Geography Of Punjab

Where Is Punjab?

Punjab is a northern Indian state that is bordered in the north by the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and in the south and southeast by the Haryana state of the country. Himachal Pradesh borders Punjab to the east and Pakistan’s Punjab province lies to the west of the state. Punjab shares its capital, Chandigarh, a Union Territory, with the Haryana state of India. Punjab is often nicknamed as the “bread-basket of India” since it’s fertile soils yield good quality crops that serve as food for domestic consumption.

Climate Of Punjab

The state of Punjab experiences wide variations in temperature during the year due to its landlocked state and subtropical location. The state experiences three major seasons. Summer lasts from mid-April to June-end. During summer, temperature soars above 40 °C throughout the state. December to February are the coldest months in Punjab. During winter, only a few regions experience a temperature below the freezing point, ground frost is common throughout the state. The annual average temperature of the entire state is about 21 °C. Rainy season or monsoon prevails from July to September-end. During this time, the state receives rainfall from the monsoon winds flowing from the of the Bay of Bengal. Winter is also accompanied with some rainfall brought about by western disturbances. Rainfall in both these seasons is essential from crop growth in Punjab.

Topology Of Punjab

Punjab in northwestern India occupies an area of 50,362 square km. Large parts of the state lies in a fertile, alluvial plain criss-crossed by a large number of rivers. An extensive system of canals serve to supply water to the vast stretches of crop-fields in Punjab. The northeastern parts of the Indian state features a belt of undulating hills at the foot of the Himalayas. These hills have an average elevation of 980 feet above sea-level. A semiarid belt lies to the southwest of Punjab which gradually merges into the Thar Desert. 

Soils Of Punjab

The fertile plains of Punjab produces about two-third of India’s food grain supply. The state can boast of highly fertile soils of varied nature that allows the cultivation of a wide variety of crops. Soils in the south-western zone of Punjab is mainly calcareous in nature and has a pH value ranging between 7.8 to 8.5. Other types of soil like alluvial, regosol, and calsisol are also present in this zone. Soils in central Punjab varies from clayey to sandy loam and is alkaline in nature. In Eatern Punjab, soil is clayey to loamy. The parent rock, vegetation, climate, and topography are some of the factors that influence the soil type and quality in Punjab.

Hydrology Of Punjab

The name “Punjab” itself means “the land of five rivers.” Thus the five rivers of Jhelum, Chenab, Satluj, Ravi, and Beas bring life to the fertile plains of the north Indian state. The rivers originate from several small lakes in the Himalayan mountains and their tributaries criss-cross the state at various sections. The Beas river joins the Satluj River near Ferozepur after which the river enters the Punjab province of Pakistan to eventually drain into the Indus River. Sutlej is the longest among Punjab’s five rivers and rises in the Kalias Range in the Tibet region of China from where it meanders through the Himalayan region to enter Punjab and then merges with the Beas to enter Pakistan. The 960 km long Chenab River rises at the confluence of Chandra and Bhaga rivers in the upper Himalayas at Tandi. From here, it flows through Jammu of Jammu and Kashmir to enter Punjab. The Jhelum and Ravi soon join the river which then joins the Sutlej. 

The 720 km Ravi River originates in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh and crosses into Punjab near Madhopur by cutting a gorge in the Dhaola Dhar range. It then crosses the border into Pakistan to join the Chenab River. The Jhelum River is the biggest and most western of Punjab’s five rivers and is a tributary of the Indus River. The river rises from glaciers in north-eastern Jammu and Kashmir and enters Punjab in the Jhelum district. 

Symbols Of Punjab

State animal: Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra)

State bird: Baj (Accipiter gentilis)

State tree: Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo)

Protected Areas Of Punjab

Flora And Fauna Of Punjab

Punjab lacks much wilderness and thus wild vegetation is limited to patches of grass, shrubs, and bushes. However, several varieties of cultivated fruits, nuts, and vegetables like oranges, mangoes, almonds, figs, plums, mulberries, apricots, etc., are grown in the state. Most of the wild vegetation is confined to the Shivalik Ranges in the state which is known to be a mirco-endemic zone due to its rich flora and fauna. 355 species of herbs, 70 types of trees, 19 climbers, 21 types of twines, 31 pteridophyte species, 27 types of bryophytes grow in the micro-endemic zone. 

Punjab has a rich bird life with 396 species of avifauna residing in or visiting the state. 19 species of mammals, 20 species of reptiles, and 214 Lepidoptera species also live here. Large wetlands, bird sanctuaries, and zoological parks are present in the state. 

Some of the rivers of Punjab host crocodiles which can be dangerous to humans if approached by mistake. Camels can be seen in the semi-arid region to the south-west. Buffaloes can be observed grazing in the plans near the river. Wildlife sanctuaries in Punjab serve as the home of several mammalian species like wild boar, fruit bats, squirrels, wildcat, hog deer, etc.