Indian Himalayan regions cover the whole of northern part of the country. The Himalayan range extends along India`s northern boundary. The term `Himalaya` was coined by the pilgrims of India who traveled and explored this region in the ancient times. Himalaya is a Sanskrit word that means "the Abode of Snow". Himalaya Mountains chain has always fascinated the inhabitants of the country for centuries. Indian Himalayan regions cover up a huge part along the country`s northern frontiers and span several Indian states like Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Assam, etc. It is stated that this mountain chain has been a predominant factor in the lives of the people who are living in these states of Himalayan region. Indian Himalayan region division is entirely based on its various ranges and not on the boundaries of the states.

The division of Indian Himalayas is as follows -

Sikkim Himalaya
Sikkim Himalaya is described as one of the more physically accessible sections of this mountain range. It can be accessed from the state of Kolkata within four days. Sikkim Himalaya range constitutes some part of the Eastern Himalayas that is known for the heavy rain as compared with the Western Himalayas.

Assam Himalaya
The term Assam Himalaya was originally applied to the entire Himalayan chain that stretches eastwards from Pauhunri to Namcha Barwa. Time has rendered this nomenclature superseded; the portion of the range lying mainly in Bhutan is now properly called Bhutan Himalaya, and the erstwhile mega-province of Assam has lost its Himalayan frontier to Arunachal Pradesh, recently born out of what was the North-Eastern Frontier Agency (N.E.F.A.). So, it can be said that there is no longer any Assam Himalaya.

Kumaon Himalaya
Kumaon Himalayas recline next to the Garhwal region and are actually situated on the Great Himalayan Range. In fact, it is often confused with the Garhwal region itself. Kumaon region comprises the three mount districts of Nainital, Almora and Pithoragarh. This region is bordered by Mahakali in the east towards Nepal and the districts of Chamoli and Pauri Garhwal in the west.

Central Garhwal Himalaya
Central Garhwal comprises the mountain area around the Saraswati-Alaknanda river system and the Dhauli valley. The Dhauli after joining up with the Rishi Ganga eventually joins the Alaknanda at Joshimath. The region is of some considerable significance in Hindu mythology, and Badrinath on the Alaknanda river is one of the four holy places of pilgrimage - the others being Kedarnath, Jamnotri and Gangotrii.

Gangotri Region Himalaya
The major glaciers that describe the Gangotri region are the Gangotri, Chaturangi and Raktavarn, which lie adjacent to each other. Next to them lie the Satopanth, Bhagirathi and the Arwa valley. Each of them has feeder glaciers, and each feeder glacier has numerous peaks along its walls. At Gaumukh, the mighty river which is the source of the holy Ganges, emerging from the depths of the glacier can be observed. The shape of the ice formation is actually like a cow`s mouth.

Western Garhwal Himalaya
While moving towards the west from the Alaknanda-Saraswati division, one comes across the Gangotri region. East of the Bhagirathi River, this region can be more easily accessed from Har-ki-doon and the Tons River. It is described as the most attractive climbing arena comprising the Swargarohini and the Bandarpunch peaks - White Peak, Ban-darpunch and Kalanag (old Black Peak).

Kashmir Himalaya
The great Himalayan axis runs southeast from Nanga Parbat to Nun-Kun. This forms the northern boundary of Kashmir. Beyond this to the northeast lies Ladakh, to the east lies Zanskar and towards the southeast lies Kishtwar. They all form part of the state of Kashmir, but they hold separate geographical entities for the mountaineers.

Ladakh Himalaya
Ladakh is sometimes called `Little Tibet`. It has a similar landscape and culture that bears this comparison. It lies to the east-northeast of Kashmir and forms a part of this state. Across the valley of Kashmir and over the popular Zoji La pass lies Ladakh -- the Land of High Passes. It is a magical land, so completely different from the green landscape of some other parts of the Himalayas.

Zanskar Himalaya
The district lying south of Ladakh receives its name from the river which flows north from Padam in Central Zanskar and which, with its many tributaries, finally joins the Indus a little west of Leh. It forms a terrific gorge and flows through vast plains. Zanskar has always been the most inhabited part of Ladakh, with several small villages which maintain close contacts with the state of Kashmir. It is the valley of the river Zanskar and its branches. It is positioned south of the Ladakh district and is surrounded by high mountains. This region remains cut off from the rest of India for most of the part of the year. The only routes to Zanskar are mostly dangerous and pass through the main Himalayan ranges.

Kinnaur Himalaya
Kinnaur invokes up a picture of inaccessible valleys, of the Hindustan-Tibet road, of the mighty gorge of Satluj and strange customs. But today the things have changed drastically. Today, many possibilities for trekkers and mountaineers have opened up.

Eastern Karakoram Himalaya
This area offers ample scope for exploration as well as climbing. The Eastern Karakoram comprises the Siachen Muztagh, the Rimo Muztagh and the Saser Muztagh. These are all being sub-groups of the Great Karakoram range. The sections of the Karakoram Range are identified by the long glaciers which drain the mountain groups, each named where possible from its chief summit, and include several satellites.

These regions of Indian Himalaya offer fantastic trekking and mountaineering options.