| Total number of glaciers |
About 2,500–2,600 glaciers recorded in Himachal Pradesh |
| Total glacier area |
Around 4,100–4,200 sq km, nearly 7% of the state area |
| Ice reserve |
About 380 cubic km of stored ice |
| Main river system |
Mostly part of the Indus river system |
| Major glacier basins |
Satluj, Chenab, Beas, Ravi |
| Basin with most glaciers |
Satluj basin, around 900–950 glaciers |
| Basin with largest glaciers |
Chenab basin |
| Largest glacier |
Bara Shigri Glacier |
| Longest glacier |
Miyar Glacier |
| Source glacier of Beas |
Beas Kund Glacier |
| Glacier concentration zones |
Bara Banghal region; Lahaul–Spiti and Kullu; Kullu–Kinnaur–Spiti tri-junction; Chandra valley |
| General glacier trend |
Almost all glaciers are retreating |
| Start of major retreat |
Since mid-19th century, after Little Ice Age |
| Average area loss |
About 19% since the 1960s |
| Average retreat rate |
Around 20 m per year, higher than Himalayan average |
| Fast retreating glaciers |
Smaller and steeper glaciers |
| Slow retreating glaciers |
Large valley glaciers, especially debris-covered |
| Mass balance status |
Negative for all well-studied glaciers |
| Typical ice loss |
−0.3 to −0.7 m water equivalent per year |
| Post-2000 trend |
Acceleration of glacier mass loss |
| Key climate driver |
Rising temperature, especially in winter |
| Snowfall trend |
Decreasing, strongest below 4,000 m altitude |
| Role of debris cover |
Thick debris slows melting; thin debris increases melting |
| Hidden risk |
Debris-covered glaciers may lose ice without visible retreat |
| Major hazards |
Glacial lake formation and outburst floods |
| Sensitive region |
Lahaul and Spiti |
| Scientific importance |
One of the best-studied glacier regions in India |
| Historic note |
Lahaul called “Valley of Glaciers” in 1873 |
| Research institution |
Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment near Manali (est. 1969) |
| Overall importance |
Water security, climate change indicators, natural hazards |