These regions, particularly Kashmir and the Shimla Hills produce almost all the apples grown in India and South Asia.
A large number of people from nomadic pastoral communities such as Gurjars, Bakarwals and Gaddis living in the alpine and subalpine areas of these mountains engage in cattle rearing.
The city of Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley is famous for its houseboats and shikaras on the Dal and Nigeen lakes.
Shogran, Murree, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Gulmarg, Dalhousie, Mcleodganj, Dharamshala, Manali and Shimla are famous hill stations.
Amarnath and Vaishno Devi are important pilgrimage centres attracting several hundred thousands of pilgrims each year.