Western Himalayas

Western Himalayas
View of the Parvati Valley in Kullu District
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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.

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.

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

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:

• Tirthan Valley
• Janjehli Valley
• Kullu Valley
• Lug Valley
• Malana Valley
• Parvati Valley
• Sainj Valley
• Inner Seraj
• Outer Seraj

Mandi District

• Seraj

Kinnaur District

• Lower Sutlej Valley
• Middle Sutlej Valley
• Baspa Valley

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.

• Trilokinath
• Udaipur
• Keylong
• Darcha
• Batal
• Kaza
• Losar

Shimla District

• Busahr
• Pabbar Valley
• Kotkhai Valley
• Jubbal Valley
• Chaupal Valley

Uttarakhand

Garhwal Division

• Nanda Devi
• Niti Valley

Kumaon Division

• Johar Valley
• Darma Valley
• Gori Valley
• Saur Valley
• Munsyari
• Bona (Bauna)
• Darchula

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

No accessions documented yet.

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
• India