Pir Panjal Range
The Pir Panjal Range is a range of mountains in the Lower Himalayan region located in the Western Himalayas of the northern Indian subcontinent. It runs southeast to northwest between the Beas and Neelam/Kishanganga rivers, in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh and Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, with its northwestern end extending into territory administered by Pakistan. The Himalayas show a gradual elevation towards the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges. Pir Panjal is the largest and westernmost range of the Lesser Himalayas. Near the bank of the Sutlej River, it dissociates itself from the main Himalayan range and forms a divide between the Beas and Ravi rivers on one side and the Chenab on the other. Further west, the Pir Panjal range forms the southwestern boundary of the Kashmir Valley, separating it from the hills of Jammu region, forming a divide between the Jhelum River and Chenab River.
Etymology
The Pir Panjal range is named after the Pir Panjal Pass, whose original name as recorded by Srivara, is Panchaladeva. Panchala is a country mentioned in the Mahabharata in the northwest Uttar Pradesh. However, there are also traditions that place the Mahabharata regions in western Punjab and southern Kashmir. Scholar Dineshchandra Sircar has analysed the geography described in the Shakti‐sangama Tantra, where this is indeed the case. Scholar M. A. Stein believes that the concept of deity must have been translated into that of a Pir after the region was Islamised.Peaks of the range
and Indrasan are two important peaks at the eastern end of the mountain range. They can be approached from both the Parvati-Beas Valley, Upper Belt of Chamba Himachal Pradesh and the Chandra Valley in Himachal Pradesh. The hill station of Gulmarg in Kashmir lies in this range.Passes
Haji Pir Pass on the western Pir Panjal range on the road between Poonch and Uri in Indian-administered Kashmir. Despite taking the pass twice in military operations, India left the pass under Pakistani control.Pir Panjal Pass connects the Kashmir Valley with Rajouri and Poonch via the Mughal Road. It is the highest point of the Mughal Road at and lies to the southwest of the Kashmir Valley. The nearest town to the pass in the Kashmir valley is Shopian.
Munawar Pass is north of Peer Ki Gali, overlooking Rajouri.
Banihal pass lies at the head of the Jhelum River at the southern end of the Kashmir Valley. Banihal and Qazigund lie on either side of the pass.
Sinthan pass connects the Kashmir Valley with Kishtwar in the Jammu region.
Saach Pass, at in the Chamba district, connects Chamba with the Pangi Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India. Himachal Tourism"". Himachal Tourism. Accessed 6 December 2019.
Rohtang La in the eastern Pir Panjal range connects Manali in the Kullu Valley to Keylong in the Lahaul Valley.