Geography
Himachal Pradesh lies in the lap of the western Himalayas and is an entirely mountainous state.Location: 30 degrees 30’ and 33 degree 15’ north of the equator. It covers 55,673 Square km area which is 1.82% of India’s area.
Altitude ranges from 260 metres to 7000 metres.
Himachal has the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the North and North-West, Punjab and Haryana towards the South and South west, to the South east it has Uttaranchal and in the North-East the state borders with Tibet. Areas surrounding Punjab are comparatively plain. Then the Shivalik hills rise gradually from the plains but to the north the hills rise dramatically. A series of parallel ranges ascend like steps until the highest point is reached in the greater Himalayas. Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti lie beyond the greater Himalayas in trans Himalayas. Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti are separated from Tibet by Zanskar ranges.
Himalayan RangesOuter Himalayas or Shivalik ranges (600-1200 Meters)
Middle of Lesser Himalayas (1000-4000 meters)
Inner or Great Himalayas (mean 5500 meters, several peaks of 6500 meters plus)
Trans-Himalayas (Average elevation 3000 meters, cold arid)
The drainage system of Himachal is composed both of rivers and glaciers. Himalayan rivers criss-cross the entire mountain chain. In fact the rivers are older than the mountain system. Himachal Pradesh provides water to both the Indus and Ganges basins. The drainage systems of the region are the Chandra Bhaga or the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, the Sutlej and the Yamuna. These rivers are perennial and are fed by snow and rainfall. They are protected by an extensive cover of natural vegetation.
There is great variation in the climatic conditions of Himachal due to extreme variation in elevation. The climate varies from hot and sub-humid tropical in the southern tracts to cold, alpine and glacial in the northern and eastern mountain ranges with more elevation. The state has areas like Dharamsala that receive very heavy rainfall, as well as those like Lahaul and Spiti that are cold and almost rainless. Broadly Himachal experience three seasons; hot weather season, cold weather season and rainy season. Summer lasts from mid April till the end of June and some parts become very hot (except in alpine zone which experience mild summer) with the average temperature ranging from 27 °C (80 °F) to 32 °C (90 °F). Winter lasts from late November till mid March. Snowfall is common in alpine tracts (generally above 2,200 metres (7,218 ft) i.e. in the Higher and Trans-Himalayan region).
Significant Natural Features
| The Key Peaks of Himachal | |||
| Peak | District | Height (M) | |
| 1 | Shila | Kinnaur | 7025 |
| 2 | Leo Parigal | Kinnaur | 6791 |
| 3 | Shipki | Kinnaur | 6608 |
| 4 | Manerang | Lahaul & Spiti | 6597 |
| 5 | Mulkila | Lahaul & Spiti | 6520 |
| 6 | Kinner Kailash | Kinnaur | 6500 |
| 7 | Jor-Ka-Den | Kinnaur | 6474 |
| 8 | Dibibokri Pyramid | Kullu | 6400 |
| 9 | Gyephang | Lahaul & Spiti | 6400 |
| 10 | Phawarang | Kinnaur | 6349 |
| The Key Peaks of Himachal | |||
| Name | Location | Height (M) | |
| 1 | Dulchi | Mandi to Kullu | 2788 |
| 2 | Jalori and Bishloe | Inner and outer seraj kullu | 3135 |
| 3 | Shipki | Kangra to Bharmaur | 3450 |
| 4 | Rohtang | Kullu to Lahaul | 3978 |
| 5 | Sach | Chamba to Pangi | 4359 |
| 6 | Kunzum La | Spiti to Lahaul | 4520 |
| 7 | Rugin Ghati | Kinnaur to Garhwal | 4625 |
| 8 | Drati | Chamba to Pangi | 4720 |
| 9 | Baralacha | Lahaul to Ladakh | 4890 |
| 10 | Kugti | Lahaul to Bharmaur | 4961 |
| 11 | Pin-Parvati | Kullu to Spiti | 5319 |
| 12 | Barga Pass | Kinnaur to Garhwal | 5360 |