Nepal, the Himalayas are the highest mountains on Earth. Himalayas: photo, video, film, mountains on the map

Almost the entire northeast of India is occupied by the vast mountain system of the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush. There are many Buddhist monasteries and communities here, many of which settled here more than one millennium ago. The Himalayas are India's most famous natural landmark, and Chomolungma Peak, or Everest, the highest peak, claims to be one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Not only climbers and other lovers of extreme recreation come here, but also pilgrims - followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, and esotericism.

The Himalayas are part of five countries at once. The mountain system is located on the territory of India, Pakistan, Nepal, China and Bhutan, and the Asian rivers Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra, around which the most important world cultures were created, are fed from the Himalayan glaciers.

Despite the abundance of mountain slopes, there are very few ski resorts in the Himalayas, and those that exist are not very developed. This is due not so much to the reluctance of Indians to invest in sports tourism, but to the lack of good places to ski. Among the most popular are Gulmarg in the Indian part of Kashmir, Auli in the state of Uttarakhand and Manali in Himachal Pradesh.

How to get to the Himalayas

The nearest airport to the Indian Himalayas is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. First you need to fly here, and then by domestic flights, by train or by a rented car, you can already get to your destination.

There is no railway network in the mountains, but you can take the train to the foot. The only railway in the Himalayas is more of an amusement than a convenient transportation, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is referred to here as a "toy train". It departs from Siligiri station and goes up to Gkhum, located at an altitude of 2257 m, past tea plantations, valleys and other picturesque landscapes.

The easiest way to get to the Gulmarg ski resort is by plane: the city of Srinagor, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, has its own airport. Auli resort is close to several airports, the nearest one is in Dehradun.

The main means of transportation between cities and towns in the Himalayas is jeep minibuses (shared jeep), they run between all settlements. Indians are used to occupying a minimum of space on the road, therefore, in order to travel comfortably, it makes sense to buy 1-2 extra seats.

Search for flights to the city of Delhi (the nearest airport to the Himalayas)

Weather in the Himalayas

The weather in the Himalayas depends on the height of the mountain ranges - the higher, the colder. At an altitude of 2000-2300 m above sea level, in winter the air temperature ranges from -4 to +8 °С, in summer - an average of +18 ... +24 °С, sometimes it is hot, up to +23 ... +30 °С .

The best time to travel is from May to July and September-October. At this time, the weather is dry, sunny, warm enough and comfortable for walking. It is also warm in July and August, but at this time rains and fogs come here, high clouds, so it is unlikely that you will be able to admire the mountain landscapes. In winter, it is cold and windy in the Himalayas, all roads are covered with snow, and travel becomes problematic.

Himalayas Hotels

There are hotels of different price categories in the Himalayas. There is a large selection of hotels from 2 * to 5 * in Darjeeling and in popular ski resorts. A small house without amenities, with a fan instead of air conditioning, will cost from 1100 INR per day for two. "Treshka" will cost about 3500-4200 INR per day for a double room, and 5 * hotels - from 7000 INR per day. Prices on the page are for March 2019.

In the Himalayas, especially in its religious quarters, ashrams are popular. These are shelters for pilgrims, similar to very ascetic hostels. The conditions there are quite spartan, often in a room for several people there is only beds and one shower for everyone (if you're lucky, there will be a fan). Accommodation is very cheap, and sometimes you can live in the ashram for free for help with the housework or a voluntary donation.

Skiing

There are several ski resorts in the Himalayas. In terms of service level, they cannot be compared with European ones, but the most important thing - the necessary minimum of services and gorgeous mountain landscapes - is here. There are equipment rental points almost everywhere, a complete set will cost about 1400-1750 INR per day.

The most popular ski resort in the Himalayas - Gulmarg. It meets European standards more than anyone else, and looks like a Swiss village from the middle of the last century. There are equipment rentals, several ski lifts, about 15 km of slopes and excellent forest freeride.

Auli is another popular Himalayan ski resort. Local trails are considered the best in the region (only about 10 km). There are snow cannons, ski schools for beginners and gentle slopes for them. The resort as a whole is more focused on beginner athletes, experienced ones will be quite bored here.

Solang- a ski resort 22 km from the city of Manali. There are trails for both beginners and extreme sports (one "black trail"), tourists note the high professionalism of instructors.

Narkanda- a very picturesque resort surrounded by coniferous forest, located near Shimla, the only drawback is very little space.

Kufri- the oldest ski resort in India. In winter, there is a center for skiing, in summer - trekking and hiking, since there are two national parks not far from Kufri: the Himalayan Nature Park and the Indira Tourist Park.

Cuisine and restaurants of the Himalayas

Tibetan cuisine is widespread in the Himalayas. It is much less spicy than in southern India, and has more meat, although vegetarian options are also present. The most popular dishes that can be found in almost every cafe and restaurant are chowman (pasta with vegetables and meat), momo (steamed dumplings with various meat and vegetable fillings) and tukhpa (lamb broth soup with pasta, vegetables and meat). Here, a lot is cooked in the tandoor - an earthen oven without a lid. Basically, this is a simple peasant food: meat or poultry is fried on a spit, and then baked in a tandoor in special bread cakes, which are lined inside the tandoor.

The season matters. In the Himalayas, this seasonality is special and is associated with religion and other ancient traditions. In the rainy season, you can not find dishes with nuts here, after a hearty meal you need to eat mangoes, and in the summer they do not eat meat and fish. However, the latter is easily explained: refrigerators are still far from being in every home, and meat spoils very quickly in the heat.

In the Himalayas, the cult of wholesome food. For example, it is believed that mango soup not only improves blood circulation, but also increases sexual desire, halva is almost a blessing of the gods, and a drink from rhodo flowers (Himalayan rhododendrons) brings harmony to the body and soul.

The best photos of the Himalayas

Entertainment and attractions

In the Himalayas, ancient temples and natural attractions are of particular interest. The most famous are Ladakh, the city of ashrams Rishikesh and Haridwar, one of the seven sacred cities. The high-mountain temples of Shiva and Vishnu in Kedarnath and Badrinath, the Kashmir Valley and, of course, Shambhala with Tibetan monasteries are worth attention.

Also popular are excursions to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, surrounded by the "pond of immortality", trips to the state of Sikkim to the foot of the sacred Annapurna and other Buddhist shrines.

Acquaintance with the Himalayas often begins with the capital of Himchal Pradesh - the town shimla. It is called "the most fashionable village in the Himalayas": it is worth visiting the palace of the Viceroy of Britain (today there is a museum), the central square with the Cathedral of Christ and the main shopping street where you can buy scarves and shawls made of fine wool, saris and other national clothes and sequins to decorate the forehead.

One of the most mysterious places in the Himalayas - Srinagar. All its secrets are connected with the tomb of Rozbal - according to historical studies (mostly dubious), the body of Jesus lies there, and many locals sincerely believe in this. In addition, the city is known for doiks - boats on the Dal Lake, the proximity of the Gulmarg ski resort and very high quality woolen products in local shops and markets.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is one of the most interesting rides in the Himalayas. It is better known here under the name "Toy Train". The road was built in 1881, and since then a small train has been running along a narrow 60 cm gauge to an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. The final station is Gkhum (altitude 2257 m), the path runs past tea plantations and other local beauties. From the railway ring of the terminal station offers a gorgeous view of the surroundings.

Road to the Himalayas

natural attractions

In the Himalayas, there are very interesting national parks - Nanda Devi and the Valley of Flowers in the Western Himalayas, which are under the protection of UNESCO. These two parks are located side by side and are considered one of the most picturesque in the Himalayas. The landscapes here are really impressive: glaciers on mountain peaks, alpine meadows, the source of the Ganges River, which flows through the entire Nanda Devi reserve, and a diverse flora and fauna. Rare animals live here, for example, the snow leopard and the blue sheep.

The most famous attraction of the national park is Rooklund Lake, also known as Skeleton Lake. It got its ominous name after many human skeletons were found at the bottom of the lake. It is believed that these people were killed by hail while climbing to the top.

Himalayas and Roerich

The Himalayas have inspired and continue to inspire artists, directors, musicians and just creative people. The great Russian artist and mystic Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich in his expedition in the 30s of the 20th century. not only visited the Indian Himalayas and depicted what he saw in the pictures, but even founded the Institute of Himalayan Studies in America. Moreover, the last years of the artist's life were spent in the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Now there, in Nagar (a suburb of the city of Manali), there is a house-museum of the painter. The atmosphere in which the Roerich family lived for 20 years, the personal car of Nicholas Konstantinovich and some of his paintings have been preserved there.

The Kullu Valley is known not only for the Roerich estate. This region is called Indian Switzerland: coniferous forests grow here, and the Tibetan Medicine Center is located in Manali, where you can get diagnosed by the best local doctors and improve your health.

The Himalayas in India and China are the highest mountains on earth.

Where is it located and how to get there

Geographical coordinates:Latitude:29°14′11″N (29.236449), Longitude:85°14′59″E (85.249851)
Travel from Moscow-Come to China or India and there is a stone's throw. Don't Forget Your Mountain Equipment
Travel from St. Petersburg: You come to Moscow and then you come to China or India and there it's a stone's throw. Don't Forget Your Mountain Equipment
Distance from Moscow-7874 km., from St. Petersburg-8558 km.

Description in the encyclopedic dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron (published on the border of the 19th-20th centuries)

Himalayan mountains
(Himalaja, in Sanskrit - a winter or snow dwelling, among the Greeks and Romans Imans and Hemodus) - the highest mountains on Earth; separate Hindustan and the western part of Indochina from the Tibetan Plateau and extend from the place where the Indus exits them (at 73 ° 23 ′ E GMT) in a southeast direction to the Brahmaputra (at 95 ° 23 ′ E) over 2375 km with a width of 220-300 km. The western part of the Himalayas (hereinafter referred to as G.) at 36 ° N. sh. so closely connected in one mountain knot (the greatest on Earth) with the beginning of the Karakorum ridge (see), which stretches at an insignificant distance from it, almost parallel to it, with the Kuen-Lun ridge, which limits Tibet from the north, and with the Hinduku, that all these four mountain ranges are part of one hill. The mountains make up the southernmost and highest of these ranges. The eastern end of the G. mountains passes approximately 28 parallels to the north. parts of the British province of Assam and Burma into the Yun-Ling Mountains, which already belong to China. Both mountain masses are separated from each other by the Brahmaputra, which cuts the mountains here and makes a bend from N to SW. If we imagine a line running south from Lake Mansarovar, which lies between the sources of the Settlej and the Brahmaputra, then it will divide the G. mountains into the west. and east. half and at the same time will serve as an ethnographic boundary between the Aryan population of the Indus basin and the population of Tibet. The average height of a city is 6941 m; numerous peaks well above this line. Some of them are higher than all the peaks of the Andes and represent the highest points on the earth's surface. Up to 225 of these peaks have been measured; of these, 18 rise over 7600 m, 40 over 7000, 120 over 6100. The highest of all Gaurisankar, or Mount Everest (Mount-Everest), with a height of 8840 m, Kanchinjinga (Kantschinjinga) at 8581 m and Dhawalagiri at 8177 m. All of them lie in the eastern half of the G. mountains. The average height of the snow line in the G. mountains is approximately 4940 m to the south. slope and 5300 m to the north. Of the huge glaciers, some descend to 3400 and even 3100 m. The average height of the passages (Ghâts) leading through the mountains through G., of which 21 are known, is 5500 m; the height of the highest of them, the passage of Ibi Gamin, between Tibet and Garhwal, is 6240 m; the height of the lowest, Bara-Latscha, is 4900 m. The mountains do not constitute one completely continuous and continuous chain, but consist of a system of more or less long ridges; partly parallel, partly intersecting between which lie wide and narrow valleys. Real plateaus in G. mountains are not found. Generally southern. the G. side of the mountains is more fragmented than the northern side; there are more spurs and side ridges, between which lie the states of Kashmir, Gariwal, Kamaon, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan, more or less dependent on the Indo-British government. To the south On the side of the G. mountains, the tributaries of the Indus originate: Dzhelam, Shenab and Ravi, the Ganges with its left tributaries and the Jamuni.
Mountains more than all other mountains on the globe are rich in the majestic beauties of nature; they present a particularly picturesque view from the south. As for the geological structure of the GG, sandstones and detrital rocks are predominantly visible near the sole. Above, up to approximately 3000-3500 m in height, gneiss, mica, chlorite and talc schist predominate, often cut through by thick veins of granite. Above - the peaks are composed mainly of gneiss and granite. Volcanic rocks are not found on the G. mountains, and in general there are no signs of volcanic activity at all, although there are various hot springs (up to 30 in number), the most famous of which are located in Badrinat (see). The vegetation is extremely diverse. At the southern sole of the east. half stretches unhealthy and unsuitable for settlement marshland, called Tarai, 15-50 km wide, overgrown with impenetrable jungle and giant grass. It is followed, up to a height of approximately 1000 m, by extremely rich, tropical and especially Indian vegetation, followed by forests of oaks, chestnuts, laurel trees, etc., up to a height of 2500 m. Between 2500 and 3500 m the flora corresponds to that of southern and central Europe ; conifers predominate, namely Pinus Deodora, P. excelsa, P. longifolia, Aties Webbiana, Picea Morinda, etc. The border of woody vegetation runs higher to the north. side (the last species of trees here is birch), than to the south. (here, one species of oak, Quercus semicarpifolia, rises above all). The next area of ​​shrubs then reaches the border of snow and sowing. side ends with one type of Genista, to the south. - several species of Rhododendron, Salix and Ribes. Grain cultivation on the Tibetan side rises to 4600 m, on the Indian side only up to 3700; grasses grow up to 5290 m on the first one, and up to 4600 m on the second. The mountain fauna is also extremely interesting and very rich. To the south side up to 1200 m it is specially Indian; its representatives are the tiger, elephant, monkeys, parrots, pheasants and beautiful types of chickens. In the middle region of the mountains there are bears, musk deer and various types of antelopes, and in the sowing. side adjacent to Tibet - wild horses, wild bulls (yaks), wild sheep and mountain goats, as well as some other mammals belonging to the fauna of Central Asia and especially Tibet. The G. mountains not only constitute the political boundary between the Anglo-Indian possessions and Tibet, but in general also the ethnographic boundary between the Hindu Aryans living south of the G. mountains and the inhabitants of Tibet belonging to the Mongol tribe. Both tribes spread through the valleys deep into the G. mountains and mixed with each other in various ways. The population is most dense in extremely fertile valleys, at an altitude of 1500 to 2500 m. At an altitude of 3000 it becomes already rare.
History of the name (toponym)
Himalayas, from the Nepalese himal, "snow mountain".

This article provides basic information about the highest mountain system - the Himalayas. More information can be found in the online magazine AttractionStory.ru

The Himalayas are the highest peak on the planet Earth. The vast mountain complex has a length of almost 24,000 km. Width - over 13,000 km. The total area is over 1,000,000 km². The height of the highest point exceeds 8,800 m - this hill is called Everest. In general, the mountain range consists of 109 peaks.

The mountains are a natural boundary separating the Hindustan peninsula from mainland Asia. The Himalayas are marked on the map of five countries - Nepal, Bhutan, India, China, Pakistan. In addition, it is in the peaks of the Himalayas that the greatest river of India, the Ganges, originates.

The origin of the name of the mountains comes from the ancient Indian Sanskrit - "Himalaya" literally means a snowy abode, a snowy kingdom.

The Himalayas are a three-stage system

1. The Himalayas are a complex of mountain heights, the height of which does not exceed 2 thousand meters.
2. Small Himalayas. The tops of the mountains, forming "small" hills reach 4 km.
3. Big Himalayas. They form the highest peaks of the mountain complex.

Climate and nature of mountains

The Himalayas are a natural dividing barrier of climatic zones. So, in the north of the mountains, moderate continental winds reign, air currents are dry and cold. The southern direction is represented by tropical air masses with a large amount of precipitation in the summer.

Temperatures at the highest elevations reach -25°C in summer and drop to -40°C in winter.

A large amount of precipitation and a significant altitude of the mountain range led to the formation of large glaciers and an extensive river system. Many lakes have formed in the mountains, but all of them are significantly inferior in size to alpine reservoirs.

The vegetation of the Himalayas has a tiered distribution. At the very foot of the mountains there are marshy jungles, a tier above - tropical forests, then comes the kingdom of deciduous and coniferous species, replaced by mixed forests, on the uppermost slopes the vegetation is represented in the form of alpine meadows. At an altitude of over 4.5 km (in the southern part of the mountains) and 6 km (from the north), the border of eternal snow passes.

The fauna of the Himalayas also has differences depending on the altitude and the prevailing landscape. For example, at the foot of the mountains in the jungle live Indian rhinos and elephants, antelopes and buffaloes. Alpine meadows are the territory where Himalayan bears, yaks and snow leopards (now on the verge of extinction) reign.

Ethnic and religious diversity

Due to the harsh climatic conditions, the highlands and mid-mountain heights are poorly populated by people. The bulk of the population lives in the low-lying regions of the mountains and at their foot. The Himalayas are inhabited by representatives of various peoples. Most of them have lived in isolation from each other for many centuries, and therefore have significant anthropological and cultural differences. So in the south, the Aryan peoples from Hindustan predominate. Dards with characteristic Mediterranean features also live here, which gave reason to assume that they are descendants of the soldiers of Alexander the Great. The western slopes of the mountains are inhabited by Persian and Turkic peoples, and Tibetans live in the northeast.

Most of the population is employed in agriculture. The main industries are agriculture and cattle breeding. In recent years, there has been an increase in employment of the local population in the tourism sector.

The main religious beliefs of the mountain peoples are represented by various currents of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam.

Sights of the Himalayas: natural and man-made

The Himalayas are the center of attraction for tourists. The region is rich in cultural and natural attractions.

First of all, travelers are called to the path by high mountains. Every climber dreams of conquering the highest peak in the world - Everest.

Many adventurers go to mysterious Tibet in search of the mythical Shambhala. Tibet attracts tourists with the desire to get acquainted with their famous temples, to see the legendary Tibetan monks. Pilgrims go to the mountains for healing.

In addition, paranormal researchers believe that it is the Himalayas that are the refuge of Bigfoot. Belief in this legend gathers many cinematographic expeditions, both professionals and amateurs.

Adepts of the philosophical doctrine of yoga, popular today, tend to the Indian Himalayas in order to be imbued with the true light of religion. In addition, the Indian Himalayas are the main point of attraction for Russian tourists. It is here that the estate of the famous Russian painter and scientist Nicholas Roerich is located, where he spent the last years of his life. The house-museum of the artist presents a large collection of his works and stores memorabilia of the artist and his family members, collected over a long period.

History lovers are attracted by the palaces and monuments of India, Tibet, Nepal and other countries.

Of course, the rich and multifaceted culture of the region and the beauty of the natural world will not leave anyone indifferent.

Since school days, we all know that the highest mountain on the planet is Everest, and it is located in the Himalayas. But not everyone clearly imagines where, in fact, the Himalayas are located? In recent years, mountain tourism has become very popular, and if you are fond of it, then this miracle of nature - the Himalayas, is definitely worth a visit!

And these mountains are located on the territory of five states: India, China, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. The total length of the largest mountain system on our planet is 2,400 kilometers, while its width is 350 kilometers. In terms of height, many peaks of the Himalayas are champions. Here are the ten highest peaks on the planet, with a height of more than eight thousand meters.

The highest point of the Himalayas is Everest or Chomolungma with a height of 8848 meters above sea level. The highest mountain in the Himalayas was conquered by man only in 1953. All climbs that were before were unsuccessful, because the slopes of the mountain are very steep and dangerous. Strong winds blow at the top, which, combined with very low night temperatures, are difficult tests for those who dare to conquer this inaccessible peak. Everest itself is located on the border of two states - China and Nepal.

In India, the Himalayas, thanks to their gentler slopes, which are not so dangerous, have become a haven for monks who preach Buddhism and Hinduism. Their monasteries are located in large numbers in the Himalayas in India and Nepal. Pilgrims, followers of these religions and just tourists flock here from all over the world. Thanks to this, the Himalayas in these regions are very visited.

But ski tourism in the Himalayas is not popular, since there are no suitable gentle slopes for skiing, which could attract tourists en masse.

Where are the Himalayas located? Coordinates, map and photo.

All states where the Himalayas are located are popular mainly among climbers and pilgrims.

Traveling through the Himalayas is not such an easy adventure, it can only be done by a hardy and strong spirit. And if you have these forces in reserve, then you should definitely go to India or Nepal. Here you can visit the most beautiful temples and monasteries spread on the picturesque slopes, take part in the evening prayer of Buddhist monks, and at dawn indulge in relaxing meditation and hatha yoga classes conducted by Indian gurus. Traveling through the mountains, you will see with your own eyes where such great rivers as the Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra originate.

Movement of the continents: 2. Age of the Himalayas

Location, climate, sights of the Himalayas

Of all the mountain systems of the Earth, the Himalayas are the highest and most grandiose: many people note that the first impression of getting to know this royal mountain range was amazing and even shocking - at the sight of endless mountain ranges under the blue sky, all "worldly" thoughts disappear somewhere.

Himalayas - location and climate

Geographically, the Himalayas “capture” the territory of five states at once: Pakistan - in the west, India, Nepal and China, as well as Bhutan - in the southeast. Between India and China, the Himalayas form a natural boundary; Nepal and Bhutan are located on the same border - we can say that these are mountainous countries. The Himalayas stretch for more than 2,400 kilometers, and the widest places reach 350 km - the climate throughout their territory is completely different and even contrasting. On the southern slopes, a lot of rain falls in summer - the flora and fauna are rich and diverse, and on the northern slopes the climate is cold and dry. In the highest mountainous areas, winter frosts are not weak - about -40 ° C, and even in summer in some places real winter - up to -25 ° C. To this we can add the strongest winds - hurricanes, and sudden changes in temperature.

Briefly about the history of the Himalayas

Geologists believe that tens of millions of years ago the Himalayas were the bottom of the ocean. Of course, then these rocks were not high mountains - the growth of peaks began due to the collision of tectonic plates, and continued for millions of years, but the mountains turned out to be "famous": in no other mountain system in the world there are so many seven and eight thousand meters as here.

Since ancient times, people have sought to get to the peaks of the Himalayas.. Then they were driven by other desires: if most modern climbers, first of all, want to become winners, then earlier those who hoped to join the greatest secrets of the Universe and come into contact with amazing entities came here - however, there are still enough such people today, and gradually they is getting bigger.

The development of the Himalayas began in the 7th century AD.- then trade routes passed here, but the first explorers got here only by the 18th-19th centuries. It was extremely difficult to map the area, but this only increased the interest of European scientists: many of them lived in the Himalayas for years, and sincerely fell in love with these places and their inhabitants, despite the difference in worldview.

There were many expeditions to Everest - the highest peak of the world haunted people, enticing them with grandeur and inaccessibility, but for the first time it was conquered only in the middle of the 20th century. This was done by two climbers walking in a bundle - Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Norgay Tenzing from Nepal.

Some sights of the Himalayas

There are a huge number of attractions - cultural, historical and natural, in the Himalayas, and many are considered "important" and "main". There are about 3,200 Buddhist monasteries in Tibet alone, coexisting perfectly with Hindu and Muslim shrines.

In Northern India there is a place Ladakh - it is called the country of Buddha Maitreya - the Future. For Buddhists, and especially Tibetan, this place is extremely important, and tourists flock here from all over the world because here you can see life as it was many centuries ago. Local residents are still engaged in agriculture and crafts, using the methods of distant ancestors; observe ancient traditions and customs and even wear national costumes - in Russia, for example, few people know exactly what the Russian national costume looks like in general. The monasteries function the same as they did 1,000 years ago, and remain the most important centers of culture - it is said that there is no such thing even in classical Tibet.

In the north-west of India, in Punjab, there is the city of Amritsar: this is the holy city of the Sikhs - followers of an amazing religion that preaches simple and eternal values. This is a brotherly attitude towards all the people of the Earth, respect and love, free will and good deeds. With all this, the Sikhs are an independent people, and they are ready to defend their rights and freedoms very seriously: according to the rules, every Sikh must wear a dagger or a short sword under his clothes, which is never used as a weapon of violence.

Amritsar's main attraction is the Golden Temple., or Harimandir Sahib, built in the 16th century: its lining is really of real gold, and it is a fascinating sight, reflected in the waters of the lake in the center of which it is located.

Photo: sights of the Himalayas

Of course, the lake is also sacred: it is called the Lake of Immortality, and the locals bathe in its waters, wanting to improve their health or be healed of illnesses. Any tourist who knows how to treat local religious traditions with respect can enter this temple: shoes must be removed and a headscarf must be covered - they are given out at the entrance.

Of course, in the Himalayas now you can not only visit sights and shrines, but also have a great rest - outdoor activities in the mountains are becoming very popular with tourists from different countries. One of the types of such recreation is trekking, or hiking - hiking along the trails in the mountains, which allows you to get a good physical activity and at the same time admire the surrounding nature. For those who do not want to strain the muscles, you can ride small horses - they are provided by the drivers for rent, and they also lead them by the reins, so everything is quite safe. Fans of stronger sensations will like rafting on mountain rivers: even those who have never rafted on fast water can afford it - there are levels for beginners and for professionals.

Interesting excursions are organized in historical places, and in a short time tourists manage to visit different climatic zones: there are several of them in the Himalayas - from swampy jungles and subequatorial rainforests at the foot of the mountains to eternal snow and ice on their peaks.

Valley of Flowers in the Himalayas

Photo: sights of the Himalayas

There are enough natural wonders in the Himalayas, but not all of them are in close proximity: perhaps this is even for the better - this way they remain “safe and sound”. Fortunately, in the Himalayas, many territories are protected by the state.

In the western part of the Himalayas, in a high mountainous area, is the Valley of Flowers, now declared a National Park and included in its UNESCO List. These are not those alpine meadows, which are many in the mountains of different countries - this is really a valley, completely covered with flower carpets, and the colors here are the most unexpected - for example, fields of bright blue Himalayan poppies. There are many hundreds of flowers here, and there are those that are not found anywhere else on the planet. Those who manage to get here during the flowering season - from June to September, will be very lucky, but for a European tourist it is not so easy. First, you need to drive for a long time, then climb about 14 km on foot along a beautiful but narrow gorge to a special camp, and from there, on a specially organized route, you can get to the Valley of Flowers.

When is the best time to go to the Himalayas? It depends on what you are going to do there and what kind of weather you need. From April to June - fogs and rains, but the sunsets are very beautiful; then the air becomes cleaner and fresher, and from September to November it is warm and sunny. It is frosty in the mountains in winter, but the sun is also usually bright, and the snow is fluffy and soft - a great combination for lovers of ski holidays.

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Himalayas - "abode of snow", Hindi.

Geography

Himalayas - the highest mountain system of the globe, located in Asia (India, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Bhutan), between the Tibetan Plateau (in the north) and the Indo-Gangetic Plain (in the south). The Himalayas range from 73°E in the northwest to 95°E in the southeast. The total length is more than 2400 km, the maximum width is 350 km. The average height is about 6000 m. The height is up to 8848 m (Mount Everest), 11 peaks are more than 8 thousand meters.

The Himalayas are divided into three levels from south to north.

• Southern, lower step (Pre-Himalayas). Sivalik mountains, they are made up of the Dundva, Chouriagati (average height 900 m), Solya-Singi, Potvarskoe plateau, Kala Chitta and Margala ranges. The width of the step lies in the range from 10 to 50 km, the height is not more than 1000 m.

• Small Himalayas, second step. Extensive highlands 80 - 100 km wide, average height - 3500 - 4000 m. Maximum height - 6500 m.

Includes part of the Kashmir Himalayas - Pir-Panjal (Kharamush - 5142 m).

Between the outlying ridge of the second stage, called Dauladar "White Mountains"(average height - 3000 m) and the Main Himalayas at an altitude of 1350 - 1650 m lie the valleys of Srinagar (Kashmir Valley) and Kathmandu.

• The third stage is the Great Himalayas. This step is strongly dissected and forms a large chain of ridges. The maximum width is 90 km, the height is 8848 m. The average height of the passes reaches 4500 m, some exceed 6000 m. The Great Himalayas are divided into Assam, Nepal, Kumaon and Punjab Himalayas.

- The main Himalayan range. The average height is 5500 - 6000 m. Here, on the site between the Sutlej and Arun rivers, there are eight out of ten Himalayan eight-thousanders.

In the southern spur - Dhualagiri (8221 m); in the east, between the Miristi and Marsengdi rivers, the Annapurna massif (8091 m); further in the eastern spur - Manaslu (8128 m) and Himalchuli (7864 m); further north - Shisha Pangma (8013 m); between the Kosi and Arun rivers in the Khumbu Himal massif rises Cho Oyu (8153 m), Kyanchung Kang (7922 m) and the highest peak of the Himalayas - Everest (8848 m), surrounded by Lhotse (8501 m), Nuptse (7879 m) and Changtse (7537 m); east of Lhotse - Makalu (8470 m) and Chomolonzo (7804 m).

Behind the gorge of the Arun River, the Main Range slightly lowers - Jonsang Peak (7459 m), a branched spur with the Kanchenjunga massif extends south from it, four peaks of which exceed 8000 m (maximum height - 8585 m).

Between the Indus and the Sutlej, the Main Range divides into the Western Himalayas and the Northern Range.

- Northern Ridge. In the northwestern part it is called Deosai, and in the southeastern part it is called Zanskar ("white copper") (the highest point is Kamet Peak, 7756 m). To the north is the Indus Valley, beyond which to the north is the Karakorum mountain system.

- Western Himalayas(Nanga Parbat, 8126 m). Between this range and Deosai lies the Deosai valley. South-east - Rupshu valley.

Unlike the southern slopes of the Himalayas, the northern ones do not have sharp outlines and are relatively little dissected.

On what continent and in what part of it are the Himalayan mountains

The Himalayas are characterized by powerful glaciation (area over 33 thousand square km), the main form of glaciers is dendro-shaped, when glaciation from small formations in the upper part gradually merges into one large glacier below (Rongbuk Glacier (Everest)). The largest centers of glaciation are the areas of Kanchenjunga (Zemu glacier (26 km)), the upper reaches of the Ganges - Gangotri (26 km), the Drung Drung glacier (24 km), the Rongbuk glacier (19 km) and Nanga Parbata - the Rakhiot glacier (15 km) .

Geology

The Himalayas formed during the Alpine Orogeny. The central crystalline core (gneisses, crystalline schists, granites, phyllites) of the mountain system is surrounded by sedimentary rocks of various ages (composed mainly of sandstones and conglomerates). These rocks were formed at the bottom of prehistoric seas that once covered large areas of the modern territory of Asia. In later times, the layers of the earth's crust were crushed into huge folds by the colossal force of the movement of continental blocks.

These folds, often overlapped and broken, form powerful thrust systems. In such formations, layers of earlier origin often lie on layers that formed much later. The resulting mountain system separated the Hindustan peninsula from the central regions of Asia with a giant mountain barrier.

Climate

Literature

1. Rototaev P. S. P79 Conquered Giants. Ed. 2nd, revised. and additional M., “Thought”, 1975. 283 p. from maps; 16 l. silt

2. Scientific and geographical encyclopedia.

Links

Himalayas. View from space Kathmandu valley Everest Rongbuk Glacier

Hissar fat-tailed sheep is the largest sheep of meat and tallow breed in the world. The breed is classified as coarse-haired, the weight of an adult uterus is approximately 90 kilograms, the weight of a ram reaches 120 kilograms. The best individuals weigh up to 190 kilograms, with a total mass of the fat-tailed part containing fat and fat from 10 to 20, and sometimes even 30 kilograms.

The uniqueness of the Indian Himalayas

Sheep are characterized by precocity and rapid growth, and also have a number of undeniable advantages that manifest themselves in different ways in industrial and domestic breeding of the breed:

1. Animals are able to endure any severe weather conditions without much damage to their weight and appearance, therefore they are suitable for breeding in the most unfavorable regions of the world;
2. Hissar sheep feed on almost the same pasture, finding it even in the semi-desert and sun-scorched steppes;
3. The breed does not require any improvement in productivity, since it was not bred artificially, but in the course of many years of non-purposeful crossing of sheep of various steppe and mountain breeds. Tajikistan is considered the birthplace of the breed, where it is still one of the most popular among local livestock breeders today;
4. Sheep can easily graze both in the steppe and on the steep slopes of the mountains, thanks to which they find food almost all year round;
5. The maintenance of sheep does not require large expenditures, with the correct organization of lambing time, sheep do not even need a sheepfold, their skin and wool are so warm and dense.

External signs of the Hissar breed

The Hissar sheep does not differ in its beautiful appearance, a long body, high and straight legs, a strongly built torso and short hair give the impression that the animal is poorly well-fed and does not have a sufficient degree of fat content. The height of an adult sheep at the withers can reach 1 meter or more. Sheep are distinguished by a small head, at the base of the nasal part of the skull there is a clearly visible hump. The head is decorated with hanging and very long ears. The neck of the sheep is short, but very wide. The chest protrudes forward for some distance, which is also clearly visible and allows an experienced specialist to determine the purity of the breed.

Sheep do not wear horns, even rams do not have a horn cover. Sheep have a raised and clearly visible fat tail, its weight reaches 40 kilograms with good fattening in sheep of the greasy type, while in the rest of the sheep the weight of the fat tail is on average 25 kilograms. The color of sheep's wool is dark brown or black, the overgrowth of the animal is weak, the annual shearing of wool with two shearings is no more than 2 kilograms from a ram and 1 kilogram from a uterus. In short, coarse wool there is a large admixture of dead hair and awn, therefore, these sheep are unsuitable for obtaining and selling wool for the production of expensive products.

General characteristics

According to the indicators of the issuance of fat and meat, the sheep of the Hissar breed are among the best in the world. In addition, sheep have good milk qualities, the milkiness of sheep is so high that it allows the farmer to get up to 120 liters of milk in two months from one sheep, that is, the animal can produce up to 2.5 liters of milk per day, provided that the lambs are transferred to artificial fattening

Young animals grow very quickly, you can graze from the second day of life, with proper organized grazing, additional feed and juicy nutritious herbs, a lamb can gain weight up to 600 grams per day.

Sheep are very hardy, they can move day and night, when moving over long distances, for example, from summer to winter pastures and vice versa, the Hissar sheep is able to cover a distance of 500 kilometers, which in no case will affect its physical condition, because the breed for this is taken out.

Use of wool

Another disadvantage of the breed, in addition to being unsuitable for wool production, is the insufficiently high fertility, which is only 110 -115%, that is, the birth of three or more lambs in a flock is rare.

sheep types

The Hissar breed of sheep is of three types, which differ in the areas of productivity:

1. A greasy type of sheep with a large fat tail. The total amount of fat during the slaughter of a sheep is much higher than in the animals of the other two types, the fat tail, in which almost the entire supply of fat is concentrated in sheep, occupies more than a third of the total length of the animal's body.
2. Meat-greasy type of sheep. Sheep belonging to this type have a fairly large fat tail pulled up to the level of the back.
3. Meat type of Hissar sheep. The fat tail of this type of sheep practically does not stand out and is not visible in any way, due to the fact that it is pulled up high to the back.

Regardless of the type of productive orientation, the sheep of the Gisar breed are kept the same everywhere. In winter, they are driven higher to the mountains, where there is no snow; in summer, they go down with them to summer pastures, closer to home. Heat, cold, strong wind and rain can only frighten a shepherd, but sheep are practically not afraid of them. Short hair dries quickly in the sun, regular haircuts protect against its increased amount. The only thing that sheep do not tolerate is moisture, like most fat-tailed sheep, they prefer dry spaces, fields and pastures in non-wetlands. Sheep steadfastly endure frosts, of course, the construction of a barn will not hurt, but with insufficient funds and materials, you can get by with a simple shed where the sheep could hide in a very severe cold, as well as for the lambing period.

The Hissar breed of sheep is nomadic, they are used to covering long distances in a day, so it is not profitable to breed them in areas where there is no possibility of long-term grazing in the fresh air. Tatars, in whom the Hissar breed of sheep is most common, roam with animals throughout the year, milk, shear, take offspring and carry out mating also in a state of roaming.

Mating, period of pregnancy, care for offspring

The mating takes place in the same way as for all sheep, with one exception - it is almost always free, in the steppe shepherds do not particularly monitor the manifestation of hunting in queens, but simply graze rams and queens in a herd together, which allows you to get offspring from sheep throughout the year . Lambs reach a large weight very quickly; the meat type of the Hissar sheep can be slaughtered as early as 4-5 months.

During free mating, the ram covers the queens randomly and as much as it can cover in a day, usually no more than 10-15, and it also reveals hunting on its own.

The offspring of the sheep of the Hissar breed are nurtured for no more than 145 days, which is typical for any breed of sheep. During pregnancy, sheep are transferred to the most fertile pastures and kept there until the offspring appears. As soon as the lambs begin to grow stronger and gain weight, they are either sold for meat or driven to poorer pastures, in principle, young and adult animals can find food for themselves anywhere where there is at least some vegetation. Like all other sheep, animals of the Hissar breed give birth once a year.

Sheep are resistant to colds, practically do not get sick, but, as a rule, they still need some vaccinations, so you should not expect that after the acquisition, the sheep will find their own food, gain weight and do not require absolutely no supervision and care. Taking care of the lambs, shearing, milking, slaughtering - all these are the types of work that a sheep breeder who wants to breed Hissar sheep will have to do.

slaughter

Obtaining good lamb meat is possible only by slaughtering young rams and ewes, therefore, the Gissar breed sheep are sent for slaughter as early as 3-4 months, or even earlier, they do it en masse. Usually, several hundred lambs are born in flocks by this time, ready to be slaughtered for meat, the yield of which is very good, farmers in the steppe and mountain regions feed and live off the sale of meat, fat and milk of sheep. But there is no need to move to the steppe regions to breed the breed, the sheep feels great anywhere where there are large pastures and a lot of free space. Mass slaughter takes place in specially equipped slaughterhouses, slaughtering a sheep at home is completely simple, for this you just need to hang it upside down, cut the cervical arteries and let the blood drain. The process takes no more than 5 minutes, after which you can start cutting the carcass.

So, the Hissar breed of sheep is the most unpretentious to any conditions of keeping, feeding and care, a large sheep quickly reaches a large weight, the amount of pure meat and fat, which is what attracts most livestock breeders.

Video: Hissar breed of sheep

general information

The mountain system of the Himalayas at the junction of Central and South Asia is over 2900 km long and about 350 km wide. The area is about 650 thousand km². The average height of the ridges is about 6 km, the maximum height is 8848 m - Mount Chomolungma (Everest). There are 10 eight-thousanders here - peaks with a height of more than 8000 m above sea level. In the northwest of the western chain of the Himalayas is another highest mountain system - the Karakoram.

The population is mainly engaged in agriculture, although the climate allows the cultivation of only a few types of cereals, potatoes and some other vegetables. The fields are located on sloping terraces.

Name

The name of the mountains comes from ancient Indian Sanskrit. "Himalaya" means "Snow Abode" or "Kingdom of Snows".

Geography

The entire mountain range of the Himalayas consists of three peculiar steps:

• The first is the Pre-Himalayas (locally called the Shivalik Range) - the lowest of all, the mountain peaks of which do not rise more than 2000 meters.
• The second step - the Dhaoladhar, Pir-Panjal and several other, smaller ridges, is called the Small Himalayas. The name is rather conditional, since the peaks are already rising to solid heights - up to 4 kilometers.
• Behind them are several fertile valleys (Kashmir, Kathmandu and others), serving as a transition to the highest points on the planet - the Great Himalayas. Two great South Asian rivers - the Brahmaputra from the east and the Indus from the west, seem to cover this majestic mountain range, originating on its slopes. In addition, the Himalayas give life to the sacred Indian river - the Ganges.

Himalaya records

The Himalayas are a place of pilgrimage for the strongest climbers in the world, for whom conquering their peaks is a cherished life goal. Chomolungma did not submit immediately - since the beginning of the last century, many attempts have been made to climb the "roof of the world". The first to achieve this goal was in 1953 the New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary, accompanied by a local guide, Sherpa Norgay Tenzing. The first successful Soviet expedition took place in 1982. In total, Everest has already conquered about 3,700 times.

Unfortunately, the Himalayas also set sad records - 572 climbers died while trying to conquer their eight-kilometer heights. But the number of brave athletes does not decrease, because "taking" all 14 "eight-thousanders" and getting the "Crown of the Earth" is the cherished dream of each of them. The total number of "crowned" winners to date is 30 people, including 3 women.

Minerals

The Himalayas are rich in minerals. In the axial crystalline zone there are deposits of copper ore, alluvial gold, arsenic and chromium ores. Oil, combustible gases, brown coal, potash and rock salts occur in the foothills and intermountain basins.

Climatic conditions

The Himalayas are the largest climate divide in Asia. To the north of them, continental air of temperate latitudes prevails, to the south - tropical air masses. Up to the southern slope of the Himalayas, the summer equatorial monsoon penetrates. The winds reach such strength there that it is difficult to climb the highest peaks, therefore, you can climb Chomolungma only in the spring, during a short period of calm before the start of the summer monsoon. On the northern slope throughout the year, the winds of the northern or western rhumbs blow, coming from the continent supercooled in winter or very warm in summer, but always dry. From the northwest to the southeast, the Himalayas stretch approximately between 35 and 28 ° N, and the summer monsoon almost does not penetrate into the northwestern sector of the mountain system. All this creates great climatic differences within the Himalayas.

Most precipitation falls in the eastern part of the southern slope (from 2000 to 3000 mm). In the west, their annual amounts do not exceed 1000 mm. Less than 1000 mm falls in the band of internal tectonic basins and in internal river valleys. On the northern slope, especially in the valleys, the amount of precipitation decreases sharply. In some places, annual amounts are less than 100 mm. Above 1800 m, winter precipitation falls in the form of snow, and above 4500 m, snow occurs throughout the year.

On the southern slopes up to a height of 2000 m, the average temperature in January is 6 ... 7 ° C, in July 18 ... 19 ° C; up to a height of 3000 m, the average temperature of the winter months does not fall below 0 ° C, and only above 4500 m does the average July temperature become negative. The snow limit in the eastern part of the Himalayas passes at an altitude of 4500 m, in the western, less humid, - 5100-5300 m. On the northern slopes, the height of the nival belt is 700-1000 m higher than on the southern ones.

natural waters

High altitude and abundant rainfall contribute to the formation of powerful glaciers and a dense river network. Glaciers and snow cover all the high peaks of the Himalayas, but the ends of the glacial tongues have a significant absolute height. Most of the Himalayan glaciers belong to the valley type and reach no more than 5 km in length. But the farther to the east and more precipitation, the longer and lower the glaciers go down the slopes. On Chomolungma and Kanchenjunga, the most powerful glaciation, the largest glaciers of the Himalayas are formed. These are dendritic type glaciers with several feeding areas and one main shaft. The Zemu glacier on Kangchenjunga reaches 25 km in length and ends at an altitude of about 4000 m. from it originates one of the sources of the Ganges.

Especially many rivers flow down from the southern slope of the mountains. They start in the glaciers of the Greater Himalayas and, crossing the Lesser Himalayas and the foothill zone, come out onto the plain. Some large rivers originate from the northern slope and, heading towards the Indo-Gangetic plain, cut through the Himalayas with deep through valleys. This is the Indus, its tributary Sutlej and Brahmaputra (Tsangpo).

The Himalayan rivers are fed by rain, ice and snow, so the main flow maximum occurs in summer. In the eastern part, the role of monsoon rains in nutrition is great, in the west - snow and ice of the high-mountain zone. The narrow gorges or canyon-like valleys of the Himalayas abound with waterfalls and rapids. From May, when the most rapid snowmelt begins, and until October, when the action of the summer monsoon ends, rivers rush down from the mountains in violent streams, carrying away the masses of detrital material that they deposit as they leave the Himalayan foothills. Often monsoon rains cause severe floods on mountain rivers, during which bridges are washed away, roads are destroyed and landslides occur.

There are many lakes in the Himalayas, but among them there are none that could be compared with the Alpine ones in size and beauty. Some lakes, for example in the Kashmir Basin, occupy only a part of those tectonic depressions that were previously filled entirely. The Pir-Panjal ridge is known for numerous glacial lakes formed in ancient cirque funnels or in river valleys as a result of their damming by moraine.

Vegetation

On the abundantly moistened southern slope of the Himalayas, altitudinal belts from tropical forests to high mountain tundra are exceptionally pronounced. At the same time, the southern slope is characterized by significant differences in the vegetation cover of the humid and hot eastern part and the drier and colder western part. Along the foot of the mountains from their eastern extremity to the course of the Jamna River stretches a kind of marshy strip with black silty soils, called terai. Terai are characterized by jungles - dense tree and shrub thickets, in places almost impassable due to vines and consisting of soapwood, mimosas, bananas, undersized palms, and bamboos. Among the Terai, there are cleared and drained areas that are used for the cultivation of various tropical crops.

Above the terai, on the wet slopes of the mountains and along the river valleys, up to a height of 1000-1200 m, evergreen tropical forests grow from tall palms, laurels, tree ferns and gigantic bamboos, with many lianas (including rattan palm) and epiphytes. The drier areas are dominated by less dense forests of sal tree that lose their leaves during the dry period, with rich undergrowth and grass cover.

At altitudes of more than 1000 m, subtropical species of evergreen and deciduous trees begin to mix with the heat-loving forms of the tropical forest: pines, evergreen oaks, magnolias, maples, chestnuts. At an altitude of 2000 m, subtropical forests are replaced by temperate forests of deciduous and coniferous trees, among which only occasionally representatives of subtropical flora, such as magnificently flowering magnolias, come across. At the upper border of the forest, conifers dominate, including silver fir, larch, and juniper. The undergrowth is formed by dense thickets of tree-like rhododendrons. Lots of mosses and lichens covering the soil and tree trunks. The subalpine belt that replaces forests consists of tall grass meadows and thickets of shrubs, the vegetation of which gradually becomes lower and more sparse when moving to the alpine zone.

The alpine meadow vegetation of the Himalayas is unusually rich in species, including primroses, anemones, poppies and other brightly flowering perennial herbs. The upper limit of the Alpine belt in the east reaches a height of about 5000 m, but individual plants are found much higher. When climbing Chomolungma, plants were found at an altitude of 6218 m.

In the western part of the southern slope of the Himalayas, due to less humidity, there is no such richness and diversity of vegetation, the flora is much poorer than in the east. There is absolutely no strip of terai there, the lower parts of the slopes of the mountains are covered with sparse xerophytic forests and thickets of shrubs, higher there are some subtropical Mediterranean species such as evergreen holm oak and golden olive, even higher dominated by coniferous forests of pines and magnificent Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara). The shrub undergrowth in these forests is poorer than in the east, but the alpine meadow vegetation is more diverse.

The landscapes of the northern ranges of the Himalayas, facing towards Tibet, are approaching the desert mountain landscapes of Central Asia. The change in vegetation with height is less pronounced than on the southern slopes. From the bottoms of the large river valleys up to the snow-covered peaks, sparse thickets of dry grasses and xerophytic shrubs spread. Woody vegetation is found only in some river valleys in the form of thickets of low-growing poplars.

Animal world

The landscape differences of the Himalayas are also reflected in the composition of the wild fauna. The diverse and rich fauna of the southern slopes has a pronounced tropical character. In the forests of the lower parts of the slopes and in the Terai, many large mammals, reptiles, and insects are common. There are still elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, wild boars, antelopes. The jungle is literally teeming with various monkeys. Macaques and thin-bodied are especially characteristic. Of the predators, the most dangerous for the population are tigers and leopards - spotted and black (black panthers). Among birds, peacocks, pheasants, parrots, wild chickens stand out for their beauty and brightness of plumage.

In the upper belt of mountains and on the northern slopes, the fauna is close in composition to the Tibetan. The black Himalayan bear, wild goats and rams, yaks live there. Especially a lot of rodents.

Population and environmental issues

Most of the population is concentrated in the middle belt of the southern slope and in intramountain tectonic basins. There is a lot of cultivated land there. Rice is sown on the irrigated flat bottoms of the basins, and tea bushes, citrus fruits, and vines are grown on terraced slopes. Alpine pastures are used for grazing sheep, yaks and other livestock.

Due to the high height of the passes in the Himalayas, communication between the countries of the northern and southern slopes is significantly complicated. Dirt roads or caravan trails pass through some passes, there are very few highways in the Himalayas. The passes are only accessible during the summer. In winter, they are covered with snow and completely impassable.

The inaccessibility of the territory played a favorable role in preserving the unique mountain landscapes of the Himalayas. Despite the significant agricultural development of the low mountains and basins, intensive grazing on the mountain slopes and the ever-increasing influx of climbers from around the world, the Himalayas remain a refuge for valuable plant and animal species. The real "treasures" are the national parks of India and Nepal - Nan-dadevi, Sagarmatha and Chitwan, included in the List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

sights

• Kathmandu: temple complexes of Budanilkanth, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, National Museum of Nepal;
• Lhasa: Potala Palace, Barkor Square, Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery;
• Thimphu: Bhutan Textile Museum, Thimphu Chorten, Tashicho Dzong;
• Temple complexes of the Himalayas (including Sri Kedarnath Mandir, Yamunotri);
• Buddhist stupas (memorial or reliquary structures);
• Sagarmatha National Park (Everest);
• National parks Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers.

Spiritual and health tourism

The spiritual principles and the cult of a healthy body are so closely intertwined in various directions of Indian philosophical schools that it is impossible to draw any visible division between them. Every year, thousands of tourists come to the Indian Himalayas precisely to get acquainted with the Vedic sciences, the ancient postulates of the teachings of Yoga, and improve their body according to the Ayurvedic canons of Panchakarma.

The program of pilgrims necessarily includes visiting caves for deep meditation, waterfalls, ancient temples, bathing in the Ganges - a sacred river for Hindus. Those who suffer can have conversations with spiritual mentors, get parting words and recommendations from them on spiritual and bodily cleansing. However, this topic is so extensive and versatile that it requires a separate detailed presentation.

The natural grandiosity and highly spiritual atmosphere of the Himalayas fascinates the human imagination. Anyone who has ever come into contact with the splendor of these places will always be obsessed with the dream of returning here at least once.

• About five or six centuries ago, a people called Sherpas moved to the Himalayas. They know how to provide themselves with everything necessary for life in the highlands, but, in addition, they are practically monopolists in the profession of guides. Because they are really the best; the most knowledgeable and the most enduring.
• Among the conquerors of Everest there are also "originals". On May 25, 2008, the oldest climber in the history of ascents, a native of Nepal, Min Bahadur Shirchan, who at that time was 76 years old, overcame the path to the top. There were times when very young travelers took part in expeditions. The last record was broken by Jordan Romero from California, who climbed in May 2010 at the age of thirteen (before him, the fifteen-year-old Sherpa Tembu Tsheri was considered the youngest guest of Chomolungma).
• The development of tourism does not benefit the nature of the Himalayas: even here there is no escape from the garbage left by people. Moreover, in the future, severe pollution of the rivers that originate here is possible. The main trouble is that it is these rivers that provide millions of people with drinking water.
• Shambhala is a mythical country in Tibet, which is described in many ancient texts. The followers of the Buddha believe in its existence unconditionally. It fascinates the minds of not only lovers of all kinds of secret knowledge, but also serious scientists and philosophers. The most prominent Russian ethnologist L.N. Gumilev. However, there is still no irrefutable evidence of its existence. Or they are irretrievably lost. For the sake of objectivity, it should be said: many believe that Shambhala is not located in the Himalayas at all. But in the very interest of people in the legends about it lies the proof that we all really need faith that somewhere there is a key to the evolution of mankind, which is owned by the forces of light and wise. Even if this key is not a guide on how to become happy, but just an idea. Not yet open...

Himalayas in art, literature and cinema

• Kim is a novel written by Joseph Kipling. It tells the story of a boy who looks on with delight at British imperialism while surviving the Great Game.
• Shangri-La is a fictional country located in the Himalayas, described in the novel "Lost Horizon" by James Hilton.
• Tintin in Tibet is one of the albums by the Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé. Journalist Tintin investigates a plane crash in the Himalayas.
• The film "Vertical Limit" describes the events taking place on Mount Chogori.
• Several levels in Tomb Raider II and one level in Tomb Raider: Legend are located in the Himalayas.
• The film "Black Narcissus" tells the story of an order of nuns who founded a monastery in the Himalayas.
• The Realm of the Golden Dragons is a novel by Isabel Allenda. Most of the events take place in the Forbidden Kingdom - a fictional state in the Himalayas.
• Drachenreiter is a book by German writer Cornelia Funke about a brownie and a dragon traveling to "Edge's Edge" - a place in the Himalayas where dragons live.
• Expedition Everest is a themed roller coaster at Walt Disney World.
• Seven Years in Tibet is a film based on the autobiographical book of the same name by Heinrich Harrer, describing the adventures of an Austrian mountaineer in Tibet during World War II.
• G.I. Joe: The Movie is an animated film that tells the story of the Cobra-La civilization that escaped the Himalayas after the Ice Age.
• Far Cry 4 - A first-person shooter that tells the story of a fictional region of the Himalayas, dominated by a self-proclaimed king.