Middle Himalaya Range
The fertile and predominantly forest-covered Middle Himalaya mountain range runs parallel to the Great Himalaya on its southern side. Its peaks are much more accessible, with elevations of about 5,000 to 20,000 feet above sea level. Most of India's popular hill stations are located in the Middle Himalaya, in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. These include Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie, Dharamsala (where the Dalai Lama lives), Nainital, Mussoorie, and Almora. The Great Himalayan National Park (one of India's little-known UNESCO World Heritage sites), in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, is part of the range as are popular adventure destinations Auli and the Valley of Flowers National Park in Uttarakhand. The Middle Himalayas also cover the Kashmir Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, Darjeeling in West Bengal, and Gangtok in Sikkim.
There are two major mountain ranges in the Middle Himalaya—the Pir Panjal Range and Dhauladhar Range. The Pir Panjal Range is the longest and most significant one. It starts near Patnitop in Kashmir and extends southeast for about 180 miles to the upper Beas River in Himachal Pradesh. Its tallest peaks are in the Kullu district, with Indrassan being the highest at 20,410 feet above sea level. The range offers moderately difficult treks such as Kashmir Alpine Lakes, Deo Tibba, Pin Parvati, Bhabha Pass, and Hampta Pass. The ski resort of Gulmarg in Kashmir is within the Pir Panjal Range too. India's longest railway tunnel, which runs for about 7 miles, also passes through the range to connect the Kashmir Valley to Banihal in Jammu. The Dhauladhar Range, in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, looms over Dharamsala and McLeodganj. Its highest peak is Hanuman Tibba at about 19,488 feet above sea level. Trekking opportunities are plentiful there too.
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Outer Himalaya Shivalik Range
The Outer Himalayas, also known as the Shivalik Range, is regarded as the Himalayan foothills. It separates the mountains from the plains, and consists of valleys and hills that rise no more than about 5,000 feet above sea level. A large part of the range is located in Himachal Pradesh, up to the Beas River. It also encompasses Jammu, some of Punjab and Chandigarh, Haridwar and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, and Kalimpong in West Bengal.
The historic Kalka Shimla Mountain Railway toy train winds its way through the Shivalik Range from Kalka, about 45 minutes north of Chandigarh, to Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. Haridwar is a popular Hindu pilgrimage destination. Foreigners frequently head to the ashrams at Rishikesh, the birthplace of yoga. Adventure activities such as river rafting and bungee jumping are also offered there. You'll be able to get a superb view of Mount Kanchenjunga from Kalimpong and river rafting takes place along the Teesta River nearby. The town also has Buddhist monasteries, established by the many monks who fled Tibet, and provides opportunities for hiking and experiencing local village life.