Uttarakhand to host first-ever Himalayan states' conclave on July 28 :

Uttarakhand will host the first-ever Himalayan states` conclave here on July 28 where the prime focus will be on sustainable development.

The conclave will host the Chief Ministers of the Himalayan states - Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram and Nagaland, along with administrators and specialists.

The discussions would be around environmental protection, Himalayan culture, and economic development, according to the official sources. Vice President of Niti Aayog Rajiv Kumar has also agreed to be part of this conclave.

According to Uttarakhand govt. focus will be on solving the Himalayan states problems in the conclave. This conclave will pave the way for making financial resources available for the Himalayan states in the future.

The Niti Aayog and the Finance Commission will also be able to accurately ascertain the ground realities in Himalayan states. The key points adopted at the Himalayan conclave would be presented as a draft to the Niti Aayog for developing policies for the region`s development.

Ranges in Himalyan States :

Trans-Himalayas :

Trans himalaya is created due to the collision with the eurasian plate.This Zone is the Northern most area in the country in the states of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. It is an extension of Tibetan plateau around the Himalayas. The Main Himalayan Ranges are as follows:

• Pir Panjal Range (part of middle Himalayas)
• Dhauladhar Range madya himalaya
• Zanskar Range
• Ladakh Range
• East Karakoram Range
• Mahabharata range (middle Himalayas in Nepal)

Pir Panjal Range :

To the south of the main Himalayas lies the Pir Panjal Range at an average height of 5,000 metres (16,000 ft). From Gulmarg in the northwest it follows the southern rim of the Kashmir valley to the Banihal Pass. Here the Pir Panjal meets the ridgeline that separates the Kashmir valley from the Warvan Valley. The major passes here in Pir Panjal are the Pir Panjal Pass due west of Srinagar, the Banihal Pass which lies at the top of the Jhelum River at the southern end of the Kashmir valley, and the Sythan Pass linking Kashmir with Kishtwar and Salooni.

Dhauladhar Range :

To the south of the Pir Panjal lies the Dhauladhar range. Both ranges are visible from Salooni of Chamba. It is easily visible because of its distinct feature of the snow-capped ridge, which forms the division between the Ravi and the Beas valleys. In the west it divides the Chenab valley and the Tawi Valley. Towards the east it extends across Himachal Pradesh forming the high ridges of the Large gorge and extending towards the south of the Pin Parvati Valley before it forms the ridgeline east of the Sutlej River. The rivers flow from it

Zaskar Range :

Zaskar Range lies to the north of the main Himalaya. It acts as a backbone of Ladakh south of the Indus River, extending from the ridges beyond Lamayuru in the west across the Zanskar region; there it is divided from the main Himalaya by the Stod and Tsarap valleys, the Zanskar valley. On the east of the Zanskar region the range continues through Lahaul & Spiti and Pangi of Chamba. While in the north it continues across the Kinnaur before extending towards west across Uttarakhand. Some of the main passes are the Fatu La, on the Leh-Srinagar road, while the main trekking passes into the Zanskar valley are Singge La, the Cha Cha La and the Rubrang La.

Ladakh Range :

To the north of the Leh lies the Ladakh Range and it is an important part of the Trans-Himalayan range that merges with the Kailash Range in Tibet. Here the important passes are the famous Khardung La, and Digar La, which lie to the northeast of Leh.

East Karakoram Range :

The Karakoram is a giant range, which geographically divides India and Central Asia. The range consists of high mountain peaks like Saltoro Kangri, Rimo and Teram Kargri. The Korakoram Pass acts as the main connector between the markets of Yarkand, Leh and Kashgar.

Shivalik Hills :

It lies to the south of the Dhaula Dhar, with an average height of 1,500 to 2,000m.It includes the Jammu hills and Vaishno Devi, and extends to Kangra and if you move further east to the range south of Mandi. In Uttarakhand it stretches from Dehradun to Almora (covers almost entire Kumaon and Garhwal region) before it heads across the southern borders of India. It is the foothills of Himalayas.