About Himachal

A Brief Introduction of Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is laterally means Land of Snowy Mountain. Himachal Pradesh is a small world in itself.  Himachal Pradesh is also known as Dev Bhoomi or Adobe of Gods, The Fruit bowl of India. Himachal Pradesh is bordered by Jammu and Kashmir on the North, Punjab on the West, Uttar Pradesh on the South and Uttarkhand on the East. Himachal Pradesh which sprawls in the North Western lap of  the Himalayas. To the ancients, Himachal was known as  the Himalayas itself, with Nepal, Koormachal Kedar, Jalandara and Kashmir as its five natural divisions.

Himachal is bounded between  30°22’ to 33°12’ North latitude and 75°47’ to 79°4’ East longitude. Himachal Pradesh is mountainous with altitude varying from 350 to 7000 meters above the mean sea level. The total geographical area of Himachal Pradesh is 55,673 Sq Km. According to the census 2011, the total population is 68, 64,602. Population wise it is placed 22^nd among 29 states. Himachal Pradesh is divided into three zones.

Shivalik Hills

1. Outer Himalaya or Shivaliks Hills or The Lower Hills: 350 m to 1500 m The outer Himalaya comprises the district of Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur and lower parts of Mandi, Solan, and Sirmaur are known as Shivalik Hills. The annual rainfall in this zone varies from 1500 mm to 1800 mm. In ancient times the Shivalik Hills were known as Mainak Parbat which laterally means “”tresses of Shiva”. The famous places in this zone are Paonta valley, Nahan tehsil, Pacchad and Renuka tehsils of sirmaur, Balh valley, Joginder Nagar, Kangra, Palampur, Dalhosie, Bhattiyat,  Churah and Chamba. This area is suitable for the cultivation of maize, paddy, wheat, ginger, sugarcane, table potatoes and citrus fruits.

2. Inner Himalaya or Mid Himalayan Zone: 1500 m to 4500 above sea level, in this zone fall areas like the upper  areas of tehsils of Pachhad and Renunka in district Sirmaur, Chachiot and Karsog tehsil of Mandi district, upper parts of Kangra and Palampur, upper Shimla hills and upper parts of Churah  of Chamba district. This zone comprises two mountain range Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar. 

Pir Panjal

Pir Panjal is falls mainly in Chamba District. It is the largest range in the lesser or Inner Himalayas. The largest of the lesser Himalayan ranges  the Pir Panjal separates from the greater Himmalayan range near the bank of Satluj, forming the watter divide between the Chenab  on the one side and  the Beas and the Ravi on the other. 

Dhauladhar Hills

Dhauladhar means the white peak. Dhauladhar is also known as maulak Parvat. It is the outermost portion of the Lesser Himalayas. It branches off from the Great Himalayan range near Badrinath in Uttrakhand

The variety of soil found in these areas ranges from silty loam to clay  loam of dark brown  in colour, which is useful for seed potatoes and temperature fruits. This type of soil is found in Pacchad, Renuka Arki, solan, Joginder Nagar, Palampur, Kangra, Dalhousie and Churah.

The soil of upper parts of Shimla, Sirmaur and  Chamba is shallower in  depth, but silty loam to loam of dark brown in colour. From the horticultural point of view, this area is most useful for stone and soft fruits grown.

Zanskar Hills

3. Alpine Zone or The greater Himalayas: 4500 m to 7000 m, to the north of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges the more high mountain ranges, known as The Great Himalayan  and Zanskar ranges. The Great Himalayan range runs along the eastern boundary and is cut across by the Satluj. It comprises Kinnaur district, Pangi of Chamba district and some areas of Lahaul & Spitti. This is useful for the cultivation of dry fruits. Snowfall starts  in the mid of October to March-April. Shilla (7026m) the highest mountain peak in the state lies in the Zanskar range in Kinnaur District.

Physiographically, the state can be divided into five zones.

• Wet  Sub temperature zone comprising of Palampur  and Dharamshala areas of Kangra district, Joginder Nagar of Mandi district and Dalhousie area  of Chamba district
• Humid sub temperature: comprising of Kullu and Shimla districts and  parts of Mandi, Solan, Chamba, Kangra and Sirmaur Districts.
•  Dry temperature: alpine high lands which include major parts of Lahaul Spitti, Pangi and Kinnaur.
• Humid  Sub Tropical zone: Containing  the Bilaspur, major parts of Mandi district, Nahan area of Sirmaur district, Bhattiyat valley of Chamba district, Nalagarh of Solan district and Dehra and Nurpur areas of Kangra district
• Sub humid tropical zone: comprising Una district, Poanta Sahib area of Sirmaur district and Indora area  of Kangra district.