The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is a range that spans ten states of India namely, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal

Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura as well as

the hill regions of two states - Assam and West Bengal.[1]

The region is responsible for providing water to a large

part of the Indian subcontinent and contains varied flora and fauna.[2]

The IHR physiographically, starting from the

foothills of south (Siwaliks), this mountain range extends up to Tibetan plateau on the north (Trans-Himalaya).

Three major geographical entities, the Himadri (greater Himalaya), Himanchal (lesser Himalaya) and the Siwaliks

(outer Himalaya) extending almost uninterrupted throughout its length, are separated by major geological fault

lines. Mighty but older streams like the Indus, Sutlej, Kali, Kosi and Brahmaputra have cut through steep gorges to

escape into the Great Plains and have established their antecedence. The Karakoram ranges are the northern-most

ranges of India. To the south of the Karakoram range lie the Zangskar ranges. Parallel to the Zangskar ranges lie the

Pir Panjal ranges. These three mountain ranges lie parallel to each other in the north-western part of India, most of

its area lying in the state of Jammu and Kashmir Geography

Overall, the Himalayan mountain system is the world's highest, and is home to the world's highest peaks, the Eight-

thousanders. To comprehend the enormous scale of this mountain range, consider that Aconcagua, in the Andes, at

6,962 metres (22,841 ft), is the highest peak outside Asia, whereas the Himalayan system includes over 100

mountains exceeding 7,200 metres (23,622 ft).[4]

There are 14 Himalayan peaks with elevation over 8,000 metres

(26,000 ft). The five highest peaks in the Himalaya are:

Everest, 8,848 metres (29,029 ft)

K2, 8,611 metres (28,251 ft)

Kangchenjunga, 8,586 metres (28,169 ft)

Lhotse, 8,516 metres (27,940 ft)

Makalu, 8,462 metres (27,762 ft)

The main Himalayan range runs west to east, from the Indus river valley to the Brahmaputra river valley, forming an

arc 2,400 km (1,500 mi) long, which varies in width from 400 km (250 mi) in the western Kashmir-Xinjiang region

to 150 km (93 mi) in the eastern Tibet-Arunachal Pradesh region. The range consists of three coextensive sub-

ranges, with the northernmost, and highest, known as the Great or Inner Himalayas.

[edit] In Hindu mythology

In Hindu mythology, Himavat is the God of snow, a personification of the Himalayas, which are also known as

Himavat Mountains. He is the ruler of Himalaya Kingdom, which finds mention the epic Mahabharata. He is father

of daughter, Ganga (Ganges), Saraswati who became rivers and Parvati, who married Shiva [5]

[edit] Ecology

The Himalayan range at Yumesongdong in Sikkim, in the Yumthang River valley

The flora and fauna of the Himalayas vary with climate, rainfall, altitude, and soils. The climate ranges from tropical

at the base of the mountains to permanent ice and snow at the highest elevations. The amount of yearly rainfall

increases from west to east along the southern front of the range. This diversity of climate, altitude, rainfall and soil

conditions supports a variety of distinct plant and animal communities. For example the extremes of high altitude

(low atmospheric pressure) combined with extreme cold allow extremophile organisms to survive.[6]

The unique floral and faunal wealth of the Himalayas is undergoing structural and compositional changes due to

climate change. The increase in temperature may shift various species to higher elevations. The oak forest is being

invaded by pine forests in the Garhwal Himalayan region. There are reports of early flowering and fruiting in some

tree species, especially rhododendron, apple and Myrica esculenta. The medicinal properties of some important

species may be affected by changing climate.[7

The Himalayan range at Yumesongdong in Sikkim, in the Yumthang

River valleyThe flora and fauna of the Himalayas vary with climate, rainfall, altitude, and soils. The climate ranges

from tropical at the base of the mountains to permanent ice and snow at the highest elevations. The amount of yearly

rainfall increases from west to east along the southern front of the range. This diversity of climate, altitude, rainfall

and soil conditions supports a variety of distinct plant and animal communities. For example the extremes of high

altitude (low atmospheric pressure) combined with extreme cold allow extremophile organisms to survive.[6]

The

unique floral and faunal wealth of the Himalayas is undergoing structural and compositional changes due to climate

change. The increase in temperature may shift various The Himalayan range at Yumesongdong in Sikkim, in the

Yumthang River valleyThe flora and fauna of the Himalayas vary with climate, rainfall, altitude, and soils. The

Geology

The Himalayas are among the youngest mountain ranges on the planet and consist mostly of uplifted sedimentary

and metamorphic rock. According to the modern theory of plate tectonics, their formation is a result of a continental

collision or orogeny along the convergent boundary between the Indo-Australian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. This

is referred to as a fold mountain.

The collision began in the Upper Cretaceous period about 70 million years ago, when the north-moving Indo-

Australian Plate, moving at about 15 cm per year, collided with the Eurasian Plate. About 50 million years ago, this

fast moving Indo-Australian plate had completely closed the Tethys Ocean, the existence of which has been

determined by sedimentary rocks settled on the ocean floor, and the volcanoes that fringed its edges. Since these

sediments were light, they crumpled into mountain ranges rather than sinking to the floor. The Indo-Australian plate

continues to be driven horizontally below the Tibetan plateau, which forces the plateau to move upwards. The

Arakan Yoma highlands in Myanmar and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal were also formed

as a result of this collision.

Lakes The Himalaya region is dotted with hundreds of lakes. Most lakes are found at altitudes of less than 5,000 m,

with the size of the lakes diminishing with altitude. Pangong Tso, which is spread across the border between India

and China, and Yamdrok Tso, located in central Tibet, are amongst the largest with surface areas of 700 km², and

638 km², respectively. Other notable lakes include Gurudogmar lake in North Sikkim, Tsongmo lake, near the Indo-

China border in Sikkim, and Tilicho lake in Nepal in the Annapurna massif.

The mountain lakes are known to geographers as tarns if they are caused by glacial activity. Tarns are found mostly

in the upper reaches of the Himalaya, above 5,500 metreS Religion Several places in the Himalaya are of religious

significance in Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Bueveral places in the Himalaya are of religious significance in

Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism. In Hinduism, the Himalaya have also been personified as the god

Himavat, the father of Shiva's consort, Parvati. A notable example of a religious site is Paro Taktsang, where

Padmasambhava is said to have founded Buddhism in Bhutan.[16]

A number of Tibetan Buddhist sites are situated in

the Himalaya, including the residence of the Dalai Lama. There were over 6,000 monasteries in Tibet.[17]

The

Tibetan Muslims had their own mosques in Lhasa and Shigatse.

Jammu and Kashmir are really three regions: the foothill plains of Jammu; the lakes and blue valleys of Kashmir

rising to alpine passes, the high altitude plains and starkly beautiful mountains of Ladakh, which lies beyond those

passes. It's enough to move one to poetry. Srinagar is Kashmir's summer capital and Jammu, the winter capital.

Among the most attractive part that this Indian state has is the adventure oppurtunities that can be seggragated into

trekking, mountaineering and Trans Himalayan Jeep Safari.

What can make a mountaineering expedition, an adventure one could never forget? If its done on the glaciers that

are still craving to be explored. The Himalayan range offers some of the most rigorous mountaineering challenges

one can ever come across. The glaciers of Ladakh and Kashmir regions can test one's survival to the fittest and most

testing of them all is the Siachen glacier, known as the largest glacier outside the Polar Regions.

Himachal Pradesh is the land of snow, lofty peaks, cascading streams, alpine meadows & lush fruit-laden valleys.

Many parts of the Himachal state have a distinctly Austrian look with conifer-clad mountains, chalet-like huts with

overhanging balconies and serene blue valleys watered by snow-fed streams. Shimla the capital of Himachal

Pradesh, is still very much a Raj township in appearance and atmosphere.

Himachal also store numerous wonderful hill stations, which are particularly cool in summers. Shimla, Dalhousie,

Kullu, Manali and Kufri are a few of the hill Stations in Himachal Pradesh which offer breathtaking scenery and

countless options of adventure sports. Dharamshala, where the Dalai Lama lives, is another important centre on the

tourist map.

Read More About Himachal Pradesh

Uttaranchal : Lying in the north of the vast and bountiful expanse of India and cradled in the awesome beauty and calm serenity of

the stately Himalayas, Uttaranchal - the "Devbhumi" that has attracted tourists and pilgrims from world over since

time immemorial. Comprising of eight hill districts and an area and population that equals the state of Himachal

Pardesh, Uttaranchal is an expression of divinity, austerity, meditation, penance and attainment.

Uttaranchal is a paradise for adventure sports. The sheer variety ranging from Mountaineering, Trekking, Skiing,

Skating, Water Sports to Aero Sports like Hang Gliding, Paragliding make Uttaranchal one of the most attractive

destinations for adventure sports not only in India but the world over.

A former kingdom , Sikkim is now the 22nd State of India. It is rooted to the Himalayan Massif like a scale on the

neck of a Dragon. One of the smallest states of India, it is bounded by Nepal to the west and Bhutan to the east; by

the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north and northeast and by West Bengal to the south.

Shrouded in heavy mist, the guardian deity Kangchenjunga both protects and terrifies the inhabitants of the magical

kingdom of Sikkim. An awe-inspiring mass of rock clothed in dazzling white snow, this Himalayan giant in the

world’s third highest peak at 8,590m (28,199ft). The name itself means ’house of five treasures’ represented by its

five soaring summits

Read More About Sikkim

The North Eastern States - Seven Sisters : The reason has so much to see, so much to experience and so much to write about that it would take volumes. The

region of northeastern India will wet the appetite of the traveller, the tourist, the anthropologist, the observer. It is

impossible to describe the nuances that make this area unique, challenging and interesting. Get to any one place and

the result will be that you will return for more.

The seven sisters comprise of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram.

While the seven sisters are unique in their own way, the major Himalayan destination over here is Arunachal

Pradesh. The state provides abundant scope for angling, boating, rafting, trekking and hiking. Besides, there are a

number of wild life sanctuaries and national parks where rare animals, birds and plants will fascinate the visitor.