MULTIDICIPLINARY

UG 2ND SEMESTER
CLUSTER UNIVERSITY ,SRINAGAR

GEOGRAPHY
OF
JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Prof.MOHMAD SHAFI MIR

8491879879
 Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir – Basic Facts
Created on 31October2019
Total Geographical Area 42,241km²
Total Population 12,267,013
Population Density 290/km2
Districts 20
 Official Languages Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi, English
 UT OF J&K SYMBOLS

A. UT Animal: The Hangul or Kashmir Stag

• The Hangul or Kashmir Stag (Cervus elaphus hanglu) is a sub-species of
elk of India, especially in Jammu and Kashmir.
• It is listed as critically endangered by IUCN. Dachigam National Park is
the home of this species.
B. UT Bird: The Khalij Pheasant
• The Kahlij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos) is found in forests and
thickets, especially in the Himalayan foothills, from Pakistan to western
Thailand.
• Declared on : On 21 October 2021. Kashmir Name: Wan Kokur
• IUCN status listing :Least Concern
C. UT Tree: The Chinar
• The Chinar tree (Platanus orientalis) is the official UT Tree of the Jammu
and Kashmir.
• It is also called Booun in the Kashmiri language.
• It is a large deciduous tree.
D. UT Flower: The Lotus
• The Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is the official Flower
• Of UT Jammu and Kashmir.
 PHYSIOGRAPHY OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR

• LOCATION
• The UT of Jammu and Kashmir lies in the north of India in the Himalayan mountains.
• Latitude 32°17’N-35°10’N
• Longitude 73°26’E-76°20’E
• The state has an area of 42,241km².
• State Boundaries: Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in the South ,Ladakh UT in North/East.
• International Boundaries: Pakistan
• Apart of the UT is under the control of Pakistan.
• Jammu and Kashmir is the 2nd largest UT of India in geographical area and population after
Ladakh (591462km) and Delhi respectively
 PHYSIOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR

• A large portion of the terrain of the UT is hilly area which varies from
914m to 7135m (Nun Peak) in height above sea level.
• Jammu and Kashmir is also comprised of several valleys
namely ,Kashmir valley, Tawi valley ,Poonch ,valley, Sind valley,
Chenab valley and Lidder valley.
• Geographically, the UT (Ladakh included) is divided into seven
physiographic divisions.
• These divisions are :
• Outer Plains
• Foot hills (Shiwaliks)
• Lesser Himalayas (PirPanjal)
• Valley of Kashmir
• Greater Himalayas
• The Karakoram Region
 OUTER PLAINS OF JAMMU
– The plains of the state were formed by the eroded bedrock
material brought down by the mighty river Chenab,
Ravi,Tawi, Ujh, Basantar etc.
– This region stretches in the Southern parts of Akhnoor,
Ranbir singh Pura (RS Pura), Samba and Kathua areas of
Jammu and Kashmir.
– The outer plains are locally known as ‘Andarwah’ or ‘Bajwat’.
– The outer plains is traversed by numerous hill torrents
known as “Khads” most of the year these Khads are dry, but
in rainy seasons these torrents turn into huge gushing rivers.
– Here we find weed growth, locally Known as Khar or
elephant grass.
 2. Himalayan Foot Hills- Shiwaliks
The foot hills of the Himalayas are known as Shiwaliks which are made of the younger
tertiary rocks.
The width of the Shiwaliks in the state is between 20 to 50 km and altitude of 600-1200
m.
These foot hills comprise of long ridges and longitudinal valleys (between Shiwaliks
and Lesser Himalayas), called Duns e.g. Duns of Udhampur, Bhasoli and Kotli.
These Duns are a result of erosion of sandstone, clay and silt of the region.
The inner zone has steep slope and plateau residue due to Folding and erosion
activities on the sedimentary rocks.
The undulating slopes of Shiwalik between Ravi and Chenab rivers are known as
Kandi inhibited by Dhoodiya Gujjars.
The areas of the UT which lie in the Shiwalik hills are Jammu, Mirpur, Udhampur
and Riasi.
 It is also known as Manak Parbat in ancient times.
 Mansar and Surinsar lie in this rang
 3. LESSER HIMALAYAS
– It is also known as Middle Himalayas which lie between the Ravi (in the
East) and the Poonch (in the West).
– This region is composed of volcanic rocks of granite, gneiss ,quartz ,etc.
– The average elevation of this region is 3600-4600m.
– Two important ranges namely PirPanjal (5000m) and Dhauladhar are part
of this region.
– In Jammu region, these ranges are locally known as Pahar.
– Pir Panjal is the longest and the i.e. Western most range of this region.
– Vaishno Devi cave is situated on a peak of Trikuta mountain in this region.
– Many rivers have their source in the middle Himalayas Like
Tawi ,Manawar-Tawi, Basantra and Ujh rivers
• Sunset Peak (Romesh Thong) is a mountain peak
• Located on the border of the Poonch and Shopian
• Along with the Tata kooti Peak lie in the Pir Panjal.
• The hill station of Gulmarg in Kashmir lies in this range.
• Haji Pir Pass on the western Pir Panjal range on the
• Road between Poonch and Uri.
• The Pir Panjal Pass (also called Peer Ki Gali) connects the
Kashmir valley with Rajouri and Poonch via the Mughal Road.
• The Banihal pass(2,832m) lies at the head of the Jhelum River.
• The Sinthan pass connects Jammu and Kashmir with Kishtwar
LESSERHIMALAYAS-PIRPANJAL
 VALLEY OF KASHMIR

– It is deep asymmetrical basin which lies between the PirPanjal

and the Western end of the Great Himalayan ranges.
– It is filled by sediments of lakes and alluvium deposited by the
upper Jhelum river.
– There are extensive elevated plateau of alluvial and lacustrine
material known as Karewas.
– With in the valley of Kashmir, there are important side valleys like
the Lidder valley,the Sind valley and the Lolab valley.
 KAREWAS- WUDURS
– Karewas are lacustrine deposits [deposits in lakes] in the Valley of
Kashmir and in Bhadarwah Valley of the Jammu Division.
– In Kashmiri ,the word Karewa means “elevated table land.”
– Godwin-Austin (1859) coined the phrase.
– These are the flat-topped mounds of loamy soil that surround the
Kashmir Valley on all sides.
– Geologists think that the region of Kashmir valley was formerly filled with
water from the Tethys Sea during the Pleistocene Period (1 million years
ago).
– The Baramullah Gorge developed as a consequence of endogenetic
stresses, and a lake Was drained through it.
– Over time, the water drained away, leaving behind deposits such as
unconsolidated gravel and sludge. These deposits are referred to as
KAREWA
 GREATER HIMALAYAS

– This zone lies to the North of the Pir Panjal and

Dhauladhar ranges, having an average heights between
4500 to 6100 m.
– In the North, Kashmir range forms the part of Zanskar
range and also forms the North-Eastern border Of the
Kashmir valley.
– The ranges of Greater Himalayas prevent the cold winds
of the Central Asia to enter into India.
– Nanga Parbat (Diamer) peak lies in this range.
GREATER HIMALAYAS
 ZANSKAR RANGE

– The Zanskar Range is a mountain range in the union

territory of Ladakh that separates Zanskar from Ladakh it
self.
•
– Geologically, the Zanskar Range is part of the Tethys
Himalaya.
•
– The high peaks Nun and Kun is with in this range.
•
– Marbal Pass and many other passes like Zojila Pass, FotuLa
Pass, NamikaLa, Pensi La are in the Zanskar range.
•
 LADAKH RANGE

– The Ladakh Range is regarded as a southern extension

of the Karakoram Range, which runs for 230 miles (370
km) from the confluence of the Indus and Shyok rivers
in Baltistan to the Tibetan border of Ladakh in the
southeast.
– The main mountain passes are Chorbat, Digar La,
KhardungLa, ChangLa, Umling La and Tsaka La.
 MOUNTAINSOF JAMMU AND KASHMIR

• The Kashmir valley is surrounded by high mountain ranges and a narrow gorge at
Baramulla.
• The Southern part of the state has Shiwalik hills and the Northern part is covered by
the lofty Karakorum.
• Some of the important mountains are:
• Amarnath
• Afarwat
• Burzil
• NangaParbat
• HarmukhMountain
• NunKun
• PirPanjal
• Shiwalik
• Toshmaidan and Kajinag
• Zanskar
• Volcanic Mountains: Soyamji (1860m) and Kharewa.
 AMARNATH
• It is located in Ganderbal district of J&K.
• Famous for its holy cave, Amarnath which can be
reached through the Mahagunas pass.
• The mountain has Lidder valley where Gwasharan is
situated towards Pahalgam.
• Kolahi Glacier is situated here.
• This valley also has ‘Sheshnag mountain’.
BURZIL
• This mountain divides Kashmir and Ladakh region
where Burzil pass is situated.
• Burzil pass is an ancient pass and caravan route.
• The pass lies close to the Line of Control on route
between Srinagar (Kashmir) and Gilgit.
NANGA PARBAT
• This mountain range lies south east of the northern most bend of
the Indus river in Gilgit.
• Nanga Parbat is the western most major peak of the Himalayas.
• It is the 9th highest mountain in the world.
• In local language, it is known as ‘Diamer’ which means ‘King of
Mountains’.
• Also known as Killer Mountain.
HARMUKH MOUNTAIN
• It is also known as mount Harmukuta.
• It is located in Ganderbal district of J&K in Himalayas.
• It is a part of the Himalayan range and is located between Nallah
Sindh in the South and Neelum river in the North.
• Gangbal Lake is located at its foothills.
• It is considered one of the sacred mountains by Hindus, as
 • NUN KUN
• Nun is the tallest peak of Jammu and Kashmir,
while its sister peak Kun lies in Ladakh.
• The Nun Kun massif is bounded to the north
by the Suru valley and the Zanskar range,
flanked to the east by the Pensi La, which
separates the Suru and Zanskar Valleys.
• Bara lacha La pass lies between Leh and Kullu.
 NUN PEAK

KUN PEAK
PINNACLE
PEAK
 • VOLCANIC MOUNTAINS
• Two volcanic mountain peaks are situated in
Jammu and Kashmir.
• Soyamji volcanic peak lies in North Machhi
pura (Handwara), which was once erupted for
13 months in 1934 and is now a dormant
volcanic peak.
• The other volcanic peak is, Kharewa which lies
in Pahalgam tehsil, which is a dead volcanic
peak.
THANK YOU