Glacier in Local Language called as – Shigri. In Himachal Glacier are mainly found at Points where different mountain ranges meet each other. (see map below). Shivalik mountain ranges is snowless , similarly Spiti valley is also cold desert, however Glacier still can be found at higher reaches.
So Three points where glacier are mostly found are- A) Entire span of Greater Himalaya, B) point where Greater Himalaya and Pirpanjal Meet i.e in East of Kullu C) and point where Pirpanjal and Dhauladhar Meet i.e Barabhangal area. Reader must note that, it is not that only glaciers are found in these meeting points, you can found glacier in other part of Pirpanjal and Dhauladhar.
Below Table show important Glaciers. ( See Full Table )
Glacier located in Greater Himalaya
Greater Himalaya is highest of all mountain range, it enter the district in Lahaul Spiti transverse through Kullu and Kinnaur. Most of Himachal Pradesh Glaciers are located here. In below given map you can see most of Glaciers are located here. In this ranges you will find important Glaciers Like:-
- Miyar Glacier in Miyar Valley
- Lady of Keylong
- Chhudong Glacier
- Gangstang Glacier
- Neelkant Glacier
- Mulkila Glacier.
- North and south Dakka glaciers
- Sonapani Glaciers etc all are located in Lahaul. You can find more from Below given maps.
- Gara and Baspa Glacier of Kinnaur.
All above mention glaciers feed the Chandrabhaga river, these vast network of glaciers also make chandrabhaga the largest river of Himachal Pradesh in term of volume.
Pirpanjal and Greater Himalaya Junction
Pirpanjal range fall in between Dhauladhar and Greater Himalaya, which mean it mingle with both the mountain ranges. Greater Himalaya and Pirpanjal meet in east of Kullu, at this point you will also found many towering peaks of Himachal Pradesh in specific and Himalaya in general. Important Glacier of this points are-
- Bara Shigri and Chhota Shigri Glacier.( Lahaul -Spiti)
- Sara Umga, Kulta etc of Kullu.
These glaciers feed both the Beas and Satluj rivers.
Dhauladhar and Pirpanjal Junction
- Both the mountain ranges meet in Barabhangal. Ravi river also originates from here.
- Bhadal and Tamsar glaciers are the most important glacier of this point
Maps Based Question for of Glaciers:
In term of number Satluj Basin has large number of Glacier but Chenab basin hosts the largest numbers of glaciers in term of Volume like Bara Shigri, Chhota Shigri, and Miyar, feeding rivers such as the Chandra and Bhaga.
The Beas basin, covering Kullu and Mandi, includes glaciers like Beas Kund and Kaliheni, while the Ravi basin in Chamba and Kangra contains smaller glaciers like Bhadal and Chobia.
In the Satluj basin, glaciers like Baspa and Bamak feed the Baspa and Pabbar rivers. Though the Yamuna basin lies mostly outside the state, the Pabbar River from the Chandernahan Glacier forms an important tributary. These glaciers, primarily fed by Western Disturbances, are crucial for the hydrology, agriculture, and energy systems of the region.
Recent Studies
The “Black Carbon” Effect
A major study released in late 2025 by Climate Trends highlighted that Black Carbon (soot from vehicles, biomass burning, and industry) is accelerating melting in the Himalayas by as much as 4°C.
- The Mechanism: The soot settles on the white ice, reducing its “albedo” (reflectivity). Instead of reflecting sunlight, the glacier absorbs it, causing it to melt from the surface down much faster than temperature alone would suggest.
Rapid Expansion of Glacial Lakes (GLOF Risk)
Recent satellite monitoring (July 2025 – January 2026) has shown a worrying trend in the Lahaul and Spiti regions:
- Ghepang Ghat Lake: This lake has grown by 178% since 1989.
- Kadu Nala Lake: Research confirmed this lake only began forming in 2010 but is now expanding at a rapid pace.
- The Risk: These “moraine-dammed” lakes are essentially ticking time bombs. If the natural debris holding the water breaks, it causes a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), similar to the 2023 disaster in Sikkim.
Shift in Snow-Fed Systems (Kuhls)
Studies published in Just Agriculture (July 2024–2025) and state reports focus on the human impact:
- The “Khul” Crisis: In Spiti, the traditional gravity-fed irrigation channels (Kuhls) are drying up. Glaciers have retreated so far uphill that they no longer feed the head of these channels.
- Agricultural Migration: Apple orchards in the Kullu valley are physically “moving” up the mountains. Areas that were prime for apples 30 years ago are now too warm, forcing farmers to plant at higher altitudes (1,250m+).
Critical Timeline: 2050
The Himachal Pradesh Human Development Report 2025 (released in partnership with the UNDP) suggests a “Worst Case Scenario”:
- If current emission trends continue, Himachal could lose a significant portion of its smaller, low-altitude glaciers by 2050.
- Impact: This would jeopardize the state’s hydropower energy security and the drinking water for millions downstream in the Indo-Gangetic plains.
Debris-Covered vs. Debris-Free
Recent glaciological research (2025) comparing glaciers like Dakka (DDG) and Panchinal (PG) shows that glaciers covered in a thick layer of rocky debris actually melt slower than clean ice glaciers because the rocks act as insulation. However, if the debris layer is thin, it actually speeds up the melting by trapping heat
Himachal Pradesh has more than 2,500 glaciers. The table below presents key facts on glacier distribution, retreat trends, climate drivers, and hazards. ( Read Full table here )
Glaciers of Himachal Pradesh are facing significant Climatic Challenges. Many Studies Predict that by 2050 Himalayan Glacier may lost for ever. Snowless winter for past Decade has added to worry. If Glaciers Lost it will create Humantarian Crisis of a scale which will be beyond capacity of State.
Source:- Himachal Pradesh Geography Through Maps by Pardeep Kumar.
(Amazon buying link https://www.amazon.in/Himachal-Pradesh-Geography-Through-Maps/dp/B0FJ2R4B4P)
