Tree-ring-width chronologies of Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) from moisture-stressed sites in Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Tons, Satluj (lower) and Chandra-Bhaga river basins in western Himalaya were studied to understand the basin-specific as well as synoptic-scale features of climate change. In the past 325 years, extreme cool and wet climate during 1734 and 1803 and extreme hot And dry climate during 1705, 1707, 1767, 1774, 1782, 1873, 1887, 1890, 1892 and 1974, common in all the basins, reflect synoptic-scale features. However, in 1816, extreme low growth in trees over. all the basins could have resulted due to reduced photosynthesis caused by impaired solar radiation reaching the ground because of aerosol load in the stratosphere ejected by the Tambora volcanic eruption. The cool and wet extremes are more basin-specific compared to the hot and dry ones. Basin-specific cool and wet climates are due to strong orography-influenced variability in precipitation.