This Geological Heritage of Kangra-Himachal Pradesh, need Protection and Recognition.

Key Words:-Largest Outwash Plain/largest Re-entrant of India /Community Manage Irrigation System/Granite Boulders/Climatic History/GIAHS/Geological-Agricultural Heritage.

If you have ever visited the Upper Kangra Beas Valley of Himachal Pradesh you must have noticed gigantic and isolated granite rocks scattered all over the vast alluvial plains. These plains are enclosed by Dhauladhar (4500 Mt) in the north and Shiwalik in South (900mt). Presence of plains along with granite rocks on such a height and topography made them a unique geographical feature of Himalayas.

Kangra alluvial/Outwash fan started developing around 2 MA ago and is still in process of evolution. It is  in these plain that one can see another geological wonder i.e. isolated Granite boulder spread all over the field. Size of some of these boulders is as large as a two story building. Around 200 BC Rathitara Vayula (we still don't know who he was) also used the one such rock to indicate his Pond ownership. (Pathiyar Bilingual Inscription is the Oldest Archeological record of HP). Over the years these plains have been converted into excellent agricultural fields by the local Ghirt community (largest Agricultural class of HP).

Story of evolution of fans and descent of granite rocks from Dhauladhar is really extraordinary and it is closely linked with the formation of Himalaya. Around 33.9 MA India collided with Eurasia and the Central Himalaya began to form. Formation of Lesser Himalaya (Dhauladhar) began in the early Miocene period around 30 Million years ago and formation of Shiwalik began 16 Million years ago. Around 1.6 MA ice ages begin during the ice age, glaciers descended to as low as 1200Mtr that mean you could have found glaciers near Yol Cantt, Dharamshla and Palmapur.

It is believed that during the formation of Dhauladhar it has faced the many even-odd climatic changes ranging from intense monsoon phase to ice age. During the ice age Glacier eroded mountain in process of glacier erosion cycle and it produced large stock of granite debris later during intense monsoonal  phase these granite rocks and alluvial soil deposited all over the Kangra basin. Cycle of Erosion and deposition along the wet and dry climate remained continuous for centuries until well developed Alluvial fans evolved. Further it is important to note that in Shiwalik there is complete absence of these granite rocks. Which indicates that exhumation of the Dhauladhar granite and its subsequent transportation into Kangra began after the formation of Shiwalik Range.. 

 Significance:-

Presently Kangra alluvial fan is the most populated area of Himachal Pradesh. Kangra painting to Kangra Tea and epithet of Veer Bhumi all are said to be products of these alluvial fans.

These Alluvial fans crisscrossed by numerous kuhl, a world renowned community manage water irrigation system. These Kuhls spread like veins all around the valley and support the agriculture system. Some of these Kuhl run in kilometers. Development of this Kuhls network was possible due to steep gradient of Dhauladhar which rises abruptly in Kangra.

These alluvial fans are one of the most fertile zones of Himalayas. Their importance is not less than that of Kuttland of Kerala, Koraput of Odissa and Pampore of Kashmir all these sites have been recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). Apart from this Kangra Basin also has potential to become globally and Nationally important Geological Heritage due to its perseverance of Geological and Climatic history of Himalaya. 

Written by- Pardeep kumar.