Physiographic Divisions
From south to north, J&K can be divided into seven physical zones.
| Zone | Height (m) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Outer Plains (Kandi and Sirowal) | 300 to 600 | Narrow strip of the Punjab plain near Jammu, Kathua, Samba. Soil is coarse (Kandi). |
| 2. Outer Hills (Shiwaliks) | 600 to 1,500 | Low, young, broken hills. Jammu hills, Udhampur, Reasi. Duns such as Udhampur-Kathua. |
| 3. Middle Himalaya (Pir Panjal range) | 1,500 to 4,700 | The wall between Jammu and Kashmir, and the Banihal and Mughal Road passes. |
| 4. Vale of Kashmir | 1,500 to 1,800 | Oval valley of the Jhelum, with Karewas. |
| 5. Great Himalaya and Zanskar range | 4,000 to 7,000 | Highest snow-covered range. Kolahoi, Nun-Kun, Amarnath, and Zojila. |
| 6. Trans-Himalaya: Ladakh and Karakoram | 3,000 to 8,600 | Ladakh Range, Karakoram, Saser Muztagh, Indus valley, Changthang. |
| 7. Aksai Chin plateau | 4,500 to 5,000 | A high, cold desert (under Chinese control). |
Quick facts
- The Kashmir Himalaya is the part of the Himalaya between the Kishanganga (west) and the Chenab (east) valleys.
- The Pir Panjal and Zanskar ranges are fold ranges, while the Karakoram is mainly granite.
- K2 (8,611 m) is the highest peak in the whole territory and the second highest in the world. It lies in the Karakoram in Gilgit-Baltistan, which India claims but Pakistan administers.
- Saser Kangri I (7,672 m) is the highest peak in Indian-administered territory (Ladakh).
Keep practising
Notes are only half the work. Test yourself with questions and discuss doubts with other aspirants.
Prepared for exam revision from standard sources, official publications and the Census. Figures and recent developments change, so check official sources before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.