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Western Himalayas

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Revision as of 00:55, 20 January 2026 by Eloise Zomia (talk | contribs)
Western Himalayas
View of the Parvati Valley in Kullu District
View of the Parvati Valley in Kullu District
⛶
Location

India

Coordinates 32.000000, 77.500000
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






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

Demography

Culture

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

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

All documented Growing Areas

Growing Area
Kullu Valley

Accessions

Accession IDNamePriorityCollectedLocality
ZOM-IND-UTT-1020250004Karmi General Population 2024Medium10 December 2025Karmi
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250013Jumma Village General PopulationMedium9 December 2025Jumma
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250014Kali Valley 'Pangla Village' Feral Seleciton 2025Medium9 December 2025Pangla
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250015Kali Valley 'Bung Bung Village' Feral Selection 2025Medium9 December 2025Bung Bung
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250009Saur Valley Bharkatia General Population 2024Medium9 November 2025Bharkatia
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250010Saur Valley Jajardewal General Population 2024Medium9 November 2025Jajardewal
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250011Saur Valley Jajardewal Selection 2025Medium9 November 2025Jajardewal
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250012Saur Valley Chatkeshwar Temple General Population 2024Medium9 November 2025Chatkeshwar
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250009Thunja Deepack General Population #1 2025Medium29 October 2025Thunja
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250014Grahan Kutla Forest Selection 2025Medium29 October 2025Grahan
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250019Tosh Village General Population #2 2025Medium29 October 2025Tosh
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250010Thunja Deepack General Population #2 2025Medium29 October 2025Thunja
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250015Grahan Kutla 'Tangy' Selection 2025Medium29 October 2025Grahan
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250020Lapas Village General Population 2025Medium29 October 2025Lapas
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250011Thunja Deepack General Population #3 2025Medium29 October 2025Thunja
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250016Grahan Village General Population #2 2025Medium29 October 2025Grahan
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250007Thunja Village General Population #1 2025Medium29 October 2025Thunja
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250012Grahan Kutla Lower Terrace Selection 2025Medium29 October 2025Grahan
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250017Grahan Village General Population #3 2025Medium29 October 2025Grahan
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250008Thunja Village General Population #2 2025Medium29 October 2025Thunja
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250013Grahan Kutla Middle Terrace Selection 2025Medium29 October 2025Grahan
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250018Tosh Village General Population #1 2025Medium29 October 2025Tosh
ZOM-IND-UTT-1020250018Lambagad General Population #218 October 2025Lambagad
ZOM-IND-UTT-1020250017Lambagad General Population #118 October 2025Lambagad
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250006Atolang Black Selection #2 2025Medium16 October 2025Atolang
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250004Atolang Green Mango Selection 2025Medium16 October 2025Atolang
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250005Atolang Black Selection #1 2025Medium16 October 2025Atolang
ZOM-IND-UTT-1020250016Niti Valley General Population 202516 October 2025
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250001Rasol 'Vairam' General Population #1 2025Medium14 October 2025Rasol
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250002Rasol Pawan Selection 2025Medium14 October 2025Rasol
ZOM-IND-HIM-1020250003Rasol Maya Selection 2025Medium14 October 2025Rasol
ZOM-IND-UTT-1020250010AKhati General Population2024 #3 Grade ALow13 October 2025Khati
ZOM-IND-UTT-1020250005Khati General Population #1 2024Low13 October 2025Khati
ZOM-IND-UTT-1020250011ATeekh General Population 2024 Grade AMedium13 October 2025Teekh
ZOM-IND-UTT-1020250015Niti Village General Population 202413 October 2025Niti
ZOM-IND-UTT-1020250006Khati Feral Selection #1 2025Low13 October 2025Khati
ZOM-IND-UTT-1020250011BTeekh General Population 2024 Grade BMedium13 October 2025Teekh
ZOM-IND-UTT-1020250007Khati Feral Selection #2 2025Low13 October 2025Khati
ZOM-IND-UTT-1020250012Dhoor General Population 202413 October 2025Dhoor
ZOM-IND-UTT-1020250008Khati Feral Selection #3 2025Low13 October 2025Khati
ZOM-IND-UTT-1020250003Jhopra Goan General Population 2024Medium10 October 2025Jhopra Gaon
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250008Champawat General Population 2024Medium9 October 2025Champawat
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250004Khauna Malak General Population 2024Medium9 October 2025Kauna Malak
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250005Lohaghat General Population 2024 #1Low9 October 2025Lohaghat
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250006Lohaghat General Population 2024 #2Low9 October 2025Lohaghat
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250007Lohaghat General Population 2024 #3Low9 October 2025Lohaghat
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250036Martoli Village Glacier Selection 2025Medium29 September 2025Martoli
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250033Burphu Village Feral Glacier Selection 2025Medium28 September 2025Burphu
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250034Burphu Village Glacier Selection 2024Medium28 September 2025Burphu
ZOM-IND-UTT-0920250035Bilju Village Feral Glacier Selection 2025Medium28 September 2025Bilju
... further results

Botanical Characteristics

Regional Traits

Geographic Variation

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.

See Also

References

  1. ↑ https://www.pmfias.com/himalayas-regional-divisions-punjab-himalayas-assam-himalayas-western-himalayas-central-himalayas-eastern-himalayas/
  2. ↑ https://archive.org/details/b32222920_0001
  3. ↑ https://www.unodc.org/pdf/india/publications/south_Asia_Regional_Profile_Sept_2005/10_india.pdf
  4. ↑ https://narcoticsindia.nic.in/Publication/2002.pdf
  5. ↑ https://refubium.fu-berlin.de/bitstream/handle/fub188/14541/ThexHolocene-2016-Demske-1661-75.pdf?sequence=1
  6. ↑ 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
  7. ↑ https://www.eresearchco.com/articles/abnormal-meiosis-in-tetraploid-4x-cannabis-sativa-l-from-lahaulspiti-cold-desert-higher-altitude-himalayasa-neglected-bu.pdf
  8. ↑ https://www.eresearchco.com/articles/abnormal-meiosis-in-tetraploid-4x-cannabis-sativa-l-from-lahaulspiti-cold-desert-higher-altitude-himalayasa-neglected-bu.pdf
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