Kinnaur district
31°35′N 78°25′E / 31.583°N 78.417°E Kinnaur district is one of the twelve administrative
Kinnaur district | |
---|---|
Country | India |
State | Himachal Pradesh |
Headquarters | Reckong Peo |
Tehsils | Kalpa, Pooh, Sangla, Moorang, Hangrang, Bhaba Nagar. |
Area | |
• Total | 6,401 km2 (2,471 sq mi) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 84,121 |
• Density | 13/km2 (34/sq mi) |
• Urban | 0.00% |
Demographics | |
• Literacy | 88.37%(male), 71.34%(female) |
• Sex ratio | 819[3] |
Time zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
Vehicle registration | HP-25, HP-26, HP-27 |
Major highways | National Highway 5 (India) |
Website | hpkinnaur |
Around 235 km (146 mi) from the state capital, Shimla, Kinnaur is located in the northeast corner of Himachal Pradesh, bordering Tibet to the east. It has three high mountain ranges, namely
History
Kinnaur was a part of erstwhile Chini Tehsil of Mahasu district. It became a separate district on 1 May, 1960. Earlier, Kinnaur was a north-eastern segment of the erstwhile
Kinnaur also has historical cultural links with
Geography
With a mountainous area, ranging in altitude from 2,320 to 6,816 metres (7,612 to 22,362 ft), Kinnaur is one of the smallest districts in India by population. It is known for the Kinnaur Kailash, a mountain sacred to Hindus, close to the Chinese
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
1901 | 27,232 | — |
1911 | 28,470 | +0.45% |
1921 | 28,191 | −0.10% |
1931 | 30,445 | +0.77% |
1941 | 33,238 | +0.88% |
1951 | 34,475 | +0.37% |
1961 | 40,980 | +1.74% |
1971 | 49,835 | +1.98% |
1981 | 59,547 | +1.80% |
1991 | 71,270 | +1.81% |
2001 | 78,334 | +0.95% |
2011 | 84,121 | +0.72% |
source:[6] |
According to the
Languages
Kannaura people speak about eight language varieties, seven from Sino-Tibetan language family; Kinnauri, Chitkuli, Sumcho, Jangrami, Poo Kinnauri, Sunam,[10] Nesang and one from an Indo-Aryan language family, called Pahari Kinnauri.[11] Also see [12] At the 2011 census, 72% of the population in the district spoke or knew native languages of Kinnaur, 16.65% Hindi and 7.03% Nepali as their first language.[9] Although, Hindi is fast emerging as the language of choice in most domains, especially the young speakers, due to the demands of modernity which has threatened the native languages.[13]
Climate
Most of Kinnaur enjoys a temperate climate due to its high elevation, with long winters from October to May, and short summers from June to September. The lower parts of the Sutlej Valley and the
Flora and fauna
Portions of Kinnaur are situated high in the
Yaks and dzos are reared by local farmers in the higher areas. Scattered populations of the Himalayan black bear and small ponies may also be found.
Rupi Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary
Rupi Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an expanse of 503 sq.km. of Rupi Bhaba, Kinnaur. In 1982, a 239 sq. km. portion of the Bushahr state forests was declared the Rupi Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary.[16]
To the north, it covers main Srikhand Dhar, starting from Kokshane Peak.
To the east, it covers the ridge line from high points 5567 meters, on the main Srikhand mountain range, heading south, diving first Nichar from Murang Tehsil then Kalpa Tehsil till the point on the ridge line of Mukim Dhar up to peak 5496 meters.
To the south, it meanders through Listrang Gad, Khosyan, Angyar Ghat, Wanger Khad, Soling Dhar, Saknatpa PF, Kandarn Khad, Shorang Khad, and Bara Kamba etc.
To the west, starting from the high point 3038 meters, along the boundaries of Shimla and Kinnaur to Srikhand Dhar via Gushu Pishu Peak, up to Kokshane Peak.
The flora includes kharsu, oak, weeping fig, alpine, chir pine, Himalayan temperate forest, coniferous and dry broad leaved coniferous. The fauna of Rupi Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary consistss of snow leopard, brown bear, Himalayan tahr, blue sheep, Indian fox, and musk deer, etc.
Politics
No. | Constituency | Member | Party | Remarks | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
68 | Kinnaur (ST)
|
Jagat Singh Negi | Indian National Congress |
Transport
Air
No direct flight commute to Kinnaur. The nearest airport is Shimla Airport that is connected with all the major cities.
Rail
Kinnaur does not have any railway service commuting directly to the place. One can reach Shimla that is connected by a narrow-gauge railway line from Kalka.[17]
Road
Connected by National Highway 05 Kinnaur can be easily reached via Shimla. Busses run by Himachal Road Transport Corporation ply from Shimla to different parts of Kinnaur.
Gallery
-
Leo, view from NH-505 near Nako
-
Confluence of the Spiti (left) with the Satluj (right) near Khab
-
KinnaurValley
See also
- Kinnauri Nati
- Kinnauri Shawl
- Kinnauri language
- West Himalayish languages (Kinnauri languages)
- Pahari Kinnauri language
- Chitkuli Kinnauri language
- Bhoti Kinnauri
References
- ^ "About Kinnaur". hpkinnaur.nic.in.
- ^ "Demographics of Kinnaur". hpkinnaur.nic.in.
- ^ "Demography of Kinnaur district". hpkimnaur.nic.in.
- ^ "Census of Kinnaur" (PDF). Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2015.
- ^ "Kinnaur-Ngari Corridor: An Argument for The Revival of The Western Himalayan Silk Route - Himachal Watcher". Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
- ^ a b "District Census Handbook: Kinnaur" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
- ^ "Table C-01 Population by Religion: Himachal Pradesh". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
- ^ a b "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Himachal Pradesh". www.censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
- ^ NEGI, HARVINDER K U M A R. “Sunam (Kinnaur, India) – Language Snapshot.” Language Documentation and Description, 2021.
- ^ NEGI, HARVINDER K U M A R. “Languages of Kannaura Tribe.” Languages of INDIAN HIMALAYAS, 2021
- ^ NEGI, HARVINDER K U M A R. “Linguistic Demography of Himachal Pradesh (Languages of Himachal Pradesh).” Nepalese Linguistics 35, no. 1 (2022): 70–78. doi:10.3126/nl.v35i01.46563.
- ^ NEGI, HARVINDER K U M A R. “LANGUAGE USE, PRESTIGE AND VITALITY OF LANGUAGES IN KINNAUR.” International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics , 2023.
- ^ "Sangla valley". Raacho Trekkers.
- ^ "Want to breathe clean air? Travel to Himachal's Kinnaur". Business Standard.
- ^ ": : HPFD - Himachal Pradesh Forest Department". hpforest.gov.in. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ "How to Reach". Kinnaur.
External links
- The official website of Kinnaur
- DISTRICT PROFILE
- Photo Documentation of Lahul-Spiti and Kinnaur-November 2003
- About the 'Nako Research and Preservation Project (NRPP)' of the Vienna University, Austria
- Murmur of the Lonely Brook - a book by Debashis Dey based on Kinnaur and the practice of Polyandry
- Photo Gallery of Kinnaur and Spiti - Winter 2013
- Detailed Travel Guide on Kinnaur Valley
- "Language Map". Kinnaura Masihi Lok Sahitya Manch. Retrieved 6 November 2013.