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| Himachal Kulumanali |
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| More than 2400km long and some 160km wide, the Himalayas are the greatest physical feature on earth. and Himachal Pradesh is a generous section of this huge formation. The name itself is descriptive of its characteristics – Himachal being an ancient Sanskrit compound of hima (snow) and achal (that which cannot be moved) – and thus simply means ‘the Mountain State’.
Himachal Pradesh (HP) is a complex mosaic of hills, lush valleys and snow-clad peaks. It straddles the Himalayas from the foothills, over peaks, to the valleys of Lahaul and Spiti. The prominent ranges which curve across the state are the Shiwaliks, Pir Panjal, Pangi, Zaskar and Dhauladhar. The highest peaks are Shilla (7,026m), Manerang (6,597m) and Shipki (6,608m). The hills rise gradually from the south to the north of the state – the outer Himalaya or Shiwaliks, the Lower or Lesser Himalaya, the Main or Great Himalaya and Trans or Tibetan Himalaya. |
| The dun type valleys like Kiarda dun, the Kangra valley and Chakki dun are home to rich deep alluvial soils as they are drained by rivers and streams which have deposited rich sediments into the valley bottom. The Inner Himalayas have thin bare soils that usually go with high mountains, while the valleys of Lahaul and Spiti have nothing but cold desert-like soil. Drang in Mandi has the country’s only rock salt mines and is thus prey to heavy quarrying. So are hills in Sirmaur, Mandi, Solan and Bilaspur districts – they yield limestone, dolomite and marble. Landslides are not uncommon in the monsoons, so it’s best not to venture out far during the rains without a local guide. |
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| The Himalayas offer information on some of the most thrilling and challenging mountaineering opportunities in the world. The Mountaineering Institute at Manali with regional centres at Dharamsala, Bharmour and Jispa, organizes expeditions every year and offers adventure courses as well. Patalsu and Sitidhar are among the easier peaks in the Manali region while other popular climbs are to Deo Tibba, Moulkila, Hanuman Tibba, Centre Peak and Indresen. |
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