Himalayas

The Himalayas constitute one of the most prominent mountain systems on Earth, forming a dramatic barrier between the plains of the Indian subcontinent and the high plateau of Tibet. Stretching in a vast arc across southern and central Asia, the range is home to many of the world’s highest peaks, including Mount Everest, and exerts a far-reaching influence on climate, hydrology, culture and settlement across the region.

Location and Extent

The Himalayan chain runs west–northwest to east–southeast for roughly 2,400 kilometres. It spans or borders the territories of Nepal, China, Pakistan, Bhutan, India and, at its fringes, Afghanistan. Parts of the western Himalayas lie within regions whose sovereignty is disputed among India, Pakistan and China.
To the north, the Himalayas merge with the Tibetan Plateau; to the south lies the Indo-Gangetic Plain. On the north-western and western margins, they abut the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges. The Indus and Yarlung Tsangpo rivers mark much of the northern boundary along the Indus–Yarlung suture zone.
The width of the range varies significantly: from about 200 kilometres in the west to over 400 kilometres in the east. More than one hundred of the highest mountains on Earth rise within the Himalayas, exceeding elevations of 7,200 metres.

Etymology

The word Himalaya derives from Sanskrit terms meaning “abode of snow,” from hima (snow, frost) and ālaya (dwelling). Various languages across South Asia and Tibet have their own forms of the name, reflecting the cultural importance of the mountains. In older Sanskrit literature, the range is personified as the deity Himavat. Early Western writings sometimes used spellings such as “Himmaleh” or the singular “Himalaya.”

Physical Divisions and Key Features

Geographically, the Himalayas form four main parallel belts from south to north:
• Sivalik Hills: the outermost foothills.• Lower Himalayan Range: mid-altitude ridges and valleys.• Great Himalayas: containing the highest peaks, including Everest, Lhotse and Makalu.• Tibetan Himalayas: high ranges near the Tibetan Plateau.
The system displays many distinct regional groupings. The Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs in central Nepal form a dramatic focal arc divided by the Kali Gandaki Gorge, among the deepest gorges in the world. Eastward lie Manaslu, Shishapangma and the Mahalangur Himal, which includes Everest and other towering summits. The Khumbu region at the foot of Everest is a major centre for trekking.
Further east, the Kangchenjunga massif rises on the border of Nepal and India, with its eastern slopes extending into Sikkim. Bhutan’s Himalayas follow, dominated by Gangkhar Puensum, one of the highest unclimbed mountains in the world. The eastern terminus of the range lies near Namcha Barwa in Tibet, close to the great bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo River.
To the west of Nepal, the Karnali River traverses remote highlands. In Uttarakhand the regional divisions of Kumaon and Garhwal contain well-known peaks such as Nanda Devi and Kamet, and important pilgrimage sites including Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Himachal Pradesh to the northwest features hill stations such as Shimla and Dharamsala. The range then enters the region of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, culminating at Nanga Parbat, the westernmost of the 8,000-metre summits.
Some peripheral ranges—including the Margalla Hills, the Galyat tract and the Kaghan Valley—extend into northern Pakistan.

Geological Formation

The Himalayas originated from the collision between the northward-moving Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. This convergence, which began tens of millions of years ago, closed the former Tethys Ocean and resulted in immense uplift. The upper layers of the Indian crust were folded and thrust upwards to form the rising mountains, while lower layers continued to descend beneath Tibet. Island arcs and batholiths that once lay between the converging plates were incorporated into the growing orogen.
The Himalayan arc includes two major syntaxes—Nanga Parbat in the west and Namcha Barwa in the east—representing dramatic bends where crustal deformation is particularly intense. The ongoing convergence of the Indian and Eurasian plates means the Himalayas are still rising, and the region remains seismically active.

Rivers and Hydrology

Several major rivers of Asia originate in or near the Himalayas, including the Indus, the Ganges and the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra). Their combined drainage basins support hundreds of millions of people. The rivers carve deep valleys through the mountains and shape both ecology and settlement patterns across South and Central Asia.

Population and Environment

Approximately 53 million people live in Himalayan regions. Communities range from high-altitude pastoral settlements to densely populated foothill towns. The climatic gradients—from tropical foothills to alpine tundra—support exceptional biodiversity, while steep slopes and fragile ecosystems make the region sensitive to environmental change.

Cultural and Religious Significance

The Himalayas hold a central place in the spiritual geography of South Asia and Tibet. Many peaks—such as Nanda Devi, Machapuchare, Kangchenjunga and Kailash—are venerated in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bon. Several sacred mountains are officially closed to climbers.
Pilgrimage routes have shaped patterns of travel and settlement for centuries. Locations such as the Char Dham in Uttarakhand, monasteries in Bhutan and Tibet, and cultural sites throughout Nepal illustrate the deep religious connections associated with the mountains.

Contemporary Importance

Today the Himalayas continue to influence climate, water security and cultural life across Asia. They attract global attention for mountaineering, conservation and scientific research. At the same time, pressures from population growth, tourism and environmental change pose significant challenges. Despite these pressures, the Himalayas remain one of the world’s most striking examples of tectonic uplift, biodiversity and cultural continuity.