LAHOUL or Lahul is a subdivision of Kangra district, Panjab, lying between lat. 32° 8' and 32° 59' N., and long. 76° 49' and 77° 46' 30" E., and comprising the valley between the Chamba mountains on the north-west and the Kanzam range on the south-east. Area, 2199 sq. miles. It is bounded on the north-west by Chamba, on the north-east by the Rupshu subdivision of Ladakh, on the south-west by Kangra and Kulu, and on the south - east by Spiti. At Tandi the sister streams Chandra and Bhaga unite to form the great river Chenab, which flows immediately into Chamba on its way to the Panjab plain. The Kanet, who form the mass of the popula tion, have a mixed Indian and Mongolian origin. The thakurs form the gentry of the valley, which ruled until a recent period. They are pure Bhotiyas or Tibetans by blood, but affect a Rajput ancestry. The people are Buddhist, but have castes, and abstain from beef. Numerous monasteries stud the bills, the largest being that of Guru Gantal, at the point of confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga. Polyandry is customary. The Lahuli bear a good character as peaceable and honest mountaineers, but are much addicted to drunkenness and unchastity.
The Lahouli are a totally distinct race from the people of Kulu or the Chamba Guddi range. The Lahouli are a short, sturdy set of men, very ugly, and filthily dirty. The women are decidedly plain. The costume of both sexes consists of a pair of loose woollen drawers, with a frock of the same material, whilst a wrapper is also often wound around the body, being thrown over the shoulder, and fastened by a brass clasp in front.
Their dress, generally of a black colour, is of a kind of plaid, and their caps are of the same. The women wear their hair either in long plaits fastened at the back of the head with a pro fusion of red wool and coloured threads, or comb it back off the forehead, tying- it in a lump behind, and adorning it in a' similar manner.
Around the flat circular caps are strung large white shells like cowries, glass beads, and pieces of amber. Around their neck both men and women wear amulets of mother-of-pearl, pieces of amber, turquoises, and other precious stones. Each man has hanging to his belt a tinder pouch and a brass instrument for striking fire, with many other nondescript implements. They spend six months of each year in Kulu on account of the severity of the winter season in Lahoul. The greater part of that time they pass in dancing and drinking. On their jubilees they set off fire works, and make a tremendous noise, whilst the women dance. These exhibitions do not terminate until they are all too drunk to continue them. The tree which gives character to the district is Juniperus excelsa or pencil cedar, the Shukpa of Lahoul, and Lewar of Kanawar. It forms small forests, especially on the southern slope of the hills, at an elevation of 9000 to 12,000 feet.—Mrs. Hervey's Tartary ; Powell's Handbook ; Hooker and Thomson's Fl. Ind. ; Cleghorn, Panj. Rep. ; Thomson's Travels ; Jacquemont's Tr. ; Imp. Gar.