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{{Short description|Mountain range of the Lower Himalayas}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2011}}
[[File:Pir Panjal 2478293509 8000ae5902 o.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Pir Panjal Range as seen from [[Khajjiar]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], India]]
[[Image:Kashmir-sat-nasa.jpg|thumb|Satellite image of the [[Kashmir Valley]], with snow-capped Pir Panjal range to its southwest (left in image)]]

The '''Pir Panjal Range''' ({{IPA-ks|/piːr pɑn̂t͡ʃaːl/}} {{Audio-IPA|Pir_Panjal_IPA.ogg|pronunciation}}) is a chain of mountains in the [[Lesser Himalayas|Lower Himalayan]] region located in the [[Western Himalayas]] of northern [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref name=britannica>{{Cite web |title=Pir Panjal Range {{!}} Location, Himalayas, & Tunnel {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Pir-Panjal-Range |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> It runs southeast to northwest between the [[Beas River|Beas]] and [[Kishanganga River|Neelam/Kishanganga]] rivers, in the Indian territories of [[Himachal Pradesh]] and [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], with its northwestern end extending into Pakistan.<ref name=britannica/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mha-chalks-out-plan-to-settle-kashmiri-pandits/1/364669.html|title=Home ministry chalks out plan to settle Kashmiri Pandits}}</ref> 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 River|Ravi]] rivers on one side and the [[Chenab]] on the other. Further west, the Pir Panjal range separates the [[Kashmir Valley]] from the hills of [[Jammu Division|Jammu]] region.

==Etymology==
The Pir Panjal range is named after the [[Pir Panjal Pass]], whose original name as recorded by [[Rajatarangini|Srivara]], is ''Panchaladeva'' ([[IAST]]: ''Pāñcāladeva'', meaning the deity of ''Panchala''). [[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.<ref>{{citation |last=Sircar |first=Dineschandra |title=Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AqKw1Mn8WcwC&pg=PA378 |year=1971 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0690-0 |pages=204–205}}</ref> Scholar [[M. A. Stein]] believes that the concept of deity must have been translated into that of a [[Pir (Sufism)|Pir]] after the region was Islamised.<ref>{{citation |last=Stein |first=M. A. |title=Kalhana's Rajatarangini: A chronicle of the kings of Kasmir, Volume 2 |url=https://archive.org/details/RajataranginiVol2 |date=1900 |publisher=Archibald Constable and Co. |location=Westminster |isbn=978-81-208-0370-1|pages=397–398}}</ref>

==Peaks of the range==
[[Deo Tibba]] ({{convert|6001|m|ft|abbr=on}}) and [[Indrasan]] ({{convert|6221|m|ft|abbr=on}}) are two important peaks at the eastern end of the mountain range. They can be approached from both the [[Parvati]]-Beas Valley (Kulu District), Upper Belt of Chamba Himachal Pradesh and the Chandra (Upper Chenab) Valley ([[Lahaul]] and [[Spiti]] District) in Himachal Pradesh. The [[hill station]] of [[Gulmarg]] in Kashmir lies in this range.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/461483/Pir-Panjal-Range Pir Panjal Range (mountain system, Asia) – Britannica Online Encyclopedia]</ref>

==Passes==
[[File:Banihal Pass.jpg|thumb|left|Pir Panjal range as seen from [[Banihal]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]]]

Haji Pir Pass (altitude {{convert|2637|m|ft|abbr=on}}) on the western Pir Panjal range on the road between [[Poonch (town)|Poonch]] and [[Uri, Jammu and Kashmir|Uri]] in [[Indian-administered Kashmir]]. Despite taking the pass twice in military operations (in [[Military operations in Poonch (1948)|1948]] and [[Battle of Haji Pir Pass (1965)|1965]]), India left the pass under Pakistani control.

The [[Pir Panjal Pass]] (also called ''Peer Ki Gali'') connects the Kashmir valley with [[Rajouri]] and [[Poonch (town)|Poonch]] via the Mughal Road. It is the highest point of the Mughal Road at {{convert|3490|m|ft|abbr=on}} and lies to the southwest of the Kashmir Valley.<ref name="Kapadia1999">{{citation |last=Kapadia |first=Harish |title=Across Peaks & Passes in Ladakh, Zanskar & East Karakoram |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pl5qHu_K45kC&pg=PA23 |year=1999 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=978-81-7387-100-9 |page=23}}</ref> The nearest town to the pass in the Kashmir valley is [[Shopian]].

The [[Banihal pass]] ({{convert|2832|m|ft|abbr=on}}) 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.<ref name=britannica/>

The [[Sinthan top|Sinthan pass]] connects Jammu and Kashmir with Kishtwar. {{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

The [[Saach Pass]], a {{convert|4414|m|ft}} mountain pass in the [[Chamba district]] connecting [[Chamba, Himachal Pradesh|Chamba]] with the [[Pangi valley]] of [[Himachal Pradesh]], India.<ref name="https://himachaltourism.gov.in"> Himachal Tourism"[https://himachaltourism.gov.in/destination/unexplored/]". ''Himachal Tourism''. Accessed 6 December 2019.</ref>

[[Rohtang]] La (altitude {{convert|3978|m|ft|abbr=on}}) is a [[mountain pass]] on the eastern Pir Panjal range connecting [[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]] in the [[Kullu]] Valley to [[Keylong]] in the Lahaul Valley. {{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

{{OSM Location map
| coord = {{coord|33.3115906|75.7662195}} 
| float = centre
| zoom = 7
| width = 400 
| height = 250
| nolabels = 1
| caption = Passes of the Pir Panjal Range








| mark-coord1 = {{coord|33.964036|N|74.069426|E}} 
| mark1 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size1 = 8
| label1 = Haji Pir pass
| label-size1 = 11
| label-color1 = black
| label-pos1 = bottom
| mark-title1 = Haji Pir pass
| mark-image1 =
| mark-description1 = on Uri–Poonch road
| mark-coord2 = {{coord|33.629931|N|74.519968|E}} 
| mark2 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size2 = 8
| label2 = Pir Panjal pass
| label-size2 = 11
| label-color2 = black
| label-pos2 = bottom
| mark-title2 = Haji Pir pass
| mark-image2 =
| mark-description2 = on Mughal Rad
| mark-coord3 = {{coord|33|31|N|75|16|E|type:pass}} 
| mark3 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size3 = 8
| label3 = Banihal pass
| label-size3 = 11
| label-color3 = black
| label-pos3 = bottom
| mark-title3 = Banihal pass
| mark-image3 =
| mark-description3 = on Jammu–Srinagar road
| mark-coord4 = {{coord|34|5|24|N|74|47|24|E}} 
| mark4 = Blue pog.svg
| mark-size4 = 8
| label4 = Sringar
| label-size4 = 11
| label-color4 = black
| label-pos4 = top
| mark-title4 = Srinagar
| mark-image4 =
| mark-description4 = capital of the Kashmir Valley
| mark-coord5 = {{coord|32.73|N|74.87|E}} 
| mark5 = Blue pog.svg
| mark-size5 = 8
| label5 = Jammu
| label-size5 = 11
| label-color5 = black
| label-pos5 = right
| mark-title5 = Jammu
| mark-image5=
| mark-description5= capital of the Jammu Division
| mark-coord6 = {{Coord|33|34|53|N|75|30|39|E}} 
| mark6 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size6 = 8
| label6 = Sinthan pass
| label-size6 = 11
| label-color6 = black
| label-pos6 = right
| mark-title6 = Sinthan pass
| mark-image6=
| mark-description6= connects Kishtwar to Kashmir
| mark-coord7 = {{coord|33.0055541|76.2388938}}
| mark7 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size7 = 8
| label7 = Sach pass
| label-size7 = 11
| label-color7 = black
| label-pos7 = left
| mark-title7 = Sach pass
| mark-image7 =
| mark-description7 = connects Chamba with Pangi
| mark-coord8 = {{coord|32|22|17|N|77|14|47|E}} 
| mark8 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size8 = 8
| label8 = Rohtang La
| label-size8 = 11
| label-color8 = black
| label-pos8 = left
| mark-title8 = Rohtang La
| mark-image8 =
| mark-description8 = connects Kullu with Lahaul
}}

==Tunnels==

===Jawahar Tunnel===
The [[Jawahar Tunnel]] is a {{convert|2.5|km|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|2100|m|abbr=on}}. It was designed for 150 vehicles per day but now used by more than 7,000 vehicles per day.<ref>[http://mod.nic.in/Samachar/mar5/html/army.htm Beacon Light in the Tunnel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901201546/http://mod.nic.in/samachar/mar5/html/army.htm |date=1 September 2012 }}</ref> Therefore, a new wider and longer tunnel has been planned at a lower elevation.

===Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel===
{{Main|Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel}}

Construction of a new {{convert|8.45|km|abbr=on}} long twin-tube [[Banihal 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 {{convert|16|km|abbr=on}}. It is also less prone to snow avalanches as it is at a lower elevation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/passages-of-employment-to-srinagars-denizens/article3294918.ece|title=Passages of employment to Srinagar's denizens|website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

===Atal Tunnel===
{{Main|Atal tunnel}}

The [[Atal Tunnel]] has been built under the [[Rohtang]] Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas on the [[Leh-Manali Highway]]. With {{convert|8.8|km|mi|abbr=on|1}} length, the tunnel is the second longest road tunnel in India and has reduced the distance between [[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]] and [[Keylong]] by about {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=on|0}}. The tunnel is at {{convert|3100|m|ft|0}} elevation whereas the Rohtang pass is at {{convert|3978|m|ft|0}} elevation. Lying on the Manali-Leh axis, this is one of the two routes to Ladakh.

===Banihal Railway Tunnel===
{{main|Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel}}
The [[Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel]], an {{convert|11.215|km|mi}} railway tunnel, passes through the Pir Panjal Range in Jammu and Kashmir. It connects [[Quazigund]] and [[Banihal]] and is a part of the [[Udhampur]]-Srinagar-[[Baramulla]] railway project. The tunnel was commissioned on 26 June 2013 for regular service. It is India's longest railway tunnel.<ref name="TOI">{{cite news| title=India's longest railway tunnel unveiled in Jammu & Kashmir| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-14/india/30278754_1_jawahar-tunnel-tunnel-excavation-baramulla| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629075419/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-14/india/30278754_1_jawahar-tunnel-tunnel-excavation-baramulla| url-status=dead| archive-date=29 June 2013| work=[[The Times of India]]| date=14 October 2011}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Ganga Choti]]
* [[Banni Mata Temple]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{citation |last=Jreat |first=Manoj |title=Tourism in Himachal Pradesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n6Qa0OrXstAC&pg=PA15 |year=2004 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=978-81-7387-157-3 |pages=15–}}
* {{citation |last=Minhas |first=Poonam |title=Traditional Trade & Trading Centres in Himachal Pradesh: With Trade-routes and Trading Communities |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_52-WyPfLG0C&pg=PA28 |year=1998 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=978-81-7387-080-4 |pages=28–}}

[[Category:Landforms of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of India]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Landforms of Azad Kashmir]]
{{Coord|33|53|36|N|74|29|19|E|type:mountain_region:IN|display=title}}

Pir Panjal Range - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article