Himachal Pradesh GK

Lesson –11
Geography of Himachal
Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh Geography

Longitude: 75° 47 ‘55’’ to 79° 04 ’20’’ E

Latitude: 30° 22 ’40’’ to 33° 12 ‘40’’ N
Area: 55, 673 km2 (1.7 % of India’s total area),
Himachal ranks at 18th number in term of total
area.
Population (2011 survey): 68,56,509( .57% of
total population of India. In previous survey it
was .59 % which means Himachal share in
population decreases).
Himachal ranks at 21st position in term of
population. If we include union territories
then rank of Himachal shifted to 22nd due to
presence of Delhi.
 Himalayas

THE GREATER
THE LOWER HILLS OR THE INNER HIMALAYA
HIMALAYA OR ALPINE TRANS-HIMALAYAS
SHIVALIKS OR MID-MOUNTAIN
ZONE
River system: Beas
River system: Chenab
River system: Ravi
River system: Satluj
River system: Yamuna
River system: Beas
Lakes in Himachal Pradesh
 Himachal Pradesh: Passes

Pass Districts Height

 Himachal Pradesh: Major Peaks

Name of the Peak District Height

Reo Parigal Kinnaur 6816m
Gya Lahul and Spiti 6716m
Leo Parigal Kinnaur 6791m
Ninjeri Kinnaur 6646m
Parvati Parvat Kullu(Highest in Kullu) 6632m
Manirang Kinnaur, Lahul and Spiti 6597m
Menthosa Chamba(Highest of Chamba) 6443m
Hanuman Tibba Kangra(Highest peak of Kangra) 5860m
Pishu Kinnaur-Shimla 5772m
Nagru Mand(Highest peak of Mandi) 4020m
 Himachal Pradesh: VALLEY
• SATLUJ VALLEY: From Shipki to Bilaspur.
• KIARDA-DUN VALLEY: It is also known as 'Paonta valley' after the town which lies in the valley. This is located" in the
Markanda and Dharti ranges. Yamuna river separates it from Dehra Dun.
• KULLU VALLEY: This is a broad open valley formed by the Beas river between Mandi and Largi.
• KANGRA VALLEY: Between the Dhauladhar range in the North and the Shivalik hills in the South. It ranges from West to
East rising gradually from Shahpur to Baijnath and Palampur.
• THE BABA BANGHAL VALLEY: This valley is adjoining to the Kangra Valley and lies between. the Dhauladhar and Pir
Panjal ranges. It is partly in Kangra and partly in Chamba district. The river Ravi rises from the slopes of this valley.
• BALH VALLEY: This is also known as Sundernagar valley and is broad open dun type valley between an offshoot of the
Shimla ridge in the North and Shivalik hills in the South.
• CHAMBA VALLEY: This is also known as Ravi valley.
• LAHAUL VALLEY: The Lahaul valley lies to the North of the Pir Panjal and main Himalayan ranges. It is made up of the
rivers Chandra and Bhaga till Tandi and Chenab from Tandi to Udaipur, downstream of which lies the famous Pangi valley,
• Spiti VALLEY: The Spiti valley has been formed by the Spiti river. It is situated between the main Himalayan and Zanskar
ranges, Kaza a small town is located in the Spiti valley.
 Himachal Pradesh: VALLEY
• BASPA Valley (Sangla-Valley): This is also known as Sangla valley ormed by Baspa river in Kinnaur.The altitude in this
valley varies from 1830 meters at-the confluence of the Baspa river with the Satluj and 3475 meters at the highest village of
Chitkul.
• PABBAR VALLEY (Rohru Valley): This is also known as Rohru valley, drained by the river Pabbar which originates from
Chansal peak South of Kinnaur and its tributaries.
• SWAN VALLEY (Jaswan Dun Valley): The Swan Valley is located on both sides of Swan river and its about 73 tributaries
(Khads) in Una district. It is also known as Jaswan Dun Valley Its area stretches from near Daulatpur in the North-West to
Punjab boundary in the South. There, it is wider comparatively, being narrower, in the Northern portion. The breadth of this
valley ranges from 7 km. to 14 km.
• CHANDRA VALLEY: This Valley formed by river Chandra 'is locally known as Rangoli. A considerable portion of this
Valley is just an uninhabited snowbed near Baralacha Pass.
• BHAGA VALLEY: This Valley is formed by the river Bhaga and is locally called Gara or Punan. The region with higher
altitude of this Valley presents a deserted look.
• CHANDRA-BHAGA VALLEY OR PATTAN VALLEY: The Valley made by the union of Chandra and Bhaga rivers is
called the Pattan Valley. It begins at Tandi with the confluence of Chandra and Bhaga rivers, and ends at Udaipur its
boundary with Chamba.
 Himachal Pradesh: VALLEY
• THE MALUNG VALLEY: The Valley lies to the East of Baralacha Pass (4890 meters) and North of Kunzum Pass (4520
meters) between the drainage basins of the Spiti and the Chandra rivulets
• THIDONG OR TIRUNG VALLEY: This Valley is located North of Baspa and is connected With it through Charang
Ghati (5242 meters).
• NISANG VALLEY (Gyam Thang): This Valley falls in subdivision Pooh of Kinnaur district.
• Chauntra Valley: It is situated at the foot of the Dhauladhar range. The surroundings of this Valley are charming having
snow clad mountains and chir forests.
• Chauhar Valley: The Chuhar Valley is located in the North-Eastern part of mandi district and is formed by Uhl river that
rungs from North-West to South-East direction.
• Kunihar Valley: This Valley lies nearly 50 km West of Shimla in the Solan district on an average altitude of 1000 meters.
• Dami Valley: It is situated between Bahadurpur and Bandla ranges at an elevation of 8000 meters. The Valley is about 14
km long and nearly half as wide. It is fertile and the main crops grown here are maize, paddy, sugarcane, ginger and wheat.
• Saproon Valley: The Dun and Saproon Valleys of Solan distict are mostly flat and fertile and the cultivation of cereals and
off-season vegetables is extensively done. It was in Saproon Valley that the best red tomato crop was first grown
commercially.
• Lingti Valley: Lingti is the unknown Valley of eastern Spiti.
 Himachal Pradesh: Glaciers

• BABA SHIGRI: The Bara Shigri glacier is the largest glacier in the Chandra Valley of
Lahaul and difficult to be trekked.
• CHANDRA GLACIER: This glacier is responsible for forming Chandertal lake and has
originally separated from Bara Shigri glacier.
• THE LADY OF KEYLONG: This glacier is situated at an altitude of about 6061 met. which
can be seen from Keylong and is popular among visitors.
• MUKILA GLACIER: The Mukila glacier of Bhaga valley is situated at the height of about
6478 m.
• BHAGA GLACIER: This glacier is tenanted in an amphitheater in Lahaul area of the main
Himalayan range. It is a source of Bhaga river and later merges with Chandra forms
Chenab afterTandi.
• SONAPANI GLACIER: The Sonapani glacier was surveyed by Walker and Pascoe in A.D.
1906. It is only about five and half km from the confluence of Kulti Nala and was also
surveyed by K u r i o n and M u n s h i from the geological Survey of India in the year A.D.
1957.
 Himachal Pradesh: Glaciers

• PERAD GLACIER: The Perad glacier is a small easily accessible near Putiruni, which in local
dialect means broken rock, that has a nice cave too.
• DUDHON AND PARBTI GLACIER: Dudhon and Parbati glaciers impart water for Parbati
stream each are about 15 km of length.
• BEAS KUND GLACIER: This glacier is located on the South-facing slopes of the towering Pir
Panjal range near the conspicuous Rohtang Pass in Manali region of Himachal Pradesh. It
drainages the Beas river.
• BHADAL GLACIER: It is located on the South-Western slopes of the Pir Panjal range in the
Bara Banghal region of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh.
• CHANDRA NAHAN GLACIER: This glacier is located in a small amphitheater on the South-
Eastern slopes of the main Himalayan range in the area North-West of Rohru in Himachal
Pradesh.
 Himachal Pradesh: National Park/Wildlife Sancturies

S. No. Name Status District

1.
Great Himalayan National Park Kullu
2.
Pin Valley National Park Lahul - Spiti
3.
Inderkilla National Park Kullu
4.
Khirganga National Park Kullu
5.
Simbalbar National Park Sirmaur
6.
Bandli Sanctuary Mandi
7.
Chail Sanctuary Solan - Shimla
8.
Churdhar Sanctuary Sirmaur - Shimla
9.
Daranghati Sanctuary Shimla
10.
Darlaghat Sanctuary Solan - Bilaspur
11.
Gamgul Siahbehi Sanctuary Chamba
12.
Govind Sagar Sanctuary Bilaspur - Mandi
13.
Kais Sanctuary Kullu
14.
Kalatope Khajjiar Sanctuary Chamba
15.
Kanwar Sanctuary Kullu
 Himachal Pradesh: National Park/Wildlife Sancturies

16. Khokhan Sanctuary Kullu

17. Kugti Sanctuary Chamba
18. Lippa Asrang Sanctuary Kinnaur
19. Majathal Sanctuary Solan - Shimla
20. Manali Sanctuary Kullu
21. Naina Devi Sanctuary Kullu
22. Nargu Sanctuary Mandi
23. Secha Tuan Nala Sanctuary Chamba
24. Shikari Devi Sanctuary Mandi
25. Shilli Sanctuary Solan
26. Shimla Water Catchment Sanctuary Shimla
27. Simbalbara National Park Sirmaur
28. Taira Sanctuary Shimla
29. Tirthan Sanctuary Kullu
30. Tundah Sanctuary Chamba
31. Pong Lake Sanctuary Kangra
32. Rakchham Chitkul Sanctuary Kinnaur
33. Renuka Sanctuary Sirmaur
34. Rupi Bhaba Sanctuary Kinnaur
 Himachal Pradesh Tribes

ANCIENT TRIBES MODERN TRIBES

• Swangla • Sipp
• Dasas (Dasyu)
• Khampa • Rihara
• Khasas
• Pangwal • Turi
• Kinners
• Kinner or • Khatik
• Kiratas
Kannaura • Thathera
• Nagas
• Lahaulas
• Pishachas
• Gujjars
• Yakshas
• Jads
• Gaddi
• Hali
• Hesi
• Bharai
 Himachal Pradesh: Mineral Resources
• Limestone: Limestone is found in abundance in Bilaspur, Solan, Sirmaur, Chamba, Mandi and
Kullu.
• Rocksalt: Mandi is the only district in India from where rock salt is extracted. Rock salt is mined in
Gumma and Darang areas of the district.
• Slate: Slate mines are located in the state in the districts -Kangra, Chamba, Kullu and Mandi.
• Mineral Water: Mineral water of Kalath near Manali in Kullu district has been found quite useful. It
contains sodium, magnesium, calcium chloride, sulphates, phosphates, iron and carbon dioxide.
• Gypsum: This mineral has been reported from Kuthar in Solan district. Bathari in Chamba district
and parts of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts.
• Silica Sand : Silica Sand used construction material are found in Pakera, Haroti, Homa and Baturi
Khads of Una district, Nihari, Chenab and along Satluj valley of Bilaspur district, along Giri river in
Sirmaur district and along the Satluj river in Shimla and Kinnaur district.
• Dolomite: Dolomite is mixture of calcium and magnesium carbonates, found in Kothipura and
Panjota blocks of Bilaspur districts and Nalagarh area of Solan district.
.
 Himachal Pradesh: Population Census 2011
• Total population: 68,56,509 . Out of this, 34,73,892 are males and 33,82,617 females. The
proportion of male population is 50.67 per cent and that of female 49.33 per cent.
• During the decade of 2001- 2011, the population of-Himachal Pradesh has increased by 7,78,609
persons, thus, yielding a growth rate of 12.81 per cent as against 17.54 per cent in the preceding
decade.
• Sex Ratio: 972. Hamirpur district again retains its top position and has returned sex ratio of the
1,096 females per 1,000 males. The lowest sex ratio of 818 females per 1,000 males has been
registered in Kinnaur district.
• Una district shows the highest variation in population with 16.24 per cent which is followed by
15.61 per cent in Sirmaur district. The other districts which shows higher growth rate than the state
average of 12.81 per cent are Kullu (14.65 per cent) and solan (15.21 per cent).
• The lowest provisional growth rate of (-5.10 per cent) in Lahul & Spiti district which is followed by
Kinnaur (7.61 per cent), Hamirpur (10.18 per cent), Mandl (10.89 per cent), Bilaspur (12.08 per
cent), Kangra (12.56 per cent), Chamba (12.58 per cent) and Shimla (12.58 per cent) districts.
• Percentage of SC population: 25.19 % ((Highest: Kangra, Lowest: Lhul and Spiti)
• Percentage of ST population: 5.71 % (Highest: Chamba, Lowest: Hamirpur).
 Himachal Pradesh: Population Census 2011
• Density: 123 (In 2001, it was 109) . The highest density of population is recorded in Hamirpur
district, where it is 406 persons per Km2 and is followed by Una (338), Bilaspur (327), Solan (298),
Kangra (263), Mandi (253), Sirmaur (188), Shimla (159), Chamba (80), Kullu (79), Kinnaur (13) and
Lahul & Spiti (2).
• Literacy Rate: 82.8 % (Male: 89.5 %, Female: 75.9%).
• Highest Literacy: Hamirpur(88.2 %).
• Lowest Literacy: Chamba(72.2 %)
• Out of total population of Himachal Pradesh, 10.03% people live in urban regions.
• Hinduism is majority religion in state of Himachal Pradesh with 95.17 % followers. Islam is second
most popular religion in state of Himachal Pradesh with approximately 2.18 % following it.