Department of Geography

Government of Uttar Pradesh established two Universities of residential –cum-affiliating nature in December, 1973 to serve the cause of higher education and thereby development of the eastern and western part of its Himalayan territory. Garhwal University was established with its headquarter at Srinagar (Garhwal) and the University has been renamed as Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in 1989 to respect the contribution of the beloved leader who had been instrumental in creation of this university. H.N.B. Garhwal University has now three campuses i.e. at Srinagar, Pauri and Tehri. All the three campuses are having post –graduate and research facility in Geography. At present Prof. D.D. Maithani is the Professor & Head of the Department. Now The University is a central University with effects from Jan. 2009.

Despite less level of available infrastructure, inadequate library facilities and under staff till date, staff members of the department have contributed considerably to the geographical knowledge through D. Phil dissertations, publications and research projects. The Geography Department of this university is privileged for receiving input facilities from the departments of Central Government (Survey of India, NGC, FRI, GSI. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Forest Survey of India etc.) located at Dehradun and finds bearing on the work quality.

Most of the studies centered within the regional frame of Central Himalaya and more particularly Garhwal Himalaya covering wide range of topics i.e. Geomorphology and Environmental Management (18), Resources and Economy (20), Environment Studies Population (12), Mountain development Rural Settlements (6), Urbanization (14), Integrated Area Development (18), Central Place and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (8). G.I.S. as a technology for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analyzing and displaying data which are spatially referenced to earth, need not be over emphasized. Under this backdrop and in view of meeting the academic challenges of future, the Department of Geography has established a separate ‘Geographical Informations System Unit’. Modern techniques like Remote Sensing are being utilized in research work pertaining to study of landforms and environmental degradation. A number of our faculty members have got specialized training in GIS and Remote Sensing. Recently we have established a separate ‘Metrological Laboratory’ in the department at Chauras Campus.