|
India Himalayas
¤ The Mighty Himalayan
Mountains of India
Hima - Snow, alaya abode. 'Abode of Snow is also known as the king of
mountains. The well known range of mounatins now is called the
Himalayas. The mounatin range forms the northern barrier of the Indian
peninsula, containing the highest eevation of th e world. Himalayas is
the youngest system in the world formed in Oligocence period.
Himalayas gave birth to great rivers Indus and its four tributaries.
The snow-clad Himalayas have been described by Kalidasa as the 'King
of mountains (nagdhiraja), enclosing divnity (devtama) who stands
between the two oceans as measuring rod as were, of the earth.' From
the Pamirs in Pakistan to the easternmost bend of the Brahmaputra in
Assam, the majestic Himalayas rise across a length of 2,500km. From
the most ancient times they have attracted pilgrims from all over
India, and in their sublime presence people have felt the grandeur and
the infinity of the pure spirit.
The Himalayas have not only proceed the country from invasion from
North, but hvae also sheltered the vast plains of Northern India from
the ice colds winds of the Tibet and have played a great part in
determining the climate of North India.
Within their folds stand 92 of the 94 peaks in Asia that measure
above 7,300m. The highest peak is Mount Everest (8,863m, in Nepal),
followed by Kanchenjunga (8,598m), and Nanda Devi (7,817m). Kullu,
Chamba, Kashmir are some of the exquisite valleys cradled by these
magnificent mountains. India’s mighty rivers like the Ganga,
Yamuna, Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab and Brahmaputra originate from the
melting snows of the Himalayas.
For a clearer understanding of this colossal mountain range, the
Indian Himalayas can be divided into three zones – the Shiwaliks
or the Outer Ranges on the southern wing, the Middle Ranges like the
Pir Panjal and the Dhauladhar, and the Greater Himalayas with the
highest and oldest peaks (many of these are in Nepal).
However don’t get taken in by the sheer size of the Himalayas;
compared to some of the mountains of the world, they’re actually
babies! The central core of the Himalayas began to rise barely 35
million years ago, making them the youngest of the most awe-inspiring
ranges in the world.
The 5 million-year-old Shiwaliks are much younger. These peaks are
still growing at the rate of about 5mm a year. The effects can be felt
in the form of violent earthquakes that rock the region separating the
mountains from the plains.
Activities on Himalayas:
Trekking
Mounatineeering
Nature Walk |
