India: It's Physical Features

India, a country that ranks 7th among the largest countries (area wise) of the world, is also a land of great variations. India's territorial variability ranges from high lying mountains to low lying plains, from areas experiencing severe drought to areas experiencing floods, and much more.  


This article is dedicated to the the Indian terrain and will help increase your knowledge about the geography of India. As you go through this article, you will find that India's varied terrain has a huge impact on its people, their culture, their living standards and much more.

Here, I have summarized all the facts, information about it in the form of points. This data is not meant to be learnt, it is only meant to be read and explored!!!

So, what are you waiting for? Lets explore!!!  

Major physio-graphic divisions of India:

1. The Himalayan Mountains
2. The Northern Plains
3. The peninsular plateau
4. The Indian Desert
5. The Coastal Plains
6. The Islands

(1) The Himalayan Mountains:

The Great Himalayas
(Source: The Times Of India)

The Himalayan ranges run from West to East from Indus to Brahmaputra. It amazingly covers a distance of about 2,400 km. Their width varies, like in Kashmir, its 400 km wide while in Arunachal Pradesh, its just 150 km wide. 

It consists of three parallel ranges:

1. Himadri (Great/Inner Himalayas):

Himadri Range
(Source: Youtube)

• Its the northernmost range and is very continuous.
• Its peaks' average height is 6,000 meters.
• Core of this part of Himalayas consists of Granite.
• Example: Zaskar Range and others.

2. Himachal (Lesser Himalayas):

Mahabharat Range
(Source: Wikipedia)

• Its south to Himadri.
• Its altitude varies between 3,700 m and 4,500 m and average width is 50 km.
• Pir Panjal range is the most important range. Others are Daula Dhar and Mahabharata.
• The Kashmir valley lies here!!!

3. Shivaliks:

Shivalik Ranges
(Source: Khadubhai IAS)

• Their width is between 10 and 50 km and altitude is between 900 and 1100 m.
• This is composed of unconsolidated sediments brought down by rivers.
• These are covered with gravel and aluminium.
• The longitudinal valleys between Himachal and Shiwaliks are called Duns. 
• Example: Dehra Dun, Patli Dun and others. 

Himalayan Latitudinal Divisions:

• Himalayas lying between Indus and Satluj are traditionally known as Punjab Himalayas or Kashmir and Himachal Himalayas.
• Himalayas lying between Satluj and Kali rivers are known as Kumaon Himalayas.
• Kali and Teesta demarcate Nepal Himalayas.
• Teesta and Dihang rivers demarcate Assam Himalayas.

Eastern Himalayas:

Eastern Himalayas
(Source: Wikipedia)

• Brahmaputra marks the Easternmost boundary of the Himalayas.
• Beyond Dihang gorge, Himalayas move sharply to South and spread in Eastern India and are called Purvanchal or Eastern Hill Himalayas.
• These hills are composed of strong sandstone and sedimentary rocks.
• These are covered with dense forests and also run parallel to each other.
• Example: Patkal, Naga, Manipur and Mizo Hills are some notable ones.

(2) The Northern Plains:

Northern Plains of India
(Source: Vivacepanorama.com)

• It was formed by the interplay of Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra.
• It has alluvial soil and is hence suitable for agriculture.
• It covers an area of over 7 lakh km!
• It is densely populated.

Divisions of Northern Plains:

1. Punjab Plains: Western part of northern plains is called Punjab plains. Its larger part lies in Pakistan.
2. Ganga Plains:  It extends between Ghaghar and Teesta rivers. It spreads over Haryana, UP, Delhi and Bihar.
3. Brahmaputra Plains: Assam lies in this plain.

Division of Northern Plain on Variation of Relief:

1. Bhabar: The rivers in Shivaliks deposited pebbels in narrow belt about 8- 16 km. It is known as Bhabar. All streams disappear here.
2. Terai: Here, in south of Bhabar, streams re-emerge and create a wet swampy land called Terai. It was thick forested and had wildlife but to settle migrants from Pakistan, it was cleared.
3. Bhangar: Northern plains has mainly older alluvium. It lies above flood plains and present a terrace like feature called Bhangar. The soil in this region contains calcareous deposits called Kankar.
4. Khadar: Newer and younger deposits of flood plains are called Khadar. They are renewed every year and hence are fertile and fit for agriculture.

(3) The Peninsular Plateau:

Peninsular Plateau of India
(Source: civilsdaily)

• It is a tableland composed of old crystalline, igneous and metamorphic rocks.
• It was formed due to the breaking and drifting of Gondwana land and thus is a part of oldest landmass.
• The plateau has broad and shallow valleys and rounded hills. 

Broad Divisions of Peninsular Plateau:

a. Central Highlands:

Central Highlands of India
(Source: deccanplateau.net)

• The region lying north of Narmada river and covering a major part of the Malwa Plateau is called the Central Highlands.
• Vindhyan range is south bounded with Central Highlands and Aravalis on North West. Its West merges with sand of desert of Rajasthan.
• Central Highlands are wider in West but narrower in East.
• Eastward extension of this plateau is called Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand. The Chotanagpur Plateau makes the further Eastward extension.

b. Deccan Plateau:

Deccan Plateau of India
(Source: Quora) 

• This is a triangular landmass which lies in the South of river Narmada.
• It is bounded by Mahadev, Kaimur and Maikal hills.
• Deccan plateau is higher in the west and slopes gently Eastward.
• Deccan's extension in North-East is known as Meghalaya, Karbi- Anglong plateau and North Chachar hills.

c. The Western Ghats:

Western Ghats
(Source: unesco)

• The Western Ghats mark the western edge of Deccan Plateau.
• These lie parallel to western coast.
• These are continuous ans can be passed through valleys only.
• These are higher than Eastern Ghats. Their average elevation is 900 to 1600 m.
• Western Ghats cause orographic rains by facing the rains bearing moist winds to rise along western slopes of the Ghats.
• Its height progressively increases from North to South.
• Its highest peaks include - Anai Mudi and Doda Beta. 

d. Eastern Ghats:

Eastern Ghats
(Source: Counterview.org)

• Eastern Ghats mark the eastern edges of Deccan Plateau.
• Their average height is less than that of Western Ghats. It is around 600 m.
• They stretch from Mahanadi Valley to Nilgiris in the South.
• They are discontinuous irregular and divided by rivers draining into Bay of Bengal.
• Its highest peak is Mahendragiri. Shevroy and Javadi Hills are in South-East of Eastern Ghats. 

e. Deccan Trap:

Deccan Trap
(Source: Wikipedia)

• One of the distinct feature of peninsular plateau is the black soil area called the Deccan Trap.
• This is of volcanic origin  and rocks are igneous. Actually, these rocks were denuded over time and thus resulted in Black Soil.
• It is suitable for growing Cotton.

THE ARAVALIS:

The Aravalis
 (Source :TOI)

• These lie on the western and north-western margin of the peninsular plateau.
• These are highly eroded and are found as broken hills.
• They extend from Gujrat to Delhi in Southwest- Northeast direction.

(4) The Indian Desert:

The Indian Desert
(Source: Wikipedia)

• The Indian desert lies towards the Western margins of the Aravali hills.
• It is an undulating sandy plains covered with sand dunes.
• It has rainfall below 150 mm per year. It has arid climate with low vegetation.
• Luni is the only large river.
• Barchans (crescent shaped dunes) cover large areas.
• Longitudinal dunes are more prominent in Indo-Pakistan boundry.

(5) The Coastal Plains:

a) The Western Coast:

The Western Coast
(Source: TOI)

• It is sandwiched between Western ghats and Arabian Sea.
• It consists of three sections: 

        a) The northern part of coast is called Konkan (Mumbai to Goa).

       b) The central stretch is called Kannad plain.

       c) The southern stretch is called Malabar Coast.  


b) The Eastern Coast:           

The Eastern Coast
(Source: Wikipedia)

• They are wide and level.
• It consists of two sections:

          a) The northern part is called Northern Circar.

          b) The southern part is called Coromandel Coast.

• Rivers like Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna have formed their extensions here.
• Its important feature is lake Chilika.

(6) The Islands:

a) Lakshadweep Islands:

Lakshdweep Islands
(Source: Holidify)

• These lie close to Malabar coast of Kerela.
• It is composed of small coral islands. Earlier they were known as Laccadive, Amindive and Minicoy. In 1973, they were renamed as Lakshdweep Islands.
• They cover a small area of 32 sq.km.
• Its administrative headquarter is in Karavati Islands.
• The Pitti Island is uninhabitable and has a bird sanctuary.

b) Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(Source: Thillophila)

• These are chains of islands located in Bay of Bengal from North to South.
• They are bigger in size and more numerous and scattered.
• The entire islands are divided into:

        a) Andaman - In North

       b) Nicobar   - In South

• These are of great strategic location for the country.
• There is a diversity of flora and fauna.
• They lie close to equator and experience equatorial climate and has thick forest cover.  

SO, these all were the physical features of India. Its interesting to see that how these compliment each other and also their effect on the flora and fauna of India.

This diversity thus has a great effect on the lives of its people. These make India a diverse country.

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