By Shahid Ali

Upkar Prakashan, AGRA-2 © Author

Publishers UPKAR PRAKASHAN 2/11A, Swadeshi Bima Nagar, AGRA–282 002 Phone : 4053333, 2530966, 2531101 Fax : (0562) 4053330 E-mail : [email protected], Website : www.upkar.in Branch Offices : 4845, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, Paras Bhawan 16-11-23/37, Moosarambagh, Teegan New Delhi—110 002 (First Floor), Guda, Opp. RTA Office Main Road, Phone : 011–23251844/66 Khazanchi Road, Beside–Andhra Bank Patna—800 004 Hyderabad—500 036 (T. S.) Phone : 0612–2673340 Phone : 040–24557283 H-3, Block-B, Municipal B-33, Blunt Square, Kanpur Taxi 8-310/1, A. K. House, Premises No. 15/2, Galiff Street, Stand Lane, Mawaiya, Heeranagar, Haldwani, P. S. Shyampukur, Lucknow—226 004 (U.P.) Distt.—Nainital—263 139 (Uttarakhand) Kolkata—700 003 (W.B.) Phone : 0522–4109080 Mob. : 7060421008 Mob. : 07439359515 1461, Juni Shukrawari, 63-64, Kailash Marg, Sakkardara Road, Ground Floor, Opp. Hanuman Mandir, Shreeji Avenue, Malharganj, Nagpur—440 009 Indore—452 002 (M.P.) Phone : 0712–6564222 Phone : 9203908088

● The publishers have taken all possible precautions in publishing this book, yet if any mistake has crept in, the publishers shall not be responsible for the same. ● This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced in any form by Photographic, Mechanical, or any other method, for any use, without written permission from the Publishers. ● Only the courts at Agra shall have the jurisdiction for any legal dispute.

Price : 140·00 (Rs. One Hundred Forty Only) Code No. 1934

Printed at : UPKAR PRAKASHAN (Printing Unit) Bye-pass, AGRA Contents

1. Himachal At a Glance ...... 3–5 2. Geography of ...... 6–27 — Physiographic Divisions ...... 6 — Drainage System ...... 6 — Rivers in Himachal Pradesh ...... 7 — Soils...... 8 — Climate ...... 9 — Vegetation and Forest ...... 11 — Mineral Resources...... 14 — Highest Mountain Peaks ...... 16 — Lakes ...... 16 — Famous Valley of Himachal Pradesh...... 17 — Famous Passes of Himachal Pradesh ...... 19 — Famous Hot Springs...... 19 — National Parks & Sanctuaries ...... 19 — Wild Life Sanctuaries...... 20 — Demography...... 22 3. History of Himachal Pradesh ...... 28–48 — Pre History ...... 30 — Ancient Period...... 30 — Medieval Period ...... 35 — Modern Period...... 41 4. Polity and Administration ...... 49–64 5. Economy of Himachal Pradesh...... 65–78 — Agriculture ...... 65 — Pastures ...... 70 — Industry and Tourism ...... 71 — Irrigation...... 74 — Power ...... 74 — Transport ...... 75 — Education ...... 76 ( iv ) — Health ...... 76 — Welfare Schemes...... 77 6. Art and Culture...... 79–117 — Folk Music ...... 79 — Music Instruments...... 80 — Folk Dances...... 80 — Folk Theatres...... 81 — Painting ...... 82 — Temple Architecture ...... 83 — Houses ...... 85 — Art and Crafts...... 85 — Culture...... 86 — Society...... 86 — Social Stratification (Castes)...... 86 — Socio-Economic Structure ...... 87 — Tribes ...... 87 — Customs and Traditions ...... 89 — Common Customs...... 94 — Language ...... 96 — Religion ...... 96 — Pilgrimages...... 97 — Hindu Pilgrimages...... 97 — Buddhist Pilgrimages ...... 101 — Christian Pilgrimages ...... 106 — Fairs and Festivals...... 107 — Heritage and Tourist Places ...... 111 7. Who’s Who of Himachal Pradesh...... 118–120 8. Current Affairs—Himachal Special...... 121–148 — H P Budget 2017-18 Main Highlight ...... 121 — Himachal News ...... 124 ● Multiple Choice Questions...... 149–156 Himachal Pradesh General Knowledge 1

Himachal At a Glance

General Profile Himachal Pradesh is a hilly state in Northern . It covers 55,673 km2 of area.

Himachal is famous for its abundant natural beauty. In Evolution of Himachal Pradesh 1950, it was declared a UT; but after the State of Himachal After India became free in 1947, there was a demand in th Pradesh Act, 1971, it emerged as the 18 state of the India. some quarters for the merger of Hill States with the east It has 12 districts with as the capital. Punjab, but it was met with vehement opposition from the ‘Hima’ means snow in Sanskrit and the literal meaning rulers and people. In what is Himachal Pradesh today, the of the state’s name is ‘in the lap of Himalaya’ or ‘the land of Praja Mandal workers and the rulers had different opinions snowy mountain’. It was named so by Acharya Diwakar about the future of these hilly states. After a brief spell of hectic negotiation, the rulers and the Praja Mandal workers Datt Sharma, one of the great Sanskrit scholars of Himachal decided to inform Government of India to form a union of Pradesh. these small hill states with the name of Himachal Pradesh. th Himachal has been ranked in the 4 group in terms of In view of these events, the Central Government decided per capita income among Indian states. The economy of to integrate all these principalities into a single unit to be the state is highly dependent on the three sources: administered by Govt. of India through a Chief Commi- hydroelectric power, tourism and agriculture. ssioner. 4 | Himachal Pradesh G.K. As a result, Himachal Pradesh came into being as a Humid Sub-tropical zone, and (v) Sub-Humid Sub-tropical part ‘C’ State of the Indian Union on 15th April, 1948 by zone. integration of 31 big and small hill states. These states (i) Wet Sub-temperate zone comprises Palampur and were Baghat, Bhajji, Baghal, Bija, Balsen, Bushehar, Chamba, Dharamsala of Kangra District, Jogindernagar area of Mandi Darkoti, Deloth-Dhadi, Dhami, Ghund, Jubbal, Khaneti, district and Dalhousie area of Chamba district, Kyarkoti, Kumarsain, Kunihar, Kuthar, Mandi, Madhan, Mahlog, Mangal, Kot (Ratesh), Keonthal, Rawinigarh, (ii) Humid Sub-temperate zone comprises the districts Sangri, Sirmaur, Suket, Tharoch & Theog. All these areas of Kullu, Shimla, parts of Mandi, , chamba, Kangra at that time constituted four districts namely: Chamba, and Sirmour, Mahasu, Mandi and Sirmour with an area of 27,169 square (iii) Dry Temperate-Alpine High lands include major kilometers. In 1954, the neighboring State of Bilaspur was parts of Lahaul-Spiti, Pangi and Kinnaur, integrated with Himachal Pradesh there by adding one more district having 1167 square kilometers. HP remained part ‘C’ (iv) Humid Sub-tropical zone consists district Sirmaur, State of the Indian Union till 1956. In 1956, States Bhattiyat valley of district Chamba, Nalagarh area of district Reorganisation Commission recommended to abolish the Solan, Dehragopipur and Nurpur areas of district Kangra, categorization of States as Part A, B, C etc. and thus, H.P.’s (v) Sub-humid tropical zone Sirmour and Indora area status as Union Territory continued till the conferment of of district Kangra. Statehood on Himachal dated 25th January, 1971. Five perennial rivers Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and In 1960, the bordering Chini tehsil of Mahasu district Yamuna flow through its territory. The utility of these rivers, was carved out as a separate administrative unit and district though, restricted considerably by the rugged and undu- Kinnaur was formed, raising the total number of districts to lating terrain of the State, nevertheless, these rivers possess six. On 1st November, 1966, the then Pubjab State was immense potential for the generation of hydro-electricity. reorganized with the formation of Haryana as a separate State and Kullu, Kangra, Shimla and some hilly areas of The soils of Himachal Pradesh can be divided into Hoshiarpur district and Dalhousie of Gurdaspur district nine groups on the basis of their development and physio- merged into HP constituting four new districts viz. Kullu, chemical properties. These groups are Alluvial soils, Brown Lahaul-Spiti, Kangra and Shimla. With this addition at that hill soils, Brown earths, Brown forests soils, Grey wooded time, HP comprised of ten districts, an area of 55,673 square or Podozolic soils, Grey brown podzolic soils, Plansolic kilometres and a population of 28.12 lakh (according to soils, Humus and iron Podzols and Alpine humus mountain 1961 census). skeletal soils. On 1st September, 1972, two more districts viz. Hamirpur Climatically, Himachal Pradesh can be divided into three and Una were created by trifurcation of Kangra district. zones (i) The Outer Himalayas, (ii) The Inner Himalayas Also Mahasu and Shimla districts were reorganised as and (iii) Alpine zone. The first zone gets annual rainfall Shimla and Solan districts on 1st September, 1972. In this between 150 cms and 175 cms. In second it varies between reorganization, Shimla town was reorganized with erstwhile 75 cms to 100 cms and the Alpine zone remains under snow Mahasu district to form Shimla district. for about five to six months. The average annual rainfall in Since 1st September, 1972, there had been no change the State is about 160 cms. The climate varies between hot in the administrative structure of HP. Presently, there are 12 and humid in the valley areas to freezing cold in the home districts, 52 Sub-divisions, 75 tehsils and 34 Sub-tehsils in of perpetual snow. Himachal Pradesh. Himachal has 49 cities and towns. The Economy of Himachal Pradesh smallest town is Naina Devi and the largest is Shimla with a total state population of 7,22,502. Urban population is Agriculture contributes nearly about 45% to the net only 7.5% of the total state population. Most of the state domestic product. It is the main source of income as population resides in rural areas. well as employment in Himachal. About 93% of the state population depends directly upon agriculture. Fruit Physical Features cultivation has also proved to be an economic boon to the Himachal Pradesh is almost wholly mountainous with state. There are huge tracts of land suitable only for growing altitudes, ranging between 350 meters to over 7000 meters, fruits. Fruit growing in the state is fetching over ` 3 billion above the mean sea level. It is located between Latitude annually. Special efforts are being made to promote 30º22'40" N to 33º12'20" N and Longitude 75º45'55" E to cultivation of crops like olives, figs, hops, mushrooms, 79º04'20" E. It has a deeply dissected topography, complex flowers, pistachio nuts, sarda melon and saffron. The state geological structure and a rich temperate flora in the sub- has also earned the name of the Apple State of India. tropical latitudes. Himachal is facing a number of difficulties in the Physiographically, the State can be divided into five advancement of industries. Lack of means of dependable zones – viz. (i) Wet Sub-temperate zone, (ii) Humid Sub- transport and poor accessibility has been one of the major temperate zone, (iii) Dry temperate-alpine High lands, (iv) drawbacks. Other problems faced by the state are the poor Himachal Pradesh G.K. | 5 mineral resources, non-availability of infrastructure and Panchayats 3,226 communication facilities, shortage of capital and lack of Panchayat smities 77 modern skills. The only plus point of the state is the ample Zila parishad 12 availability of electricity. Urban local bodies 49 Culture Nagar nigams 2 Himachal Pradesh is a multireligional, multicultural as Nagar parishads 25 well as multilingual state like other Indian states. Some of Nagar panchayats 23 the most commonly spoken languages are Hindi, Punjabi, Census villages 20,690 Pahari, Dogri, Mandiali, Kangri and Kinnauri. The Hindu Inhabited villages 17,495 communities residing in Himachal include Brahmins, Rajputs, Kanaits, Rathis and Kolis. There are also tribal Health institutions 3,866 population in the state which mainly comprises Gaddis, Educational institutions 17,000 Kinnars, Gujjars, Pangwals and Lahulis. Motorable roads 33,722 km Himachal is well known for its handicrafts. The carpets, National highways 8 leather works, shawls, paintings, metalware, woodwork and Identified hydroelectric 23,000.43 MW in five paintings are worth appreciating. Pashmina shawl is one of potential rivers basins i.e. (Yamuna, the products, which is highly in demand not only in Satluj, Beas, Ravi and Himachal, but all over the country. Himachali caps are also Chenab) famous art work of the people. Potential harnessed 9,000 MW (approximate) Local music and dance reflects the cultural identity of Food grain production 16.97 Lac M.T the state. Apart from the fairs and festivals that are Vegetable production 900,000 tonnes celebrated all over India, there are number of other fairs Fruit production 8.19 Lac M.T and festivals specific to Himachal Pradesh. Per capita income 1,30,067 (2015-16) Himachal Pradesh Facts State Symbols Area 55673 km2 Total population 6,864,602 Title Symbol Males 3,481,873 Animal Snow Females 3,382,729 leopard, Population density 123 (Uncia uncia) Sex ratio 972 Rural population 6,176,050 Bird Jujurana Urban population 688,552 Western Scheduled Caste population 1,729,252 tragopan Scheduled Tribe population 392,126 (Tragopan Literacy rate 83.78% melanocephalus) Male literacy 90.83% Female literacy 76.60% Districts 12 Flower Pink Sub-divisions 55 Rhododendron Tehsils/ Sub-tehsils 145 Developmental blocks 78 Towns & Cities 59 Tree Deodar & (Cedrus deodara)

• • 6 | Himachal Pradesh G.K.

2

Geography of Himachal Pradesh

The state took its name Himachal from the Himalayas. highly unconsolidated deposits which results in a high It is spread over an area 55,673 km² (ranks 18th in India) rate of erosion and deforestation. It constitutes Hamirpur, with a population of 68,64,602 (ranks 21st in India) and is Una, Bilaspur, the lower hilly areas of Kangra, and the lower bordered by Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on parts of Mandi, Solan & Sirmaur districts. the southwest, Haryana on the south, Uttarakhand and The lesser Himalayas are spotted by a gradual Uttar Pradesh on the southeast and Tibet on the east. It elevation towards the Dhauladhar and the Pir Panjal ranges. extends from 30º22' and 30º12' North latitude and 75º45' and The rise is more rapid in the Shimla hills, to the south of 79º4' East longitude. which lies the high peak of Chur-Chandni (3647 m) and to North of the river Sutlej, the rise is steady. It constitutes some parts of Sirmaur, Mandi and Chamba. The Kangra valley is a longitudinal trough which is at the foot of the Dhauladhar range. Dhauladhar (‘The White Peak’) has a mean elevation of nearly 4,550 metres. It has a rapid rise of 3,600 m above the Kangra valley. The largest of the lesser Himalayan ranges, the Pir Panjal, branches off from the Greater Himalayan range near the bank of the Sutlej. A number of glaciers exist here and several passes lie across the Pir Panjal. The Rohtang Pass (3,978 m) is one of these. The Great Himalayan range (5,000 to 6,000 metres) runs along the eastern boundary and is slashed across by the Sutlej. Some of the famous passes in this range are The elevation of the state ranges from 350 metres to Kangla (5,248 m), Bara Lacha (4,512 m), Parang (5,548 m) around 7,000 metres above mean sea level. The region and Pin Parbati (4,802 m). It constitutes upper hilly areas of extends from the Shivalik range of the mountains. There is Kinnaur, Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti. a noticeable increase in elevation from west to east and The Zanskar Range, the easternmost range, separates from south to north. At an elevation of 6,816 m Reo Phurgyal Kinnaur and Spiti from Tibet. It has peaks upto 6,500 m is the highest mountain peak in the state of Himachal high. Some of the well-known peaks are Shilla (6132 m) and Pradesh. Riwo Phargyal (6816 m); these are among the highest peaks Physiographic Divisions in this range. There are many glaciers over the Zaskar and The general physiographic divisions from south to the Great Himalayan ranges. north are : Drainage System 1. The Outer Himalayas (Shivaliks) The Himachal region has the unique distinction of 2. The Lesser Himalayas (Central zone) providing water to both the Indus and the Ganga basins. 3. The Great Himalayas (Northern zone) The water from Himachal Pradesh thus passes into the The Shivalik range consists of lower hills (600 m Arabian Sea as well as into the Bay of Bengal. The main above sea level). The hills of this region are composed of drainage system of State of Himachal Pradesh consists of Himachal Pradesh G.K. | 7 the Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, and Yamuna. These rivers Throughout this water length, the valley of the river is a are perennial and are fed by snow and rainfall. They are structural trough formed by the Great Himalaya and Pir- protected by an extensive cover of natural vegetation. Panjal range. Its average slope gradiet is 1 to 150. The Chandra passes through a totally barren land. The Chenab with a lenghth of 1,200 km has a catchment area of about 61,000 sq km, out which 7,500 sq km lie in the state of Himachal Pardesh. River Vedic Name Jhelum Vitasta Chenab Asikni Ravi Purushani Beas Vipasa Sutlej Shatudri Ghaggar Drishadvati Indus Sindhu

The Ravi, also known as Parushani and Iravati in the Rivers in Himachal Pradesh Vadic and Sanskrit literature, has its origin in Bara Bangahal as a joint stream formed by the glacier-fed Bhadal and Tant- The Beas (Vedic-Arjikiya, Sanskrit-Vipasa) rises in the Gari and escapes from the area through a precipitous gorge. Pir-Panjal range near Rohtang Pass of the Kullu Hills, at an The river is about 158 kilometres (98 mi) long and has a elevation of about 4,000 metres and flows for 256 km in catchment area of nearly 5,451 square kilometres (2,105 sq Himachal Pradesh before debouching into the plains of mi). Chamba lies on its right bank. Only a few kilometres Mirtha1. The river is joined by a number of tributaries, the from Chamba town, the Ravi River descends from Himalayas important being the Parbati, the Hurla, the Sainj, the Tirthan, in the form of a water fall. the Uhl, the Suketi, the Luni, the Awa, the Banganga, the The Sutlej, known as Shatudri in Vedic and Shatadru Manuni, The Gaj and the Chaki; northern and eastern in Sanskrit literature, has its origin in the distant highlands affluents are perennial and snowfed while the southern of Tibet. It is an antecedent river which has its origin in the tributaries are seasonal. The Beas pierces the Dhauladhar Trans-Himalayan region. It flows for a distance of 400 km range at Larji. After Larji the gradient becomes gentler. South almost parallel to the Indus and then cuts right through of Larji, the Beas crosses through a steep defile below both the Zanskar Range and the Great Himalaya “thus Mandi and then passes on to undulating tract of South forming perhaps the most striking physical feature of the Kangra.The maximum mean monthly discharge at Mandi region.” It crosses the Indo-Tibetan border near Shipki La. during August is 129,574 cusecs and minimum mean The Spiti River joins it at this point from the north, beyond monthly discharge during January is 3,266 cusecs. Floods which it flows in north westernly direction in Himachal. It occur in the Beas usually in late August or September. then emerges from the mountains at Bhakra gorge where However, the measure of a river’s efficiency lies in its the Gobind Sagar is impounded behind the Bhakra Dam. average flow which for the Beas is 61,302 cusecs in August The Trans-Himalayan portion of its basin receives but little and 4,641 cusecs in January. The average slope gradient is rain. The upper catchment of about 50,140 sq km is located 1 in 40 for the first 120 km from its source, which decreases above the permanent snow-line at an elevation of 4,500 m. 1 to 5000 near the plains. There appears to be a likelihood The total catchment area up to Bhakra Dam in Himachal of water parting between the Beas and the Sutlej to recede Pradesh is about 20,000 sq km. The bed slope from its source further to the north as Sutlej flows in a deeper channel at up to Bilaspur is on average 1 in 150. corresponding points. The Yamuna, one of the most important tributaries of The Chandrabhaga or Chenab is the mightiest river the Ganga, rises in Yamunotri glacier in Uttarkashi district, system (in terms of volume of water) of the state. It has its Uttarakhand. Its total catchment area in Himachal Pradesh source in the glacier of the Middle Himalayas. At this is 2,320 square kilometres (900 sq mi). The river after flowing source, the river is in two streams, the Chandra and the in a south-westernly direction up to Banog turns westward Bhaga. The two streams have their origin on the opposite before it is met by its principal tributary, the Tons at Kalsi sides of Bara Lacha at an elevation of about 4,900 metre. about 48 km from Dehradun. The Giri and the Bata join the After their confluence at Tandi, the Chandra and Bhaga Yamuna upstream and downstream of Paonta respectively. flow jointly as one stream and from this confluence these It leaves the territory of Himachal Pardesh near Tajewala rivers acquire the name of Chenab. Chenab flows 122 Headworks and enters the Great Plains of India – making a kilometres (76 mi) in Himachal before entering Kashmir. boundary line between Haryana and Uttar Pardesh. 8 | Himachal Pradesh G.K. The forms of the basins of the five rivers of the for the growth of the plants is called soil. Soil exhibits Himachal and Kashmir Himlaya are unlike those of the Ku differences in their physical and chemical characteristics maon and Nepal Himalaya in a sense that they are as well as in their capability for growing crops. Soils of any asymmetrical and oblique to the great Himalayan alignment. region maybe classified into (i) zonal, in broad altitudinal It is due to the fact that in Himachal, the alignments of the zones or belts; (ii) Inter-zonal, resulting from special parent Lesser Ranges are oblique to the Great Himalayas. rocks (e.g. Limestone, sandstone); (iii) Azonal or immature The Spiti river has its source far north on the eastern soils, new material on which soil forming processes have slopes of mountain ranges which run between Lahul and not had sufficient time to work. The agriculture department Spiti. The river is formed at the base of the Kunzam Range of Himachal Pradesh has classified the soils into five types, by the confluence of Kunzam La Togpo and the streams taking into consideration the climate and the altitude. Kabzima and Pinglung. The river follows a long meandering Low Hill Soil Zone course interlaced here and there by spurs that project from the foot of the hills on both sides. This Hill Soil Zone extends up to an elevation of about 900 metre. In this zone the soils are shallow and embedded The length of the river within Spiti on the south-east with stone. Soil reaction is almost neutral; carbon to is about 130 km. It continues in Kinnaur district upto a nitrogen ratio is 10:1. The nutrient status varies from low to place known as Khab where it joins the Sutlej. The main medium. These soils are devoted mainly to rice, barley, stream of the Spiti River, which is fed by the glaciers, is a wheat, and Maize and fodder crops. Leeching of soils on perennial one, while some of the tributary streams disappear the slopes is the main problem in this zone. in the loose morain at the feet of the plateaus. Parbati River is a river in Himachal Pradesh that flows Mid-Hill Soil Zone into the Beas River at Bhuntar, some 10 km south of Kullu. The Mid-Hill Soil Zone extends between 900 metre to It rises from the Man Talai Glacier below the Pin Parbati 1500 metre.The soils are loam to clayey-loam in texture with pass and flows in a gradual curve from north-northwest grayish brown colour and are well drained. The carbon to to west-southwest, past the important temple town of nitrogen ratio varies between 10:12. These soils are neutral Manikaran. to slightly acidic in reaction. Available nitrogen and The river Giri is an important tributary of the Yamuna phosphate are medium, whereas, available potash varies River. It drains a part of South-Eastern Himachal Pradesh. from low to medium. The Giri or Giriganga as it is famous in the Jubbal, Rohru hills that rises from Kupar peak just above Jubbal town High Hill Soil Zone after flowing through the heart of Shimla hills, flows down The High Hill Soil Zone extends between 1500-2000 m in the South-Eastern direction and divides the Sirmaur and has developed on steep slopes with good drainage. district into equal parts that are known as Cis-Giri and Soil texture ranges from silty loam to clayey loam with dark Trans-Giri region and joins Yamuna upstream of Paonta brown colour. On favourable aspects, the soils are quite below Mokkampur. The river Ashni joins Giri near Sadhupul deep. The organic matter is also high. The available nitrogen (Chail) while river Jalal which originates from Dharthi ranges varies from medium to high, whereas, potash is medium. adjoining Pachhad joins it at Dadahu from the right side. The soil react ion is acidic to neutral. Soil erosion is a serious The water from the Giri River is led through a tunnel to the problem in this zone. power house of Girinagar and after that it is led into the Bata river. Mountain Soil Zone The Pabbar River is a tributary of the Tones River The Mountain Soil Zone extends between 2100-3000 connecting to it from the west. The Pabbar River is the m. These soils are shallower in depth than the high hill westernmost river that drains east to the Ganges. The Sutlej soils. Soil texture is silty loam to loam, with dark brown to River is the next watershed over and is the easternmost light brown colour Soil reaction is slightly to moderately river that drains west into the Indus. acidic. The oragnic content varies from 2.5 to 3.5. The available nutrient status is medium to high. These soils are Malung is a glacial torrent in Lahaul— Spiti rising at not very much used for the agricultural purposes. an elevation of about 6,094 m and flows north-west to join Tsarap Lingti or Tsarap Chu which later joins the Zanskar The Dry Hill Soil Zone River flowing into the Indus. These soils are found in Lahaul and Spiti, Pangi and Soils Kinnaur where monsoon rainfall is scanty. These are high textured soils with a variable fertility. The organic content The naturally occurring thin layer of unconsolidated and humus in the soil is low. material on the earth surface that has been influenced by parent material, relief, climate, in addition to physical, However, people take a utilitrain view of soils, distin- chemical, biological agents to produce a medium, suitable guishing between lands lying close to or at a distance from Himachal Pradesh G.K. | 9 the homestead and between lands that yield one or two The soil erosion can be checked by maintenance of an crops. Middleton in his final report on Land Revenue effective vegetation cover, contour ploughing, rotation of Settlenwnt has classified soils as under: crops, terracing, composting, planting of cover crops, 1. Chaih—Irrigated by wells. creation of wind breaks (trees, fences), pipe-drainage to prevent gullying, damning of gullies or filling them with 2. Nehri 1—land irrigated by gravity Canals which are brushwood. perennial in character. 3. Nehri Il—Land receiving water from non-perennial Climate source or only at times. The State of Himachal Pradesh is situated in the sub- 4. Nad—Inundated land, growing only rice crop. tropical latitudes but owing to high altitudes, orographic 5. Dofasli—Unirrigated—Bearing two crops a year or features and snow covered peaks, the climate of the greater three in two years. part of the state resembles to that of mountainous and Continental parts of the temperate latitudes. There are 6. Ek-Fasli (unirrigated)—This type of land produces however, microlevel variations in the general prevailing only one crop in a year. weather and climatic conditions of the state. In the absence 7. Bahnd Banjar —It bears one crop in two to three of reliable temperature, pressure and precipitation data, a years. The per acre yield is generally poor. scientific and detailed study of climate at the microlevel 8. Kharetar—These are hay-fields and pastures is not possible and such an attempt may be an over generalization. The soils of the State can also be broadly divided into nine groups on the basis of their development and physico- There is a huge variation in the climatic conditions of chemical properties. These are: Himachal Pradesh due to variation in altitude (450–6500 metres). The climate varies from hot and sub-humid tropical (i) Alluvial soils, (450–900 metres) in the southern low tracts to warm and (ii) Brown hill soil, temperate (900–1800 metres), cool and temperate (1900– (iii) Brown earth, 2400 metres) and cold glacial and alpine (2400–4800 metres) (iv) Brown forests soils, in the northern and eastern high elevated mountain ranges. (v) Grey wooded or podzolic soils, The climate of Himachal Pradesh is closely controlled by the relief features. The Himalayas check the northward (vi) Grey brown podzolic soils, movement of the Summer Monsoon resulting into adequate (vii) Planosolic soils, quantity of rainfall during the season of general rains. The (viii) Humus and iron podzols high ranges of Himalayas also check the southward penetration of the cold and dry polar air during the winter (ix) Alpine humus mountain speletal soils. season. The soils found in the districts of Mandi, Kangra, The microlevel variations in the climatic conditions may Bilaspur, Una, Solan, Hamirpur and Sirmaur are generally be mainly attributed to the marked variations in altitudes. In brown, alluvial and grey brown podzolic; Kullu and Shimla fact the altitude of the state varies from 450 m in Una to 6500 have greywooded podzolic soils, while Kinnaur, Lahaul in Lahaul and Spiti. and Spiti and some parts of Chamba district have humus mountain speletal soils. In general, the climate of the State of Himachal Pradesh is distinguished from the Plains of Punjab by a shorter and Soil Conservation less severe hot summer, a somewhat higher precipitation In the State of Himachal Pradesh, soils are adversely and colder and more prolonged winter. The two main climatic affected by soil-erosion. The removal of organic matter characteristics of the region are the seasonal rhythm of the and plant nutrients from the top layer and its leaching by weather and the vertical zoning. The climatic conditions the agents of denudation is called soil erosion. Unchecked vary from hot and sub-tropical humid in the southern parts erosion gradually leads to poverty of soil and undermines of low elevation to temperate, cold alpine and glacial in the the strength of land. Although there are a number of northern and eastern high mountains. Lahaul and Spiti physical and socio-cultural factors responsible for the experience drier conditions as they are almost cut off by depletion and erosion of soil. Aspect of slope, precipitation, high mountain ranges and fall in the rain-shadow areas. weather, temperature, wind, snowfall human action (over- The climate of Himachal Pradesh is characterised grazing, defective crop-rotation) all combine to accentuate with marked seasonality. In fact, the genesis of weather the rate of soil erosion. In order to overcome the problem of Himachal Pradesh is intrinsically linked with the of soil depletion and soil erosion, some of the important mechanisms of weather in the Indian sub-continent in devices which need to be adopted are as under. general. On the basis of temperature and precipitation per 10 | Himachal Pradesh G.K. year; Himachal Pradesh is divisible into the following three and the weather become hot and dusty and a fine haze seasons. hangs over the hills after mid-day obliterating the distant 1. Hyund or cold weather season (October-February), view. In the valley bottom and southern low tracts people feel oppression of the heat. It is somewhat mitigated by 2. Taundi or summer season (March-June), and the winds, up the valley in the day and down the mountain 3. Barsat or season of general rains (July-September). slopes at night. Occasional duststorms accompanied by light showers also bring some relief. During this part of the year, The Cold Season (Hyund/ Syala) snow melts and swells the hill tor-rents which help in filling In the state of Himachal Pradesh, the winter season the irrigation channels or Kuhls. Very little rainfall is lasts from October to February. The mean maximum and recorded during the summer season, the weather remains mean minimum temperatures in October at Shimla read clear. It is the period when large number of tourists from about 18ºC and 5ºC respectively. In November there is a the Punjab Plains and other parts of the country crowd the further decrease in temperature, the mean minimum being hill stations of Himachal Pradesh. 2ºC and mean maximum 10ºC. January is the coldest in which the mean maximum and mean minimum reads 7ºC and 1ºC The Rainy Season (Barsat) respectively. Occurrence of heavy snow, espe-cially in the July to September is the season of general rains in districts of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Kulu and areas of Manali Himachal Pradesh. After the scorching heat of May and in winters is a common phenomenon. Though snowfall June when a low pressure area develops over the Sutlej- visually occurs in December and January, the high reaches Ganga Plains, the summer monsoons set in. At the advent of may record snowing as early as the last week of October summer monsoon the temperature starts falling. The capital and as late as the last week of March. Usually snow does of the state (Shimla) records about 18.3°C as the mean not lie for any length of time below 2,000 m altitude, and monthly temperature against 19.8ºC in June. The tempera- rarely falls below 1,250m. At elevation of about 3,000 m the ture at Dharamsala decreases from 27.5ºC in average snowfall is about 3 metre and lasts for about four June to 24.3º C in July. The valley regions and the low months (November to February or December to March). altitudinal areas are however, often hot and sultry. With Occasionally, the snowfall becomes very heavy. the onset of rains, the whole panorama of landscape In the winter season rainfall is received mainly from the becomes fresh and lush green. western disturbances or the temperate cyclones. The rainfall So far as the distribution of rainfall during the season generated by these cyclones is fairly widespread. There of general rains is concerned, it increases from the plains to are however, variations in the rainfall recorded at the different the hills according to relief and aspect. Beyond Kulu, the rainfall recording stations of the state. The wet spells are rainfall again decreases due to the rain shadow effect generally followed by cold waves. The frequency of these towards Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur. Spiti is the driest part of western depressions is about two in November, four to five the state which records only 40 c.m. of rainfall during the during December to April and about two in May. The winter rainy season and 50 c.m. annually. Almost all the rainfall rainfall decreases from west to east, for example, it is 425 mm recording stations of the state record between 70 to 80 per at Dharamshala, 345 mm at Kalpa, 260 mm at Nahan and 190 cent of the total annual rainfall during theseason of general mm at Keylong. rain. In the rainy season, snow melts at a faster rate and The rainfall resulting from the western disturbances is swells the hill torrents which help in filling the irrigation of great significance for the standing Rabi crops, especially channels or Kuhls, In sheltered aspects, Nala glaciers may in the unirrigated Barani tracts. Gaddis, the semi-nomadic be found as low as 3000 m. The snow lies longer on the shepherds who follow the seasonal rythm, descend from the northern slopes. mountain slopes to the valley areas which remain relatively The spring and autumn seasons are very delightful in warm or less cold. Himachal Pradesh, especially in the hilly and mountainous areas. In autumn season, weather is cool, invigorating and The Summer Season (Taundi) exhilarating during late September & October. The spring At the advent of March, the weather starts improving season from Mid February to March is short in duration but and the temperature start ascending steadily. The severity highly pleasant. The air is cool and fresh and flowers of of winters is considered to be over by the first week of March. myriad hues adorn the valleys, forest slopes and mountain The mean monthly temperatures in March at Shimla and meadows. The agricultural activities which remain suspen- Mandi read 10.2ºC and 17.5ºC. Dharamsala also records about ded during the Iong winter season are again started in March 17ºC as the mean monthly temperature in March. The upward and April. Ploughing of paddy and maize fields commences, trend in temperature continues. The maximum temperatures and sowing of rice nursery and vegetables also take place are recorded in the month of June. In this month the weather in April. In the month of April the Gaddis semishepherds becomes sultry and uncomfortable in the low lying areas of start moving towards the summer pastures along with their the south Hiimachal Pradesh. The relative humidity declines flocks of sheep and goats. Himachal Pradesh G.K. | 11

Particulars and Shivalik Zone Mid-Hill Zone High hill zone Trance Himalayan Characteristics Zone Altitude Up to 800 m 800m-1,600m 1,600m-2,700m 2,700m-3,600m Type of area Valley areas and Hilly and mountain Alpine zone Lahaul Spiti and foothills ranges Kinnaur range Climatic Sub tropical Slightly warm Cool temperature Dry and extremely conditions temperature with humidity cold conditions Rainfall in mm. 1,500 1,500-3,000 1,000-1,500 500 % of total geo- 30% 10% 25% 35% graphical area

Vegetation and Forest (a) the Coniferous forests, e.g., Deodar, Kail, Pines All vegetation not deliberately organi-sed or included in (Chir),Spruce, Fir, Silver Fir and other conifer species, farming activity, and includes ‘wild’ or semi-natural vegetation. (b) the broad-leaved or Deciduous forests, e.g., Sal, Ban, The State of Himachal Pradesh is well endowed in natural Mohru, Kharsu, Walnut, Maple, Horse-chestnut, Poplar, vegetation and forest wealth. Its natural vegetation has great Alder, Semal, Tun, Shisham.. ‘ diversity in flora, ranging from the lush green summer The distribution of different species follows a fairly pastures to evergreen conifers on the gentle slopes of high regular alitudinal stratification except where the micro- altitudes, and from scrub jungles of the foothills to the climatic changes due to aspect and exposure and local deciduous forests on the southern slopes of the Siwaliks changes in rocks and soils brings in vegetation inversion, and the Lesser Himalayas. The natural vegetation of the i.e., the associations which otherwise occur at higher altitudes state has, however, undergone a drastic transformation. are found projected in the lower zone and vice versa. Large tracts of forests have been removed through conti- Generally, the sequence of important timber species growing nuous felling of trees to bring more area under plough and in the region is Sal, Chir, Deodar. Kail, spruce, and silver fir. pastures. Other broad-leaved species grow in small pockets in suitable sites. The latitudinal sprawls, altitudinal extent, climatic and pedological conditions of Himachal Pradesh have resulted The Vegetation of Himachal Pradesh can be classified into highly diversified flora. The forest covers an area of mainly into nine types as under: about 25,235 sq km or about 41 per cent of the total area of 1. The Dry Alpine Forests the state. Forests are however, not uniformly distributed throughout the state. The high concentration of forests The Dry alpine forests are found in Lahaul, Kinnaur, occurs in the higher hills and interior remote valleys where and Pangi mainly. These forests are very open xerophytics. the density of population is sparse. In the areas of lower The main species of dry alpine forests are juniper, artemesia, altitudes and areas of easy accessibility, the forests have lonicera, Cotoneaster etc. Extensive alpine pastures are the been cleared and the land has been brought under characteristic feature of this forest type which supports large cultivation, pastures, and human establishments. Most of flocks of sheep and goats during summer months. These the forests of Himachal Pradesh belong to the government. alpine pastures remain covered with snow from October to April or May, depending on the altitude and location. The natural vegetation has a climatic altiludinal zona- tion : 2. The Moist Alpine Scrub Forests S.No. Vegetation zone Altitudes in metres These forests are met with above the limit of tree growth and consist of evergreen scrub growth forming dense cover 1. Tropical and Sub-tropical 300-1525 in patches broken by grass in between. The main species 2. Temperate 1526-3650 of moist alpine scrub forests are Salix, Lonicera, Viburnum 3. Alpine 3651-4650 etc. Herbceous flora is fairly rich and medicinal herbs such as aconite, Dhoop, Karru occur in these areas. In Himachal Pradesh 3,950 m is the tree line and beyond this height is found the alpine pastures and grasses grow 3. The Sub-Alpine forests in the summer season up to 4600 m. On the basis of species The sub-alpine forests are found above the altitude of and general characteristics of vegetation the forests of 3,500 m and below the moist alpine scrub zone. Kharsu and Himachal Pradesh may be classified into : Betulautlis, the typical trees of this zone, are however, Himachal Pradesh General Knowledge At a Glance

30% OFF

Publisher : Upkar Prakashan Author : Shahid Ali

Type the URL : http://www.kopykitab.com/product/11888

Get this eBook