Shivalik Range (Outer Himalayas): Map, Location & Facts
Shivalik Range, also known as the Outer Himalayas, forms the southernmost chain of the Himalayan system. It lies between the Great Plains and the Lesser Himalayas, running almost 2,400 km from the Indus Gorge in the northwest to the Brahmaputra Valley in the east.
We have already covered the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar Ranges in our previous article on the Lesser Himalayas. The Shiwaliks lie just south of these, creating a natural border between the lofty Himalayas and the fertile plains of northern India.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts about the Shivalik Range
- Average elevation: 600 to 1,500 metres
- Width varies from 10–50 km, widest in Himachal Pradesh
- Extends across Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Nepal, Bhutan, and Assam
- Southern slopes are steeper, northern slopes are gentle
- Known as Upgiri in ancient texts
- Formed during the Pleistocene period by deposits of sand, silt, and gravel
Location and Extent
The Shivaliks run parallel to the Lesser Himalayas.
- North: Bordered by the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges (lesser himalayas)
- South: Touches the plains of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh
- East: Extends into Nepal as the Churia Hills
- West: Ends near the Potwar Plateau in Pakistan
The range is not continuous everywhere; many valleys called ‘Duns’ lie between the Shivaliks and the Lesser Himalayas. These valleys are wide, flat-bottomed basins formed by river deposits and tectonic movement.
Major Valleys & Duns
The valleys, known locally as Duns in the west and Duars in the east, were once ancient lake beds filled with sediments. Some well-known examples include:
- Dehradun (Uttarakhand) – the most famous valley, lying between the Shiwalik and Lesser Himalayas
- Patli Dun and Kotli Dun – in Himachal Pradesh
- Udhampur Dun – in Jammu region
- Chumbi and Kyarda Duns – in the eastern parts near Bhutan
Rivers Originating from the Shivalik Range
Shivaliks give rise to several small rivers and seasonal streams known as ‘Chos’. These flow southward and join larger river systems of the plains.
- Ghaggar River (Haryana–Punjab region)
- Asan, Song, and Tons Rivers (tributaries of Ganga and Yamuna)
- Beas and Jhelum tributaries (western section)
These rivers carry rich alluvial deposits that create fertile plains along the foothills. (For more, see our article on Rivers of Northern India)
