Western Himalayas

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	1,500–3,500 m
Area	~50,000 km²
Climate	Temperate montane
Primary Rivers	Beas River, Tons River, Alaknanda River
Conservation Status	Vulnerable

South Asian Gene Pool Hindu Kush-Himalayan [[Has country::India]]

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.

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.

Genetics

No data at present, further research needed.

Growing Areas and Sub-Regions

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

Himachal Pradesh

Kullu District

Main article: Kullu

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

• Banjar Valley
• Janjehli Valley
• Kullu Valley
• Lug Valley
• Malana Valley
• Parvati Valley
• Sainj Valley
• Seraj Valley

Kinnaur District

Main article: Kinnaur

High-altitude region near the Tibet border.

Lahaul and Spiti District

Main article: Lahaul and Spiti

Cold desert region with limited cultivation at very high elevations (3,000–3,800m).

Sirmaur District

Main article: Sirmaur

Southern district with scattered cultivation areas, less documented than northern regions.

Uttarakhand

Garhwal Division

Main article: Garwhal

Western Uttarakhand, including:

• Nanda Devi region
• Niti Valley

Kumaon Division

Main article: Kumaon

Eastern Uttarakhand, including:

• Johar Valley
• Darma Valley

Jammu and Kashmir

No data at present, further research needed.

Ladakh

High-altitude cold desert region with limited cultivation

Botanical Characteristics

Cultivation Practices

Conservation Status

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

See Also

• Gene pools
• South Asian Gene Pool
• Growing regions
• Landrace cannabis
• Charas
• Traditional cultivation practices
• Conservation status
• Himalayan agriculture

External Links

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

South Asian Gene Pool Hindu Kush-Himalayan India