Pir Panjal Range
The Pir Panjal Range is a group of mountains in the Lesser Himalayan region, running from east-southeast to west northwest across the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, the Indian administrated Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Pakistani administered territory of Azad Kashmir, where the average elevation varies from 1,400 m to 4,100 m. The Himalayas show a gradual elevation towards the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges. Pir Panjal is the largest range of the Lesser Himalayas. Near the bank of the Sutlej River, it dissociates itself from the Himalayas and forms a divide between the Beas and Ravi rivers on one side and the Chenab on the other. The renowned Galyat mountains are also located in this range. The region is connected to the Valley of Kashmir via Mughal Road and used to be the historical
connection of Kashmir with India.
The Pir Panjal range is named after the Pir Panjal Pass, whose original name as recorded 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. Haji Pir Pass on the western Pir Panjal range on the road between Poonch and Uri in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The Pir Panjal Pass (also called Peer Ki Gali) connects the Kashmir valley with Rajouri and Poonch via the Mughal Road. It is the highest point of the Mughal Road at 3,490 m and lies to the southwest of the Kashmir Valley. The nearest town to the pass in the Kashmir valley is Shopian. The Banihal pass 2,832 m 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. The Sinthan pass connects Jammu and Kashmir with Kishtwar. Rohtang La at an altitude of 3,978 m is a mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal range connecting Manali in the Kullu Valley to Keylong in the Lahaul Valley.
The Jawahar Tunnel is a 2.5 km long tunnel through Pir Panjal mountain under the Banihal pass connects Banihal with Qazigund on the other side of the mountain.
