1. Trans-Himalayan Ranges:
Located north of Yarlung Tsangpo River on the southern edge of the Tibetan Plateau at a 1600-km long mountain range in China, India and Nepal.
Trans-Himalaya is composed of the Gangdise range to the west and the Nyenchen Tanglha range to the east.
The name Transhimalaya was introduced by the Swedish geographer Sven Hedin.
Lifted much before the Himalayas b/w Jurassic and Cretaceous.
Average elevation – 5000 m above mean sea level.
Start from Pamir Knot.
Karakoram pass – connects the Aksai Chin.
Main Ranges:
Karakoram Range (aka Krishnagiri range):
Most of the Karakoram mountain range falls under Gilgit-Baltistan (controlled by Pakistan).
Its highest and the world's second-highest peak K2/Godwin Austin is located in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.
It begins in the Wakhan Corridor (Afghanistan) in the west, encompasses the majority of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan and extends into Ladakh (controlled by India) and Aksai Chin (controlled by China).
Siachen glacier – highest battlefield.
Baltaro glacier – largest mountain glacier.
The Karakoram is the second-highest mountain range on Earth.
Ladakh Range:
It lies between the Indus and Shyok river valleys.
Leh, the capital city of Ladakh, is on the foot of Ladakh Range in the Indus river valley.
Merges with the Kailash range in Tibet.
Highest point – Rakaposhi.
Zanskar Range:
A mountain range in the Indian union territory of Ladakh.
Zanskar lies 250 km south of Kargil town on NH301.
Separates the Zanskar valley from Indus valley at Leh.
Its eastern part is known as Rupshu.
Kailas Range:
Offshoot of the Ladakh Range.
Highest peak – Mt. Kailash.
River Indus originates from the range.
2. Great Himalaya aka Himadri:
Extension – Mt. Namcha Barwa to Nanga Parbat (2400 km) – one of the longest running fold mountain ranges in the world.
Average elevation – 6000m.
The highest mountain range of the Himalayan Range.
The world's highest peak, Mount Everest, as well as other "near−highest" peaks, such as Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, and Nanga Parbat, are part of the Greater Himalayas range.
Composed of metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
14 out of 28 tallest peaks in the world are situated here.
3. Middle/ Lesser/ Himachal Himalaya:
Most rugged mountain system.
Lies b/w the Shiwaliks in the south and the Greater Himalayas in the north.
Composed of highly compressed and altered rocks.
Average altitude – 3700-4500m.
Cut across by the Jhelum and Chenab rivers.
Pir Panjal Range – J&K (south of Kashmir Valley). Extends from Jhelum to Beas river for over 300 km.
Important valleys – Valley of Kashmir, Kangra Valley and Kulu Valley.
Rivers – Kishanganga, Jhelum and Chenab.
Dhauladhar Range – Himachal Pradesh. Extension of Pir Panjal into Himachal Pradesh. Cut across by the river Ravi.
Mussoorie Range – Uttarakhand. Divide the waters of Sutlej and Ganga.
Nag Tibba Range – Uttarakhand.
Mahabharat Lekh – Nepal.
4. Sub-Himalayas/ Shiwaliks:
Stretches over about 2400 km from the Indus River eastwards close to the Brahmaputra River.
Average elevation – 1500–2000 m.
Between the Teesta and Raidāk Rivers in Assam.
Divided by Sir Sidney Burrard based on the river valleys.
1. Kashmir/Punjab/Himachal Himalayas
aka ‘Vail of Kashmir.’
Located b/w Indus and Sutlej Gorge.
Northern boundary (Zanskar range) and Southern boundary (Shiwaliks).
Major ox-bow lakes – Wular Lake, Dal Lake.
Only gateway to Kashmir – Banihal Pass.
Major passes – Zozila Pass, Burjil Pass.
2. The Kumaon Himalayas
Located b/w Sutlej and Kali Gorge.
Major mountain passes – Nag Tibba, Dhaula Dhar, Mussoorie and parts of the Greater Himalaya.
The Kumaon Himalayas are made up of three hill districts: Nainital, Almorah, and Pithoragarh.
The lakes of the Kumaon Himalayas are known as the "Four Great Lakes of the Kuamon Hills" – Nainital Lake, Bhimtal Lake, Naukuchiatal Lake, Sat Tal Lake
Major peaks – Nandadevi, Kamet, Kedarnath, Badrinath etc.
Major rivers – Gangotri, Yamunotri, Pindari etc.
3. Nepal / Central Himalaya
Located b/w Kali and Tista.
Great Himalayas attain maximum height in this portion.
Major peaks – Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri.
Major rivers – Ghaghara, Gandak, and Kosi.
Major valleys – Kathmandu, Pokhara.
4. Assam / Eastern Himalaya
Located b/w Tista and Bramhaputra.
Occupy mainly Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan.
The highest peak in the Assam Himalayas is Namcha Barwa (25,445 ft) in Tibet.
Major hills – Aka Hills, the Dafla Hills, Miri Hills, Abor Hills, and Mishmi Hills.
The region has many mountain passes, including Bomdi-La, Bom La, Tunga, Yonggyap, Diphu, Pangsau, Tse-La, Dihang, and Debang.
5. Arunachal Himalaya
Extend from the east of Bhutan Himalayas to the Diphu Pass in the east.
The mountain range runs southwest-to-northeast direction.
Kangtu and Namcha Barwa are notable mountain summits.
Important mountain tribes – The Monpa, Abor, Mishmi, Nyishi, and Nagas. Jhumming is practiced by the majority of these groups. It's also known as slash-and-burn cultivation or shifting cultivation.
6. Purvanchal Himalaya
Lies south of the Brahmaputra valley.
The highest peak in the region is Mount Dapha (in Arunachal Pradesh).
Seven sisters of the Purvanchal hill range – It comprises eight states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura (commonly known as the "Seven Sisters"), and the "brother" state of Sikkim.
The Purvanchal includes the hill of Patkai hills, Naga Hills, Mizo Hills and Manipur hills.