Geographical location of Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is situated in the North of India below Jammu and Kashmir. Sirmaur district falls in the South of Himachal while Kinnaur is in Eastern stretch and Kangra, Una lie in the Western territories of Himachal Pradesh. China and Tibet have their boundaries with Kinnaur and Lahual-Spiti. Kinnaur, Shimla and Sirmaur touch the boundary of Uttaranchal. Solan and Sirmaur have their boundaries with Haryana while Solan. Bilaspur and Kangra districts lie with the boundaries of Punjab. Chamba and Lahaul Spiti touch Jammu and Kashmir. Hamirpur, Mandi and Kullu districts do touch the boundaries of any other state.

The average altitude of Himachal Pradesh is between 300 to 7000 mts   from sea level.

Mountain Ranges

Long stretches of Hills are called mountain ranges . Himachal Pradesh has following mountain ranges falling in its territory

1.       Shivalik Mountain Ranges

2.       Solasinghi Hills

3.       Dhauladhar Mountain Range

4.       Pir Panjal Mountain Range

5.       Great Himalayan Range

6.       Zaskar Mountain Range     

                          

Shivalik Mountain Range the ancient name of this stretch was Mainak Hills. The lowest hills of Himachal falls in this range. The Western territories of Knagra, Una Bilaspur and Solan districts fall in kthis range, Shivalik range separated Kangra, Una, Bilaspur and Solan from Hishiarpur (Punjab), Chandigarh and Haryana, Kalka and Parwanoo are in the lap of this range. The average altitude of this range is 600 to 1100 mts. Form sea level.

Solasinghi Hills:  This small range of hills is located in Una district. It separates the northern edge of Kangra, Hamirpur and Bilaspur from Ina. Govind Sagar falls in this range. The average height of these hills is 300-600 mts. From sea level.

Dhauladhar Mountain Range: Dhauladhar means white coverage. These hills remain covered with white snow throughout the year. The small stretch of this range passes through chamba district. This range separates Chamba district form Kangra district. Dharmashala, Mecleodganj, Palampur and bara bhangal of Kangra district, Banikhet, Dalhousie, Chauri khas and bakloh of Chamba district and Manali of Kullu district are situated in the foot hills of Dhauladhar range.

Pir Panjal Mountain range: The largest part of this range falls in chamba district, it separated Chamba from Lahaul Spiti, Kilar, Dharwas, Sach Pass, Cheni Pass, churah, Tisa, Bharmour, Kugti, Kailash  of Chamba district, Rohtang Pass of Kullu district and Tindi, triloknarth, Tandi, Udaipur, gondla , Sissu and Khoksar of jLahaul-Spiti fall in this range, ravi river flows between Pir Panjal range and dhauladhar Range,Ravi originated from the foot hills (Bara Bhangal) of Pir Panjal range. Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar range join together near rohtang Pass. Chenab River flows beside Pir Panjal range. The average altitude of this range is between 4000 to 5500 mts. From sea level.

The Great Himalayas: Most part of this range is devoid of life or is lifeless. This range passes through the centre of Lahaul Spiti and touches the inner regions of Kinnaur. Zingizingbar, Darcha, Kunzam-la Pass. Kalaksar, Bara Shigri  Glacier, tiling of Lahaul-Spiti and Lang-Thang, change-math, Kangi, rispe, Kinner Kailash of Kinnaur district fall in this range. The elevation of this range is between 5000 to 6000 mts. from sea level. Sutlej River carved this range near rispa in Kinnaur. Miar Nadi, Chandra Nadi, bhaga Nadi and Spiti Nadi of Lahaul-Spiti sprout from this range.

Zaskar Mountain range: This is the highest mountain range in Himachal .it falls in the Eastern stretch of Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts. It separated Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur from china Tibet. The highest peak of Shilla(7025) falls in this range. Lingti Nadi  bifurcates this range before joining Spiti River. The average height of this range is 7000 mts.

Rivers

There are five chief rivers flowing through himachal Pradesh

They are

1.Sutlej

2.Beas

3.Yamuna

4.Ravi

5.Chenab or chanderbhaga

1. Sutlej : Anciently this river was known as Sutadri, Shatdru or Shatdui. This river originates from Mansarover(Tibet) and enters Kinnaur near Shipki. It flows nearby Pooh, Jangi, rispa, Kalpa, Tappari, Wangtu and Karchham. Sutlej enters Shimla district near Jeori and flows alongh with the boundaries of Shimla and Mandi Districts. Near Dehar it enters Bilaspur district, it leaves Himachal near Nangal and covers the area of Punjab.

Tributaries : Spiti, Baspa, Bhaba (Kinnaur) are the chief tributaries of Sutlej. Ali Khan (Bilaspur) is also thetributary of Satluj.

Town : Pooh, Kalpa, Tappri, Wangru, Rampur, Duttnagar, Dalash, Basantpur, Tattapani and Bilaspur towns are located on the bank of Sutlej.

Dams : Govind Sagar and Bhakra Dam.

Bridges : Kundraur (Bilaspur-Ghurnawwin road), Luhri(Shimla –Kullu- Ani), Wangtu(Kinnair) and Gambhar(Bilaspur-Chandigarh)

2. Beas: This river has been called bipasa or Arzikia anciently. In 326 B.C The army of Alexander failed to cross this river due to heavy flow of water. It starts form Beas Kund. Beas Kund is situated at the foot of Rohtang pass near Larji it enters Mandi District After flowing through jMandi District it touches the boundaries of Hamirpur and Kangra jSistricts. Near Nadaun it enters Kangra District beas leaves Himachal near Mirthal and goes into Punjab.

Tributaries: Parvati, Malan-nala, Pin , Solang, Servery (Kullu), uhal, Luni, bina, Tirthan, Hansa, Rama, Suketi, Panodi, Son Bated, Juni (Mandi), Man, Kunah(Hamirpur) and Joul Khad, Loond Khad, Nakkehar, Tara, Binwa, Neogal, Gaj, Naner, chakki, Ban Ganga etc. Of Kangra.

Dams: Pandoh(Mandi), Pong Dam(Haripur), Garli Chamukha, Ghalore, Bari, Dehra, Haripur, Guler , Mangowal, Dada siba etc. towns and villages of Kangra fall on the banks or near Beas.

3. Yamuna: the ancient name of this river was Kalindi. This river has emotional relations with Lord Krishna. It originates form Yamnotri (Uttranchal) and flowing toward West & South it enters Sirmaur. Aftger flowing with the boundaries  of Sirmaur and Haryana ti enters Haryana near Tajewala.

Tributaries:  Giri, Bata(Sirmari), Rupon, Pabbar (Shimla) and Tons (Uttaranchal)

Bridges: Link bridge between Nahan and Dehradun.

Towns: Hat Koti, chirgaon, Rohru and Khara Pathar town’s villages fall on the bank of Pabbar River. Ponta Sahib falls on the bank of Yamuna.

4.Ravi:  Anciently the river had been known as Iravati Purushani. This river takes shape with the confluence3 of two  rivers Bhadar and Tantfiri near bara Bhangal (Dharam-shala) in the foothills of Dhauladhar Mountain Range. It flows through Chamba and enters Jammu and Kashmir.

Tributaries : Bhdhal, Rundehan , Chhitari, Seul, chamera, Sal, chirchand and Baljedi etc.

Towns : Khajjar, Chhitari, Rakh, Sherpur, Bhanot, Chamba etc. Chamba falls on the right back.

5. Chenab: The vedic name of Chenab (Chanderbhaga) is Asikani. It takes shapes near Keylong (Lahaul & Spiti) after the merger of Chandra and Bhaga rivers. It enters Chamba and finally it goesinto Jammuy& Kashmir.

Towns: Therot, shansa, Sissu, Triloknath, Udaypur, Khoksar, Namu (Lahual & Spiti) Kilar (Chamba)etc.