Question

Write a detailed note on Northern Himalayas:

Answer 1

Northern Himalayas: The Himalayan Mountain Range is divided into three distinct parallel ranges.

(i) Greater Himalayas (Inner Himalayas):

1. The northernmost range is known as the Greater or Inner Himalayas or the Himadri.
2. Greater Himalayas contain more than 40 peaks which exceed height of 7000 metres.
3. Most famous among them is world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest (8848 meters).
4. Mt. Everest is on Nepal-China Border. It is known as Sagarmatha in Nepal and in Tibet known as Chomolungma.
5. Mt. Godwin Austin or K2 (8611 m) is the highest peak of India.
6. Greater Himalayas, also contain some high mountain passes namely Jelep La, Nathu La, Shipki La, etc.
7. Mansarovar, a sacred holy place is located in this range in Tibet-China.

(ii) Central Himalayas (Lesser (Himalayas)

1. The Central Himalayas which is the second range of Himalayas lie to the south of the Greater Himalayas.
2. It is also called Lesser Himalayas or Himachal and is spread at the width of 80 to 100 km.
3. This range includes mountain ranges like Pir Panjal, Mahabharata, Nagtiba, etc.
4. Many famous hill stations such as Dalhousie, Dharamshala, Shimla, Mussoorie, Ranikhet, Almora, Nainital, Darjeeling, etc! lie in this range.
5. Beautiful natural valleys of Kullu, Kangada and Kashmir are also present in this region.

(iii) Shiwalik Range (Outer Himalayas):

1. Shiwalik or Outer Himalayas is the third mountain range of the Himalayas and it lies to the south of the Central Himalayas.
2. Most of this range falls within India. It is above 10 to 15 km wide and has an average height of 1000 metres.
3. At many places, between Central and the Outer Himalayas, peculiar valley formations have taken place in this range which are covered by gravel stones and thick sediments.
4. Locally these valley are known as ‘Dun’. Hence, places around these valleys are named as ‘Dehradun’, ‘Patlidun’, ‘Kothridun’, etc.