India's Location, 8 Neighbours and 5 Physical Divisions
Coordinates, Tropic of Cancer, 8 neighbours, Himalayas, Northern Plains, Plateau, Coastal Plains, Islands.
India's Location, 8 Neighbours and 5 Physical Divisions
India — Location, Neighbours & Physical Features
What you'll learn
- India's location on the globe — coordinates, hemisphere, Tropic of Cancer.
- India's 8 neighbours and their position.
- Major physical divisions of India.
- Why India's geography makes it unique.
Key concepts
India on the globe
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Latitude | 8°4'N to 37°6'N |
| Longitude | 68°7'E to 97°25'E |
| Hemisphere | Northern and Eastern |
| Tropic of Cancer | 23.5°N — passes through middle of India (Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, WB, Tripura, Mizoram) |
| Standard Meridian | 82°30'E (passes through Allahabad/Prayagraj); IST = UTC +5:30 |
| Area | 3.28 million km² — 7th largest country in world |
| Coastline | ~7,516 km (mainland + islands) |
| Southernmost point | Indira Point (Great Nicobar Island) |
| Northernmost point | Indira Col (Siachen, Kashmir) |
India's neighbours
| Neighbour | Direction | Key shared feature |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | NW | Shares Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat border; Thar Desert |
| Afghanistan | NW (through PoK) | Short border; strategic |
| China | N & NE | Longest land border (3,488 km); Himalayas as natural boundary; border disputes (Aksai Chin, Arunachal Pradesh) |
| Nepal | N | Landlocked Himalayan kingdom; open border with India |
| Bhutan | NE | Landlocked; special friendship treaty with India |
| Bangladesh | E | Largest land border (~4,156 km); shares Bengal delta, Ganga-Brahmaputra plain |
| Myanmar | E | Shares NE India border (Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram) |
| Sri Lanka | SE (across water) | Separated by Palk Strait; 80 km from mainland |
- Total land neighbours: 7; sea neighbour: Sri Lanka (and Maldives further southwest).
Major physical divisions of India
India has 5 major physical divisions:
1. The Himalayan Mountains (North)
- Runs ~2,500 km from Indus in the west to Brahmaputra in the east.
- Three parallel ranges:
- Greater Himalayas (Himadri): highest; Mt Everest (8,849 m, Nepal), K2 (8,611 m, PoK).
- Lesser Himalayas (Himachal): Shimla, Mussoorie, Darjeeling.
- Outer Himalayas (Shiwalik): foothills; narrow.
- Importance: blocks cold Arctic winds; source of major rivers; monsoon trap; tourism, biodiversity.
2. The Northern Plains
- Formed by alluvial deposits of Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra rivers — very fertile.
- Stretches ~2,400 km E-W; 150–300 km wide.
- Divided into: Punjab plain (Indus system), Ganga plain, Brahmaputra plain.
- Most densely populated region; breadbasket of India.
3. The Peninsular Plateau
- Old, hard, stable land mass; mostly ancient rock (Deccan Trap — volcanic basalt).
- Bounded by Western Ghats (west), Eastern Ghats (east).
- Western Ghats: steep; continuous; avg 1,000 m; highest — Anamudi (2,695 m, Kerala).
- Eastern Ghats: discontinuous; lower; rivers cut through them.
- Deccan Plateau: between the Ghats; rich in minerals (iron, coal, manganese).
4. The Coastal Plains
- Western Coastal Plain: narrow (50–100 km); between Western Ghats and Arabian Sea; Kerala backwaters, Goa beaches, Mumbai.
- Eastern Coastal Plain: wider (100–130 km); between Eastern Ghats and Bay of Bengal; Coromandel coast, Chilika Lake.
5. The Islands
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Bay of Bengal): 572 islands; volcanic origin; tribal communities; tropical rainforest; southernmost Indira Point.
- Lakshadweep Islands (Arabian Sea): 36 coral islands; smallest Union Territory; coconut palms; clear water.
Why India's geography matters
| Feature | Significance |
|---|---|
| Himalayas | Defence barrier; river source; monsoon trigger |
| Northern plains | Agriculture; dense population; food security |
| Peninsular plateau | Mineral wealth; hard water; different crops (cotton, millets) |
| Long coastline | Trade; fishing; naval power; ports |
| Tropic of Cancer | Most of India is tropical → monsoon climate → rich biodiversity |
Quick check
- Through which Indian states does the Tropic of Cancer pass? Name any three.
- Name India's 7 land neighbours and their direction.
- What are the three ranges of the Himalayas?
- What is the difference between Western and Eastern Ghats?
- Name the five major physical divisions of India.
Open the Practice tab for graded questions on India's location and physical features.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- What you'll learn
- Key concepts
- Quick check
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