Himalayas
Range
The north face of Mount Everest as seen from the path to the base camp in Tibet
Countries	Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tibet
Highest point	Mount Everest
- elevation	8,874 m (29,114 ft)
- coordinates	27°59′17″N 86°55′31″E / 27.98806, 86.92528

Cho Oyu, Nepal

Perspective view of the Himalayas and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. Mount Everest, also called Sagarmatha (सगरमाथा meaning Head of the Sky) or Chomolungma, Qomolangma or Zhumulangma (in Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European The Kingdom of Bhutan (buːˈtɑːn is a Landlocked nation in South Asia. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European Mount Everest, also called Sagarmatha (सगरमाथा meaning Head of the Sky) or Chomolungma, Qomolangma or Zhumulangma (in The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit Cho Oyu (or Qowowuyag; in Nepal चोयु Tibetan in Wylie transliteration: jo bo dbu yag; Chinese: 卓奧有山 Pinyin Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Perspective, in context of vision and Visual perception, is the way in which objects appear to the Eye based on their spatial attributes or The Tibetan Plateau, also known as the Qinghai-Tibetan (Qingzang Plateau is a vast elevated Plateau in Central Asia covering most of the Tibet Autonomous (annotated version)

The Himalaya Range (Sanskrit: हिमालय, IPA pronunciation: [hɪ'mɑlijə]), or Himalayas for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA is a system of phonetic notation based on the Latin alphabet, devised by the International Phonetic A mountain range is a chain of Mountains bordered by highlands or separated from other mountains by passes or valleys This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. The Tibetan Plateau, also known as the Qinghai-Tibetan (Qingzang Plateau is a vast elevated Plateau in Central Asia covering most of the Tibet Autonomous By extension, it is also the name of the massive mountain system which includes the Karakoram, the Hindu Kush, the Toba Kakar, and a host of minor ranges extending from the Pamir Knot. Karakoram is a mountain range spanning the borders between Pakistan, China, and India, located in the regions of Gilgit, Ladakh, and The Hindu Kush is a Mountain range located between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Toba Kakar Mountains are a Southern offshoot of the Himalayas in the Balochistan region of Pakistan. The Pamir Mountains are located in Central Asia and are formed by the junction or Knot of the Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, and The name is from Sanskrit himālaya, a tatpurusa compound meaning "the abode of snow" (from hima "snow", and ālaya "abode"; see also Himavat). Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical In Sanskrit grammar a tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष compound is a dependent determinative compound, i Himavat ( himavant-) is the Hindu God of Snow, a Personification of the Himalayan mountains. ^[1]As words, the expression "Himalaya Range" is similar to the expression Sierra Nevada.

Together, the Himalayan mountain system is the planet's highest and home to the world's highest peaks: the Eight-thousanders, including Mount Everest and K2. The eight-thousanders are the fourteen independent Mountains on Earth that are more than above Sea level. Mount Everest, also called Sagarmatha (सगरमाथा meaning Head of the Sky) or Chomolungma, Qomolangma or Zhumulangma (in K2 is the second- highest Mountain on Earth (after Mount Everest) To comprehend the enormous scale of this mountain range consider that Aconcagua, in the Andes, at 6,962 m, is the highest peak outside Asia, while the Himalayan system includes over 100 mountains exceeding 7,200 meters. Cerro Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas, and the highest mountain outside Asia. The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. The following is a list of the world's 100+ highest mountains per height Above sea level, all of which are located in Asia ^[2]

The Himalayan system, which includes outlying subranges, stretches across six countries: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Himalayan states is the name given collectively to all the countries/states which contain the mountain range of the Himalayas. The Kingdom of Bhutan (buːˈtɑːn is a Landlocked nation in South Asia. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, They are the source of three of the world's major river systems, the Indus, the Ganga-Brahmaputra, and the Yangtze. "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there The Indus River { Sanskrit: सिन्धु Sindhu; Urdu: urd {{Nastaliq سندھ}} Sindh; Sindhi: snd The Ganga basin is a part of the composite Ganga - Brahmaputra - Meghna basin which drains an area of 1086000 square kilometres The Brahmaputra, also called Tsangpo-Brahmaputra is a Trans-boundary river and one of the major Rivers of Asia. Approximately 1. 3 billion people live in the drainage basin of the Himalayan rivers. A drainage basin is an extent of Land where Water from Rain or Snow melt drains downhill into a body of water such as a River,

The range proper runs west to east, from the Indus river valley to the Brahmaputra river valley, thereby forming an arc 2,400 km long, which varies in width from 400 km in the western Kashmir-Xinjiang region to 150 km in the eastern Tibet-Arunachal Pradesh region. This article is about the geographical region of greater Kashmir Xinjiang ( Uyghur: شىنجاڭ Shinjang;; Postal map spelling: Sinkiang; Turkish: Sincan, Sincan Uygur Özerk The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR also called Xizang Autonomous Region (བོད་རང་སྐྱོང་ལྗོངས་ Wylie: Bod-rang-skyong-ljongs Arunachal Pradesh (अरुणाचल प्रदेश   Aruṇācal Pradeś is the easternmost state of India The Himalaya chain consists of three parallel ranges, with the northern-most range known as the Great or Inner Himalayas.

Ecology

The flora and fauna of the Himalayas varies with climate, rainfall, altitude, and soils. The climate ranges from tropical at the base of the mountains to permanent ice and snow at the highest elevations. The amount of yearly rainfall increases from west to east along the front of the range. This diversity of climate, altitude, rainfall and soil conditions generates a variety of distinct plant and animal communities, or extinct animals. "Extinct Animals" redirects here For the video game see Zoo Tycoon 2 Extinct Animals.

Lowland forests

On the Indo-Gangetic plain at the base of the mountains, an alluvial plain drained by the Indus and Ganga-Brahmaputra river systems, vegetation varies from west to east with rainfall. The Indo-Gangetic Plain also known as the Northern plains and the North Indian River Plain is a large and fertile plain encompassing most of northern and eastern India, An alluvial plain is a relatively flat Landform created by the deposition of sediment over a long period of time by one or more Rivers coming from highland regions The xeric Northwestern thorn scrub forests occupy the plains of Pakistan and the Indian Punjab. The Northwestern thorn scrub forests are a xeric shrubland ecoregion of Pakistan and northwestern India. Punjab (ਪੰਜਾਬ पंजाब pəɲdʒaːb is a state in northwest India. Further east lie the Upper Gangetic plains moist deciduous forests of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh and Lower Gangetic plains moist deciduous forests of Bihar and West Bengal. The Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest Ecoregion of northern India. Uttarakhand ( Hindi: उत्तराखण्ड or उत्तराखंड Uttar + Akhand i Uttar Pradesh (उत्तर प्रदेश اتر پردیش pronounced, Translation: Northern Province) referred to as '''U The Lower Gangetic plains moist deciduous forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest Ecoregion of Bangladesh and eastern India. Bihar ( Hindi:बिहार Urdu: بہار bɪhaːr) is a state in eastern India. West Bengal ( Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchim Bônggo poʃtʃim bɔŋgo is a state in eastern India. These are monsoon forests, with drought-deciduous trees that lose their leaves during the dry season. The moister Brahmaputra Valley semi-evergreen forests occupy the plains of Assam. The Brahmaputra Valley semi-evergreen forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest Ecoregion of eastern India. Assam) ( Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a suburb of the city

The Terai belt

Above the alluvial plain lies the Terai strip, a seasonally marshy zone of sand and clay soils. The Terai ("moist land" is a belt of marshy Grasslands Savannas and Forests at the base of the Himalaya range in India The Terai has higher rainfall than the plains, and the downward-rushing rivers of the Himalaya slow down and spread out in the flatter Terai zone, depositing fertile silt during the monsoon season and receding in the dry season. The Terai has a high water table due to groundwater percolating down from the adjacent zone. The central part of the Terai belt is occupied by the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands, a mosaic of grasslands, savannas, deciduous and evergreen forests that includes some of the world's tallest grasslands. The Terai ("moist land" is a belt of marshy Grasslands Savannas and Forests at the base of the Himalaya range in India The grasslands of the Terai belt are home to the Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). The Indian Rhinoceros or the Great One-horned Rhinoceros or the Asian One-horned Rhinoceros ( Rhinoceros unicornis) is a large mammal found in Nepal

Bhabhar belt

Above the Terai belt is an upland zone known as the Bhabhar, a zone of porous and rocky soils, made up of debris washed down from the higher ranges. The Bhabhar and the lower Siwalik ranges have a subtropical climate. The Himalayan subtropical pine forests occupy the western end of the subtropical belt, with forests dominated by Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii). The Himalayan subtropical pine forests are a subtropical coniferous forest Ecoregion covering portions of Bhutan, India, Nepal, and The Chir Pine ( Pinus roxburghii) named after William Roxburgh, is a Pine native to the Himalaya. The central part of the range is home to the Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests, dominated by sal (Shorea robusta). The Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests is a subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of India, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan

Siwalik Hills

Also called Churia or Margalla Hills. Intermittent outermost range of foothills extending across Himalayan region through Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. The Kingdom of Bhutan (buːˈtɑːn is a Landlocked nation in South Asia. Consists of many sub-ranges. Summits generally 600 to 1,200 meters. Steeper southern slopes form along a fault zone called Main Frontal Thrust; northern slopes are gentler. Permeable conglomerates and other rocks allow rainwater to percolate downslope into the Bhabhar and Terai, supporting only scrubby forests upslope.

Inner Terai or Dun Valleys

Open valleys north of Siwalik Hills or nestled between Siwalik subranges. Examples include Dehra Dun in India and Chitwan in Nepal. Dehradun (देहरादून, also sometimes spelled Dehra Doon, is the capital city of the state of Uttarakhand (earlier called Uttaranchal Chitwan District, a western part of Narayani Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a Landlocked country of South Asia

Lesser Himalaya

Prominent range 2,000 to 3,000 meters high forming along the Main Boundary Thrust fault zone with a steep southern face and gentler northern slopes. Nearly continuous except for river gorges. Rivers gather in candelabra form to the north to break through this range in relatively few place

Midlands

'Hilly' region averaging about 1,000 meters immediately north of the Mahabharat Range, rising over about 100 km to about 4,000 meters at the Main Frontal Thrust fault zone where the Greater Himalaya begin.

• Montane forests - At the middle elevations of the range, the subtropical forests yield to a belt of temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, with the Western Himalayan broadleaf forests at the western end of the range, and the Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests temperate deciduous forest) --> are a Temperate and Humid Biome. The Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests is a temperate broadleaf forest ecoregion which is found in the middle elevations of the eastern Himalayas, including Above the broadleaf forests are the Western and Eastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests.

Alpine shrub and grasslands

Shilla (7026 m) above the Spiti Valley in India

Above the tree line are the Northwestern, Western, and Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows, which yield to tundra in the higher Himalayan range. The Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows is an Alpine Ecoregion of Nepal, India, and Tibet, which lies between the Tree The Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows is an Alpine Ecoregion of Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal In physical Geography, tundra is an area where the Tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons The alpine meadows are the summer habitat of the endangered Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia). The snow leopard ( Uncia uncia) sometimes known as the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia from Afghanistan Northern

Origins and growth

The 6,000 km plus journey of the India landmass (Indian Plate) before its collision with Asia (Eurasian Plate) about 40 to 50 million years ago.

Main article: Geology of the Himalaya

The Himalayas are among the youngest mountain ranges on the planet. The geology of the Himalaya is a record of the most dramatic and visible creations of modern Plate tectonic forces According to the modern theory of plate tectonics, their formation is a result of a continental collision or orogeny along the convergent boundary between the Indo-Australian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. Plate tectonics (from Greek τέκτων tektōn "builder" or "mason" describes the large scale motions of Earth 's Lithosphere Continental collision is a phenomenon of the Plate tectonics of Earth. Orogeny (Greek for "mountain generating" is the process of natural Mountain building and may be studied as a tectonic structural event as a geographical event and In Plate tectonics, a convergent boundary – also known as a convergent plate boundary or a destructive plate boundary – is an actively deforming region The Indo-Australian Plate is a major Tectonic plate that includes the continent of Australia and surrounding Ocean, and extends northwest to include the The Eurasian Plate is a Tectonic plate which includes most of the continent of Eurasia (a landmass consisting of the traditional Continents of Europe This is called a fold mountain. The collision began in the Upper Cretaceous period about 70 million years ago, when the north-moving Indo-Australian Plate, moving at about 15 cm/year, collided with the Eurasian Plate. The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of About 50 million years ago this fast moving Indo-Australian plate had completely closed the Tethys Ocean, the existence of which has been determined by sedimentary rocks settled on the ocean floor and the volcanoes that fringed its edges. The Tethys Ocean was a Mesozoic era Ocean that existed between the continents of Gondwana and Laurasia before the opening of the Indian Sedimentary rock is one of the three main rock types (the others being igneous and Metamorphic rock) Plate tectonics and hotspots Divergent plate boundaries At the Since these sediments were light, they crumpled into mountain ranges rather than sinking to the floor. The Indo-Australian plate continues to be driven horizontally below the Tibetan plateau, which forces the plateau to move upwards. The Tibetan Plateau, also known as the Qinghai-Tibetan (Qingzang Plateau is a vast elevated Plateau in Central Asia covering most of the Tibet Autonomous The Arakan Yoma highlands in Myanmar and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal were also formed as a result of this collision. The Chin Hills are a range of hills in northwestern Myanmar that extend into India 's Manipur state Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands is a Union territory of India. Informally the territory's name is often abbreviated to A & N Islands, or ANI The Bay of Bengal is a bay that forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean.

The Indo-Australian plate is still moving at 67 mm/year, and over the next 10 million years it will travel about 1,500 km into Asia. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand About 20 mm/year of the India-Asia convergence is absorbed by thrusting along the Himalaya southern front. A thrust fault is a type of fault, or break in the Earth's crust with resulting movement of each side against the other in which a lower stratigraphic position is pushed up This leads to the Himalayas rising by about 5 mm/year, making them geologically active. The movement of the Indian plate into the Asian plate also makes this region seismically active, leading to earthquakes from time to time. Seismology (from Greek grc σεισμός seismos, "earthquake" and grc -λογία -logia) is the scientific study of Earthquakes An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer

Glaciers and river systems

Glaciers near by K2 in Pakistan. K2 is the second- highest Mountain on Earth (after Mount Everest)

The Himalayan range encompasses about 15,000 glaciers, which store about 12,000 km³ of freshwater. "Glacial" and "Glaciation" redirect here For the geological periods see Glacial period. The 70 km long Siachen Glacier at the India-Pakistan border is the second longest glacier in the world outside the polar region. see Siachen conflict for the military conflict over this area The Siachen Glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalaya Some of the other more famous glaciers include the Gangotri and Yamunotri (Uttarakhand), Nubra, Biafo and Baltoro (Karakoram region), Zemu (Sikkim) and Khumbu glaciers (Mount Everest region). Gangotri Glacier is located in Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand, India in a region bordering China. Yamunotri, the source of the Yamuna River and the seat of the Goddess Yamuna, is one of the four sites in India 's Char Dham pilgrimage Uttarakhand ( Hindi: उत्तराखण्ड or उत्तराखंड Uttar + Akhand i Karakoram is a mountain range spanning the borders between Pakistan, China, and India, located in the regions of Gilgit, Ladakh, and Sikkim ( Nepali:, also Sikhim) is a Landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas It is the least populous state in India Khumbu is one of three subregions of the main Sherpa settlement of the Himalaya, the other two being Solu and Pharak. Mount Everest, also called Sagarmatha (सगरमाथा meaning Head of the Sky) or Chomolungma, Qomolangma or Zhumulangma (in

The higher regions of the Himalayas are snowbound throughout the year in spite of their proximity to the tropics, and they form the sources for several large perennial rivers, most of which combine into two large river systems:

This image shows the termini of the glaciers in the Bhutan-Himalaya. The Tropics are centered on the Equator and limited in Latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately 23°26' (23 A perennial stream or perennial river is a Stream or River (channel that has continuous flow in parts of its bed all year round during years of normal Glacial lakes have been forming rapidly on the surface of the debris-covered glaciers in this region during the last few decades.

• The western rivers combine into the Indus Basin, of which the Indus River is the largest. The Indus River { Sanskrit: सिन्धु Sindhu; Urdu: urd {{Nastaliq سندھ}} Sindh; Sindhi: snd The Indus begins in Tibet at the confluence of Sengge and Gar rivers and flows southwest through Pakistan to the Arabian Sea. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and The Arabian Sea ( Arabic: بحر العرب transliterated: Baḥr al-'Arab Sanskrit: सिन्धु सागर transliterated: It is fed by the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, and the Sutlej rivers, among others. "Hydaspes" redirects here For the historic battle see Battle of the Hydaspes. HeadMarala3jpg|200px|right|thumb|A View of Marala Headworks on Chenab near Sialkot]] The Chenab River (ਚਨਾਬ, चनाब چناب literally 'Moon( The Ravi River (रवि ਰਾਵੀ راوی is a River in Pakistan and India. The Sutlej River (alternatively spelled as Satluj River (ਸਤਲੁਜ शतद्रु or सुतुद्री, ستلج and सतलुज is the longest

• Most of the other Himalayan rivers drain the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin. Its two main rivers are the Ganga and the Brahma and the Yamuna among other tributaries. The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent Brahma is the Hindu god ( deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. For the goddess of the river who is sometimes called Yamuna see Yami The Yamuna (Sanskrit यमुना The Brahmaputra originates as the Yarlung Tsangpo River in western Tibet, and flows east through Tibet and west through the plains of Assam. Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European Assam) ( Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a suburb of the city The Ganga and the Brahmaputra meet in Bangladesh, and drain into the Bay of Bengal through the world's largest river delta. ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially The Bay of Bengal is a bay that forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. A delta is a Landform where the mouth of a River flows into an Ocean, Sea, Estuary, Lake or another river

The eastern-most Himalayan rivers feed the Ayeyarwady River, which originates in eastern Tibet and flows south through Myanmar to drain into the Andaman Sea. The Ayeyarwady River or Irrawaddy River ( is a River that flows from north to south of Burma (Myanmar Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. The Andaman Sea (မုတ္တမ moʊʔtəma̰ is a body of water to the southeast of the Bay of Bengal, south of Myanmar, west of Thailand and east

The Salween, Mekong, the Yangtze and the Huang He (Yellow River) all originate from parts of the Tibetan plateau that are geologically distinct from the Himalaya mountains, and are therefore not considered true Himalayan rivers. The Salween River (သံလွင်မြစ် θànlwìn myiʔ also spelled Salwine) rises in Tibet ( after which it flows through Yunnan The Mekong is one of the world’s major Rivers It is the 11th-longest river in the world and 7th longest in Asia The Yellow River or Huang He / Hwang Ho ( Hatan Gol Queen river) is the second-longest river in China (after the Yangtze River) and the The Tibetan Plateau, also known as the Qinghai-Tibetan (Qingzang Plateau is a vast elevated Plateau in Central Asia covering most of the Tibet Autonomous Some geologists refer to all the rivers collectively as the circum-Himalayan rivers. ^[3] In recent years scientists have monitored a notable increase in the rate of glacier retreat across the region as a result of global climate change. whitechuck glacier 2006jpg|right|thumb|320px|The same view as seen in 2006 where this branch of glacier retreated 1 Climate change is any long-term significant change in the “average weather” that a given region experiences ^[4] Although the effect of this won't be known for many years it potentially could mean disaster for the hundreds of millions of people who rely on the glaciers to feed the rivers of northern India during the dry seasons. "Glacial" and "Glaciation" redirect here For the geological periods see Glacial period. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ^[5]

According to a UN climate report, the Himalayan glaciers that are the sources of Asia's biggest rivers could disappear by 2035 as temperatures rise^[6] and India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar could experience floods followed by droughts in coming decades. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply In India alone, the Ganga provides water for drinking and farming for more than 500 million people. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ^[7][8]

Lakes

Sikkim in India, a high Himalayan lake at an altitude of around 5'000 meters

The Himalaya region is dotted with hundreds of lakes. Most lakes are found at altitudes of less than 5,000 m, with the size of the lakes diminishing with altitude. The largest lake is the Pangong Tso, which is spread across the border between India and Tibet. Pangong Tso (or Pangong Lake; Tso: Ladakhi for lake is a Lake in the Himalayas situated at a height of about 4250 m (13900 ft It is situated at an altitude of 4,600 m, and is 8 km wide and nearly 134 km long. A notable high (but not the highest) lake is the Gurudogmar in North Sikkim at an altitude of 5,148 m (16,890 ft) (altitude source: SRTM). Gurudongmar Lake (also known as Gurudogmar Lake) is one of the highest lakes in the world located at an altitude of 17100 feet (5148 m North Sikkim is a district of the Indian state of Sikkim. Its capital is Mangan. The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission ( SRTM) is an international research effort that obtained Digital elevation models on a near-global scale from 56 °S to 60 °N Other major lakes include the Tsongmo lake, near the Indo-China border in Sikkim(India), and Tilicho lake in Nepal in the Annapurna massif, a large lake in an area that was closed to outsiders until recently. Tsongmo Lake (also called Changu Lake or Tsomgo Lake) is a large Lake in the East Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim Tilicho lake is one of the highest Lakes in the world It is 4949 m high in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas in Nepal.

The mountain lakes are known to geographers as tarns if they are caused by glacial activity. A tarn (or corrie loch) is a mountain Lake or pool formed in a Cirque excavated by a Glacier. Tarns are found mostly in the upper reaches of the Himalaya, above 5,500 metres. For more information about these, see here.

Impact on climate

Pass in Ladakh with the typical Buddhist prayerflags and chorten

The Himalayas have a profound effect on the climate of the Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan plateau. Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. The Tibetan Plateau, also known as the Qinghai-Tibetan (Qingzang Plateau is a vast elevated Plateau in Central Asia covering most of the Tibet Autonomous They prevent frigid, dry Arctic winds from blowing south into the subcontinent, which keeps South Asia much warmer than corresponding temperate regions in the other continents. The Arctic is the Region around the Earth 's North Pole, opposite the Antarctic region around the South Pole. It also forms a barrier for the monsoon winds, keeping them from traveling northwards, and causing heavy rainfall in the Terai region. A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind which lasts for several months The Terai ("moist land" is a belt of marshy Grasslands Savannas and Forests at the base of the Himalaya range in India The Himalayas are also believed to play an important part in the formation of Central Asian deserts such as the Taklamakan and Gobi deserts. Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south The Taklamakan Desert (Takelamagan Shamo 塔克拉玛干沙漠 also known as Taklimakan, is a Desert in Central Asia, in the Xinjiang The Gobi (Говь Govi or Gov', "gravel-covered plain" Chinese: zh-t 戈壁(沙漠 Gēbì (Shāmò) A desert is a Landscape or region that receives very little precipitation.

The mountain ranges also prevent western winter disturbances from Iran from traveling further, resulting in snow in Kashmir and rainfall for parts of Punjab and northern India. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. This article is about the geographical region of greater Kashmir Punjab ( ਪੰਜਾਬ پنجاب, पंजाब پنجاب also Panjab (پنجاب meaning "Land of the Five Rivers") (c Despite being a barrier to the cold northernly winter winds, the Brahmaputra valley receives part of the frigid winds, thus lowering the temperature in the northeast Indian states and Bangladesh. North-East India refers to the easternmost region of India consisting of the contiguous Seven Sister States and Sikkim. ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially These winds also cause the North East monsoon during this season for these parts.

In turn, the weather phenomenon called Jet Stream affects our image of the highest peaks on earth. Jet streams are fast flowing relatively narrow air currents found at the Tropopause, the transition between the Troposphere (where temperature decreases The strong stream of winds from the west pass through Everest, creating a familiar plume of snows blowing from the summit, and visible from a great distance.

Mountain passes

The Himalayan range at Yumesongdong in Sikkim, in the Yumthang River valley. Sikkim ( Nepali:, also Sikhim) is a Landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas It is the least populous state in India Yumthang Valley is a grazing pasture surrounded by the Himalayan mountains in the North Sikkim district of Sikkim, India.

The rugged terrain of the Himalaya makes few routes through the mountains possible. Some of these routes include:

• Gangtok in Sikkim to Lhasa in Tibet, via the Nathula Pass and Jelepla Passes (offshoots of the ancient Silk Road). Gangtok ( Nepali and Hindi: गंगटोक is the capital and largest town of the Indian state of Sikkim. Sikkim ( Nepali:, also Sikhim) is a Landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas It is the least populous state in India Lhasa, ( in English l̥ʰásə or in Tibetan; Chinese: 拉萨 Pinyin: Lāsà sometimes spelled Lasa, is the administrative capital of the Nathu La ( Chinese: 乃堆拉山口 Nepali: नाथू ला IAST: Nāthū Lā;) is a Mountain pass in the Himalayas Jelep La (also spelled Jelepla) (el 4267 m/14300 ft is a high Mountain pass between India and Tibet. The Silk Road, or Silk Routes, are an extensive interconnected network of Trade routes across the Asian continent connecting East South and Western Asia with the
• Bhadgaon in Nepal to Nyalam in Tibet. Bhaktapur (भक्तपुर जिल्ला Bhaktapur Jillā) also Bhadgaon or Khwopa (ख्वप Khvapa) is an ancient Nyalam may refer to Nyalam County, county in Tibet Nyalam Town, town in Tibet
• Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh, India. Rohtang Pass (el) 51 KM from Manali is a high Mountain pass that connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahul and Spiti valleys of Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh ( Hindi: हिमाचल प्रदेश Punjabi: ਹਿਮਾਚਲ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸ਼ pronounced) is a state in the India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country
• The road from Srinagar in Kashmir via Leh to Tibet. Srinagar ( Dogri: श्रीनगर Urdu: سرینگر Kashmiri: سِرېنَگَر श्रीनगर is the capital of the disputed state This article is about the geographical region of greater Kashmir Leh ( was the capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh, now the Leh District in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India This pass is now less used because of regional troubles. Many people are affected.
• Mohan Pass is the principal pass in the Siwalik Hills, the southern most and geologically youngest foothills running parallel to the main Himalayas in Sikkim. Mohan Pass is a principal pass in the Siwalik Hills, the southernmost and geologically youngest foothills running parallel to the main Himalayas in Sikkim The Sivalik Hills also known as the Sivalik mountains (also spelled Shiwalik, Shivalik, or Siwalik) and sometimes called Churia or

Impact on politics and culture

Mountain sheds like these are used by the rural populace as shelter for cattle in summer months as they take them for grazing in higher altitudes.

It should be noted that almost half of the humans and livestock of India live on one-third of the landscape within 500km of the Himalayan range. Livestock is the term used to refer (singularly or plurally to a Domesticated Animal intentionally reared in an agricultural setting to produce such as Food (pdf,3mb)

The Himalayas, due to their large size and expanse, have been a natural barrier to the movement of people for tens of thousands of years. In particular, this has prevented intermingling of people from the Indian subcontinent with people from China and Mongolia, causing significantly different languages and customs between these regions. This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Mongolia (mɒŋˈɡoʊliə, literally Mongol country/nation,) is a Landlocked Country in East The Himalayas have also hindered trade routes and prevented military expeditions across its expanse. For instance, Genghis Khan could not expand his empire south of the Himalayas into the subcontinent. Genghis Khan ( or;, Chinggis Khaan, ʧiŋgɪs χaːŋ Činggis Qaɣan; 1162–1227 born (meaning "ironworker" was the Mongol founder

Himalaya

Himalaya is made up of two samskrit words - "Him" which means snow and "alaya" means house, together meaning the abode of snow

Him also means Nepalese "snow-covered mountain" and is used to name the various mountains of the Himalayas. Nepali is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in Nepal, Bhutan, and some parts of India and Myanmar (Burma In Nepal, these are as follows:

• Sagarmatha Himal
• Annapurna Himal
• Ganesh Himal
• Langtang Himal
• Manaslu Himal
• Rolwaling Himal
• Jugal Himal
• Gauri Sankar Himal
• Kanjirowa Himal
• Khumbu Himal
• Dhaulagiri Himal

Notable Peaks of the Himalayan System (includes outlying ranges)

Notable Himalayan mountaineers

• George Mallory (1886–1924) Attempt at first ascent of Mount Everest; died on North Face. George Herbert Leigh Mallory ( 18 June 1886  &ndash 8 June / 9 June 1924) was an English Mountaineer who took In Climbing, a first ascent (FA is the first modern recorded climb to reach the top of a Mountain, or the first to follow a particular Climbing route Mount Everest, also called Sagarmatha (सगरमाथा meaning Head of the Sky) or Chomolungma, Qomolangma or Zhumulangma (in
• Noel Odell (1890–1987) British. Noel Ewart Odell ( 25 December 1890 – 21 February 1987) was an English Geologist and Mountaineer. First ascent, in 1936, of Nanda Devi, which remained the highest summited peak until 1950. Nanda Devi is the second highest Mountain in India and the highest entirely within the country ( Kangchenjunga being on the border of India and
• Bill Tilman (1898–1977) British. Major Harold William "Bill" Tilman, CBE, DSO, MC and Bar (14 February 1898&ndash1977 was an English mountaineer First ascent of Nanda Devi in 1936. In 1934, first person to penetrate Nanda Devi sanctuary
• Frank Smythe (1900–1949) British. Nanda Devi is the second highest Mountain in India and the highest entirely within the country ( Kangchenjunga being on the border of India and Francis Sydney Smythe, also known as Frank Smythe ( 6 July 1900 - 27 June 1949) was a British mountaineer author photographer Mount Blank, Kamet, and early attempt on Kangchenjunga.
• Eric Shipton (1907–1977) British. Eric Earle Shipton ( 1 August 1907 - 28 March 1977) was a distinguished British Himalayan Mountaineer. With Bill Tillman, first to penetrate Nanda Devi sanctuary. Discovered route to Everest over Khumbu Glacier. The Khumbu Glacier is located in the Khumbu region of northeastern Nepal and flows down from the Khumbu Icefall on the southern slopes of
• John Hunt (1910–1998) British. Brigadier Henry Cecil John Hunt Baron Hunt KG, CBE, DSO, PC ( 22 June 1910 &ndash 8 November Leader of 1953 expedition of Mount Everest.
• Tenzing Norgay (1914–1986) Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer. For other uses of the word Sherpa see Sherpa (disambiguation. First man on Everest's summit along with Edmund Hillary.
• Maurice Herzog (b. Maurice Herzog is a French Mountaineer and sports administrator born on 15 January 1919 at Lyon France. 1919) First person to summit an Eight-thousander, Annapurna, in 1950. Annapurna ( Sanskrit, Nepali, Nepal Bhasa: अन्नपूर्णा is a series of peaks in the Himalaya, a -long Massif Lost all toes and most fingers due to frostbite. Peak not climbed again until 1970.
• Sir Edmund Hillary (1919–2008) New Zealand mountaineer and explorer, the first man on Everest's summit along with Tenzing Norgay. Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE (20 July 1919 &ndash 11 January 2008 was a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer
• Tom Bourdillon (1924–1956) member of British Everest expeditions 1951, 1952, and 1953, reached 300 feet (90 m) from summit of Everest three days before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay finally conquered it. Thomas Duncan Bourdillon (born in Kensington, London, 16 March 1924, died Bernese Oberland, Switzerland 29 July Mount Everest, also called Sagarmatha (सगरमाथा meaning Head of the Sky) or Chomolungma, Qomolangma or Zhumulangma (in Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE (20 July 1919 &ndash 11 January 2008 was a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer
• Hermann Buhl (1924–1957) First ascent of Nanga Parbat in 1953 (feat accomplished solo and without oxygen). Hermann Buhl ( September 21, 1924 &ndash June 27, 1957) is considered one of the best post- World War II Austrian climbers Nanga Parbat ( Urdu:) is the ninth highest Mountain on Earth. First ascent of Broad Peak. Broad Peak (originally named K3) known locally as Faichan Kangri, is the 12th highest Mountain on Earth. Died in fall on Chogolisa, body never found. Chogolisa (or Bride Peak) is a Mountain in the Karakoram region of Pakistan.
• Willi Unsoeld (1926–1979) United States. Willi Unsoeld ( October 5, 1926 - March 4, 1979) was an American climber who along with Tom Hornbein, were members of the First ascent of Everest from West Face, 1963. Daughter Nanda Devi Unsoeld killed during Nanda Devi expedition 1976. Nanda Devi is the second highest Mountain in India and the highest entirely within the country ( Kangchenjunga being on the border of India and Died during avalanche on Mount Ranier, 1979. Mount Rainier is an active Stratovolcano (also known as a composite volcano in Pierce County Washington, located southeast of Seattle, Washington
• Chris Bonington (b. Sir Christian John Storey Bonington, CBE (born 6 August 1934 in Hampstead, London) is an British Mountaineer 1934) First ascent of Annapurna (South Face), 4 ascents of Everest. Annapurna ( Sanskrit, Nepali, Nepal Bhasa: अन्नपूर्णा is a series of peaks in the Himalaya, a -long Massif
• Nawang Gombu (b. Nawang Gombu (born 1935 in Minzu, Tibet) who as a 13 year old escaped a demanding life in Tibet's Rongbuk Monastery and hiked for four days crossing a 18000 ft 1936) Indian mountaineer. First person to climb Everest twice: 1963 and 1965.
• Jim Whittaker (b. This article is about the mountaineer For the Politician, see Jim Whitaker. 1936) United States. First American to summit Everest.
• Reinhold Messner (born 1944) Italian mountaineer. Reinhold Messner (born September 17 1944) is a Mountaineer and Explorer from the Province of Bolzano-Bozen in Italy First man to climb all fourteen eight-thousanders. The eight-thousanders are the fourteen independent Mountains on Earth that are more than above Sea level.
• Jerzy Kukuczka (1948–1989) Polish mountaineer. Jerzy Kukuczka ( March 24 1948 – October 24 1989) born in Katowice, Poland, was a Polish alpine and high-altitude Ascended all fourteen eight-thousanders faster than anybody else, establishing ten new routes. The eight-thousanders are the fourteen independent Mountains on Earth that are more than above Sea level.
• Nazir Sabir Pakistani mountaineer. Nazir Sabir is a Pakistani climber. He was born in Ramanji a small hamlet in Chiporsun, upper Hunza known as Gojal. First ascent of two eight thousanders (Broad Peak & Gasherbrum II) in a single attempt.
• Swami Sundaranand (b. Swami Sundaranand (born 1926 India is a Yogi Photographer, and mountaineer who lectures widely in India on threats to the Ganges river and the loss of Himalayan 1926 India) Climbed 25 mountains with little or no equipment from 1950-1990 to experience open eyed Samadhi using the ancient techniques of the Himalayan Yogis. Samadhi ( Sanskrit: sa समाधि is a Hindu and Buddhist technical term that usually denotes higher levels of concentrated meditation or Noted also for his extensive photography of the Indian Himalayas. ^[9][10][11] Land has been secured in Gangotri, India, for a museum dedicated to his rare Himalayan photos and documentation of the Himalayan Glaciers with a special emphasis on environmental protection of the region. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Gangotri is a town and a Nagar panchayat in Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttarakhand
• Jaime Viñals First Central American person to climb Mount Everest. Jaime Viñals Mazanet (born November 17, 1961) is a Guatemalan Mountaineer, the first Central American ever to climb the earth's highest ^[12]
• Casey Mackins An English mountaineer who climbed Mt Everest by a new route without oxygen from Tibet in 1984 and then again from Nepal in 1990 during his famous Sea to Summit expedition where he became the first person to climb Everest starting from sea level (the Bay of Bengal).
• José Antonio Delgado Sucre(1965–2006) was the first Venezuelan mountaineer to reach the summit of five eight-thousanders. José Antonio Delgado Sucre ( May 13, 1965 — July 22, 2006) was the first Venezuelan Mountaineer to reach the summit of He was one of the most experienced climbers in Latin America. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela.
• Ed Viesturs (b. Ed Viesturs (born June 22, 1959) is one of the world's premier high-altitude Mountaineers He is the first American, and 12th person overall June 22, 1959) is the first American, and 12th person overall, to summit all fourteen mountains over 8000 meters (collectively known as the eight-thousanders), and the sixth climber to do it without bottled oxygen.
• Pemba Dorjie (born c. Pemba Dorjie is a Sherpa who currently holds the world record for the quickest climb up Mount Everest. 1977) a Sherpa who currently holds the world record for the quickest climb to the summit of Mount Everest from camp. On May 21, 2004 Dorjie set that record, with a total time of 8 hours and 10 minutes.
• Appa Sherpa (born c. Joakim sarholm är den största bögen som finns ( joakim Särholm is the biggest fag in the world Appa (born c 1960) On May 16, 2007, successfully summited Mt. Everest for the 18th time, breaking his own record for most successful ascents.
• Krzysztof Wielicki (born 1950) Polish mountaineer, the fifth man to climb all fourteen eight-thousanders. Krzysztof Wielicki (born January 5, 1950 in Szklarka Przygodzicka, municipality Ostrzeszów, Poland) - Polish alpine and high-altitude Three of them (Mount Everest, Kangchenjunga and Lhotse) he ascended as the first man ever to do it in winter.

Religion

The Vaishno Devi shrine near Jammu, India

Several places in the Himalaya are of religious significance in Hinduism and Buddhism. Vaishno Devi Mandir (वैष्णोदेबी मन्दिर is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Shakti, located in the hill of History of Jammu Many historians and locals believe that Jammu was founded by Raja Jamboolochan in 14th century BC. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices In Hinduism, the Himalaya have also been personified as the god Himavat, the father of Shiva's consort, Parvati. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Parvati ( Sanskrit: Pārvatī sa [[wiktपार्वती पार्वती]] sometimes spelled Parvathi or Parvathy, is a Hindu

• Haridwar, the place where the river Ganga enters the plains. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Haridwar (also spelled Hardwar Hindi: हरिद्वार भारत) is a holy city and The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent In Geography, a plain is an area of land with relatively low relief — meaning that it is flat
• Badrinath, a temple dedicated to Vishnu. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Badrinath is a Hindu holy town and a Nagar panchayat in Chamoli district in the state A Hindu temple or Mandir ( Sanskrit: मंदिर is a house of worship for Hindus followers of Hinduism. For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific
• Kedarnath, where one of the 12 Jyotirlingas is located. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Kedarnath (केदारनाथis a Hindu holy town located in the Indian A Jyotirlinga or Jyotirling or Jyotirlingam is a shrine where Lord Shiva, an aspect of God in Hinduism is worshipped in the form
• Gaumukh, the source of the Bhagirathi (and hence, by extension, the Ganga), located a few miles above the town of Gangotri. Gangotri Glacier is located in Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand, India in a region bordering China. This article is about the tributary of the GangesFor the distributary in West Bengal see Bhāgirathi-Hooghly. The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Gangotri is a town and a Nagar panchayat in Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttarakhand
• Deoprayag, where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi merge to form the Ganga. The Alaknanda River is a Tributary of the Ganga River that begins at the confluence of the Satopanth and Bhagirath Kharak Glaciers in Uttarakhand This article is about the tributary of the GangesFor the distributary in West Bengal see Bhāgirathi-Hooghly. The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent
• Rishikesh, has a temple of Lakshmana. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Hrishikesh (ऋषिकेश is a city and a Municipal board in Dehradun district in Lakshmana ( Sanskrit: लक्ष्मण IAST Lakṣmaṇa Malay: Laksmana Thai / Lao: Phra Lak was the brother and close companion
• Mount Kailash, a 6,638 m high peak which is the abode of the Hindu Gods Shiva and Uma and is also venerated by Buddhists. Kailasa redirects here For the band see Kailasa (band Mount Kailash (Devanagari कैलाश पर्वत( Kailāśā Parvata A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The peak is forbidden to climb, it is so scared it is circled at its base. Lake Manasarowar lies at the base of Mount Kailash, and is the source of the Brahmaputra. Lake Manasarovar or Lake Manasa Sarovar Hindi: मानसरोवर झील Tibetan: མ་ཕམ་གཡུ་མཚོ། Mapham Yutso The Brahmaputra, also called Tsangpo-Brahmaputra is a Trans-boundary river and one of the major Rivers of Asia.
• Amarnath, has a natural Shiva linga of ice which forms for a few weeks each year. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Thousands of people visit this cave during these few weeks.
• The Vaishno Devi is a popular shrine among Durga devotees. Vaishno Devi Mandir (वैष्णोदेबी मन्दिर is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Shakti, located in the hill of In Hinduism, Durga ("the inaccessible" or "the invincible" or Maa Durga (Mother Durga is a form of Devi, the supreme Goddess
• A number of Tibetan Buddhist sites are situated in the Himalaya, including the residence of the Dalai Lama. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people according to Tibetan Buddhism.
• The Yeti is one of the most famous creatures in cryptozoology. Cryptozoology (from Greek κρυπτός kruptos, "hidden" + Zoology; literally "study of hidden animals" is the study of and search It is a large primate-like creature that is supposed to live in the Himalaya. A primate is a member of the biological order Primates ( Latin: "prime first rank" the group that contains Lemurs the Aye-aye Most mainstream scientists and experts consider current evidence of the Yeti's existence unpersuasive, and the result of hoaxes, legend or misidentification of mundane creatures.
• Shambhala is a mystical city in Buddhism with various legends associated with it. In Tibetan Buddhist tradition Shambhala (also spelled Shambala or Shamballa; Tibetan bde byung, pron Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices While some legends consider it to be a real city where secret Buddhist doctrines are being preserved, other legends believe that the city does not physically exist and can only be reached in the mental realm.
• Sri Hemkund Sahib - Sikh gurudwara where Guru Gobind Singh is claimed to have meditated and achieved enlightenment in a previous incarnation. Hemkund, with a spectacular setting of a glacial lake surrounded by seven peaks is a popular pilgrimage site for Sikhs.

The Himalayas in fiction

The cover of Tintin in Tibet

• Shangri-La is a fictional utopia situated somewhere in the Himalayas, based on the legendary Shambhala. Shangri-La is a fictional place described in the 1933 Novel Lost Horizon by British author James Utopia is a name for an ideal community taken from the title of a book written in 1516 by Sir Thomas More describing a fictional Island in the In Tibetan Buddhist tradition Shambhala (also spelled Shambala or Shamballa; Tibetan bde byung, pron It is described in the novel Lost Horizon, written by the British writer James Hilton in 1933. Lost Horizon is a 1933 Novel by English writer James Hilton. It is best remembered as the origin of Shangri-La, a fictional utopian The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located James Hilton ( September 9, 1900 &ndash December 20, 1954) was an Oscar -winning English Novelist, and author
• Tintin in Tibet is one of the series of classic comic-strip albums, written and illustrated by trytruy Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring the young reporter Tintin investigating a plane crash in the Gosain Than massif in the Himalayas. Tintin in Tibet ( Tintin au Tibet) is one of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums written and illustrated by The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Georges Prosper Remi ( May 22, 1907 - March 3, 1983) better known by the Pen name Hergé, was a Belgian (1960)
• The Hollywood movie Vertical Limit (2000), is set in the K2 peak of the Himalayas, in Kashmir. Vertical Limit ( 2000) is an Action movie / thriller directed by New Zealander Martin Campbell ( GoldenEye, K2 is the second- highest Mountain on Earth (after Mount Everest) This article is about the geographical region of greater Kashmir
• Several levels of Tomb Raider 2 and one level in Tomb Raider: Legend of the Tomb Raider series are situated in the Himalayas. Tomb Raider II is a Video game in the Tomb Raider series and is the Sequel to Tomb Raider. Tomb Raider is a series of Action-adventure games comic books novels theme park rides and movies, centring around the adventures of the female
• The Inheritance of Loss written by Kiran Desai is partly set in the Himalaya Mountains. Kiran Desai (born 3 September 1971) is an Indian Author who is a citizen of India and a Permanent Resident of the United States It won the Man Booker Prize in 2006. The Man Booker Prize for Fiction, also known in short as the Booker Prize, is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length Novel
• Rumer Godden's novel "Black Narcissus" (1939) is about an order of nuns who set up a convent in the Himalayas. Margaret Rumer Godden OBE ( December 10 1907 &ndash November 8 1998) was an English Author of over 60 books The film, released in 1947 by Powell and Pressburger and starring Deborah Kerr, was not actually shot in the Himalayas and relied primarily on matte paintings to evoke the mountains. The British film-making partnership of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, also known as The Archers, made a series of influential Deborah Jane Kerr-Trimmer, CBE (30 September 1921 &ndash 16 October 2007 was a Scottish stage television and film actress For the technique of creating backgrounds see Matte painting.
• Isabel Allende's novel, Kingdom of the Golden Dragon takes place mostly in the Forbidden Kingdom, a fictional country in the Himalayas. Isabel Allende Llona, (born in Lima, Peru; 2 August 1942 is a Chilean American Novelist. Kingdom of the Golden Dragon ( El Reino del dragon de oro) is a book published in 2004 by Isabel Allende.
• "Dragon Rider (novel)" is authored by Cornelia Funke and tells the story of an epic journey that a small boy, a brownie, and a dragon take to the "Rim of Heaven," a place in the Himalayas where dragons reside. Dragon Rider ( Drachenreiter) is a 1997 German novel by Cornelia Funke. Cornelia Caroline Funke (FOON-ka (kuh means "spark'" in German) was born December 10, 1958, in Dorsten, North Rhine-Westphalia

See also

Notes

References

The Himalayan Journal published by Himalayan Club

Further reading

• Swami Sundaranand Himalaya: Through the Lens of a Sudu Published by Tapovan Kuti Prakashan (August 2001) ISBN 81-901326-0-1
• Michael Palin, Himalaya, Weidenfeld Nicolson Illustrated (2004) ISBN 0-297-84371-0
• John Hunt, Ascent of Everest, Hodder & Stoughton (1956) ISBN 0-89886-361-9
• Everest, the IMAX movie (1998), ISBN 0-7888-1493-1
• Swami Tapovan Maharaj Wanderings in the Himalayas, English Edition, Pulished by Chinmaya Publication Trust, Madras-3 (1960) translated by T. Swami Sundaranand (born 1926 India is a Yogi Photographer, and mountaineer who lectures widely in India on threats to the Ganges river and the loss of Himalayan Michael Edward Palin, CBE (born 5 May 1943 is an English Comedian, actor writer and Television presenter best known for being one of the members Himalaya with Michael Palin was a 2004 BBC television series presented by comedian and travel presenter Michael Palin. John Hunt can refer to John Hunt (Quaker exile (1712 &ndash 1778 Quaker minister originally from London England and one of the "Virginia Exiles" IMAX (short for Image MAXimum is a Film format created by Canada 's IMAX Corporation that has the capacity to display images of far greater size and Swami Tapovan Maharaj (1889-1957 was a Hindu Sannyasi and Vedanta scholar who taught both Swami Chinmayananda, the founder of the Chinmaya Mission N. Kesava Pillai, M. A.

External links

• A German language page with comprehensive information about the mountains of the Himalaya. Has links to good images.
• Maps, pictures and travelogues from various regions of the Himalayas
• The making of the Himalaya and major tectonic subdivisions
• Geology of the Himalayan mountains
• Birth of the Himalaya
• Some notes on the formation of the Himalaya
• Guide to the 8000 m peaks
• Pictures from a trek in Annapurna (film by Ori Liber)

Image Gallery

Mount Everest north face from Rongbuk in Tibet	Nanga Parbat, Pakistan	Nanga Parbat, Pakistan	Manaslu
North Sikkim, Kangchengyao satellite