Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.557

c6.557

Mālyavat Mountain.—It starts from the north-western extremity of the Himalayas, and extends south-westwards, first dividing India including Pakistan from Afghanistan and then through north-eastern Afghanistan. This mountain is known to modern geographers as the Hindukush. A number of spurs run from the main range, such as the Badakhshan spur separating the Oxus from the Kokcha, and the Kokcha spur dividing the Kokcha drainage from that of the Kunduz. The height of the Hindukush varies between 14,000 and 18,000 ft. in the eastern section above which rise several giant peaks to an altitude of 25,000 ft. The range is much dissected and due to steep gradient there is very little soil capping with the result that nothing but grasses can grow there. (Law, Mountains of India, p. 7).