Studies in Geography of Jammu and Kashmir

In northern India, the diverse physiography of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, situated in the western Himalayas, exhibits the shape of a terrace having three steps of increasing elevation from south to north. The lower step comprises a sub-Himalayan Jammu, the middle is Himalayan Kashmir, and the upper as trans-Himalayan Ladakh. This varied surface configuration makes these regions quite distinct where Jammu is mostly hilly; Kashmir, a sizeable plain surrounded by mountains; and Ladakh, an area of towering landforms. By virtue of its latitudinal location, the state lies within the sub tropics, but such conditions here are altered by a varying altitude, restricting the sub tropical climate to southern parts of Jammu region. The northern parts of the Jammu and Kashmir valley experience temperate climate, while Ladakh is a cold highland desert. Consequently, each region is in possession of different environmental assets and constraints. This book provides a concise and coherent account of the geography of Jammu and Kashmir. It deals briefly with the political history of Jammu and Kashmir, and then traces the geological evolution of the state. The book includes chapters on the physical features of each region. It offers a clear understanding of the basics of the physical environment, presenting the weather and climate at the regional and the sub-regional level.