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ThePir Panjal Range (Urdu pronunciation:[piːɾpənd͡ʒːɑːl] ;Kashmiri pronunciation:[piːrpãːt͡saːl]pronunciationⓘ) is a range of mountains in theLower Himalayan region located in theWestern Himalayas of northernIndian subcontinent.[1] It runs southeast to northwest between theBeas andNeelam/Kishanganga rivers, in the Indian state ofHimachal Pradesh and Indian-administered union territory ofJammu and Kashmir, with its northwestern end extending into territory administered by Pakistan.[1][2] The Himalayas show a gradual elevation towards theDhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges. Pir Panjal is the largest and westernmost range of the Lesser Himalayas. Near the bank of theSutlej River, it dissociates itself from the main Himalayan range and forms a divide between the Beas andRavi rivers on one side and theChenab on the other. Further west, the Pir Panjal range forms the southwestern boundary of theKashmir Valley, separating it from the hills ofJammu region, forming a divide between theJhelum and Chenab rivers.
The Pir Panjal range is named after thePir Panjal Pass, whose original name as recorded bySrivara, isPanchaladeva (IAST:Pāñcāladeva, meaning the deity ofPanchala).Panchala is a country mentioned in theMahabharata in the northwestUttar Pradesh. However, there are also traditions that place the Mahabharata regions in western Punjab and southern Kashmir. ScholarDineshchandra Sircar has analysed the geography described in theShakti‐sangamaTantra, where this is indeed the case.[3] ScholarM. A. Stein believes that the concept of deity must have been translated into that of aPir after the region was Islamised.[4]
Deo Tibba (6,001 m (19,688 ft)) andIndrasan (6,221 m (20,410 ft)) are two important peaks at the eastern end of the mountain range. They can be approached from both theParvati-Beas Valley (Kulu District), Upper Belt of Chamba Himachal Pradesh and the Chandra (Upper Chenab) Valley (Lahaul andSpiti District) in Himachal Pradesh. Thehill station ofGulmarg in Kashmir lies in this range.[5]
Haji Pir Pass (altitude 2,637 m (8,652 ft)) on the western Pir Panjal range on the road betweenPoonch andUri inIndian-administered Kashmir. Despite taking the pass twice in military operations (in1948 and1965), India left the pass under Pakistani control.
ThePir Panjal Pass (also calledPeer Ki Gali) connects the Kashmir valley withRajouri andPoonch via the Mughal Road. It is the highest point of the Mughal Road at 3,490 m (11,450 ft) and lies to the southwest of the Kashmir Valley.[6] The nearest town to the pass in the Kashmir valley isShopian.
TheMunawar Pass (altitude 3,600 m (11,800 ft)) is a pass north of Peer Ki Gali, overlooking Rajouri.[7]
TheBanihal pass (2,832 m (9,291 ft)) lies at the head of theJhelum River at the southern end of the Kashmir Valley. Banihal andQazigund lie on either side of the pass.[1]
TheSinthan pass connects the Kashmir valley with Kishtwar in the Jammu region.[citation needed]
TheSaach Pass, a 4,414 metres (14,482 ft) mountain pass in theChamba district connectingChamba with thePangi valley ofHimachal Pradesh, India.[8]
Rohtang La (altitude 3,978 m (13,051 ft)) is amountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal range connectingManali in theKullu Valley toKeylong in the Lahaul Valley.[citation needed]
TheJawahar Tunnel is a 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long tunnel through Pir Panjal mountain under the Banihal pass connects Banihal with Qazigund on the other side of the mountain. The Jawahar Tunnel was named after the first Prime Minister of India was constructed in the early 1950s and commissioned in December 1956 to ensure snow-free passage throughout the year. It is at elevation of about 2,100 m (6,900 ft). It was designed for 150 vehicles per day but now used by more than 7,000 vehicles per day.[9] Therefore, a new wider and longer tunnel has been planned at a lower elevation.
Construction of a new 8.45 km (5.25 mi) long twin-tubeBanihal Qazigund Road Tunnel started in 2011 and was commissioned in 2021. The new tunnel is at a lower elevation than the existing Jawahar tunnel and has reduced the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km (9.9 mi). It is also less prone to snow avalanches as it is at a lower elevation.[10]
TheAtal Tunnel has been built under theRohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas on theLeh-Manali Highway. With 8.8 km (5.5 mi) length, the tunnel is the second longest road tunnel in India and has reduced the distance betweenManali andKeylong by about 60 km (37 mi). The tunnel is at 3,100 metres (10,171 ft) elevation whereas the Rohtang pass is at 3,978 metres (13,051 ft) elevation. Lying on the Manali-Leh axis, this is one of the two routes to Ladakh.
ThePir Panjal Railway Tunnel, an 11.215 kilometres (6.969 mi) railway tunnel, passes through the Pir Panjal Range in Jammu and Kashmir. It connectsQuazigund andBanihal and is a part of theUdhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway project. The tunnel was commissioned on 26 June 2013 for regular service. It is India's longest railway tunnel.[11]
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