Brief Geography of District Mandi | HPPSC HPAS Preparation - HPPSC HPAS (Himachal Pardesh) PDF Download

Location and Size

Mandi district is situated in the central region of Central Himachal Pradesh, one of the state's four micro-regions. Geographically, it extends between 31°13′30′′ and 32°04′22′′ north latitude and 76°36′08′′ and 71°23′26′′ east longitude. It is bordered by Kangra district to the north and northwest, Hamirpur and Bilaspur districts to the west, Solan and Shimla districts to the south, and Kullu district to the east. Covering an area of 3950 km² out of Himachal Pradesh's total area of 55,673 km², Mandi district ranks seventh in terms of size, making up 7.10% of the state's total area. The district has a high population density of 253 persons per km² and is the second most populous district in the state with a population of 999,777, representing 15.01% of the state's total population according to the 2011 Census. It ranks fourth in terms of sex ratio, which has slightly declined from 1,013 to 1,007 females per 1,000 males from the 2001 Census.

Physiography and Drainage

The district's landscape is predominantly mountainous, interspersed with broad and undulating valleys shaped by the Beas River and its tributaries. Notable valleys include the extensive Balh Valley in Mandi Sadar and Sundarnagar tehsils and the long Chauntra Valley in the Jogindarnagar tehsil, which are crucial for the district's agriculture. The district's altitude ranges from 503 meters to 4,034 meters above sea level.

Hill Ranges/Dhars in District Mandi

• Dhauladhar: This range covers most of Suket, with Nagru Nargu being the highest peak in Mandi district at about 4,400 meters. It also includes the Ghogardhar range where the Gumma and Darang salt mines are situated.
• Sikandar Dhar: Named after Sikandar Lodhi, this range can be divided into Kamlah Dhar and Lindi Dhar.
• Vairkot Dhar: Extending from Rewalsar towards Suket.

River System of District Mandi

• River Beas: Entering the district from the east near Largi village and flowing in a northwest direction, it exits the district near Sandhol into Hamirpur district. Its major tributaries include Uhl, Rana Khad, Luni Khad, Binno Khad, and others from both north and south.
• River Satluj: Forming the district's southern boundary and separating it from Solan and Shimla districts, it enters Mandi near Firnu and flows southwestward, exiting near Dehar into Bilaspur district. Important tributaries include Behna, Ropri, Bagri, Chanod, and Alsed.

Lakes in District Mandi

• Kamrunag or Kumarwah Lake: Located at 3,150 meters in Chachyot Tehsil, it is believed to have been created by Bhimsen, a Pandava brother, with offerings of gold and silver made to the lake.
• Rewalsar Lake: Situated 25 km from Mandi town, it is a circular lake with a diameter of about three-quarters of a mile, associated with serpent worship and revered in Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh traditions.
• Prashar Lake: Positioned at 2,743 meters (9,000 feet) and around 45 km from Mandi town, it features a temple dedicated to Rishi Prashar, built by Raja Ban Sen of Mandi.
• Macchial Lake: Located 2 km from Jogindernagar, named after Macchendru Devta, an avatar of Vishnu.
• Pandoh Lake (Artificial Lake): Situated 15 km from Mandi town on NH 21, this lake was created by the Pandoh Dam, which diverts Beas River water to the Satluj River.

Physiographic Divisions of the District

• Dhauladhar: Covers the northern and northeastern parts of Mandi, characterized by rugged, mountainous terrain with peaks above 4,000 meters. Uhl River and its tributaries are significant in this region.
• Beas Basin: The largest sub-micro-region in terms of area and population, stretching from north-west to south-east and including a significant portion of the district. The Beas River is the principal river here.
• Satluj Basin: Located in the southern part of the district, featuring rugged terrain and varying altitudes. The Satluj River forms the district's southern boundary.
• Mandi Lesser Himalaya: Spreads over the western part of the district with a rugged terrain and varying altitudes between 682 meters and 2,051 meters. Key rivulets include Baker, Sir, Son, and Ratti Khads.

The Climate of District Mandi

• Mandi district experiences a temperate climate due to its mountainous terrain. Higher areas remain cold year-round with significant snowfall in winter, particularly in regions like Padhar, Chohar, Seraj, and Sonar. Lower areas, such as the Balh Valley, can become quite hot in summer, with excessive heat also noted in the Satluj Basin. 
• The Dhauladhar region has sub-temperate conditions with snow in higher elevations. The Beas Basin's higher reaches experience cool weather year-round with winter snowfall, while the Satluj Basin sees varying climates based on altitude, with warm summers in lower areas and snowfall in higher regions. 
• The Mandi Lesser Himalaya has mild winters at higher altitudes and hot summers in the lower areas, with generally ample and well-distributed rainfall throughout the district.