Where are the Himalayas located? On what continent are the Himalayas located? Where are the Himalayan mountains located on the map? In what part are the Himalayas located?
The most majestic and mysterious mountain range on our planet is the Himalayas. This massif, whose name translates as the abode of snow, conventionally divides the Central and South Asia, And the height of its individual peaks reaches more than 8,000 meters. The Himalayas are rightfully considered the highest mountains in the world. Let’s look at the Himalayas on the map and find out why these mountains are so unusual.
Location of the Himalayas mountain system on the world map
“Where are the Himalayas, in which country?” - this question often arises among novice travelers who have heard about the beauty of the most inaccessible mountains planet and decided to go there in search of adventure. Looking at the world map, you can see that the Himalayas are located in the northern hemisphere between the Tibetan Plateau and the Indo-Gangetic Plain. India, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh are the countries whose territories cover the Himalayas. The most visited country in the Himalayas is India. There are many attractions and resorts here. The massif is 2900 km long and about 350 km wide. There are 83 peaks in the mountain system, the highest of which is Everest, the height of the mountain is 8848 m.
Himalayan mountains on the map consist of three main steps:
- Siwalik Range. This is the most southern part mountain range. The ridge is located in Nepal and affects several states of India. Here the height of the Himalayan mountains does not exceed 2 km.
- Small Himalayas. This ridge runs parallel to the Siwalik Range. The average altitude here is 2.5 km.
- Great Himalayas. This is the highest and oldest part of the mountain range. The height of the ridge exceeds 8 km, and it is here that the most high peaks planets.
Highest Peaks
The mountain range contains 9 of the 10 highest peaks in the world. Here are the highest ones:
- Chomolungma – 8848 m.
- Kanchenjunga – 8586 m.
- Lhotse – 8516 m.
- Makalu – 8463 m.
- Cho Oyu – 8201 m.
Most of them are located on the territory of Tibet, and this is where mountain conquerors from all over the planet flock, because climbing the highest peaks is the life’s work of a real climber.
Flora and fauna
The flora of the Himalayas changes with changes in altitude. The natural features of the Himalayas at different levels surprise with the change of landscapes, animals and flora. In the foothills of the small Himalayas, terai or swampy jungles predominate, above them they are replaced by tropical forests, then mixed, coniferous, and finally, alpine meadows appear. The northern slopes are dominated by deserts and semi-deserts. The fauna of the Himalayas is as diverse as the flora. Here you can still find wild tigers, rhinoceroses, elephants and monkeys, and when you rise higher, the risk of encountering a bear, mountain yak and snow leopard increases.
In the mountains that cover Nepal there is a unique nature reserve where endangered species of animals are still preserved. The zone is under the protection of UNESCO. Mount Everest is located within this reserve.
Rivers and lakes
It is in the Himalayas that the three largest rivers in South Asia originate. These include, Brahmaputra and Indus. Moreover, there are many beautiful and clean lakes in the mountain range. The highest mountain is Lake Tilicho, located at an altitude of 4919 m.
The special pride of the Himalayas is, of course, the glaciers. By quantity of reserves fresh water Only the Arctic and Antarctic have bypassed the mountain range. The largest glacier here is the Gantotri formation, which reaches a length of 26 km.
When is it nice to be in the Himalayas?
According to travelers, it is always good in the Himalayas. Each season gives the slopes of this ridge unique landscapes, the beauty of which is simply impossible to describe in words. In spring, the slopes are strewn with beautiful flowers, the aroma of which spreads for many kilometers; in summer, during the rainy season, lush greenery breaks through the light fog and gives freshness and coolness; autumn is a riot of colors; and in winter, when snow falls, there is no cleaner and whiter place in the world.
The main tourist season is in the autumn months, but even in winter there are many skiing enthusiasts, because the Himalayas are home to many world-famous ski resorts.
Almost the entire northeast of India is occupied by the vast mountain system of the Himalayas and Hindu Kush. There's a lot here Buddhist monasteries and communities, many of which settled here thousands of years ago. The Himalayas are India's most famous natural landmark, and Qomolungma Peak, or Everest, the highest peak, claims to be one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Not only climbers and other lovers of extreme recreation come here, but also pilgrims - followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, and esotericism.
The Himalayas are part of five countries. The mountain system is located on the territory of India, Pakistan, Nepal, China and Bhutan, and the Asian rivers Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra, around which the world's most important cultures were created, are fed from the Himalayan glaciers.
Despite the abundance of mountain slopes, there are very few ski resorts in the Himalayas, and those that exist are not very developed. This is due not so much to the reluctance of Indians to invest in sports tourism, how much with absence good places for riding. Of the available ones, the most popular are Gulmarg in the Indian part of Kashmir, Auli in the state of Uttarakhand and Manali in Himachal Pradesh.
How to get to the Himalayas
The closest airport to the Indian Himalayas is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. First you need to fly here, and then domestic flights, by train or rented car you can already reach your destination.
There is no railway network in the mountains, but you can take a train to the foot. The only one railway in the Himalayas is more about entertainment than convenient transportation The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is called the "toy train" here. It departs from Siligiri station and goes up to Ghuma, located at an altitude of 2257 m, passing tea plantations, valleys and other picturesque landscapes.
The easiest way to get to the Gulmarg ski resort is by plane: the city of Srinagore, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, has its own airport. Auli is close to several airports, the nearest being Dehradun.
The main means of transportation between cities and towns in the Himalayas are jeep minibuses (shared jeeps), they run between all settlements. Indians are accustomed to taking up minimal space on the road, so in order to travel comfortably, it makes sense to buy 1-2 additional seats.
Search for air tickets to Delhi (the nearest airport to the Himalayas)
Weather in the Himalayas
The weather in the Himalayas depends on the height of the mountain ranges - the higher, the colder. At an altitude of 2000-2300 m above sea level in winter the air temperature ranges from −4 to +8 °C, in summer - on average +18...+24 °C, sometimes it is hot, up to +23...+30 °C .
The best time to travel is from May to July and September to October. At this time, the weather is dry, sunny, warm and comfortable enough for walking. In July and August it is also warm, but at this time there are rains and fogs, high clouds, so it is unlikely that you will be able to admire the mountain landscapes. In winter, the Himalayas are cold and windy, all roads are covered with snow, and travel becomes problematic.
Himalaya Hotels
There are different hotels in the Himalayas price categories. There is a large selection of hotels from 2* to 5* in Darjeeling and at popular ski resorts. A small house without amenities, with a fan instead of an air conditioner, will cost from 1100 INR per day for two. “Treshka” will cost about 3500-4200 INR per day for a double room, and 5* hotels - from 7000 INR per day. Prices on the page are as of March 2019.
Ashrams are popular in the Himalayas, especially in its religious districts. These are shelters for pilgrims, similar to very ascetic hostels. The conditions there are quite spartan, often in a room for several people there are only beds and one shower for everyone (if you are lucky, there will be a fan). Accommodation is very cheap, and sometimes you can live in the ashram for free for help with housework or a voluntary donation.
Alpine skiing
There are several ski resorts in the Himalayas. In terms of the level of service they cannot be compared with European ones, but the most important thing is the required minimum of services and luxurious mountain landscapes- there is one here. Equipment rental points are available almost everywhere; a full set will cost approximately 1400-1750 INR per day.
The most popular ski resort in the Himalayas - Gulmarg. It corresponds more than any other to European standards, and looks like a Swiss village from the middle of the last century. There are equipment rental points, several ski lifts, about 15 km of pistes and excellent forest freeride.
Auli is another popular Himalayan ski resort. Local trails are considered the best in the region (about 10 km in total). There are snow cannons ski schools for beginners and gentle slopes for them. The resort as a whole is more focused on beginner athletes; experienced athletes will find it quite boring here.
Solang- a ski resort 22 km from the city of Manali. There are trails for both beginners and extreme sports enthusiasts (one “black trail”), tourists note the high professionalism of the instructors.
Narkanda- Very picturesque resort surrounded by coniferous forest, located near Shimla, the only drawback is very little space.
Kufri- the oldest ski resort in India. In winter, it is a center for skiing, and in summer for trekking and hiking, as two national parks are located not far from Kufri: the Himalayan Nature Park and the Indira Tourist Park.
Cuisine and restaurants of the Himalayas
Tibetan cuisine is widespread in the Himalayas. It is much less spicy than in southern India, and there is more meat in it, although vegetarian dishes are also present. The most popular dishes that can be found in almost every cafe and restaurant are chouman (pasta with vegetables and meat), momo (steamed dumplings with various meat and vegetable fillings) and tuhpa (lamb broth soup with pasta, vegetables and meat). Here, a lot of cooking is done in a tandoor - an earthen oven without a lid. Basically, this is simple peasant food: meat or poultry is roasted on a spit, and then finished in a tandoor in special bread cakes, which are used to cover the inside of the tandoor.
The season is important. In the Himalayas, this seasonality is special and is associated with religion and other ancient traditions. During the rainy season, you won’t find dishes with nuts here; after a hearty lunch you need to eat mango, and in the summer they don’t eat meat or fish here. However, the latter is easily explained: not every home still has refrigerators, and meat spoils very quickly in the heat.
In the Himalayas there is a cult of healthy food. For example, it is believed that mango soup not only improves blood circulation, but also increases sexual desire, halva is almost a blessing from the gods, and a drink made from rhodo flowers (Himalayan rhododendrons) brings harmony to the body and soul.
Guides in the Himalayas
The best photos of the Himalayas
Entertainment and attractions
The Himalayas are primarily interesting for their ancient temples and natural attractions. The most famous are Ladakh, the city of ashrams Rishikesh and Haridwar, one of the seven sacred cities. The high-mountain temples of Shiva and Vishnu in Kedarnath and Badrinath, the Kashmir Valley and, of course, Shambhala with Tibetan monasteries are worth visiting.
Also popular are excursions to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, surrounded by a “reservoir of immortality,” and trips to the state of Sikkim to the foot of the sacred Annapurna and other Buddhist shrines.
Acquaintance with the Himalayas often begins from the capital of Himchal Pradesh - the town of Shimla. It is called “the most fashionable village in the Himalayas”: it is worth visiting the palace of the Viceroy of Britain (today it houses a museum), central square with the Cathedral of Christ and the main shopping street, where you can buy scarves and shawls made of fine wool, saris and other national clothes and sparkles to decorate the forehead.
One of the most mysterious places in the Himalayas - Srinagar. All its secrets are connected with the Rozbal tomb - according to historical research (mostly dubious), the body of Jesus lies there, and many locals sincerely believe this. In addition, the city is famous for milking boats on Dal Lake, the proximity of the Gulmarg ski resort and very high quality woolen products in local shops and markets.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is one of the most interesting attractions in the Himalayas. It is better known here as the Toy Train. The road was built in 1881, and since then a small train has been running along a narrow 60-centimeter track to an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. The final station is Ghum (altitude 2257 m), the path runs past tea plantations and other local beauties. The terminal station opens from the railway ring gorgeous view to the surrounding area.
Road to the Himalayas
Natural attractions
The Himalayas have very interesting national parks - Nanda Devi and the Valley of Flowers in the Western Himalayas, which are protected by UNESCO. These two parks are located nearby and are considered one of the most picturesque in the Himalayas. The landscapes here are truly impressive: glaciers on mountain peaks, alpine meadows, the source of the Ganges River, which flows through the entire Nanda Devi Nature Reserve, and a variety of plant and fauna. Rare animals live here, such as the snow leopard and blue sheep.
The most famous attraction of the national park is Lake Rooklund, also known as Skeleton Lake. It received its ominous name after many human skeletons were discovered at the bottom of the lake. It is believed that these people were killed by hail while climbing to the top.
Himalayas and Roerich
The Himalayas have inspired and continue to inspire artists, directors, musicians and simply creative people. The great Russian artist and mystic Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich on his expedition in the 30s of the 20th century. not only visited the Indian Himalayas and depicted what he saw in paintings, but even founded the Institute of Himalayan Studies in America. Moreover, the last years of the artist's life were spent in the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Now there, in Nagar (a suburb of the city of Manali) there is a house-museum of the painter. The environment in which the Roerich family lived for 20 years, Nikolai Konstantinovich’s personal car and some of his paintings were preserved there.
The Kullu Valley is famous not only for the Roerich estate. This region is called Indian Switzerland: coniferous forests grow here, and in Manali there is a Center for Tibetan Medicine, where you can get diagnosed by the best local doctors and improve your health.
I cannot boast that I have climbed one of the peaks of this great mountain system. But I was able to visit its foot. The feeling is simply indescribable.
The Himalayas are located in five countries at once
I was able to see the Himalayas in India, but in addition to this country, this mountain system “found its home” in Pakistan, Bhutan, China and Nepal. These great rivers are fed by Himalayan glaciers:
- Ganges;
- Brahmaputra.
Not only curious tourists, but also professional climbers come here in droves, most of whom want to conquer the peaks of Chomolungma or Everest (they belong to this mountain system). But with ski resorts everything is bad here, or rather there are very few of them. The most famous one is called Gulmarg.
Just think, the area of this mountain system is 650,000 kilometers. This is larger than any European country.
There are a lot of interesting parks here, some of them are under UNESCO protection. If possible, visit National Park in Nanda Devi. I also had the opportunity to spend one day in the Ladakh region. It was opened to tourists quite recently. Simply amazing people live here who honor Tibetan traditions and wear national clothes.
A little about tours to these places
The so-called high season in the Himalayas lasts from the beginning of May to the end of October. The rest of the time it’s cold here and tourists don’t really want to come here. If we talk about classic tours, which include visits to all iconic attractions, then the price tag starts from $1,200. Air tickets are not included in this price.
Nepal
This state is called the heart of the Himalayas. It is in this Federal Republic that the snow-capped peak of Chomolungma is located. To "climb" onto highest point planets, thousands of extreme sports enthusiasts and daredevils flock here every year like moths.
This peak was first conquered more than half a century ago. Of course, not all climbers manage to climb here safely; many people die here every year. But recently, one climber even skied down from here.
The types of landscapes and the opportunity to conquer eight-thousand-meter mountains attract climbers from all over the world. Myths and legends envelop this piece of land, marked by the brightest spot (on the altitude scale) on physical map Eurasia. At the same time, the Himalayan upland system is the youngest on the planet.
The highest mountain range, the Himalayas, is located in South Asia, it stretches from west to east, its length is over 2400 km, its width is in the range of 180-350 km, and its area is about 650 km 2.
Relatively geographical objects ridge bordered by:
- north – Tibetan Plateau;
- south – Indo-Gangetic lowland;
- east – the valley of the Brahmaputra River;
- west - Indus Gorge.
The territory of the Himalayan mountains was divided among several Asian countries, information is given in table 1.
Table 1.
| No. | State | Capital | Location on the Himalayan range |
| 1. | Islamic Republic of Pakistan | Islamabad | Western part |
| 2. | Republic of India | New Delhi | Western and central parts |
| 3. | Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China | Lhasa PRC – Beijing | Northwestern part |
| 4. | Federal Democratic Republic Nepal | Kathmandu | Central part |
| 5. | Kingdom of Bhutan | Thimphu | Eastern part |
| 6. | People's Republic Bangladesh | Dhaka | Eastern foothills |
Origin of the Himalayas and geology
The Himalayan mountains are marked on the map of geologists as the youngest on Earth.
The age of mountains is determined by their relief: the sharpness, amplitude of heights, and steepness of the slopes confirm their youth - the Himalayas belong to this type. The formation of the system began about 38 million years ago. And in our time, tectonic movements do not stop, they have simply become less intense.
There is a historical and geological theory according to which 200 million years ago there was one single continent on the globe. Due to changes within the earth, it split into several continents.
Over time, they changed and collided with each other. This is how the Hindustan and Asian lithospheric plates collided, from which the edges of both continents were deformed with the formation of high mountain ranges.
During its formation, the massif was divided into 3 conventional stages, starting from the south:
- The southern step of the Pre-Himalayas is the Siwalik Mountains. Its height does not exceed 1 km, width 10-50 km. The mountain structure contains several ridges and the Potvar Plateau.
- Lesser Himalayas. The width of the vast highland is 80-100 km, the height is on average 3.5-4 km, there are peaks, the highest is 6.5 km. Between the border ridge of Dauladar and the main Himalayan range lie the picturesque valleys of Kashmir and Kathmandu.
- Great Himalayas. The string of ridges is divided into separate structures. The width reaches 90 km, the average height of the peaks is 5.5-6 km, it has 10 mountain ranges with peaks over 8 km.
Development and interesting facts
The development of mountains is associated with the desire to conquer the highest peaks on earth.
In total, there are 14 massifs on Earth with peaks higher than 8 km, the bulk of which are located in the Himalayas.
There are 10 mountain structures whose peak heights exceed this limit. Each of them has been conquered by climbers more than once. But the climber’s most desired goal is to conquer the highest peak on the planet – Chomolungma.
Some facts about conquering the peaks:
- The first summit of Annapurna was conquered in 1950 by the Frenchmen M. Herzog and L. Lachenal. This was the first world conquest of an eight-thousander peak.
- The first ascent of Chomolungma in 1953 was made by New Zealander E. Hillary with Sherpa T. Norgay. Sherpas are the people of Nepal, the best guides in the mountains.
- Japanese Junko Tabei was the first woman to conquer Chomolungma in 1976. The first European in 1978 was Polish woman V. Rutkevich.
- The oldest person to conquer Chomolungma is 76-year-old Nepalese M.B. Shirchan in 2008. The youngest is 13-year-old Californian D. Romero in 2010.
- A group of 11 Russians first conquered Chomolungma in 1982. The first Russian woman, E. Ivanova, conquered the height in 1990.
- The highest peak was conquered 3,700 times, and 570 climbers died during the ascents.
Peaks
Separate mountain structures can have several peaks over 8 km. Brief description presented in table 2. 
Table 2.
| No. | Array name | Height, m | Year of conquest | Country | Brief description |
| 1. | Chomolungma (Everest) | 8848 | 1953 | Nepal, Tibetan Autonomous Republic | Has 2 peaks above 8 km. Part national park Sagarmatha (Nepal) |
| 2. | Kanchenjunga | 8586 | 1955 | Nepal, India | An array of 5 peaks, 4 of them are higher than 8 km. Part of a mountain in Kanchenjunga National Park |
| 3. | Lhotse | 8516 | 1956 | Nepal, Tibetan Autonomous Republic | An array of 3 peaks, all above 8 km |
| 4. | Makalu | 8463 | 1955 | Nepal, Tibetan Autonomous Republic | Consists of 2 peaks, both above 8 km |
| 5. | Cho Oyu | 8201 | 1954 | Nepal, Tibetan Autonomous Republic | Included in the Chomolungma massif. Part of Sagarmatha National Park (Nepal) |
| 6. | Dhaulagiri | 8167 | 1960 | Nepal | An array of 11 peaks, 10 of them are above 7 km |
| 7. | Manaslu | 8156 | 1956 | Nepal | An array of 3 peaks, one higher than 7 km, the other – 6 km |
| 8. | Nanga Parbat | 8126 | 1953 | Pakistan | Consists of 4 peaks, 2 – from 7 km, 1 – from 6 km |
| 9. | Annapurna | 8091 | 1950 | Nepal | The ridge is 55 km long, with 13 peaks above 7 km and 16 peaks above 6 km. |
| 10. | Shishabangma | 8027 | 1964 | Tibetan Autonomous Republic | It is part of the Langtang ridge, has 3 peaks, the height of two is above 8 km |
Weather conditions
The Himalayan mountains on the map are indicative and are the barrier that separates the southern Indian lowlands from the northern Tibetan plateau.
On the slopes on the northern side the climate is continental cold with rare precipitation per year barely reaching 100 mm. Monsoon winds blow in the south, bringing heavy rainfall. For summer period in the eastern part precipitation falls up to 4 m, in the west it is less - more than 1 m.
At the tops of the system the temperature in winter is down to -40°C, and in summer no higher than -25°C. Due to constant winds weather conditions can change dramatically. Hurricane winds often blow, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 150 km/h.
On the southern slope the weather has 4 seasons:
- April-June – cool spring with lush growth of herbs and flowers.
- July-August is the summer rainy season with fogs, the flora develops especially rapidly.
- September-October – warm autumn, comfortable warm days begin.
- November-March – frosty winter with snowfalls and clear days.
Himalayan water system
The water system of the Himalayas is connected with the glacial and snow caps of mountain peaks. The snow boundary of the south begins from the east at an altitude of 4.5 and from the west – 5.1-5.3 km.
On the northern side the border is higher - up to 1 km. Glaciers have formed on all high-mountain peaks; in the west they have a valley character (the tongue of the glacier is located in a valley), in the east they are dendritic (valley, formed from several tongues).
Glaciers give rise to numerous rivers and deep rivers that pass through the next 2 stages of the Himalayas and flow down to the lowlands. Information about the most famous rivers is given in Table 3.
Table 3.
| River name | Length, km | Source | Estuary | Which countries does it flow through? |
| Indus | 3180 | Tibetan plateau | Arabian Sea | PRC (TAR), India, Pakistan |
| Sutlej | 1536 | Tibetan plateau | Indus River | PRC (TAR), India, Pakistan |
| Brahmaputra | 2896 | Confluence of the Jangtsi and Chema-Yundung rivers | Strait of Bengal | China (TAR), India, Bangladesh |
| Ganges | 2700 | Confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers | Strait of Bengal | India, Bangladesh |
Reservoirs for lakes are pits that appeared during the movement of ice masses. Another condition for the creation of lakes is the damming of mud masses during the movement of ice avalanches on rivers. The famous lakes of the system are usually sacred and are symbols of religious worship. Table 4 presents brief information about some lakes.
Table 4.
| Lake name | Country locations | Altitude above sea level, m |
| Ansu | Northern Pakistan, Kaghan Valley | 5027 |
| Pangong Tso | North India, southwest Tibetan Autonomous Republic | 4334 |
| Manasarovar | Tibetan Autonomous Republic, southwestern region | 4557 |
| Gosaikund | Nepal, north central, Rusawa district | 4380 |
| Mebartso | Bhutan, central region, on the Tang River of Bumthang region | 3000 |
Flora and fauna
On mountain ranges The Himalayas are forming altitudinal zones climatic conditions, the world of flora and fauna. The tiers of the eastern and western zones are different; information is presented in Table 5.
Table 5.
| No. | Belt height, km | Description of the belt | Representatives of the flora | Representatives of fauna |
| Eastern zone |
||||
| 1. | Up to 0.8-0.9 | Terai - swampy jungle | Khair, sissu, bamboo, orchids, vines, rattan palm | Rhinoceroses, deer, fallow deer, crocodiles |
| 2. | Up to 1-1.2 | Tropical evergreen forests | Lianas, epiphytes, sal tree, shorea | |
| 3. | Up to 2 | Tropical, subtropical forests | Oaks, maples, magnolias, chestnuts, Nepalese alder | |
| 4. | Up to 2.5 | Evergreen and deciduous forests | Oaks, long-leaf pines, epiphytes | Wild boars, serow, Himalayan tara, red panda, pheasants, Danfe pheasants, deer, bears |
| 5. | Up to 3.2 | Evergreen forests with some deciduous trees | Himalayan spruce, Naples cherry, Simon's polyflorum, maples, hemlocks, rhododendrons | |
| 6. | Up to 4 | Evergreen forests | Himalayan fir, useful birch, rhodendrons, junipers | |
| 7. | Up to 4.2 | Rhodendrons, junipers, honeysuckle | Himalayan marmots, snow leopards, snowcocks, pikas, snow partridges, redstarts, musk deer, wild yaks, llamas | |
| 8. | Up to 5.2 | Alpine herbals, flower beds, lichens, moss | ||
| Western zone |
||||
| 1. | Up to 1.5 | Rainforests | Chestnuts and oaks, vines, longleaf pine | Gaurs, buffalos, tigers, leopards, deer |
| 2. | Up to 3 | Subtropical evergreen forests | Cedars, Himalayan cedars, spruce, oak, fir, cedar, neem, banyan tree | Wild boars, serow, bears, red panda, pheasants, gorals |
| 3. | Up to 4.3 | Subalpine, alpine stripes | Rarely birches, pines, rhodendrons, mostly shrubs, sedge thickets, mosses, lichens | Marmots, deer, yaks, llamas, leopards, snow partridge, redstarts, woodpeckers, mountain pheasants |
An inhabitant of the northern slopes of the Himalayan mountains is the snow leopard. Northern slopes They are distinguished by a harsh climate, where even in summer the temperature rarely reaches above zero at noon; at night it drops into the subzero zone. Therefore, vegetation and fauna are very scarce.
Parks and valleys
The Himalayan mountains (on the map you can see the presence of numerous national parks and nature reserves) have protective zones that were created to protect unique wildlife.
They can be used for scientific geographical and biological research purposes. Some parks have become part of the UNESCO list. It is better to visit them in spring or autumn; the rest of the time there is heavy rainfall.
The most famous parks and valleys:
- India. "Valley of Flowers" located at an altitude of 4 km, in the north-west of the country. A picturesque alpine meadow with flora unique to this area. Accommodation is prohibited here, you can only move on foot. It is adjacent to the high-mountain Nanda Devi Park (the highest peak is 7816 m). There are 2 more parks in India with UNESCO heritage status: “Great Himalayas” and “Kanchenjunga”.
- Nepal. "Kathmandu Valley" located in the north-central part of the country. There are many historical and cultural international monuments on it. This is a sacred land with several pilgrimage centers on it. There are 7 sites in the valley that are on the UNESCO list. Another park, Sagarmatha, was created to protect the Chomolungma peak.
- Butane. " Royal Park Manas" located in the south of the country, combined with the “biological corridors” of several nature reserves and national parks. The height of the park reaches the ice fields. Therefore, everyone participates in it climatic zones Himalayas with many different species of plants, animals, birds, insects. There are 2 more reserves under UNESCO protection: Bumdeling and Sakten.
In Pakistan, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and Bangladesh there are also many national parks that do not have UNESCO heritage status.
Buddhist temples
Buddhism is an ancient world religion. Since ancient times, Buddhist temples and monasteries have been built; time has not spared the oldest temple complexes. Mostly medieval churches have survived. Numerous adherents of esotericism, Buddhism and Hinduism come to these holy places.
Temples:
- Pakistan. Takht-i-Bahi– the complex was built in the 1st century. BC near the city of Mardan in the north of the country. It was built in 4 stages, up to several centuries passed between stages, the last extension was undertaken in the 6th-7th centuries. AD It was destroyed during the Hun invasion. It is on the UNESCO heritage list.
- India. Tabo Gompa Monastery in northern India it is located at an altitude of 3.2 km. Founded in 996 AD Rinchen Japo. The monastery has 8 temples and 24 stupas (a cult monolithic structure with a hemispherical outline).
- Tibetan AR. The most ancient monastery in Tibet - Toling located in the western part, built in 996. There are several halls on the territory, a group of 108 pagodas along the Sainchuan River. Excellent frescoes, a statue of Sakyamuni, and paintings of King Atisha have been preserved in the halls.
- Nepal. Swayambhunath Stupa located in the suburbs of Kathmandu, erected in 460, in the 13th century. became largest center Buddhism. Throughout its history, it was destroyed, restored, refurbished, and in 2015 it was partially collapsed due to an earthquake. The stupa is located on a mountain; to climb it you need to overcome 365 steps; there are several monasteries around it.
- Butane. Tamshing Lakhang – temple complex near the town of Jakar in the Bumthang Valley. The complex has a main temple and monastic dormitories. Festivals are held here once a year in honor of Pema Lingla, the founder of the monastery, he erected it in 1501. The culture of temple dances has been preserved, reflecting the era of the founder of the monastery. UNESCO heritage.
Resorts of the Himalayas
The Himalayan hills are a natural heritage of all the countries in which they are located. The highest peaks of planet Earth are concentrated here, so this mountain system is a Mecca for climbers and hunters extreme tourism.
Most popular places:
- In the Indian Himalayas the most popular resort considered Gulmarg, located on the slopes of the Pir Panjal mountains in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The resort offers winter activities from December to March: luge, alpine skiing, snowboards, freeride (skating outside the designated area). The ski area is 4-2 km above sea level. In the summer they engage in mountain biking and golf. Nearby there are 40 hotels with different accommodation conditions.
- Tibetan AR, the city of Purang in the Ngari region. This is an ancient center of trade and a transit point for pilgrims on the way to the sacred Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. The city is open to tourists only in the summer from July to October; in winter the roads are blocked by snow. Tourists can admire local attractions. You can stay in a hotel, but there are not many of them.
- In Nepal, tourists started skiing with ski equipment quite recently at the resort of Mount Annapurna using heli-skiing (landing at the base by helicopter). Skiing is carried out from different heights from 3.4 to 5.5 km, descending to heights of 3.2-3.5 km. Accommodation or overnight stays are organized in nearby villages where guesthouses (private households) are located.
- In Bhutan, tourism is excursion and pilgrimage in nature. Hiking expeditions to religious complexes, or long mountain hikes of up to 1 month are carried out. In temples you can heal your body and soul using unconventional methods; the peace and tranquility that reigns in the country also helps to achieve harmony. You can stay not only in the capital, but also in the city of Paro in hotels from 2-5 stars.
Historical and cultural attractions
Himalayan attractions in all countries are mainly associated with the religious ways of the countries. The religion of the celestial countries has imposed certain rules, and they are closely related to mountain peaks. On the territory of the countries there are many holy places, there are fortifications and cultural buildings worthy of tourist exploration.
Just look at a map with historical values and see that in this area of the Earth there is a lot interesting places:
- In Pakistan, one of the ancient monuments is Altit Fort in the Hunza Valley. The fortress is built on a rock overlooking the valley. The ancient Shikari tower of the fort is 1100 years old. The fortress has small rooms with exquisitely carved wooden portals.
- In India this is summer residence Viceroy of England in Shimla, Himchal Pradesh state, northeast of the country. The residence was built in 1888 with British chic, with local influences. The museum has many exhibits.
- In the Tibetan Autonomous Republic of China they can offer a tour to the city of Burang. Above the city on the mountain ridge, the Simbiling monastery and the large Tegla Kar fort were built - currently the fort remains in ruins, the monastery has been restored. Below them is a 9-story destroyed monastery of the Bon religion - Tsegu Gompa. The route to Burang passes through sacred lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash.
- In Nepal, it is worth staying in Kathmandu, himself ancient city, which has preserved many ancient buildings, there are palace complexes, museums and religious temples. Durbar Square has about 50 historical and cultural monuments of the country, the Hanuman Dhoka complex is especially interesting.
- Butane. Among the country's attractions, the national library stands out, created in 1967 to preserve the historical heritage of the people. It is located in a beautiful octagonal building. In addition to books, ancient letters and historical documentation are kept there. There are other historical buildings around.
Tourists visiting the Himalayas
Tourists visit the Himalaya mountain system for different purposes:
- mountaineering;
- alpine skiing;
- pilgrimage;
- physical and spiritual healing.
Tourists flock here in the thousands, and the flow is growing every year. The most suitable period is May-July and September-October. Summer and winter are rainy and snowy seasons. The Himalayas are located on the territories of 5 countries, so how to get here, get a visa, what fees will be charged for the trip, you need to find out in advance from your operator, or find information on the Internet.
The scale of the Himalayan peak system attracts not only tourists, but also scientists. Due to long political isolation mountainous countries and the inaccessibility of their territories, this area of the Earth has not yet been sufficiently studied by biologists, geographers, geologists, and historians.
Although the study is gaining momentum, there is still an abundance of blind spots on everyone thematic maps hills.
Article format: Svetlana Ovsyanikova
Video on the topic: mysteries of the Himalayan mountains
The Himalayas are the most mysterious place on Earth:
The Himalayas are the great mountain system of Asia, forming a barrier between the plateau of Tibet in the north and the plains of the Indian subcontinent in the south. The Himalayas include the most high mountains world, with more than 110 peaks rising to an altitude of 7,300 meters or more above sea level. One of these peaks is Everest. Another name for the mountain in the Tibetan version is Qomolangma, in the Chinese version - Komolangma Feng, in Nepalese - Sagamata. It is the highest mountain in the World, with a height of 8,850 meters.
Geographical location of the Himalayas
Everyone who is interested in these mountains first of all searches on what continent, in what country and where are the Himalayas located. Geographical location The Himalayas stretch 2,550 kilometers from North Africa to the Pacific coast of Southeast Asia in the Earth's northern hemisphere. The Himalayas stretch from west to east between Nanga Parbat, in Pakistan they include parts of Kashmir and Namzhagbarwa Pike, and in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
Between the western and eastern edges there are two Himalayan countries– Nepal and Bhutan. The Himalayas border in the northwest with mountain ranges Hindu Kush and Karakoram, and in the north with the high and vast plateau of Tibet. The width of the Himalayas from south to north varies between 200 and 400 km. Their total area is 595,000 square kilometers.
On the physical map, it can be seen that India, Nepal and Bhutan have sovereignty over most of the Himalayas, with Pakistan and China also occupying parts of them. In the disputed Kashmir region, Pakistan has administrative control over approximately 36,000 sq. km in the Ladakh region of Kashmir and claims territory at the eastern end of the Himalayas in Indian state– Arunachal Pradesh. These disputes highlight the border issues facing India and neighboring countries in the land where the Himalayas are located.
Physical Features
The most characteristic features of the Himalayas are their high, steep, jagged peaks, valleys and alpine glaciers. Complex geological structure complement river gorges, deeply cut by erosion. A number of elevated zones are distinguished by different ecological types of flora, fauna and climate. Viewed from the south, the Himalayas appear on a map as a giant crescent moon with its main axis rising above the snow line, where snowfields, alpine glaciers and avalanches feed the lower valleys.
Most of the Himalayas lie below the snow line. The Himalayan ranges are grouped into four parallel longitudinal mountain belts of varying widths, each of which has different physical and geographical features and its own geological history. They range from south to north as the outer sub-Himalayas (also called the Siwalik Range), the lesser or lower Himalayas, the Greater Himalayan Range (Great Himalayas) and the Tethys or Tibetan Himalayas. Further north in Tibet lie the Trans-Himalaya.
Geological history
It is believed that the Himalayas owe their origin to the movement of the Indo-Australian plate, which is constantly moving north, where it collides with the Eurasian plate. The force of the plate movement is such that it bends the layers of rock and creates faults into which masses of granites and basalts invade. This is how the Tibetan plateau was formed. The Trans-Himalayan ranges became the region's watershed and rose so high that they became a climate barrier. The more rain falls on the southern slopes, the more the southern rivers tend to move north along transverse faults.
The northern shores of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are quickly filled with debris brought from the mountains by the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. About 20 million years ago, the rate of pressure between the two plates increased sharply. As the Indian subcontinental plate continued to subduct, the uppermost layers were thrown back a large horizontal distance to the south, forming boulders.
Wave after wave of boulders rushed south over Indian land at a distance of up to 100 km. Over time, these boulders rolled up, shortening the former trench by 400-800 km. All this time, the falling rivers matched the rate of rise, carrying a huge amount of stones and rocks. Once the Himalayas rose high enough, they became a climate barrier: the extreme mountains in the north lost their rain and became as parched as the Tibetan Plateau.
On the contrary, on wet southern shores the rivers rose with such energy that they forced the ridge line to slowly move north. However, changes in the landscape forced all but the major rivers to change the direction of their lower reaches, because as the northern ridges rose, so did the southern edge of the vast plateau. Where the Kashmir Valley is located, as well as the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, temporary lakes were formed, which were then filled with sediments.
Population of the Himalayas
The Indian subcontinent is home to four language families - Indo-Aryan, Tibetan-Burman, Austro-Asiatic and Dravidian. They have a long history of infiltration by Iranian groups from the west, Indian peoples from the south, and Asian peoples from the east and north. In the hilly regions of the lesser Himalayas live the Gaddis and Gujaris. They are traditional mountaineers, owning large herds of sheep and goats and descending with them from their snowy abode into the outer Himalayas only in winter and returning to the highest pastures only in June.
These pastoral people are in constant migration, living off their herds of sheep, goats and a few cows, for which they seek pasture at various altitudes. To the north of the Great Himalayan Range live the Champa, Ladak, Balti and Darda peoples. The Champas traditionally lead a nomadic pastoral life in the upper Indus. The Ladakhis settled on the terraces and stone fans that flank the Indus in the northeastern region of Kashmir.
The Balti settled further along the Indus Valley and converted to Islam.
In Himachal Pradesh, most people are descendants of Tibetan migrants who speak Tibetan-Burman. In Nepal, Paharis, who speak an Indo-Aryan language, constitute the majority of the population. Peoples such as the Newar, Tamang, Gurung, Magar and Sherpa speak Tibeto-Burman. Of all these nationalities inhabiting the Himalayas, the famous long-living mountaineers, the Sherpas, stand out.
Economy of the Himalayas
The economy of the Himalayas depends on the resources available in different parts of this vast region with different ecological zones. The main activity is livestock farming, but forestry, trade and tourism are also important. The Himalayas have abundant economic resources. These include rich arable land, extensive meadows and forests, workable mineral deposits, easy water power and magnificent natural beauty.
In the central Himalayas of Nepal, two-thirds of the arable land is in the foothills and adjacent plains. The land in this country produces most of the world's total rice production. The region also produces large crops of corn, wheat, potatoes and sugar cane. The Kashmir Valley produces fruits such as apples, peaches, pears and cherries, which are in great demand in Indian cities. There are rich vineyards on the shores of Dal Lake in Kashmir, and the grapes are used to make wine and brandy.
Walnut and almond trees grow on the hills surrounding the Kashmir valley. A country like Bhutan also has orchards and exports oranges to India. Tea plantations are located on the hills and plains at the foot of the mountains in the Darjeeling region. There is a spice cardamom plantation in Sikkim. Since 1940, the Himalayas have experienced an explosion of population growth. As a result, deforestation to clear land for planting and construction, supplying firewood and paper moved up the steep and higher slopes of the small Himalayas. Only in Sikkim and Bhutan are large areas still covered with dense forest.
The Himalayas are rich in mineral resources, although exploitation is limited to accessible areas. Sapphires are found on the Zaskar Range, and gold is mined in the bed of the Indus River. Baltistan has copper ore deposits and iron ore is found in the Kashmir valley. In Ladakh there are deposits of borax and sulfur. Coal seams are found in the hills of Jammu. Bauxite is found in Kashmir. Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim have extensive deposits of coal, mica, gypsum, graphite and iron, copper, lead and zinc ores.
Conquerors of the Himalayas
The earliest travels in the Himalayas were made by traders, shepherds and pilgrims. The pilgrims believed that the more difficult the journey, the closer it brought them to enlightenment. For shepherds and traders, trekking at altitudes between 5,500 and 5,800 meters was a way of life. However, for everyone else, the Himalayas presented a huge and terrible barrier.
The Himalayas first appeared on the map in 1590 with the participation of a Spanish missionary to the court of the Mughal emperor, Antonio Monserrate. In 1773, French geographer Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Harville compiled the first map of the Himalayan range based on systematic research. In 1865, Everest was renamed after Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India.
By 1862, it became known that Everest was the tallest mountain in the world. After World War II, India produced several large-scale maps based on aerial photographs. Himalayan mountaineering began in 1880 with Briton W. W. Graham, who claimed to have climbed several peaks. Although his claims were met with skepticism, they sparked interest in the Himalayas among other European climbers.
Attempts to conquer Everest began in 1921 and about a dozen of them were made before it was conquered in May 1953 by New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary and his Tibetan guide Tenzing Norgay. That same year, an Austro-German team led by Karl Maria Herrligkoffer reached the summit of Nanka Parbat. Over time, climbers began to find easier ways to reach the peaks.
Easier access to the mountains brought increasing numbers of climbers and tourists to the region. Every year hundreds of people attempt to climb Everest. By the beginning of the 21st century, the annual number of tourists had increased so much that in some regions expedition participants began to threaten the ecological balance of the mountains, destroying flora and fauna and leaving behind mountains of garbage. In addition, large expeditions increased the likelihood of loss of life. In 2014, more than 40 foreign tourists died in a snowstorm near Annapurna.
From May 22, 2019 until today, a search has been underway for eight conquerors of India’s second highest mountain, Nada Devi. There are fears that they were carried away by an avalanche. These were four British, two Americans, one Australian and an Indian guide who were supposed to climb the eastern ridge at Nada Devi and return to base on May 26th. Her ascent began on May 13 and, after their departure, the team showed no signs of life. Heavy snowfall that lasted a week complicated the search.
Hundreds of climbers from all over the world come every year to climb the peaks of the mountains. Not everyone makes it, some return. Many remain in the mountains forever, frozen in permafrost. Their names are written on the slab and everyone who has gathered to this peak must become familiar with their names. Everyone should know that their name can also be written on this plate. There's still a lot of free space there.
