Western Himalayas: Difference between revisions

Western Himalayas
	View of the Parvati Valley in Kullu District
	⛶
Location	India
Coordinates	Template:Coord
Gene Pool	South Asian Gene Pool
Regional Complex	Hindu Kush-Himalayan
Country	India
Provinces/States	Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir
Elevation Range	500–3,500 m
Area	~50,000 km²
Climate	Temperate montane
Primary Rivers	Beas River, Tons River, Alaknanda River
Primary Mountains	Pir Panjal Range, Dhauladhar Range, Great Himalayan Range, Mussourie Range, Nag Tibba Range, Shivalik Hills, Zanskar Range, Ladakh Range
Conservation Status	Vulnerable

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Latest revision as of 19:53, 11 January 2026

The Western Himalayas is a major landrace cannabis cultivation region spanning the mountain valleys of northern India, encompassing traditional charas (hand-rubbed hashish) producing areas in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and parts of Jammu and Kashmir. ^[1] ^[2] ^[3] ^[4]

In the Western Himalayas, landrace cannabis is cultivated by local communities and also occurs naturalized across steep valley systems from the Himalayan foothills (~300–600 m) through mid-elevation temperate valleys (e.g., Malana, Kullu, 1500 m through 3200m) to cold-desert basins above 3,000 m; published records extend to ~3,500 m in Lahaul–Spiti. ^[5] ^[6] ^[7]

The region's cannabis populations are cultivated primarily for charas production, with hand-rubbing techniques passed through generations of farming communities.

Geography

Climate

Cultural Context

Ethnic Context

Cultivation History

Genetics

No data at present, further research needed.

Growing Areas

The Western Himalayas growing region encompasses numerous documented cultivation areas. Browse by administrative division:

Himachal Pradesh

Kullu District

The Kullu District contains the highest concentration of documented growing areas in the Western Himalayas:

Mandi District

Seraj

Kinnaur District

Lahaul and Spiti District

Due to the harsh climate and short growing season, as of 2015 is sparse evidence of current, intentional cannabis cultivation in Lahaul and Spiti districts. There are, however, feral, self seeding cannabis populations found near roadsides, rivers and temples throughout the district. ^[8]

Sirmaur District

Shimla District

Uttarakhand

Garhwal Division

Kumaon Division

Jammu and Kashmir

No data at present, further research needed.

Ladakh

High-altitude cold desert region with limited cultivation

Botanical Characteristics

Regional Traits

Geographic Variation

Other Variations

Cultivation Practices

Traditional Methods

Modern Methods

Conservation Status

Threats to Landrace Populations

Conservation Efforts

Chemical Profile

Cannabinoid Content

Western Himalayas populations are traditionally drug-type cannabis, selected for resin production. Research is needed to characterize chemical profiles.

Gallery

Parvati Valley cultivation area

Parvati Valley cultivation area
Traditional hand-rubbing technique

Traditional hand-rubbing technique
Flowering field in Kullu District

Flowering field in Kullu District
Terraced cultivation in Malana Valley

Terraced cultivation in Malana Valley
Beas River Valley landscape

Beas River Valley landscape
Traditional drying methods

Traditional drying methods
Autumn landscape, peak flowering season

Autumn landscape, peak flowering season

References

External Links

[Link to relevant botanical databases]
[Link to conservation organizations]
[Link to genetic research papers]

[1] ttps://www.pmfias.com/himalayas-regional-divisions-punjab-himalayas-assam-himalayas-western-himalayas-central-himalayas-eastern-himalayas/

[2] ttps://archive.org/details/b32222920_0001

[3] ttps://www.unodc.org/pdf/india/publications/south_Asia_Regional_Profile_Sept_2005/10_india.pdf

[4] ttps://narcoticsindia.nic.in/Publication/2002.pdf

[5] ttps://refubium.fu-berlin.de/bitstream/handle/fub188/14541/ThexHolocene-2016-Demske-1661-75.pdf?sequence=1

[6] ttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/291116090_Retrospect_and_Prospects_of_Natural_Resource_and_Disaster_Management_in_Uttarakhand_Himalaya_Geo-environmental_Characteristics_Natural_Resources_and_Disasters_in_Uttarakhand_State

[7] ttps://www.eresearchco.com/articles/abnormal-meiosis-in-tetraploid-4x-cannabis-sativa-l-from-lahaulspiti-cold-desert-higher-altitude-himalayasa-neglected-bu.pdf

[8] ttps://www.eresearchco.com/articles/abnormal-meiosis-in-tetraploid-4x-cannabis-sativa-l-from-lahaulspiti-cold-desert-higher-altitude-himalayasa-neglected-bu.pdf

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 |image = Rasol-Grahan-View-01.jpg
 |image_caption = View of the Parvati Valley in Kullu District
+|show_map = yes
 |gene_pool = South Asian Gene Pool
 |regional_complex = Hindu Kush-Himalayan
@@ Line 15: / Line 16: @@
 |coordinates = {{coord|32|00|N|77|30|E|display=inline,title}}
 }}
+The '''Western Himalayas''' is a major [[landrace cannabis]] cultivation region spanning the mountain valleys of northern [[India]], encompassing traditional ''[[charas]]'' (hand-rubbed hashish) producing areas in [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]] and parts of [[Jammu and Kashmir]]. <ref>https://www.pmfias.com/himalayas-regional-divisions-punjab-himalayas-assam-himalayas-western-himalayas-central-himalayas-eastern-himalayas/</ref> <ref>https://archive.org/details/b32222920_0001</ref> <ref>https://www.unodc.org/pdf/india/publications/south_Asia_Regional_Profile_Sept_2005/10_india.pdf</ref> <ref>https://narcoticsindia.nic.in/Publication/2002.pdf</ref>
-The '''Western Himalayas''' is a major [[landrace cannabis]] cultivation region spanning the mountain valleys of northern [[India]], encompassing traditional ''[[charas]]'' (hand-rubbed hashish) producing areas in [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], and parts of [[Jammu and Kashmir]].
+In the Western Himalayas, landrace cannabis is cultivated by local communities and also occurs naturalized across steep valley systems from the Himalayan foothills (~300–600 m) through mid-elevation temperate valleys (e.g., Malana, Kullu, 1500 m through 3200m) to cold-desert basins above 3,000 m; published records extend to ~3,500 m in Lahaul–Spiti. <ref>https://refubium.fu-berlin.de/bitstream/handle/fub188/14541/ThexHolocene-2016-Demske-1661-75.pdf?sequence=1</ref> <ref>https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291116090_Retrospect_and_Prospects_of_Natural_Resource_and_Disaster_Management_in_Uttarakhand_Himalaya_Geo-environmental_Characteristics_Natural_Resources_and_Disasters_in_Uttarakhand_State</ref> <ref>https://www.eresearchco.com/articles/abnormal-meiosis-in-tetraploid-4x-cannabis-sativa-l-from-lahaulspiti-cold-desert-higher-altitude-himalayasa-neglected-bu.pdf</ref>
-The Western Himalayas growing region is characterized by landrace cannabis cultivation in steep valley systems between 500 and 3,500 meters elevation.
 The region's cannabis populations are cultivated primarily for [[charas]] production, with hand-rubbing techniques passed through generations of farming communities.
-==Geography==
+== Geography ==
-==Climate==
+== Climate ==
 == Cultural Context ==
-==Ethnic Context==
+== Ethnic Context ==
-==Cultivation History==
+== Cultivation History ==
 == Genetics ==
 No data at present, further research needed.
-==Growing Areas==
+== Growing Areas ==
 The Western Himalayas growing region encompasses numerous documented cultivation areas. Browse by administrative division:
-===Himachal Pradesh===
+=== Himachal Pradesh ===
 ==== [[Kullu District]] ====
 The Kullu District contains the highest concentration of documented growing areas in the Western Himalayas:
-* [[Banjar Valley]]
+* [[Tirthan Valley]]
 * [[Janjehli Valley]]
 * [[Kullu Valley]]
@@ Line 52: / Line 50: @@
 * [[Parvati Valley]]
 * [[Sainj Valley]]
-* [[Seraj Valley]]
+* [[Inner Seraj]]
+* [[Outer Seraj]]
-====[[Kinnaur District]]====
+==== [[Mandi District]] ====
-High-altitude region near the Tibet border.
+* [[Seraj]]
-====[[Lahaul and Spiti District]]====
+==== [[Kinnaur District]] ====
-Cold desert region with limited cultivation at very high elevations (3,000–3,800m).
+* [[Lower Sutlej Valley]]
+* [[Middle Sutlej Valley]]
+* [[Baspa Valley]]
-====[[Sirmaur District]]====
+==== [[Lahaul and Spiti District]] ====
-Southern district with scattered cultivation areas, less documented than northern regions.
+Due to the harsh climate and short growing season, as of 2015 is sparse evidence of current, intentional cannabis cultivation in Lahaul and Spiti districts. There are, however, feral, self seeding cannabis populations found near roadsides, rivers and temples throughout the district. <ref>https://www.eresearchco.com/articles/abnormal-meiosis-in-tetraploid-4x-cannabis-sativa-l-from-lahaulspiti-cold-desert-higher-altitude-himalayasa-neglected-bu.pdf</ref>
-===Uttarakhand===
+* [[Trilokinath]]
+* [[Udaipur]]
+* [[Keylong]]
+* [[Darcha]]
+* [[Batal]]
+* [[Kaza]]
+* [[Losar]]
-====[[Garhwal Division]]====
+==== [[Sirmaur District]] ====
-Western Uttarakhand, including:
-* [[Nanda Devi]] region
+==== [[Shimla District]] ====
+* [[Busahr]]
+* [[Pabbar Valley]]
+* [[Kotkhai Valley]]
+* [[Jubbal Valley]]
+* [[Chaupal Valley]]
+=== Uttarakhand ===
+==== [[Garhwal Division]] ====
+* [[Nanda Devi]]
 * [[Niti Valley]]
+==== [[Kumaon Division]] ====
-====[[Kumaon Division]]====
 * [[Johar Valley]]
 * [[Darma Valley]]
+* [[Gori Valley]]
+* [[Saur Valley]]
+* [[Munsyari]]
+* [[Bona (Bauna)]]
+* [[Darchula]]
-===Jammu and Kashmir===
+=== Jammu and Kashmir ===
 No data at present, further research needed.
-====Ladakh====
+==== Ladakh ====
 High-altitude cold desert region with limited cultivation
-==Botanical Characteristics==
+== Botanical Characteristics ==
-===Regional Traits===
+=== Regional Traits ===
-===Geographic Variation===
+=== Geographic Variation ===
-===Other Variations===
+=== Other Variations ===
-==Cultivation Practices==
+== Cultivation Practices ==
-===Traditional Methods===
+=== Traditional Methods ===
-===Modern Methods===
+=== Modern Methods ===
-==Conservation Status==
+== Conservation Status ==
-===Threats to Landrace Populations===
+=== Threats to Landrace Populations ===
-===Conservation Efforts===
+=== Conservation Efforts ===
-==Chemical Profile==
+== Chemical Profile ==
-===Cannabinoid Content===
+=== Cannabinoid Content ===
 Western Himalayas populations are traditionally drug-type cannabis, selected for resin production. Research is needed to characterize chemical profiles.
-==Gallery==
+== Gallery ==
 <gallery mode="packed" heights="200px">
 File:Parvati-Valley-View.jpg|Parvati Valley cultivation area
@@ Line 119: / Line 138: @@
 </gallery>
-==See Also==
+== See Also ==
 * [[Gene pools]]
 * [[South Asian Gene Pool]]
@@ Line 129: / Line 148: @@
 * [[Himalayan agriculture]]
-==References==
+== References ==
 {{Reflist}}
-==External Links==
+== External Links ==
 * [Link to relevant botanical databases]
 * [Link to conservation organizations]
 * [Link to genetic research papers]
-[[Category:Growing Regions]]
 [[Category:Conservation Status - Vulnerable]]
 [[Category:South Asian Growing Regions]]
 [[Category:Himalayan Cannabis]]
 [[Category:Traditional Agriculture]]
-[[Has gene pool::South Asian Gene Pool]]
-[[Has regional complex::Hindu Kush-Himalayan]]
-[[Has country::India]]