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Kinnaur is one of twelve administrative districts of Himachal Pradesh, India. The district is itself divided into three administrative areas – Pooh, Kalpa, and Nichar – and has five Tehsils or counties. Its capital is Reckong Peo.

Geography

A mountainous area, ranging in altitude from 2,320 to 6,816 metres, Kinnaur is one of the smallest districts in India. It is famous for the Kinnaur Kailash, a mountain sacred to the Hindus, close to the Tibetan border.

Climate

Most of Kinnaur enjoys a temperate climate due to its high elevation, with long winters from October to May, and short summers from June to September. The lower parts of the Satluj Valley and the Baspa Valley receive monsoon rains. The upper areas of the valleys fall mainly in the rain-shadow area. These areas are considered to be arid regions, similar to the climate of Tibet.

Flora and fauna

Portions of Kinnaur are situated high in the Himalaya where vegetation is sparse and consists primarily of hardy grasses. Alpine species such as juniper, pine, fir, cypress, and rhododendron can be found between elevations between 3,500 and 5,000 metres, primarily in Middle Kinnaur. At lower altitudes, temperate-climate trees are found, including oak, chestnut, maple, birch, alder, magnolia, apple, and apricot.

Yaks and dzos are reared by local farmers in the higher areas.

Scattered populations of the Himalayan black bear and small ponies may also be found.

People

The local people, known as Kinner or Kinnauri, are of Tibetan and Indo-Caucasian origin, mixed in varying degrees depending on region. Those in Lower Kinnaur possess more Caucasian features while those in Upper Kinnaur possess predominantly Tibetan features. Racial mixing is greatest in Middle Kinnaur.

According to myth, the Kinners are descendants of the Pandavas: beings halfway between men and gods possessing supernatural powers. They also claim descent from the Rajput, Khosias, and Beru castes.

The Kinners speak a dialect of the Tibeto-Burman family known as Kinnauri or Kanauri. The distinctive feature of Kinnarui dialect being its use of Hindi elements. The Tibetan Jangram dialect is spoken by the Kinners living in Pooh and Sangla.

Two thousand speakers of the old Zhang Zhung dialect in the Sutlej valley still remain today. Tibetan refugees from Tibet have recently settled in parts of the district.

Lifestyle

Generally Kinner houses have storerooms for keeping grain and dried fruits, and usually separate wooden grain-storage structures, locally called kathar. According to tradition, the people use utensils made of brass and bronze. Modern influences have included the introduction of Chinese crockery and utensils made of stainless steel and aluminium.

Clothes are mainly of wool. The thepang, a grey woollen cap, is worn with a white velvet band. The Tibetan chhuba, a long woollen coat which resembles an achkan, is worn as well, with a sleeveless woollen jacket.

Religion

Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism are the main religions in the district, although Bön is also practised. These three religions have undergone religious mixing, along with some indigenous shamanistic practices. One can see some Buddhist influences on the Hindu religion in Lower Kinnaur, the mixing of Buddhist and Hindu beliefs in varying degrees in Middle Kinnaur, and even the influence of Hinduism on Buddhism in Pooh of Upper Kinnaur. However, Buddhist Hangrang remains largely untouched by Hindu influence.

One can see Hindu gods being worshipped side by side with Buddhist deities in Buddhist and Hindu temples, especially in Middle Kinnaur. Dabla, one of the major Bön deities, is greatly revered by the Kinners in the area. Folk Hindu gods are also worshipped in Middle and Lower Kinnaur. These include the Durga (locally known as Chandi, Narayan, Vishnu) and many other folk Hindu–animist gods. Folk deities play a major role in the daily life of the Kinners.

Superstitions concerning animist ghosts such as Banchir, Rakshas, and Khunkch also play an important role in the belief system of the Kinners. Pujas and horns of domestic animals are used to ward off the evil spirits, in order to bring good luck.

Buddhist lamas play an important role in the daily life of the Kinners, and young Kaner monks of Upper and Middle Kinnaur are trained from a young age in conducting religious ceromonies, devoting their lives to Lamaism and learning to read Tibetan scriptures and Buddhist doctrines. When they become Lamas and Chomos, they are given religious duties, which include presiding over the religious and secular affairs of the Kinners. They are generally divided into two groups, namely, the celibate Gyolang (who shave their heads), and the non-celibate Durpu (who do not shave their heads).

The Kinnaur Kailash is the most sacred mountain for most Kinners. Every year it is visited by thousands of locals on pilgrimages, Hindu and Buddhist alike.

History

Little is known about the history of Kinnaur, except for the fact that it was once known as Kanaurra or Kinnaura. There are, however, legends and myths among the inhabitants.

It is known that the area was placed under the control of the Magadha kingdom, followed by the Mauryan empire during the 6th century BCE, which was then inhabited mainly by the Kirata, Kamboja, Panasika, and Valhika. Kinnaur also came under the sphere of influence of the Guge kingdom of Tibet between the 9th and 12th centuries.

Kinnaur was later divided into seven parts, known as Sat Khund. Conflicts in the region eventually gave rise to the formation of many small chiefdoms which fought among one another for power. These struggles also included the neighbouring Bhotes. Several forts from this time (including Labrang, Moorang, and Kamru) serve as evidence of the region's history of conflict, which lasted until emperor Akbar conquered the area. Akbar's conquest resulted in the incorporation of the Kinnaur valley into the Mughal Empire.

After the collapse of the Mughal Empire, the Kinnaur valley (then known as Chini Tehsil) played an influential role in Bushahr. When its dominant role in the region lapsed, however, it was merged to form part of the then Mahasu district. By 1960, political, ethnic, and cultural considerations led to the area being reorganised and split off, forming the present Kinnaur district.

Tourism

Kinnaur offers beautiful scenery, but its climate allows visitors to travel only between April and October, as it is cut off from the world by snow during the winter months. Because much of Kinnaur is not served by reliably-surfaced roads, one can only travel on foot.

See also

• Kinnauri language

External links

• Government's district website
• The Himalayas-Kinnaur Himalayas
• Photo Documentation of Lahul-Spiti and Kinnaur-November 2003
• 24 pages of Information by Hindubooks

Template:Himachal Pradesh districts

• Districts of Himachal Pradesh