Geography of Himachal Pradesh

The state of Himachal Pradesh is spread over an area 55,673 km2 (21,495 sq mi) and is bordered by Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on the north, Punjab on the southwest, Haryana on the south, Uttarakhand on the southeast, a small border with Uttar Pradesh in the south (touching Sirmaur), and Tibet on the east.

The Chandra and Bhaga rivers rise in the Lahaul region, joining near Keylong and forming the Chandrabhaga, or Chenab, which then flows northwestwards through the Pangi valley into Jammu and Kashmir.

Satluj river enters the state from Tibet near Shipki La, flowing through the Kinnaur region where its tributaries Spiti and Baspa join it.

Pabbar and Giri rivers are two tributaries of the Yamuna that originate in southeastern Himachal, and flow through the districts of Shimla and Sirmour.

At the lowest elevations of the state, along the borders with neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, Northwestern thorn scrub forests are found.

Above these, Western and Northwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows are the only vegetation found at elevations between 3,000 to 5,000 metres (9,800 to 16,400 ft).