Siwalik Research Articles

Investigating the role of groundwater in Ecosystem Water Use Efficiency in India considering irrigation, climate and land use

Terrestrial ecosystems (TEs) play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and climate regulation. While interactions between surface water and ecosystems are well-studied, groundwater-ecosystem relationships remain poorly understood, particularly in groundwater-dependent regions like India. This study investigates the relationship between water table depth (WTD) and ecosystem productivity across India, considering the variation in irrigation practices, land use and climate types, from 2000 to 2021. We employ Ecosystem Water Use Efficiency (WUEe), the rate of carbon uptake per unit of water consumed, to examine these interactions at different spatial scales. Our findings reveal a strong link between WUEe and WTD. Shallower WTD regions, such as the lower Himalayas and Northeast India with forests and dominated by a wet/humid subtropical climate, exhibit higher WUEe (1.5 – 3.5 g C/kg H2O). Whereas deeper WTD regions like northwest India, characterized by shrublands and an arid climate, display lower WUEe (< 1 g C/kg H2O). This suggests vegetation in arid/semi-arid regions shows higher sensitivity to water availability compared to wetter areas. This is also evident by a declining WUEe trend and increasing elasticity of WUEe () to interannual climatic variability with increasing WTD in these regions. Furthermore, the study identifies potential unsustainable groundwater use for irrigation in areas like the Trans Gangetic plains. Irrigation has a strong correlation with evapotranspiration (ET) (r = 0.4 - 0.6) in deep WTD zones, but no correlation with WUEe. This implies that intense and unsustainable irrigation might disrupt the natural water use strategies of vegetation. This research, by improving understanding of these interactions, aims to contribute to the sustainable management of India’s groundwater resources.

A checklist of moths in Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, in the western Himalayan foothills, India

In the first ever enumeration of moth diversity of Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, India, located mostly in the Shivalik range, 82 species/morphospecies were reported, at least 22 of which are new records for Himachal Pradesh, and five are new records for Western Himalayas. In addition to a list of moths for the district supplemented with photographs, identification keys for similar species, larval host plants for species, and a near exhaustive dataset of distribution of the species/genera within and outside India are also provided.

Origin and composition of dissolved and particulate matter in mountain rivers of the Nepal Himalayas: Insights from Sr and Nd isotopes and elemental ratios

The Ganga River exhibits elevated concentrations of dissolved strontium (Sr) and a higher radiogenic Sr (87Sr/86Sr) among global rivers, which impacts oceanic Sr composition. This has implications for understanding weathering and sediment flux into open oceans. The Nepal Himalayan section is a significant part of the upstream Ganga River catchment. We analyzed Sr and Nd isotopes and major element concentrations in water and sediments to trace compositional and seasonal variability in dissolved and particulate matter. The Sr and Nd isotopes, in particular, are crucial in this study as they provide unique signatures that can be used to trace the origin and composition of the dissolved and particulate matter. Representative rivers draining monolithological terrains were selected to investigate the isotopic and elemental provenance and weathering intensity. The elemental ratios (Ca/Na, Mg/Na) indicate the watersheds are carbonate-rich terrains. The Lesser Himalaya (LH) rivers transport radiogenic Sr with high values compared to rivers draining the Tethyan Sedimentary Series (TSS), Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC), Mahabharat, and Siwalik Hills. The dry season records a higher 87Sr/86Sr ratio than the monsoon. Due to the faster dissolution of carbonates compared to silicates, monsoon waters transport less radiogenic Sr. The significant correlation of 87Sr/86Sr in dissolved and particulate phases signifies that short-term interactions between sediment and water may alter the 87Sr/86Sr composition. Notably, sediments originating from continental rocks exhibit an inverse correlation between 87Sr/86Sr and εNd. In conclusion, the Sr and Nd isotopic records in this study categorize the fluvial catchments into geological clusters aligned with the TSS, LH, and Siwaliks, which advance our understanding regarding the provenance besides providing crucial insights into geological processes, weathering, landscape evolution, and sediment flux.

When Does the Concavity Index Constrain Stream Power Parameters?

AbstractBy defining the attributes of river networks, we can quantitatively extract records of climatic and tectonic changes from them. The stream power incision model (SPIM) provides a framework within which this can be achieved, as it facilitates the calculation of the relative rock uplift from river characteristics. One parameter that has been widely employed in tectonic and fluvial geomorphology is the channel steepness index, a metric that can represent the normalized rock uplift rate experienced by a river. However, to accurately infer the channel steepness index, we must accurately estimate m/n, the ratio between the two positive exponents of the SPIM. Present methodologies to constrain m/n rely on an assumption that rock uplift and erodibility are spatially invariant. These conditions are rarely present on Earth. In this study, we use a synthetic example and examples from the Siwalik Hills and Olympic Mountains to demonstrate how existing methodologies to constrain m/n produce systematic errors when there is spatial variation, and particularly spatial gradients, in the processes driving landscape evolution. To solve this problem, we present a methodology to estimate m/n based on a large river network inversion that accounts for spatial variation in landscapes. After demonstrating that the methodology can accurately recover m/n in our synthetic landscape, we show that our methodology can reconcile contrasting observations in the Siwaliks, and is critical to inferring accurate values of channel steepness index in the Olympic Mountains. This highlights the utility of large topographic inversions for investigating landscape dynamics.

At the Junction Between Deep Learning and Statistics of Extremes: Formalizing the Landslide Hazard Definition

AbstractThe most adopted definition of landslide hazard combines spatial information about landslide location (susceptibility), threat (intensity), and frequency (return period). Only the first two elements are usually considered and estimated when working over vast areas. Even then, separate models constitute the standard, with frequency being rarely investigated. Frequency and intensity are dependent on each other because larger events occur less frequently and vice versa. However, due to the lack of multi‐temporal inventories and joint statistical models, modeling such properties via a unified hazard model has always been challenging and has yet to be attempted. Here, we develop a unified model to estimate landslide hazard at the slope unit level to address such gaps. We employed deep learning, combined with extreme‐value theory to analyze an inventory of 30 years of observed rainfall‐triggered landslides in Nepal and assess landslide hazard for multiple return periods. We also use our model to further explore landslide hazard for the same return periods under different climate change scenarios up to the end of the century. Our model performs excellently (with an accuracy of 0.78 and an area under the curve of 0.86) and can be used to model landslide hazard in a unified manner. Geomorphologically, we find that under climate change scenarios (SSP245 and SSP585), landslide hazard is likely to increase up to two times on average in the lower Himalayan regions (Siwalik and lower Himalayas; ≈110–3,500 m) while remaining the same in the middle Himalayan region (≈3,500–5,000 m) whilst decreasing slightly in the upper Himalayan region (≳5,000 m) areas.

Structural control on the landscape evolution and avulsive behavior of rivers at mountain exits: The example of the Kosi River in eastern Nepal Himalaya

The Kosi River flows from the eastern Nepal Himalaya into the state of Bihar (India) and has experienced frequent avulsions, causing extensive flood-related damage. Because of this avulsive behavior, the Kosi is called the “Sorrow of Bihar.” The avulsion of 2008 was the most catastrophic avulsion event recorded for the Kosi and has been attributed primarily to hydrological and sedimentological processes that formed a super-elevated river channel and caused avulsion. Detailed topographic analysis of the region near the Kosi exit from the Himalaya, using mean-corrected and resampled 1-arc, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and Real Time Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK-GPS) datasets, reveals that the Kosi channel is super-elevated only relative to its eastern floodplain. The western floodplain elevation is similar to or higher than the Kosi channel in the region between the Kosi River exit from the main eastern Nepal Himalaya and the Kosi barrage at the Indo-Nepal border. Structurally, the Kosi exits the Himalaya in the transition zone between the closed Trijuga dun to the west and the Dharan salient to the east. The Trijuga dun is closed by the Main Frontal thrust (MFT)-related frontal topography or the Outer Churia Hills. The eastern slopes of these hills induce west-to-east topographic slope in the channel, such that topographic avulsion indices are highest only in the Outer Churia Hills affected parts of the Kosi Channel and the 2008 avulsion region. Therefore, our preferred model for the primary control on the channel's asymmetric, metastable, super-elevation is the influence of the tectonically controlled MFT-related Outer Churia Hills on the Kosi River channel. Geomorphological processes have operated in the Kosi channel in this backdrop. This study emphasizes that detailed structural and topographic analysis of river exits from mountain belts like the Himalaya can provide better insights into river channel metastability and avulsion worldwide.

How can dry tropical forests respond to climate change? Predictions for key Non-Timber Forest Product species show different trends in India.

The present study provides an assessment of the distribution of key Non-Timber Forest Product species in India, namely Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa, Buchanania lanzan Spreng., Madhuca longifolia (J. Koenig ex L.) J. F. Macbr., Phyllanthus emblica L. and Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. The suitable habitat was analyzed under current climate scenarios and subsequently, the future distribution (2050s and 2070s) was mapped under RCP 2.6 and 8.5 scenarios, along with the past distribution (mid-Holocene, ~ 6000calyear BP) using the MaxEnt species distribution model. The distribution of all species is primarily driven by key bioclimatic factors, including annual precipitation (Bio_12), mean annual temperature (Bio_1), isothermality (Bio_3) and precipitation of the coldest quarter (Bio_19). The results indicate that the present distribution of these species is mainly centred in the Western Ghats regions, Central Highlands, North-eastern India and Siwalik hills. The current study suggests that under the future climate change, the suitable habitat for A. marmelos and T. bellirica is expected to increase while for B. lanzan, M. longifolia and P. emblica, it is projected to decline. A. marmelos and T. bellirica are anticipated to exhibit resilience to future climate changes and are expected to be minimally affected, while B. lanzan, M. longifolia and P. emblica are highly sensitive to high temperature and alteration in rainfall pattern expected under future climate changes. The projections of habitat suitability areas can be used as a valuable foundation for developing conservation and restoration strategies aimed at alleviating the climate change impacts on NTFP species.

A MaxEnt predictive model for palaeontological sites in the Siwalik Hills: A case study from the Pinjor Formation of the Upper Siwalik Hills near Chandigarh, northern India

This study presents application of the MaxEnt predictive model to identify potential palaeontological sites in the Siwalik Hills, focusing on the Pinjor Formation near Chandigarh, northern India. The Siwalik region holds rich vertebrate palaeontological records, yet lacks comprehensive site prediction models. This research employs MaxEnt (3.4.0) software, to predict areas suitable for fossil occurrences. Georeferenced presence data was derived from literature and field surveys, for training the model. Environmental predictors including Pinjor geological deposit boundary, Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Slope and Aspect were from a digital elevation model. Furthermore, model development involved parameter tuning, for developing a potentially useful model. Field validation of the model through pedestrian surveys identified new fossil localities, demonstrating the model's practical applicability. This research emphasizes the importance of MaxEnt in developing site predictive models, offering a valuable tool for optimizing palaeontological field surveys. While highlighting the model's success, the study also recognizes its limitations, especially concerning landscape and vegetation changes over time. Overall, this work establishes a foundation for further research in predictive modelling for palaeontological exploration in the Siwalik region and emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary efforts in salvage palaeontology to mitigate anthropogenic threats.

Stability Evaluation of Lanedada Twin Tunnel in KTFT

The construction of underground tunnels, particularly in roadway systems, is a highly complicated and demanding process, necessitating careful consideration of geological variability, environmental impact, and safety concerns. This thesis emphasizes the critical importance of determining the optimal separation between twin tunnels, balancing the need for environmental conservation, economic efficiency, and structural stability. The study particularly focuses on the Kathmandu Terai/Madhesh Fasttrack (KTFT), a major expressway project in Nepal, which includes twin tunnels at three different sites under varying geological conditions. A detailed case study is conducted on the Lanedada Twin Tunnel, spanning 1.430 kilometers through the Siwalik Hill. Various methodologies, including empirical, analytical, and numerical approaches, are employed to assess tunnel stability. The findings reveal discrepancies in predictions of tunnel squeezing, with Singh et al.'s method indicating no squeezing potential, while Goel et al.'s method identifies squeezing in half of the evaluated sections. Additionally, the approaches by Hoek and Marino (2000) and Shrestha and Panthi (2015) are applied to estimate tunnel deformation at six specific locations. An analysis of rock support systems using the Rock Massm Rating (RMR) classification and the Q system is presented. Special attention is given to the section at 34+160, where the RS2 software is utilized to simulate varying pillar widths between the twin tunnels, allowing for a comparative analysis of different scenarios. This research aims to contribute to the understanding and implementation of safer, more feasible twin tunnel constructions, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of large-scale infrastructure projects.

Comprehensive risk evaluation in Rapti Valley, Nepal: A multi-hazard approach

While research on natural hazards in Nepal has primarily focused on the consequences of individual hazards within an area, it is also essential to analyze the probable occurrence of several types of natural hazards and their interaction, i.e., Multi-hazard assessment. In light of this, the study conducted a Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment of the proposed capital city of Lumbini province, which covers 14 wards from three municipalities. The four prevalent hazards in the area, i.e., flood, landslide, debris flow, and forest fire, have been considered in the study, which includes generating individual susceptibility maps using different geospatial and modeling techniques. The vulnerability and risk assessment was done on a ward level and considered physical, social, economic, and environmental vulnerability indicators. The results on the multi-hazard susceptibility map show that 29.36% of the area was at low susceptibility, while the medium and high zones comprised 46.16% and 24.46% of the total area, respectively. Wards 2, 3, and 7 of Rapti are highly vulnerable, while Ward 8 of Sitganga and Ward 9 of Rapti are the least vulnerable. Moreover, wards 1, 2, and 3 are at high risk to the vulnerability parameters, while ward 8 of Sitganga is at the least risk. The high-risk areas are on the foothills of the Siwalik range, which are prone to landslide, debris flow, and forest fire hazards, as well as are on the bank of West Rapti River, which marks them as potential flood hazard zones. The capital city of Lumbini province is fast developing. Therefore, the results derived from this study assist in identifying potential risk zones to consider while creating a master plan for the area.

A further Contribution to the Flora of Jammu and Kashmir State

The paper describes the salient features of the vegetation of the Siwalik range, the Chenab valley, the high uplands of Batote, Kistawar and Bhadrawah of Jammu province, the Pir Panjal range, Lolab valley and the mountain spurs of north-eastern portion of Kashmir province. A systematic census of 687 species of which 660 are Angiosperms, 6 are Gymnosperms and 21 are Pridophytes is included in the paper.Among plants of interest collected were two endemic species, viz., Viola falconeri Hook. f. &amp; Thoms and Hedysarum cachemirianum Benth., seven new records, viz., Onopordon acanthium L., Callianthemum rutaefolium C. A. Mey., Enhydra fluctuans Lour., Merendera persica Boiss., Luzula pallescens (Wg.) Bess., Asperula odorata L., and Conrum maculatum L. and new areas of distribution for Thesium himalense Royle, Hippuris vulgaris L., Menyanthes trifoliata L., and Lathraea squamaria L. which are previously unrecorded in the published literature on the flora of this area.

Description of Propotamochoerus hysudricus Fossils from the Siwalik Beds of District Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan

Background. Siwalik Hills, situated in Punjab, Pakistan, are highly fossiliferous and are well-known worldwide for vertebrate fossil excavations. Suids are even-toed ungulates. Their fossils have been reported in large numbers in the Siwalik region of northern Punjab and other parts of these hills. Method. To recover new fossils, a field survey was conducted from different geological formations visible around the Hasnot village of District Jhelum. Results. The recent findings and subsequent documentation of dental remains belonging to Propotamochoerus (Mammalia, Suidae) emerged from the Middle Miocene Siwalik beds in the surroundings of Hasnot. The recovered material consists of an isolated second molar on the right side of the maxilla. The genus Propotamochoerus comprised middle to large-sized suids. It provides significant insights into the essential dental traits of this particular genus. Conclusion. The recovered material has been assigned to the species Propotamochoerus hysudricus based on its morphological assessment. This particular substance can potentially augment the existing understanding of the species documented in the vicinity of the Salt Range of Siwalik Hills

Appraisal of lacustrine aquifer’s groundwater potentiality and its hydrogeological modelling in southeastern Peshawar, Pakistan: implications for environmental geology, and geotechnical engineering

The Peshawar Basin is a part of the lower Himalayas that contains an enormous amount of groundwater storage. The evaluation of groundwater potential in the southern Peshawar district was done using well logging, lithostratigraphic properties, and combined hydrogeological and geophysical techniques. A total of 13 Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) profiles were utilised to assess potential groundwater zones for surface resistivity studies. The aquifer system was delineated by comparing the data from five boreholes with the VES findings. An exploration of super-saturated groundwater potential was conducted, utilising parameters such as transmissivity (T), hydraulic conductivity (K), storativity, and the Dar Zarrouk analysis. The Dar Zarrouk analysis yielded average values of transverse resistance (TR), longitudinal conductance (S), and anisotropy (λ), which were determined to be 8069.12, 0.51, and 0.561, respectively. Similarly, average values of transmissivity (T), hydraulic conductivity (K), and storativity were obtained, resulting in 28.67, 0.24, and 0.000177, respectively. The saturated confined layer, characterized by highly saturated zones, was identified to begin at a depth of approximately 119 m and extend down to the lower boundary of the aquifer. The examined aquifer is composed of clay, sand, gravel, boulders, and loose layers of lacustrine mud that are interlayered to form an unconsolidated groundwater aquifer system. The aquifers in the region are highly developed and consisted of unconfined, semi-confined, and confined aquifer systems. As a result, it is possible to use the aquifer for groundwater development in the study area because of its low -to-medium discharge.

Ensuring water security by reviving selected springs in Kangra region, Himachal Himalaya, India

ABSTRACT In the Himalaya, availability of fresh water is a need of mankind, but due to numerous unsustainable developments, hill peoplesare witnessing scarcity of potable water. Hence, there is an imperative need for continuous monitoring of different water sources of Himalaya along with sustainable groundwater management practices in the highlands. The present study is based on extensive field visits investigating natural and other anthropogenic influences on mountain springs, locally known as “boweris”. In the undertaken study, eleven boweris were identified in the Salol region of Kangra, out of which two were exclusively selected as representative boweris, for their detailed studies and revival during the year 2021–2022. The physio-chemical characteristics (pH, TDS, and Electrical Conductivity) of the collected water samples from the boweris and hand pumps were found to be within the acceptable limits as prescribed by Bureau of Indian standards. The correlation between the pairs of TDS-EC depicted a strong positive relationship in both post-monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons and was found to be 0.94 and 0.99, respectively. Results of the t-test show a statistically significant difference in the mean concentrations of TDS (p = 0.02) and EC (p = 0.01) compared to pH (p = 0.39) with no significant difference at 5% significance level during both the seasons in the studied area. It was evident from the field investigations that the recharge structures constructed are facilitating the local boweris in maintaining the water level during the dry seasons. In the Bhatlahru region, the water level in the boweris rose from 127 to 159 cm, whereas in the Salol region, a rise from 119 to 142 cm was observed. The obtained results support the effectiveness and suitability of the proposed structures for the sustainable water resource management in the lower Himalaya. However, regular and long-term hydrological monitoring of the existing groundwater sources of the Himalaya is required for a better understanding of groundwater dynamics.

A Morphometric Analysis of Suid Remains of the genus Conohyus from the Siwalik Beds of District Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan

The current fresh Suid dental material was gathered from Pakistan's Siwalik hills, which are located in Punjab and stretch into Northern Pakistan. There have been reports of fossils being found at sites belonging to this genus in the Hasnot hamlet, which is situated in the Punjab province of Pakistan in the district Jhelum region. These particular examples are representatives of a small suid genus called Conohyus, which is commonly found in the Siwalik Mountains. The material that has been analyzed has provided a significant amount of insight into the underlying dentition that is typical of this genus. The teeth of the genus Conohyus are a little more advanced than the condition found in the genus Palaeochoerus.

Assessment of Welfare in Transhumance Yak Hybrids (Chauris) in the Lower Himalayan Region of Nepal

In order to develop a yak/chauri-specific welfare assessment protocol, we sent a set of 31 potential welfare measures to 120 Nepalese experts and asked them to identify the measures that they thought would be useful and propose additional useful measures. Eighty-three experts responded, with 13 measures being identified by &gt;50% of respondents as likely to be useful. These thirteen measures plus one new measure (hematology) were included in an assessment protocol that was tested in the second phase of this study in five chauri herds in two districts in northern Nepal. Animal-based evaluations along with sampling for mastitis, intestinal parasites, and hematology were undertaken during or just after morning milking. Resource- and record-based measures were assessed through structured interviews, with verifications on-site where possible. No chauris exhibited poor body conditions, skin injuries, significant locomotion issues, or significant subclinical mastitis. Fecal testing suggested a high prevalence of intestinal parasites at the herd level, while blood testing suggested no evidence of hematological abnormalities. However, for both results, we need more data to use these effectively as measures of welfare. The resource-based assessment revealed significant challenges across all resources, and veterinary services were reported as being inadequate. A high estimated annual mortality rate (10–21%) needs further investigation. This protocol provided a useful start towards developing a welfare assessment protocol for yak/chauri and identified issues that need addressing to optimize chauri welfare.

Assessing the Prediction Accuracy of Frequency Ratio, Weight of Evidence, Shannon Entropy, and Information Value Methods for Landslide Susceptibility in the Siwalik Hills of Nepal

The main objective of this study is to assess the prediction and success rate based on bivariate frequency ratio (FR), weight of evidence (WoE), Shannon entropy (SE), and information value (IV) models for landslide susceptibility in the sedimentary terrain of Nepal Himalaya, as the area is facing threat for sustainable development as well as sustainable resource management. This study also seeks to evaluate the causative factors for landslide susceptibility. Initially, a landslide inventory map was created, consisting of 1158 polygons. These polygons were randomly divided into two sets, with a ratio of 70% for training and 30% for testing data. The multicollinearity approach was evaluated to assess the relevance of selected conditioning variables and their inclusion in the model construction process. The area under the curve (AUC) and other arithmetic evaluation methods were employed to validate and compare the outcomes of the models. In comparison, the predictive accuracy of the FR model surpasses that of the IV and SE models. The success rates, ranked in descending order, are as follows: WoE (79.9%), FR (75.3%), IV (74.4%), and SE (73.2%). Similarly, the success rates of four distinct models, namely WoE, FR, IV, and SE, are 85%, 78.75%, 78.57%, and 77.2%, correspondingly. All models have an accuracy and prediction rate exceeding 70%, making them suitable for assessing landslide susceptibility in the Siwalik Hills of Nepal. Nevertheless, the weight of evidence model provides more precise outcomes than other models. This study is expected to provide important information for road and settlement sustainability in the study area.

Response of maize to the combined application of innovative organic and inorganic sources of nutrients in an acid Alfisol of lower Himalayas

Response of maize to the combined application of innovative organic and inorganic sources of nutrients in an acid Alfisol of lower Himalayas

Land Use Land Cover Change Detection in Churia of Bara District, Nepal by Using GIS and Remote Sensing

Land use land cover (LULC) is a dynamic process. It is derived by forces responsible for these changes. LULC changes has become a central component of current strategies in managing natural resources and monitoring environmental changes. Among them, Forest cover have been changes due to different activities like deforestation, encroachment infrastructure development etc. so, the study was carried out with integrated approach using Remote sensing and GIS techniques together with socio-economic data to examine the LULC change and its driving forces. Image processing was done through supervised classification in order to prepare LULC maps using Maximum Likelihood algorithm. Result showed that the forest cover as well as Rivers &amp; Riverine area are decreasing by 0.39% and 1.06% per year respectively, contributing to increase Agricultural land and built-up area at the rate of 1.13% and 4.18% per year respectively in churia range of Bara, Nepal. Mostly, forest area has been converted to Built-up area between 1991 to 2018. Similarly, drivers found associated with forest cover decrease were illegal settlement &amp; encroachment, high dependency on forest product, grazing &amp; forest Fires, infrastructure development &amp; urbanization, natural drivers, land fragmentation, environmental consequences and political instabilities.

Evaluation of morphological traits using multivariate techniques in Kotdhar goat native to Shivalik hill region of Himachal Pradesh.

The objective of this study was to analyze the diverse morphological attributes of Kotdhar goat native to Shivalik hill region of Himachal Pradesh. A total number of 180 goats, comprising 150 females and 30 males aged between 1 and 3years, were randomly selected to estimate15 distinct morphological traits and ten body indices. Mean values of 17.66cm, 11.68cm, 8.73cm, 71.94cm, 69.83cm, 74.48cm, 38.10cm, 73.38cm, 20.55cm, 16.48cm, 14.89cm, 13.57cm, 19.20cm, 7.71cm and 26.12kg were estimated for head length, head width, face length, body length, wither height, heart girth, chest depth, rump height, rump length, rump width, haunch width, bicoastal width, shoulder width, cannon bone and body weight respectively. In addition, morphological indices viz. body index, length index, body ratio, thoracic development, pelvic index, longitudinal pelvic index, transverse pelvic index, proportionality index, dactyl thorax index and relative depth of thorax were estimated from morphological traits. Results of morphological indices indicated that Kotdhar goat are medium bodied, longilinear, tall animals and well-suited for meat production. Phenotypic correlation among most of traits was positive and significant. Among all correlations, correlation between head length and head width was found lowest (- 0.270), while the correlation between heart girth and chest depth was observed highest (0.861). Canonical discriminant function analysis showed that there was no considerable level of intermixing for morphological traits in Kotdhar goat. Employing principal component analysis with varimax rotation, three principal components were observed, accounting for 68.47% of the total variation. First principal component (PC1) encapsulated the highest proportion of variance (44.39), revealing the high loadings on head length (0.777), body length (0.747), wither height (0.782), heart girth (0.785), chest depth (0.706), rump height (0.762), haunch width (0.734) and bicoastal width (0.793). Hence, it is possible to utilize these eight variables out of the 15 morphological traits for the characterization of the Kotdhar goat.