The term Himadri is a fundamental geographical concept, classifying it as a type of physical feature, specifically the northernmost and highest of the three main parallel ranges of the Himalayas. It is also known as the Greater Himalayas or the Inner Himalayas. The name itself is derived from Sanskrit, meaning "abode of snow," which describes its key characteristic of being perennially snowbound.
The Himadri range is a geologically young fold mountain system, with its origin and history tied to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This specific range is considered to have formed during the Oligocene epoch, approximately 30 million years ago.
How it works is defined by its physical structure and elevation. The range has an average elevation of about 6,100 meters above sea level and is composed primarily of core crystallines, such as granite and gneisses. It contains the world's highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kangchenjunga. The perpetual snow cover and numerous glaciers, such as the Gangotri and Satopanth Glaciers, make the Himadri the source of major perennial rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna, which provide water to a large part of the Indian subcontinent.
The Himadri connects to the other two main Himalayan ranges: the Himachal (Lesser Himalayas) to its south and the Sivaliks (Outer Himalayas) further south. An informed reader should also know that Himadri is the name of India's first permanent Arctic research station, an institution located in Svalbard, Norway, which was inaugurated on July 1, 2008, to conduct research in glaciology and atmospheric sciences. The geographical concept of the Greater Himalayas has not changed recently, remaining a stable physiographic division of India.