---
title: "Lesser Himalaya zone in detail"
subject: "Engineering Geology I"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_3/engineering_geology_i:lesser-himalaya-zone-in-detail"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/engineering_geology_i/lesser-himalaya-zone-in-detail
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Lesser Himalaya zone in detail

Engineering Geology I · Chapter 7: Geology of Nepal

- Asked in: 2075 Asoj, 3 marks
- Video: [Subdivisions of Himalayas: TransHimalaya, Greater Himalaya, Lesser Himalaya, Shivalik with Animation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er9fqvm1Qcs) — Zeta Axis (UPSC-SSC)
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/engineering_geology_i/lesser-himalaya-zone-in-detail
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/engineering_geology_i/chapter-7

## Question

Describe the Lesser Himalaya zone in detail (lithology and structure).

## Short answer

The Lesser Himalaya zone (altitude 1000-3000 m, width 60-80 km) lies between MBT and MCT. Its lithology includes Nawakot Complex (slate, phyllite, quartzite, limestone) and Kathmandu Complex (Bhimphedi Group schist, marble; Phulchauki Group slate, limestone) with granites. Structure is intensely folded and thrust with synclinoria, klippen, and north-dipping units.

## Answer

**Lesser Himalaya (Midland, Mahabharat) zone.** Lies between the MBT in the south and the MCT in the north; altitude about 1000-3000 m. Width 60-80 km. Rocks are Precambrian to Palaeozoic (some up to Eocene) low-grade metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, with a few granitic intrusions.

**Lithology**
- **Nawakot Complex:** slate, phyllite, quartzite, limestone, dolomite and metasandstone. Lower Nawakot Group: Kuncha, Fagfog, Dandagaon, Nourpul and Dhading formations; Upper Nawakot Group: Benighat, Malekhu and Robang formations.
- **Kathmandu Complex (nappe):** the **Bhimphedi Group** of schist, quartzite and marble (Raduwa, Bhainsedobhan, Kalitar, Chisapani, Kulekhani and Markhu formations), overlain by the **Phulchauki Group** of slate, sandstone and limestone (Tistung, Sopyang, Chandragiri, Chitlang and Godavari formations).
- **Granite and gneiss bodies:** Palung granite and other granites, and the Ulleri augen gneiss.

**Structure:** intensely folded, faulted and thrust. There are synclinoria (e.g. the Mahabharat synclinorium of the Kathmandu nappe) with klippen, and anticlinoria, with many thrusts and tectonic windows. The beds mostly dip northward.

**Engineering problems:** landslides in weathered phyllite and slate, karst and seepage in limestone and dolomite, and shear zones along the thrusts.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Between which thrusts does the Lesser Himalaya lie?
   A. MFT and MBT
   B. MBT in the south and MCT in the north
   C. MCT and STDS
   D. STDS and MFT
   Answer: B. The Lesser Himalaya lies between the MBT (south) and MCT (north). (Key point: Boundaries)

2. Which rock group is part of the Nawakot Complex?
   A. Salt-and-pepper sandstone only
   B. Slate, phyllite, quartzite, limestone and dolomite
   C. Migmatite and kyanite schist only
   D. Ammonite-bearing shale only
   Answer: B. The Nawakot Complex has slate, phyllite, quartzite, limestone, dolomite and metasandstone. (Key point: Lithology)

3. Which structural/engineering description fits the Lesser Himalaya?
   A. Undeformed horizontal beds, no hazards
   B. Intensely folded, faulted and thrusted with nappes and klippen; landslides in weathered phyllite and slate, karst in limestone
   C. Gently folded marine beds; GLOF hazard
   D. Flat alluvium with high water table
   Answer: B. It is intensely folded and thrusted, with landslides in phyllite and slate and karst and seepage in limestone and dolomite. (Key point: Structure and problems)

## Related in Engineering Geology I

- [Lithology of Lesser and Tethys Himalaya; Siwalik difference](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Alithology-of-lesser-and-tethys) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7
- [Lithology of Higher Himalaya and Tethys zone](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Alithology-of-higher-himalaya-and) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7, asked 3×
- [Siwalik zone in detail](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Asiwalik-zone-in-detail) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7, asked 2×
- [Tectonic division and Lesser Himalaya geology](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Atectonic-division-and-lesser-himalaya) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7
- [Altitude and lithology of Churiya, Fore and Trans Himalaya](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Aaltitude-and-lithology-of-churiya) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7
- [Discontinuities; Siwalik and Higher Himalaya lithology](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Adiscontinuities-siwalik-and-higher-himalaya) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7

## Related in other subjects

- [Problems of Lesser Himalaya with mitigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Alesser-himalaya-problems) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 2, asked 5×
- [Problems of Lesser Himalaya and Terai](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Alesser-himalaya-terai-problems) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 2, asked 5×