Himachal Pradesh Geography for UPSC: Interactive Map, Rivers and Protected Areas
a state rising from the Shivaliks into the high western Himalaya
14
Protected areas mapped
5
Rivers mapped
At a glance
Capital
Shimla
Language
Hindi
Dance
Nati
Area
55,673 km²
Coastline
Landlocked
Highest peak
Reo Purgyil · 6,816 m
Borders
Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Tibet (China, international)
Why UPSC asks about Himachal Pradesh
Himachal is the western Himalaya in miniature: the Satluj, Beas, Ravi and Chenab all rise here, making it the "land of rivers" for hydro-power questions (Bhakra, Pong, Chamera). UPSC tests the Shivalik–Dhauladhar–Zanskar structure, the Great Himalayan National Park (UNESCO), the cold-desert Spiti-Lahaul transition, and Reo Purgyil as the state high point.
Sutlej
Rises Rakshastal lake near Mansarovar, Tibet; enters Himachal at Shipki La; flows to Flows into Punjab towards the Bhakra Dam · 53 km
The Satluj rises at Rakas Tal near Mansarovar (Tibet) and enters India at Shipki La, the easternmost of the five Punjab rivers.
Beas
Rises Beas Kund, near the Rohtang Pass; flows to Flows into Punjab, joining the Sutlej near Harike · 28 km
The Beas rises at Beas Kund near Rohtang Pass and joins the Satluj at Harike; the Pong and Pandoh dams are on it.
Dams
- Pandoh Dam
Ravi
Rises Bara Bhangal, Chamba district; flows to Flows into Punjab towards Pakistan · 159 km
The Ravi rises near Bara Bhangal (Kangra) and flows past Chamba into Pakistan; the Chamera dam is on it.
Dams
- Chamera Dam
Chenab
Rises Formed by the Chandra and Bhaga rivers meeting at Tandi, Lahaul; flows to Flows into Jammu and Kashmir · 159 km
The Chenab (Chandrabhaga) is the largest of the five rivers by discharge, formed by the Chandra and Bhaga above Keylong.
Yamuna
Rises Yamunotri glacier, Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand); flows to joins the Ganga at Prayagraj · 23 km
Only its uppermost catchment (Tons) touches Himachal; the Yamuna proper flows through Uttarakhand, Haryana and UP.
Chandertal Wetland
A high-altitude lake (about 4,250 m) in Lahaul-Spiti, designated Ramsar in 1994, the 'moon lake' on the way to Kunzum Pass, set in a cold-desert landscape.
Ramsar (1994); high-altitude 'moon lake' of Spiti.
Pong Dam Lake
A large reservoir on the Beas (Maharana Pratap Sagar) designated Ramsar in 2002, among the most important wintering grounds for bar-headed geese in India.
Ramsar (2002); Beas reservoir famous for bar-headed geese.
Renuka Wetland
A natural lake in Sirmaur district designated Ramsar in 2005, named after the goddess Renuka, surrounded by sal forests.
Ramsar (2005); natural lake of Sirmaur.
Cold Desert Biosphere
A biosphere reserve in Spiti-Lahaul covering the Pin Valley NP and surrounding cold deserts, protecting snow leopard, Siberian ibex and the agro-pastoral culture of the trans-Himalaya.
Spiti's cold desert; snow leopard and trans-Himalayan culture.
Great Himalayan NP
A park in Kullu district spanning 1,500 m to 6,000 m, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2014) protecting Himalayan temperate and alpine ecosystems with snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear and the western tragopan.
UNESCO World Heritage Site (2014); western tragopan and snow leopard.
Pin Valley NP
A park in the cold desert of Spiti (Lahaul-Spiti), part of the Great Himalayan NP landscape, home to the snow leopard, Siberian ibex and the rare Himalayan snowcock.
Cold-desert park of Spiti; snow leopard and Siberian ibex.
Inderkilla NP
A park in Kullu district in the Beas valley near Manali, created mainly for the protection of brown bear and other Himalayan fauna.
Beas valley near Manali; created for the Himalayan brown bear.
Khirganga NP
A park in Kullu district covering the Parvati valley's high reaches and hot springs, protecting alpine habitats and glacial landscapes.
Parvati valley's high alpine zone with hot springs.
Simbalbara NP
A park in Sirmaur district in the Shivalik foothills with sal forests, home to goral, sambar and barking deer.
Shivalik sal forests of Sirmaur; goral habitat.
Kalatop Khajjiar WLS
A sanctuary near Dalhousie (Chamba) with deodar and oak forests around the picturesque Khajjiar meadow, known for the Himalayan black bear and monal.
Deodar forests near Dalhousie; black bear and monal.
Dhauladhar WLS
A sanctuary in Kangra district on the Dhauladhar range, protecting the catchment forests around McLeodganj with leopard, black bear and rich birdlife.
Dhauladhar range above McLeodganj; leopard and black bear.
Kibber WLS
A sanctuary in Spiti (Lahaul-Spiti), one of the highest cold-desert sanctuaries in India, home to snow leopard, Tibetan wolf and blue sheep.
High cold-desert sanctuary of Spiti; Tibetan wolf and blue sheep.
Tirthan WLS
A sanctuary in Kullu district along the Tirthan river, buffer of the Great Himalayan NP, known for trout and the western tragopan.
Tirthan river valley; buffer of the Great Himalayan NP.
Chail WLS
A sanctuary around the former princely Chail palace in Solan district, with dense oak and deodar forest and a famous cricket ground.
Around Chail's royal palace; oak-deodar forests.
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