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Cold desert of India include areas of ladak, leh and kargil of kashmir and spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh and some parts of northern Uttaranchal and Sikkim. These arid areas are not affected by the Indian monsoons because they lie in the rain-shadow of the Himalayan mountain systems. Characterised by extreme cold weather and denuded terrain they are not suitable for plant growth. Isolated, scattered and over grazed herbaceous shrubs are found. Grazing period is less than 3-4 months.