Physical Features:

Himachal Pradesh is almost wholly mountainous with altitudes ranging from 350 metres to 6,975 metres above the mean sea level. Its location is between Latitude

30° 22’40” N to 33° 12’40” N and Longitude 75° 45’55″E to 79° 04’20” E. It has deeply dissected topography complex geological structure and a rich temperate flora in the sub-tropical latitudes. Physiographically, the State can be divided in to five zones-viz.

(i) Wet Sub-temperate zone, (ii) humid sub-temperate zone, (ii) dry temperate-alpine high lands, (iv) humid sub-tropical zone, and (v) sub-humid sub-tropical zone. 

(i) Wet sub-temperate zone comprises Palampur and Dharamshala of Kangra district, Jogindernagar area of Mandi district and Dalhousie area of Chamba district.

(ii)Humid sub-temperate zone comprises the district of Kullu, Shimla, parts of Mandi, Solan, Chamba, Kangra and Sirmaur.

(iii)Dry temperate- Alpine High lands include major parts of Lahaul-Spiti, Pangi and Kinnaur.

(iv)Humid sub-tropical zone consists of Bilaspur, Bhattiyat valley of District Chamba, Nalagarh area of District Solan, Dehragopipur and Nurpur areas of district Kangra.

(v)Sub-humid tropical zone comprises of District Una, Paonta-Sahib area of District Sirmaur, and Indora area of District Kangra.