Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points

Khajjiar:

• Khajjiar is a hill station in Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh.
• Altitude: 1951 meters.
• It is about 2,000 metres (6,500 ft) above sea level in the foothills of the Dhauladhar ranges of the Western Himalayas
• It is part of the Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary.
• Willy T. Blazer, Vice Counselor and Head of Chancery of Switzerland in India, officially declared Khajjiar as 'Mini Switzerland' by putting up a yellow Swiss hiking footpath signboard on 7^th July 1992.
• It was because it bears a topographical resemblance to Switzerland.
• Places all over the world similar to Switzerland in respect of geographical and topographical traits and scenic elegance are named after it.
• Therefore, Khajjiar became the 160^th tourist spot in the world, named "mini Switzerland".

Additional Information

Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary:

• Located at Kalatop and Khajjiar in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.
• It lies in the itinerary of the Ravi River and is encircled by coniferous and oak forests.
• Flora: Cedar and blue pine, oaks like moru and ban, deodar trees, rhododendron, firs etc.
• Fauna: Bear, Himalayan Black Marten, Leopard, Deer, Barking Goral, Squirrel, Serow, Jackal, Langur, Himalayan Tahr, Goral, Ibex, Himalayan Squirrel, Muntjak, etc.
• This sanctuary is known for preserving the native Himalayan serow.

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

Kirda Dun valley of Sirmaur:

• It lies between the Eastern extremities of Markanda and the Dharti ranges.
• It falls in the South-Eastern corner of the State.
• Jamuna river separates it from Dehra Dun.
• Kirda Dun valley is very fertile as it is watered by Giri and Bata rivers.
• Adjoining the Kirda valley is the Dun and Spron valleys of Solan district.

Balh Valley:

• It lies in the Mandi district.
• It is also known as Sundernagar valley.
• It is located between an offshoot of the Shimla Ridge in the North and Shivalik hills in the South.
• The valley stretches from Gutker in the North to Sundernagar in the South, Biaggi in the East and Gumma in the West.
• The soil found in this valley is loam in texture and light grey to brown in colour.

Kangra Valley:

• It is located between the Dhauladhar range in the North and the Shivalik hills in the South.
• It ranges from West to East rising gradually from Shahpur to Baijnath and Palampur.
• The important towns of this valley are Baijnath, Palampur, Kangra and Dharamshala.

Bara Bhangal:

• It lies at the extreme northern tip of Kangra.
• It borders both Mandi and Chamba, between the Dhauladhar and Manimahesh ranges, deep in the Ravi valley.
• It is a huge, about 1,400 sq km, thickly forested area.
• Residents, here are pastoralists and shepherds since little agriculture is not possible at 8,500 feet.

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points

• Himachal Pradesh can be divided into three zones :
• The outer Himalayas,
• The inner Himalayas,
• The greater Himalayas.

The Outer Himalayas:

• Altitude ranges from 350 meters to 1500 meters.
• It is known as 'Shivalik Hills'.
• It covers the lower hills of district Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur and lower parts of Mandi, Solan and Sirmaur districts.
• The famous places: Kangra, Dharamshala, Palampur, Dalhousie and Chamba etc.

The Inner Himalayas:

• Altitude ranges from 1500 meters to 4500 meters.
• The Himalayas in this zone shows a gradual elevation towards the Dhauladha and Pir Panjal Ranges.
• The climate and soil in this zone are suitable for to temperature of fruits and seed potatoes.
• There is a sudden rise in the Dhauladhar mountains of 3,600 meters or 10,800 feet above the Kangra valley.
• Pir-Panjal is the largest range of the lower Himalayas and it separates itself from the Himalayas near the bank of the Satluj river.

The Greater Himalayas :

• Altitude ranges from 4500 meters to the highest points of the great Himalayas.
• The Satluj river divides it and separates the Spiti's (Lahaul-Spiti) drainage from Beas.
• The climate in this zone is not cold in summer and of semi-arctic nature in winter.
• The famous Zanskar Range is also found in this part of the Himalayas which is the Easternmost range.
• This range acts like a big wall by separating Spiti and Kinnaur from Tibet.
• Zanskar Range has a number of very high peak points rising over 6,500 meters (19,500 feet).

The correct answer is Gaddi.

Key Points

 Gaddi:

• Mostly found: In Bharmour tehsil of Chamba district. and some parts of Kangra.
• Bharmour is called the “abode of Gaddis”.
• Lord Shiva is the principal god of Gaddis.
• Local people call Gaddi 'Mitra'.
• They are semi-nomadic, semi pastoral, and semi agricultural tribes.
• Four types of marriage performed by Gaddis.
• Jind Phunk or Brar Phuk – Elopement.
• Jhanjrara
• Ghar jawai
• Batta Satta – Marriage by an exchange.
• The breakfast is called Nuhari or Dutelu, Lunch is called Kallar, and Dinner is called Baili.
• Dress: Chola and Dora are traditional dresses. Dora is the most important part of the dress of Gaddi men, women and children.
• Chadru is used by Gaddan to cover the head.
• Gaddis take their food four times.
• The breakfast called Nuhari or Duteloo.
• In the noon Kaller, the lunch and their dinner Baili.
• ‘Sur’ or ‘Jhol’ is their local drink.

The correct answer is Option 1.

• Here, List 1 is Tribes of Himachal Pradesh whilst List 2 is the Type of marriage prevalent in their tribal community.

Key Points

Swangla: 

• Mainly found: In the Pattan valley in Lahaul and Spiti district.
• Types of marriages:
• Rusa –te- byah is elopement.
• Kua – byah is marriage by capture.
• Mazmi byah is an ad hoc marriage.

Gaddi: 

• Mainly found: Chamba district and some parts of Kangra.
• Bharmour is called the “abode of Gaddis”.
• Type of marriageS:
• Jind Phunk or Brar Phuk – Elopement.
• Jhanjrara.
• Ghar jawai.
• Batta Satta – Marriage by an exchange.

Khampa: 

• They are not the original inhabitants of HP.
• Kham is the name of a state in Tibet and the people of that state are known as Khampas.
• In Spiti – Piti Khampa, In Kinnaur Khunu Khampa, In Kullu – Neodi Khampa, In Chamba – Thava Khampa.
• In Khampas, marriage is fixed by a negotiator, who is known as “Phaktum”.
• On the occasion of marriage, girls sing Titmde- Luh.

Pangwal: 

• Mainly found: In Pangi valley of Chamba district.
• Types of marriage:
• Bari Shadi: Marriage by negotiation.
• Pith Chuk or Chori: Marriage by capture.
• Dogri: Marriage by the exchange.
• Topi Lana: Widow remarriage.

Additional Information

Lahaulas:

• Arranged marriage is called Tabhagston and theft marriage is called Kumai Bhagston.

The correct answer is Kinnauras.

Key Points

Mention of Kinnauras in scriptures:

• Mahabharta: They are grouped as Gandharvas.
• Vayu Purana: Residents of 'Mahand Mountains'. Hence, option 4 is correct.
• Matsya Purana: They were related to Yakshas and Kiratas.

About Kinnauras:

• ​Total population: 0.52 lakhs (13% of ST population of HP.)
• Origin: Mongoloid.
• Mainly found: In the western Himalayas, Baspa or Sangla valley located in Kinnaur district, Basteri, Rakchham, Chitkul.
• Family system: Joint family
• Special feature: As per their custom, the brothers in a family share only one wife.
• It is also known as the Pandava style of marriage.
• Occupation: Domestication of sheep and rearing wool, horticulture and agriculture.
• Weaving is mainly done by females of the family.
• There is a tradition to maintain sheep in their houses.

Additional Information

Other tribes in Himachal Pradesh are:

• Gaddis, Gujjars,
• Lahaul,
• Pangwalas,
• Smaller tribes groups like Bhot/Bodh, Beda, Jad/Lamba/ Khampa, and Sangla.

The correct answer is 23655 sq. km. 

• In order to protect the interests of the Scheduled tribes, the provision of the “Fifth Schedule” is enshrined in the Constitution under Article 244 (2).
• It identifies certain areas with a predominantly tribal population that require special protection and measures for conserving their population and culture and provides administrative arrangement and consent of the Gram Sabha to implement development programs in these areas.

Key Points

• Out of the total 55,673 km² geographical area of HP, about 23,655 km² area falls in the Scheduled V area.
• It constitutes around 42.49 % of the total area of the state.
• Hence, option 1 is correct.
• The total population living in the Scheduled Area is 173,661 of which 123,585 are tribals which constitute nearly 71.16 per cent of the total population living in this area
• The official list of scheduled tribes in Himachal Pradesh includes
• Gaddis, Gujjars,
• Kinnara or Kinnauras,
• Lahaulas and Pangwalas
• Smaller tribes groups like Bhot/Bodh, Beda, Jad/Lamba/ Khampa, and Swangla.
• The ST population is quite dominant in Lahul & Spiti and Kinnaur – two rural districts of the state.
• Literacy percentage among Scheduled Tribes has increased from 65.5% in 2001 to 73.64% in 2011;
• The male literacy rate was 83.17%
• The female's literacy rate was only 64.20% in 2011.

The correct answer is Masrur Temple.

Key Points

Masrur Temple:

• Location: in the Kangra Valley of Beas River in Himachal Pradesh.
• The temple complex referred to as the ‘Ellora of the North’, excavated on the single outcrop, is the only one found in the Himalayas.
• Due to carved interlocked male and female sculptures, the cluster of temples is also known as Ellora's of North India.
• Only three other monolithic rock-cut temples are:
• ­­Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), Dhamnar in Rajasthan, and the Kailasha shrines in Ellora.
• It is styled in the Nagara form of architecture.
• It can be referred to as a mature form of the Nagara-Shikhara style.
• It is a cluster of 15 rock temples carved out of single rock and built around a central shrine.
• It was originally constructed to worship God Shiva but later converted to worship Lord Rama.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Raja Kirpal Pal.

• The Pahari painting includes paintings from Basohli, Mankot,  Nurpur, Chamba,  Kangra,  Guler,  Mandi, and Garhwal.
• The earliest paintings in this style originated in Basohli from where the style spread to the Hill States of Mankot, Nurpur, Kulu, Nalagarh, Chamba, Guler and Kangra.
• These paintings were originated in the Himalayan regions and are mostly done in miniature form.

Key Points

Basohli School of Painting:

• It is considered the first school of Pahari paintings.
• The earliest paintings in this style have been dated to the time of Raja Kirpal (1678–93).
• It was during his reign these paintings were at their peak.
• The first mention of Basohli painting was in the annual report of the Archaeological Survey of India for the year 1918-19 published in 1921.
• Evolution:
• Possibly of pre-Mughal origin,
• Underwent a transition phase giving rise to pre-Kangra (1740 to 1775) and
• Finally evolved into the new Kangra style of miniature painting with strong Mughal influence.
• Themes are largely based upon the landscapes, natural beauty of surrounding hills, Hindu deities and simple poetic themes of Rasamanjari and Gita Govinda.
• The prominent use of natural eco-friendly primary colours like yellow, red, blue and delicate detailing and red borders makes it unique.

Additional Information

• Other significant features:
• Vigorous, bold and imaginative artistic style
• Perfect geometrical patterns.
• Use of characteristic red borders and bold lines.
• Unconventional style of painting.
• Predominant colours– ochre yellow, brown, and green grounds.
• Peculiar facial formula, dominated by the large bulging eyes.
• Basohli faces have a receding forehead, high nose and lotus-like eyes.

The correct answer is The Great Himalayan National Park.

Key Points

The Great Himalayan National Park: 

• Location: In the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, India, in distant western Himalaya.
• Area: 1,171 km².  Hence, option 2 is correct.
• Notified as a national park in 1999.
• The National Park (GHNP) was created to protect, sustain and propagate wildlife, under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• UNESCO World Heritage Site:  23 June 2014.
• Vegetation:
• It contains the world’s highest mountains and alpine ecosystems.
• It is home to large expanses of lower-elevation temperate and subtropical forests and grasslands.
• The boundaries of GHNP are also contiguous with:
• the Pin Valley National Park in the trans-Himalaya range (675km²);
• the Rupi Bhabha Wildlife Sanctuary in the Sutlej watershed (503km²); and
• the Kanawar Wildlife Sanctuary in Parvati valley (107.29km²).
• GHNP provides sanctuary for globally threatened animals:
• Mammals (Snow leopard, serow, Himalayan tahr, musk deer),
• three globally threatened birds (Western tragopan, koalas, cheer pheasants) and
• a large number of medicinal plants.

Additional Information

• Pin Valley National Park:
• Location: Lahaul and Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh.
• Area: 675 Km²
• Established: 1958.
• Renuka Sanctuary: 
• Location: Sirmour district, Himachal Pradesh.
• Area: 4.028 km²
• Established: 1964.
• Manali Sanctuary:
• Location: Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh.
• Area:  31.8 km²
• Established: 1954 (under the Punjab Birds and Wild Animals Protection Act of 1933.)