Mountains, Plateaus, Plains, Coasts & Islands
Himalayan ranges and passes, Northern Plains (Bhabar/Terai), Deccan Plateau, Western/Eastern Ghats, coastal plains, islands.
Mountains, Plateaus, Plains, Coasts & Islands
India's Relief & Landforms
What you'll learn
- The geological history that shaped India's terrain.
- Detailed features of each major physical division.
- Important passes, peaks, rivers, and coasts.
- Why India's relief matters for climate, agriculture, and economy.
Key concepts
How India's land was formed
- Peninsular plateau: one of the world's oldest land surfaces (part of ancient Gondwana supercontinent, ~600 million years old); very stable; rich in minerals.
- Himalayas: geologically young, fold mountains (formed ~40–50 million years ago when Indian plate collided with Eurasian plate); still rising; prone to earthquakes.
- Northern plains: formed by sediment deposited by Himalayan rivers over millions of years; one of the most fertile plains on Earth.
Division 1 — The Himalayan Mountains
Three parallel ranges (west to east)
| Range | Hindi name | Avg height | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Himalayas | Himadri | 6,000 m+ | Perpetual snow; Everest (8,849 m), K2 (8,611 m), Kanchenjunga (8,586 m — highest in India) |
| Lesser Himalayas | Himachal | 3,700–4,500 m | Hill stations: Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Darjeeling; most Himalayan glaciers here |
| Outer Himalayas | Shiwaliks | 900–1,100 m | Narrow foothills; wide valley floors called duns (Dehradun) |
Important passes
| Pass | Location | Strategic use |
|---|---|---|
| Zoji La | Jammu & Kashmir | Links Srinagar to Leh |
| Shipki La | Himachal Pradesh | India–Tibet trade |
| Nathu La | Sikkim | India–China border; opened for trade 2006 |
| Diphu Pass | Arunachal Pradesh | India–Myanmar border |
| Bolan Pass | (now Pakistan) | Historical route to Afghanistan |
Himalayan sub-regions (east to west)
- Punjab Himalaya: between Indus and Sutlej rivers.
- Kumaon Himalaya: between Sutlej and Kali rivers.
- Nepal Himalaya: between Kali and Tista rivers (contains Everest).
- Assam Himalaya: between Tista and Brahmaputra rivers.
Division 2 — The Northern Plains
- Formed by alluvial deposits of Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra systems.
- Extends ~3,200 km E–W; 150–300 km wide.
- World's most extensive alluvial plain; highly fertile.
Three parts
| Part | Rivers | States |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab–Haryana Plain | Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej | Punjab, Haryana; "Land of Five Rivers" |
| Ganga Plain | Ganga, Yamuna, Ghaghra, Son | UP, Bihar; most densely populated |
| Brahmaputra Plain | Brahmaputra | Assam; floods every year; very fertile |
Bhabar and Terai
- Bhabar: narrow belt (8–16 km) along Himalayan foothills; coarse gravel; rivers disappear underground.
- Terai: wet, marshy belt south of Bhabar; rivers re-emerge; dense forests; biodiversity hotspot (Jim Corbett, Kaziranga NP here); now largely cultivated.
Division 3 — The Peninsular Plateau
- Ancient, hard, stable landmass; average height 600–900 m.
- Deccan Trap: volcanic basalt covering ~500,000 km² (Maharashtra, Karnataka, MP) — forms flat-topped plateaus; rich black (regur) soil → ideal for cotton.
Sub-divisions
| Region | States | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Central Highlands | MP, Rajasthan | Aravalli, Vindhyas, Satpuras; Chambal ravines |
| Deccan Plateau | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra | Between Western and Eastern Ghats; drains E into Bay of Bengal |
| Maharashtra Plateau | Maharashtra | Basalt; cotton country |
| Karnataka Plateau | Karnataka | Coffee, sandalwood |
| Telangana Plateau | Telangana | Granite; low rainfall |
Western Ghats vs Eastern Ghats
| Feature | Western Ghats | Eastern Ghats |
|---|---|---|
| Continuity | Continuous, unbroken | Discontinuous; cut by rivers |
| Height | 900–1,600 m avg | 600 m avg |
| Highest peak | Anamudi (2,695 m, Kerala) | Mahendragiri (1,501 m, Odisha) |
| Rainfall | Very heavy (windward) | Moderate |
| Biodiversity | UNESCO World Heritage; Western Ghats hotspot | Less diverse |
Division 4 — The Coastal Plains
Western Coastal Plain
- Narrow (50–65 km); between Western Ghats and Arabian Sea.
- Konkan coast (Mumbai to Goa): rocky, small harbours.
- Malabar coast (Goa to Kerala): backwaters (lagoons), mangroves, spices.
- Kerala backwaters: unique network of lakes and canals; major tourism draw.
Eastern Coastal Plain
- Wider (100–130 km); between Eastern Ghats and Bay of Bengal.
- Northern Circar (Odisha/North Andhra) and Coromandel coast (South Andhra/Tamil Nadu).
- Chilika Lake (Odisha): largest coastal lagoon in India; Ramsar wetland; flamingos and dolphins.
- Pulicat Lake (Andhra/Tamil Nadu): second largest lagoon.
- More fertile deltas: Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri.
Division 5 — The Islands
| Group | Sea | Key islands | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman & Nicobar | Bay of Bengal | 572 islands; Port Blair | Volcanic origin; tribal communities (Sentinelese); southernmost point Indira Point; Biosphere Reserve |
| Lakshadweep | Arabian Sea | 36 coral atolls; Kavaratti (capital) | Coral origin; smallest UT; only Muslim-majority UT; no trees except coconut palms |
Why India's relief matters
| Relief feature | Significance |
|---|---|
| Himalayas | Block cold winds; trap monsoon; source of rivers; defence barrier |
| Northern Plains | Agriculture; dense population; trade routes; groundwater |
| Peninsular Plateau | Mineral wealth; old rivers; cotton; different climate |
| Coastal Plains | Ports; trade; fishing; tourism |
| Islands | Strategic (near Malacca Strait); biodiversity; tourism |
Quick check
- Name the three ranges of the Himalayas with their average heights.
- What is the difference between Bhabar and Terai?
- Compare Western and Eastern Ghats on three points.
- What is Chilika Lake? Why is it significant?
- Why is the Peninsular Plateau rich in minerals?
Open the Practice tab for graded questions on India's Relief & Landforms.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- What you'll learn
- Key concepts
- Quick check
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