Pir Panjal Range

The Pir Panjal Range separates the Kashmir valley from lower lands to the south and southwest, creating a formidable barrier crossed by important passes. Forests, summer pasture, and mountain settlements support resources that differ with elevation. Seasonal movement allows herders to use uplands during favorable weather, while snow can close routes for long periods. Guides and knowledge of safe stages are essential to journeys between the valley and neighboring regions.

Mountain passages connected Kashmir with Punjab and other parts of the subcontinent. After Akbar's conquest of Kashmir in 1586, the route across the Pir Panjal became a favored road for the Mughal court traveling between Lahore and the valley. Halting stations served royal journeys, while the crossing remained dependent on the seasons and the labor needed to provision travelers. Later Afghan and Sikh rule changed the political framework without removing the constraints imposed by the mountains.