Pir Panjal Range#Haji Pir Pass

File:Pir Panjal 2478293509 8000ae5902 o.jpg, Himachal Pradesh, India]]

Image:Kashmir-sat-nasa.jpg, with snow-capped Pir Panjal range to its southwest (left in image)]]

The Pir Panjal Range ({{IPA|ur|piːɾ pənd͡ʒːɑːl}} ; {{IPA|pa|piːr pənˈd͡ʒaːl}} {{Audio-IPA|Pir_Panjal_IPA.ogg|pronunciation}}) is a range of mountains in the Lower Himalayan region located in the Western Himalayas of northern Indian subcontinent.{{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}} 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 the Pakistani-administered region of Azad Kashmir and the Pakistani province of Punjab.{{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|date=June 2014 }} 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 and Chenab rivers.

Etymology

The Pir Panjal range is named after the Pir Panjal Pass, whose original name as recorded by 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.{{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}} Scholar M. A. Stein believes that the concept of deity must have been translated into that of a Pir after the region was Islamised.{{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}}

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.[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/461483/Pir-Panjal-Range Pir Panjal Range (mountain system, Asia) – Britannica Online Encyclopedia]

Passes

File:Banihal Pass.jpg, Jammu and Kashmir]]

Haji Pir Pass (altitude {{convert|2637|m|ft|abbr=on}}) 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 (in 1948 and 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 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.{{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}} The nearest town to the pass in the Kashmir valley is Shopian.

The Munawar Pass (altitude {{convert|3600|m|ft|abbr=on}}) is a pass north of Peer Ki Gali, overlooking Rajouri.{{cite news |work=Tourist Link |url=http://www.touristlink.com/india/pir-panjal-range/overview.html |title=Pir Panjal Range |date=21 April 2013}}

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.

The Sinthan pass connects the Kashmir valley with Kishtwar in the Jammu region. {{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

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

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

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Tunnels

=Jawahar Tunnel=

The Jawahar Tunnel is a {{convert|2.5|km|abbr=on}} long tunnel through Pir Panjal mountain under the Banihal pass that connects Banihal with Qazigund on the other side of the mountain. The Jawahar Tunnel, 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 an elevation of about {{convert|2100|m|abbr=on}}. It was designed for 150 vehicles per day but is now used by more than 7,000 vehicles per day.[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 }} Therefore, a new tunnel, wider and longer, has been constructed at a lower elevation.

=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 the tunnel was commissioned in 2021. It 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.{{cite news|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|date=8 April 2012 }}

=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 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=

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.{{cite news| title=India's longest railway tunnel unveiled in Jammu & Kashmir| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-longest-railway-tunnel-unveiled-in-Jammu-Kashmir/articleshow/10354892.cms| 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=live| archive-date=29 June 2013| work=The Times of India| date=14 October 2011}}