulties in maintaining observational networks. A historical name for a substantial proportion of the Western Himalayan range was the Punjab Hills.
The Western Himalayas are drained by several perennial, glacier-fed rivers that are vital for irrigation, hydroelectricity, and drinking water:
Agriculture is the main economic activity in the area. The main crops grown in this region are paddy and wheat. The region is a major hub of horticulture in the Indian subcontinent. Apples are grown in Kashmir, Kinnaur, Kishtwar, and Kullu valleys, as well as the hills of Shimla. These regions, particularly Kashmir and the Shimla Hills produce almost all the apples grown in India and South Asia. Saffron is also grown in Kashmir and Kishtwar, while dry fruits are grown in several areas of the western Himalayan region. Tea is grown in the Kangra valley. A large number of people from nomadic pastoral communities such as Gurjars, Bakarwals and Gaddis living in the alpine and subalpine areas of these mountains engage in cattle rearing.
Tourism is another major industry. The city of Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley is famous for its houseboats and shikaras on the Dal and Nigeen lakes. Shogran, Murree, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Gulmarg, Dalhousie, Chamba, Khajjiar, Mcleodganj, Dharamshala, Palampur, Rewalsar, Prashar, Kullu, Manali, Kasol, Banjar, Solang, Kasauli, Kufri, Narkanda and Shimla are famous hill stations.
Amarnath, Vaishno Devi, Jwalaji, Chintpurni, Chamunda Devi, Bajreshwari Devi, Naina Devi, Baglamukhi, Hidimba Devi, Baba Balaknath Deotsidh, Bhimakali, Jakhu and Tara Devi are important pilgrimage centres attracting several hundred thousands of pilgrims each year. Gulmarg and Manali are popular winter-sports destinations where activities such as skiing, snowboarding, sledding etc. are done, while adventure sports like paragliding are done at Bir and Billing.
Several perennial rivers flow through these mountains which makes them ideal for hydroelectricity generation, and thus, several hydroelectric projects are complete or underway in Pakistan and India.
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Western Himalayas
The Western Himalayas are the western half of the Himalayas, in northwestern India, far-western Nepal and northern Pakistan. Western Himalayas mainly span from Pakistan through northern India (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand), and regions like Dolpa, Mustang and Humla in Nepal. Four of the five tributaries of the Indus River in Punjab (Beas, Chenab, Jhelum, and Ravi) rise in the Western Himalayas; while the fifth, the Sutlej cuts through the range after rising in Tibet Autonomous Region of China
Included within the Western Himalayas are the Zanskar Range, the Pir Panjal Range, Gurans Himal, the Saipal Range and the Dhauladhar Range, and western parts of the Sivalik Range and the Great Himalayas. The highest point is Nanga Parbat (26,660 feet or 8,126 metres), at the northwestern end of the region. It is part of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot.
Climate in high altitudes of the Western Himalayas is poorly known due to the difficulties in maintaining observational networks. A historical name for a substantial proportion of the Western Himalayan range was the Punjab Hills.
The Western Himalayas are drained by several perennial, glacier-fed rivers that are vital for irrigation, hydroelectricity, and drinking water:
Agriculture is the main economic activity in the area. The main crops grown in this region are paddy and wheat. The region is a major hub of horticulture in the Indian subcontinent. Apples are grown in Kashmir, Kinnaur, Kishtwar, and Kullu valleys, as well as the hills of Shimla. These regions, particularly Kashmir and the Shimla Hills produce almost all the apples grown in India and South Asia. Saffron is also grown in Kashmir and Kishtwar, while dry fruits are grown in several areas of the western Himalayan region. Tea is grown in the Kangra valley. A large number of people from nomadic pastoral communities such as Gurjars, Bakarwals and Gaddis living in the alpine and subalpine areas of these mountains engage in cattle rearing.
Tourism is another major industry. The city of Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley is famous for its houseboats and shikaras on the Dal and Nigeen lakes. Shogran, Murree, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Gulmarg, Dalhousie, Chamba, Khajjiar, Mcleodganj, Dharamshala, Palampur, Rewalsar, Prashar, Kullu, Manali, Kasol, Banjar, Solang, Kasauli, Kufri, Narkanda and Shimla are famous hill stations.
Amarnath, Vaishno Devi, Jwalaji, Chintpurni, Chamunda Devi, Bajreshwari Devi, Naina Devi, Baglamukhi, Hidimba Devi, Baba Balaknath Deotsidh, Bhimakali, Jakhu and Tara Devi are important pilgrimage centres attracting several hundred thousands of pilgrims each year. Gulmarg and Manali are popular winter-sports destinations where activities such as skiing, snowboarding, sledding etc. are done, while adventure sports like paragliding are done at Bir and Billing.
Several perennial rivers flow through these mountains which makes them ideal for hydroelectricity generation, and thus, several hydroelectric projects are complete or underway in Pakistan and India.