- Major Physiographic Divisions
Major Physiographic Divisions
The physical features of India are grouped under the following physiographic divisions:
- The Himalayan Mountains
- The Northern Plains
- The Peninsular Plateau
- The Indian Desert
- The Coastal Plains
- The Islands
The Himalayan Mountains
Himalayan Mountains: Stretching along India’s northern borders, the Himalayas run in a west-east direction from the Indus River to the Brahmaputra.
- Three Parallel Ranges:
- Great Himalayas (Himadri): The northernmost range, characterized by lofty peaks averaging around 6,000 meters. Its folds are asymmetrical, and its core is composed of granite.
- Himachal (Lesser Himalaya): South of the Himadri, this rugged mountain system includes the important Pir Panjal range.
- Shiwaliks: The outermost range, made up of unconsolidated sediments.
- Duns: The longitudinal valleys between the Lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks are known as Duns. Notable ones include Dehradun, Kotli Dun, and Patli Dun.
- Regional Divisions:
- Punjab Himalaya: Lies between the Indus and Satluj rivers, also known as Kashmir and Himachal Himalaya from west to east.
- Kumaon Himalayas: Between the Satluj and Kali rivers.
- Assam Himalayas: The region between the Kali and Teesta rivers.
- Eastern Boundary: The Brahmaputra River marks the easternmost boundary of the Himalayas.
- Purvachal (Eastern Hills and Mountains): Beyond the Dihang gorge, this area includes the Patkai Hills, Naga Hills, Manipur Hills, and Mizo Hills.
The Northern Plain
- Punjab Plains: The western part of the Northern Plain, formed by the Indus and its tributaries (Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Satluj).
- Ganga Plain: Extends between the Ghaggar and Teesta rivers, covering states like North India, Haryana, Delhi, U.P., Bihar, and parts of Jharkhand and West Bengal.
- Brahmaputra Plain: Located in the state of Assam.
- Four Regions Based on Elevation:
- Bhabar: A narrow belt (8 to 16 km wide) parallel to the Shiwalik slopes, where rivers deposit pebbles. Streams disappear in this region.
- Terai: Wet, swampy, and marshy area where streams and rivers re-emerge.
- Bhangar: The largest part of the plain, formed by older alluvium above river floodplains. It presents a terrace-like feature.
- Khadar: Newer, younger deposits found in the floodplains.
The Peninsular Plateau
The Peninsular Plateau is a tableland composed of old crystalline, igneous and metamorphic rocks. It was formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land. One of the distinct features of the Peninsular Plateau is the black soil area known as Deccan Trap.
This plateau consists of 2 divisions:
- The Central Highlands: The part of the Peninsular plateau lying to the north of the Narmada River, covering a major area of the Malwa plateau, is known as the Central Highlands. The eastward extensions of this plateau are locally known as the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand.
- The Deccan Plateau: It is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river Narmada. An extension of the Plateau is also visible in the northeast, which is known as the Meghalaya, Karbi-Anglong Plateau and North Cachar Hills.
The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats mark the western and the eastern edges of the Deccan Plateau, respectively.
| Western Ghats | Eastern Ghats |
| Western Ghats lie parallel to the western coast. | The Eastern Ghats stretch from the Mahanadi Valley to the Nilgiris in the South. |
| They are continuous and can be crossed through passes only. | They are discontinuous and irregular. They can be dissected by rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal. |
| They are higher than the Eastern Ghats. Their average elevation is 900–1600 metres. | Their average elevation is 600 metres. |
| Anamudi is the highest peak in the Western Ghats. | Mahendra Giri (1,501 metres) is the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats. |
The Indian Desert
The Indian desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills.
- It is a sandy plain covered with sand dunes.
- This region receives very low rainfall, below 150 mm per year.
- It has a dry climate with low vegetation cover
The Coastal Plains
A coastal plain is a flat, low-lying piece of land next to the ocean. To the east and west of the peninsular plateau, 2 narrow strips of plain lands are found, which are respectively called Eastern Coastal Plain and Western Coastal Plain.
- Eastern Coastal Plain
- The Eastern Coastal Plains is a wide stretch of landmass lying between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. In the northern part, it is referred to as the Northern Circar, while the southern part is known as the Coromandel Coast.
- Large rivers, such as the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri, have formed an extensive delta on this coast. Lake Chilika is an important feature along the eastern coast.
- Western Coastal Plain
The western coast is sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. It is a narrow plain and consists of 3 sections, as mentioned below:
- The northern part of the coast is called the Konkan (Mumbai – Goa)
- The central stretch is called the Kannad Plain
- The southern stretch is referred to as the Malabar coast
The Islands
- Lakshadweep Islands:
- Composed of small coral islands.
- Formerly known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindive.
- Divided into two main categories:
- Andaman (in the north).
- Nicobar (in the south).
- Equatorial climate with thick forest cover.
- India’s Diverse Physical Features and Development Potential:
- Mountains: Vital sources of water and forest wealth.
- Northern Plains: Granaries of the country, supporting early civilizations.
- Plateau: Rich in minerals, contributing to India’s industrialization.
- Coastal Regions and Islands: Offer opportunities for fishing and port activities.
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