Physiographic and Climatic Divisions

Himachal Pradesh covers 55,673 km² between about 30°22′ and 33°12′ N and 75°45′ and 79°04′ E, rising from about 350 m in the Shivaliks to 6,816 m at Reo Purgyil. It borders Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (north), Tibet/China (east), Uttarakhand (south-east), Haryana (south), Punjab (west).

The four ranges, north to south

• Zanskar range — the outermost, along the Tibetan border; separates Spiti and upper Kinnaur from Tibet. Peaks: Reo Purgyil, Shilla, Leo Pargial.
• Great Himalayan range — runs north-west to south-east through Kinnaur and Lahaul; crossed at Kunzum, Baralacha, Parang La. Peaks: Kinner Kailash, Shigri Parbat.
• Pir Panjal — separates Kullu and Chamba from Lahaul; crossed at Rohtang, Kugti, Sach, Hamta. Peaks: Indrasan, Deo Tibba.
• Dhauladhar — the wall behind Kangra, from Dalhousie south-east through Kangra and Mandi; crossed at Indrahar, Waru, Thamsar. Peak: Hanuman Tibba.
• Shivalik (Outer Himalaya) — the southern fringe in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, lower Kangra, Solan and Sirmaur.

The four altitude / climatic zones

• Wet sub-temperate / Shivalik zone, 350–900 m — Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, lower Kangra and Sirmaur. Hot summers, monsoon rain; wheat, maize, mango, citrus.
• Sub-humid / mid-hill zone, 900–1,800 m — Kangra, Mandi, Solan, lower Shimla, Chamba valley. The main agricultural belt; also the tea and stone-fruit belt.
• Wet temperate / high-hill zone, 1,800–2,400 m — upper Shimla, Kullu, Chamba. The apple belt.
• Dry temperate and alpine, above 2,400 m — Lahaul, Spiti, Pangi, upper Kinnaur. Cold desert in the rain shadow; under 500 mm and in Spiti under 100 mm of precipitation.

Rainfall

• State average about 1,251 mm.
• Highest: Dharamshala / Palampur in Kangra, over 3,000 mm — among the wettest places in north India.
• Lowest: Spiti and upper Lahaul, under 100 mm; Kaza / Spiti is the standard answer.
• Western disturbances bring winter snow, which is what feeds the apple crop and the hydel run-off.