Kinnaur district

Kinnaur district
District of Himachal Pradesh

Location of Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh
Country India
State Himachal Pradesh
Headquarters Reckong Peo
Tehsils Kalpa, Pooh, Nichar, Moorang,
Area
 • Total 6,401 km2 (2,471 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 84,298
 • Density 13/km2 (34/sq mi)
 • Urban 0.00%
Demographics
 • Literacy 88.37%(male), 71.34%(female)
Major highways NH22
Website Official website

Kinnaur is one of twelve administrative districts in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, India. The district is divided into three administrative areas – Pooh, Kalpa, and Nichar(Bhabanagar)– and has six tehsils (counties). The administrative headquarters of Kinnaur district is at Reckong Peo. From here Kinnaur Kailash, considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva, can be seen. As of 2011, it is the second least populous district of Himachal Pradesh (out of 12 districts), after Lahaul and Spiti,[1] in spite of that nine vital languages are spoken in the district.[2]

General

Kinnaur, is about 235 km (146 mi) from the state capital, Shimla, located in the northeast corner of Himachal Pradesh bordering Tibet to the east. It has three high mountains ranges, namely, Zanskar and Himalayas that enclose valleys of Sutlej, Spiti, Baspa and their tributaries. The slopes are covered with thick wood, orchards, fields and picturesque hamlets. At the peak of Kinnaur Kailash mountain is a famous natural rock Shivling (Shiva lingam). The district was opened to outsiders in 1889. The old Hindustan-Tibet Road passes through the Kinnaur valley along the bank of river Sutlej and finally enters Tibet at Shipki La pass.

History

Kinnaur was a part of erstwhile Chini tehsil of Mahasu district.It became separate district on 1st May 1960[3]. Kinnaur was a part of erstwhile Bushahr principality which had its capital at Kamru. Later, the capital was shifted to Rampur Bushahr. After the fall of the Kannauj Empire the rulers of Kamru annexed adjoining territories by force and laid the foundation of the state of Bushahr, to which the region of Kinnaur belonged till the dissolution of the state after independence of India.In the absence of authentic historical records the early history of the Kinnaur region is obscure and the reference of the Kinnaur or Kannaura and their land is by and large confined to legends and mythological accounts[4].

Geography

Himalayan landscape, Nako Lake and village shown
Nako Village July 2015
Kalpa as of June 2015
Sutlej River in Kinnaur Valley, Himachal Pradesh

A mountainous area, ranging in altitude from 2,320 to 6,816 metres (7,612 to 22,362 ft), Kinnaur is one of the smallest districts in India by population. It is famous for the Kinnaur Kailash, a mountain sacred to Hindus, close to the Tibetan border.

Climate

Hindustan-Tibet Highway in Kinnaur
Kinner Kailash in 1980

Most of Kinnaur enjoys a temperate climate due to its high elevation, with long winters from October to May, and short summers from June to September. The lower parts of the Sutlej Valley and the Baspa Valley receive monsoon rains. The upper areas of the valleys fall mainly in the rain-shadow area. These areas are considered to be arid regions, similar to the climate of Tibet. Central Asian landscape are common. A study by the IIT Delhi in 2016 established that Kinnaur district has the cleanest air in the country[5]

Flora and fauna

Portions of Kinnaur are situated high in the Himalaya, where vegetation is sparse and consists primarily of hardy grasses. Alpine species such as juniper, pine, fir, cypress, and rhododendron can be found at elevations between 3,500 and 5,000 metres, primarily in Middle Kinnaur. At lower altitudes, temperate-climate trees are found, including oak, chestnut, maple, birch, alder, magnolia, apple, and apricot.

Yaks and dzos are reared by local farmers in the higher areas. Scattered populations of the Himalayan black bear and small ponies may also be found.

Demographics

Religions in Kinnaur District
Religion Percent
Hindu
 
 76.95%
Buddhist
 
 21.50%
Muslim
 
 0.53%

According to the 2011 census Kinnaur district has a population of 84,298,[6] roughly equal to the nation of Andorra.[7] This gives it a ranking of 620th in India (out of a total of 640).[6] The district has a population density of 13 inhabitants per square kilometre (34/sq mi) .[6] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 7.61%.[6] Kinnaur has a sex ratio of 818 females for every 1000 males,[6] and a literacy rate of 80.77%.[6]

Transport

By Road

Connected by National Highway 22 Kinnaur can be easily reached via Shimla. Busses run by Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation ply from Shimla to different parts of Kinnaur.

By Air

No direct flight commute to Kinnaur. The nearest airport is Shimla Airport that is connected with all the major cities.

By Rail

Kinnaur does not have any railway service commuting directly to the place. One can reach Shimla that is connected by a narrow gauge railway line from Kalka.[8]

References

[9]

  1. ↑ "District Census 2011". Registrar General of India.
  2. ↑ "Language Map". Kinnaura Masihi Lok Sahitya Manch. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "History of Kinnaur". Official website of Kinnaur district.
  4. ↑ "Census of Kinnaur" (PDF). Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India.
  5. ↑ "Want to breathe clean air? Travel to Himachal's Kinnaur". Business Standard.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  7. ↑ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 2011-10-01. 198 Andorra 84,825 July 2011 est.
  8. ↑ "How to Reach". Kinnaur.
  9. ↑ Lewis M, Paul. "Editor". SIL. Retrieved 5 November 2013.

Coordinates: 31°35′N 78°25′E / 31.583°N 78.417°E / 31.583; 78.417

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