Indian Geography Mapping

Indian
Geography
Mapping
Contents
Islands of India .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Beaches in India .............................................................................................................................................27
Western and Eastern Coastal Plains of India ...................................................................................... 51
Lakes of India & World ................................................................................................................................. 61
List of Mountain Ranges in India .............................................................................................................75
Important Mountain Peaks in India ....................................................................................................... 98
Important Hill Ranges of India .............................................................................................................. 106
Major Mountain Passes in India .............................................................................................................. 112
Important Glaciers in India ......................................................................................................................130
Important Rivers in India .......................................................................................................................... 139
Important Waterfalls in India & the World ........................................................................................ 158
Multi-Purpose Projects in India .............................................................................................................. 174
Important Dams in India (River Valley Projects) ............................................................................. 189
Indian Peninsular Plateau (Deccan Plateau) ..................................................................................... 199
Northern Plains of India ............................................................................................................................ 215
Important National Highways in India ................................................................................................ 221
Ports and Waterways ................................................................................................................................ 229
Important Canals in India ........................................................................................................................ 248
Ramsar Sites in India ................................................................................................................................. 259
Biosphere Reserves in India.................................................................................................................... 294
National Parks in India............................................................................................................................... 318
Tiger Reserves in India .............................................................................................................................. 333
Elephant Reserves in India...................................................................................................................... 355
Bird Sanctuaries of India.......................................................................................................................... 366
Wildlife Sanctuaries of India .................................................................................................................. 376
Important Hill stations in India ............................................................................................................. 398
Religious Places in India ........................................................................................................................... 412
World Heritage Sites in India ................................................................................................................. 422
List of volcanoes in India .......................................................................................................................... 440
Important Cities of India .......................................................................................................................... 447
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Hydroelectric Power Plants in India .................................................................................................... 473
Thermal Power Plants in India ..............................................................................................................480
Nuclear Power Plants in India ................................................................................................................ 495
Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPP) ...................................................................................................... 501
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Islands of India
New Moore island
• New Moore, also known as “Purbasha” and “South Talpatty Island”.

• small uninhabited offshore sandbar island in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of
the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta region.
• Formed in 1970 due to the Bhola cyclone and disappeared at some later due to sea
level rise, changes in monsoonal rain patterns which altered river flows and land
subsidence.
• Both India and Bangladesh claimed sovereignty over it because of speculation over
the existence of oil and natural gas in the region.
• According to Permanent Court of Arbitration’s verdict in 2014, the island will be
under the jurisdiction of India, even though it is currently beneath the sea level.
• Has mangrove vegetation and fragile ecosystem.
Sagar Island
• Also known as Gangasagar or Sagardwip.

• It is an island in the Ganges delta, lying on the continental shelf of the Bay of Bengal.
• One of the largest islands of the Sundarban Delta at the mouth of the Hugli River.
• This Island falls under the South 24 Parganas District in West Bengal.
• Sagar island is a place of Hindu pilgrimage.
• Every year on the day of Makar Sankranti, hundreds of thousands of Hindus gather to
take a holy dip at the confluence of river Ganges and Bay of Bengal and offer prayers
(puja) in the Kapil Muni Temple.
Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island)
• Dr. Abdul Kalam Island, formerly known as Wheeler Island, is an island off the coast
of Odisha.
• Abdul Kalam Island is located in the Bay of Bengal approximately 10 kilometers off
the eastern coast of India and about 70 kilometers south of Chandipur in Balasore
district, Odisha.
• Missile test facility for most of the Indian missiles.
• The nearest port is Dhamra Port.
Hope Island
• A small tadpole-shaped island situated off the coast of Kakinada in the Bay of Bengal
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• Young island is formed in the last 200 years from the sands carried by the waters of
the Godavari
• Protects the port of Kakinada from strong cyclones, tidal waves, and tsunamis
• It makes the Kakinada port one of the safest ports in the eastern coast of India
• It is situated 10 km from Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and Sri Kukkuteswara Swamy
Temple.
Sriharikota
• Sriharikota is a barrier island off the Bay of Bengal coast located in the Shar
Project settlement of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh.
• At the sea margin of the Pulicat Lake.
• Has the rocket launching station of ISRO (SHAR)
• Connected to Chennai by expressways.
Narcondam Island
• India’s easternmost Island is a small volcanic island located in the

northern Andaman Sea.
• A dormant volcano with a conical shape but no remains of a crater at the top (710 m
above sea lavel)- second tallest point after the Saddle Peak
• Proximity to Myanmar lends it great strategic and geopolitical significance
• The easternmost point of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Barren Island
• Barren Island is an island located in the Andaman Sea, south of the Narcondam
Island.
• It is the only confirmed active volcano in the Indian subcontinent and the only
active volcano along a chain of volcanoes from Sumatra to Myanmar.
• Most recent eruption – 2020
• Part of the volcanic arc formed at the margin of the tectonic plates
• No human population true to its name
• 2 km. wide caldera at the top
Landfall Island
• Landfall Island is the northernmost island of the Indian union territory of Andaman
and Nicobar Islands.
• It is separated from the Coco Island of Myanmar by the Coco Channel.
• It is separated from North Andaman Island by the Cleugh Passage.
• Tourism does exist here but exposure to the public is limited.
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North Andaman Island
• North Andaman Island is the northern island of Great Andaman of the Andaman
Islands.
• The island is home to the highest point in the archipelago, Saddle Peak at 731
metres.
• Its northern tip is called Cape Price
• Geologically part of the Arakan Yoma
• Main town is Diglipur
• Main economic activities – Rice and Orange production.
Middle Andaman Island
• The largest island of India

• Between North Andaman and South Andaman
• Jarawa people live here
• Geologically part of the Arakan Yoma
• Fishing and agriculture
• Towns: Rangat, Billiground and Mayabunder
South Andaman Island
• Southernmost of the great Andaman Group (third largest after Middle and North)
• Port Blair is located in the south-eastern part of the island (less mountainous than
others )
• Home to the majority of the population of Andaman and Nicobar.
• South Andaman Island was struck by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, leading to
many deaths on the island.
Rutland Island
• Between South Andaman and Little Andaman

• North of the Duncan Passage
• Rich in marine life having a good representation of fish and corals
• Formerly home to the Jangil (Rutland Jarawa), one of the
indigenous Andamanese groups.
• Presently without any permanent indigenous settlement.
Little Andaman
• Fourth largest of the Andaman Group.
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• Belongs to the Little Andaman Group, and is separated from Rutland
Island in Great Andaman by the Duncan Passage.
• Between Duncan Passage and Ten Degree Channel
• The Little Andaman Group is the counterpart of the Great Andaman island group.
• Home of Onge people
• Picturesque location, sea water crocodiles
• Widespread rainforests and several rare species of marine turtle.
Interview Island
• Interview Island is an island of the Andaman Islands.

• situated to the west of Austen Strait which separates North Andaman
Island and Middle Andaman Island.
• There is only one village, located in the eastern part of the island.
Swaraj Island
• Havelock Island, officially Swaraj Island, is one of the largest islands in Ritchie’s
Archipelago (and is located between Peel Island and Neill Island), to the east
of Great Andaman within the Andaman Islands.
• Named after Henry Havelock, a British general.
• In December 2018, it was renamed, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as Swaraj
Island as a tribute to Subhas Chandra Bose.
• Main settlers are Bengalis (5,354 people)
• It has Radhanagar Beach which was named “Best Beach in Asia” by Time in 2004
Car Nicobar
• Northernmost of the Nicobar Islands

• South of the Ten Degree Channel
• Flat fertile island covered with clusters of coconut plants and enchanting beaches
with a roaring sea all around
• Major crops: coconut and arecanut
• Home to more than half of the total Nicobar population
Kamorta Island
• Kamorta Island is an island in the Nicobar Islands chain.

• INS Kardip is a naval forward operating base of the joint-services Andaman and
Nicobar Command on Kamorta island.
• The Indian Navy’s Kamorta-class Corvette is named after the island.
• Kalatapu is the main village on this island.
• Affected by the tsunami of December 2004.
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Nancowry Island
• Refers both to a single island and to the group of adjoining islands

• At the central part of the Nicobar group
• Part of the Tribal Reserve Area
• Has magnificient land – locked Nancowry Harbour described as one of the safest
natural harbours in the world.
Katchal Island
• Part of the Nicobar Island

• In the central part of the island group, east of the Nancowry Island.
• Katchal is inhabited by Nicobari Tribes and Migrated Tamilians.
• Devasted by Tsunamis in 2004 at least 1500 people died due to it.
Little Nicobar
• Part of the Nicobar Islands

• Separated from the Great Nicobar Island by the St. George’s Channel.
• In recent time it has suffered tsunami and earthquake
Great Nicobar Island
• Largest island of the Nicobar group

• Southernmost tip- Indira Point (Pygmalion Point)
• Separated from the Sumatra Island by the Great Channel.
• Mt.Thuillier – highest point in the Nicobar (642m)
• Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
Pamban Island
• Also known as Rameswaram Island

• Separated from the mainland India by the Pamban Channel
• Most of the island is covered with white sands
• Coconut and palm trees are found in abundance
• Main towns – Rameshwaram, Dhanushkodi.
Adam’s Bridge
• Also known as Ram’s Bridge or Rama Setu

• Between Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar
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• A chain of limestone shoals Between Pamban and Mannar Island of Sri Lanka
• Geologically link b/w India and Sri Lanka
• 30 km. long
• There is a plan of Sethusamudram Project which is strongly opposed by hardcore
Hindus.
Hare Island
• Hare Island is an island that lies adjoining the V. O. Chidambaranar Port Trust in
Thoothukudi.
• Hare Island forms a part of the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.
• With an area of 1.29 square kilometers, Hare Island is the largest island in the Gulf of
Mannar.
• Very good picnic spot for holiday seekers and the domestic tourists
• Many people visit there during the Pongal.
Van Tivu Island
• located in the state of Tamil Nadu.

• Alternatively known as Church Island.
• It is one of the 21 islands of the Gulf of Mannar located at 8º50′ N and 70º E.
• The islands are situated at an average distance of about 8 km from the coastline.
Dharmadam Island
• Dharmadam Island (Green Island) is a small 2-hectare private

island in Thalassery, Kannur District, Kerala.
• 4 km from the town of Thalassery
• Covered with coconut palms and dense bush in a beautiful sight from the
Muzhappilangad Beach
• During low tide one can walk out to it from the beach
• Earlier known as Dharmapattanam, was a Buddhist stronghold.
Gundu Island
• Smallest of all the islands those constitute together the city of Kochi.
• The island can be reached from Vypin island only by boat.
• Spreaded over 5 acres of land
• Originally the home of a coir factory, it is now a resort owned by the Taj Malabar
Hotel
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Ezhumanthuruthu
• 8 km. west of Kaduthuruthy town in the district of Kottayam, Kerala.

• Area is about 2 sq km.
• Densely populated (3500)
• It is a twin island along with another small island called Pulithuruthu.
Kuruvadweep
• Kuruvadweep or Kuruva Island is a 950-acre (3.8 km2) protected river delta.

• It comprises three densely wooded uninhabited islands and a few submergible
satellite islands, which lie on the banks of the tributaries of Kabini River in
the Wayanad district, Kerala.
• It is an uninhabited island, which is home to rare species of birds, orchids, herbal
plants, etc.
Munroe Island
• Munroe Island or Mundrothuruthu is an inland island group located at

the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River, in Kollam district, Kerala
• It is a group of eight small islets.
• The place is named in honour of Resident Colonel John Munro of the former
Princely State of Travancore.
Nedungad
• A small island located in Ernakulam district of Kerala

• It is located in the east side of Nayarambalam.
Pulincunnoo
• An island village in Alappuzha district of Kerala

• Near the Pampa River
• Part of the Kerala backwaters
• The famous Rajiv Gandhi Trophy boat race is held here during the months of
October-November every year
Ramanthuruth
• One of the smallest islands that make up the city of Kochi.

• It was the smallest polling booth in central Kerala during the 2006 state elections
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• It has untrekkable terrain and is sparsely populated.
Valiyaparamba
• Valiyaparamba is a coastal island in Hosdurg taluk, Kasaragod district, Kerala.

• Perhaps the most scenic backwater stretch in Kerala
• Valiyaparamba is separated from the mainland by Kavvayi Backwater.
• Fed by four rivers and dotted with numerous little islands
• Lush green groves of coconut and emerald green backwaters make the tour of the
island a perfect treat
• Just 50 km. from Mengaluru
Vallarpadam
• A small idyllic island in the Vembanand Lake , 1 km north of the mainland Kochi
• About 3.9 km. long 1.5 km. wide
• Between Mulavukad Island and Vypin Island
• A proposed container terminal project could make this small island one of the best
hub ports in the world.
• Vallarpadam is one of the two islands, the other being Willingdon Island, around
which the Port of Kochi is situated.
• Vypin island lie on its west side and Mulavukad island lie to its east.
• A major pilgrim centre for Christmas : Church of Our Lady of Ransom.
Venduruthy
• Venduruthy is a small island in Kochi. It is now a part of the greater Willingdon

Island.
• Approachable only from the Ernakulam backwater channel.
• It boasted of two edifices, the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
• INS Venduruthy has been named after it.
• 2 defense schools: Gunnery School and the Navigation and Direction School
Willingdon Island
• Named after Lord Willingdon, the erstwhile governor of Punjab

• An artificial island created from the materials dredged while deepening the Kochi
Port.
• Home of the modern port of Kochi
• It has airport, shipbuilding yard, Southern Naval Command Headquarters, custom
house etc
• Also known as Wellington Island.
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Vypin
• Vypin (also Vypeen) is one of the groups of islands that form part of the city of Kochi.
• Vypin forms a barrier island which lies between the Arabian Sea in the west and
the Cochin backwaters formed by the various distributaries of Periyar river, in the
east.
• About 27 km long island was formed in the year 1347 after a heavy flood
• One of the heaviest dense islands in the world
• Connected to Kochi by a bridge from Kalamuku
• Goshree Bridge also connects Mulavukadu and Vallarpadam
• Narakkal is the business capital of Vypin
Netrani Island
• Also known as Bajrangi Island, Murudeshwar and Pigeon Island is a small island
of India located in the Arabian Sea.
• 10 nautical miles away from the temple town of Murudeshwara
• Some of the best sites for scuba–diving
• A coral island suitable for snorkeling and diving
• Comes in North Kanara district of Karnataka near Karwar.
• Used by the Indian Navy for target practice.
Kaveri Nisargadhama
• An island formed by river Kaveri in the district of Kodagu

• It is a famous picnic spot.
• This 25 acre island has lush foliage of thick bamboo grooves, sandalwood and teak
trees
• Just 30 km from Madikeri.
St. Mary’s Island
• St. Mary’s Islands, also known as Coconut Island and Thonsepar, are a set of four
small islands in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Malpe in Udupi, Karnataka.
• Formed of columnar basaltic lava
• Formed when Madagascar was attached to India (88 million years ago)
• Uninhabited islands
• According to legend it was first seen by Vasco da Gama, on his way to Kozhikode.
Uppinakudru Island
• Known as Salt Island

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• Located at 6 km. towards north of Kundapura in Uduppi district of Karnatka
• A small island village, once famous for trading of salts (uppu) and for sea food
• 3 temples and 8 mutts
• Lord Gopalalakrishna, Lord Vasudeva and Siddi Vinayak temples
• Economy – agriculture (paddy, pulse)
Kavvayi Backwaters
• The Kavvayi Backwaters in the Kannur district of Kerala form the largest Lake in the
Malabar region (North Kerala) and the third largest in Kerala.
Anjediva Island
• Island off the coast of South Goa district

• Legally it is part of Goa, although there is a widespread misconception that it is a
part of Karnataka off whose coast its lies.
• 1.5 km long and 25 km wide
• Known for its annual Feast of Our Lady of Springs on 2nd February and Feast of
Chapel of St. Francisco D’ Assissi on 4 October.
Caculo Island
• A riverine island located in the St. Inez Creek in Panaji, Goa
Chorão (island)
• Chorão, also known as Choddnnem or Chodan, is an island along the Mandovi

River near Ilhas, Goa.
• Home of the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
• Hindu and Christian
• It is one of 6 major islands between the Mandovi and Zuari, the others being:
• Ilha de Goa,
• Divar,
• Cumbarjua,
• St Estevam,
• Vanxim and
• Several other small mangrove islands and sand banks.
Tiswadi (Ilhas de Goa)
• Tiswadi is an island with the Mandovi River forming its northern boundary
• Panaji is located on this island
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• It was here that the city of Old Goa was established where a magnificient Church of
Bom Jones lies.
Divar
• An island on the river Mandovi in Goa

• Located about 10 km upstream from Panaji, to which it is connected
• Konkan Railway passes through it
• Scenic beauty, paddy, birds and barren lands.
Salsette Island
• Salsette Island is an island in Konkan division of the state of Maharashtra on India’s

west coast.
• one of the most densely populated islands in the world
• Highest Point – Kanheri Peak in the Borivali National Park which is the world’s
biggest park within city limits.
• It contains Borivali National Park, also known as Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
• Surrounded by Vasai Creek from the north and Thane Creek from east
• Island city of Bombay was separated from it by Mahim Creek.
Seven Islands of Bombay
• Isle of Bombay
• Colaba
• Mazagaon
• Parel
• Old Woman’s Island ( Little Colaba)
• Mahim
• Worli
• There also are several smaller islands that lay to the East of the main seven islands:
• Elephanta Island also Known as Gharapuri
• Butcher Island
• Middle Ground
• Oyster Rock
• East Ground
• Cross Island
Trombay
• NE suburb of Mumbai
• West of Thane Creek
• North of Elephanta and Butcher islands
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• Site of BARC
• Along with Seven Islands of Bombay and Salsette it forms Greater Mumbai
Ambu Island
• An isle off the coast of Mumbai near Madh Island in the Arabian Sea
• Accessible during low tide across a rocky isthmus
• A mosque was built on the island
• Malad is the closest railhead to the island, 15 km away
Butcher Island
• Butcher Island (Jawahar Dweep) is an island off the coast of Mumbai, west of the
Elephanta Island.
• It has an oil terminal where the crude oil is stored and later on piped to Wadala for
refining
• It is a restricted area and most of the island is covered with dense vegetation
Elephanta Island
• Also called as Gharapuri (or place of caves) or Pory Island. It is one of a number of
islands in the Mumbai Harbour
• A popular tourist destination because of the island’s cave temples that have been
carved out of rock
• It has an area 10 sq km and comes under the Raigarh district of Maharashtra.
Cross Island
• Uninhabited island in the Mumbai Harbour between the coast at Dockyard Road
and Elephanta Island.
• It hosts an oil refinery and several large gas holders.
• It has the ruins of an old fort
• Locally known as Chinal Tekdi.
Hog Island
• Hog Island (Marathi: Nhave) is an island which lies in the Bombay Harbour about
ten miles east of the Apollo pier.
• It gets its English name because it was here that ships used to be hogged.
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Middle Ground Coastal Battery
• The Middle Ground Coastal Battery is a heritage site of an antique coastal gun
battery managed by the Indian Navy on an islet off the coast of Mumbai.
• It is situated on Middle Ground isle in Mumbai Harbour, a few hundred metres away
from the Gateway of India, in Thane Creek.
Oyster Rock
• Oyster Rock is an island in the Mumbai Harbour.

• Fortified and owned by the Indian Navy
• For a short while, it was used as a naval museum
• The Maharashtra government had thought of anchoring the decommissioned INS
Vikrant (now a naval museum) on the island.
Panju Island
• Panju Island is an estuarine island in the Vasai Creek just north of Mumbai.
• The island is used by the Western Railway to connect the island of Salsette with the
mainland at Vasai.
• It is located with a maximum elevation of 1 m.
Agatti Island
• Agatti Island is a 7.6 km long island, situated on a coral atoll called Agatti atoll in
the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
• Agatti Aerodrome is the only airport of Lakshadweep
• One can enter it only if one has confirmed place to stay
• There is only one hotel in Agatti, called Agatti Island Beach Resort
Andrott
• Andrott Island, also known as Androth Island, is a small inhabited island in

the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, a group of 36 coral islands scattered in
the Arabian Sea off the western coast of India.
• First island of Lakshdweep to embrance Islam
• Biggest island of Lakshdweep
• Cradle of many civilisation, splendid architectural monuments, lighthouse etc.
• Fishing forms its economic backbone
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Bangaram Atoll
• Bangaram is a tiny teardrop shaped island, which lies very close to Agatti and
Kavaratti.
• An island of the Lakshadweep Archipelago
• A popular tourist resort
• Population is only around 60, mostly tourists
Bitra Island
• Bitra, also known as Bitrā Par, is a coral atoll belonging to the Amindivi Subgroup of
islands of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
• There is a small shrine dedicated to an old Arab saint by the name of Malik Mulla,
who was burried in the island. The shrine has become a site of pilgrimage
• About 300 people live here.
Chetlat Island
• Chetlat Island is a coral island belonging to the Amindivi Subgroup of islands of the
Lakshadweep archipelago.
• This beautiful island attracts many tourists who are thrilled with its bewitching
beauty and varied and diverse acquatic life in large number.
• It is located 37 km to the northwest of Kiltan Island.
Kadmat Island
• Kadmat Island, also known as Cardamom Island, is a coral island belonging to

the Amindivi subgroup of islands of the Lakshadweep archipelago.
• Surrounded on the eastern and western sides by a lagoon, and has corals
• Best attractions are long sandy beaches
• A ideal place for solitude.
• The Ministry of Environment and Forests has notified the island as a marine
protected area for ensuring conservation of the island’s animal, plant, or other type
of organism, and other resources.
Kalpeni Island
• Kalpeni is an inhabited Atoll in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.

• An atoll with coral debris which was the result of a violent storm that hit the area in
1847
• It was the first island in Lakshadweep where woman were allowed to go to school
and get education.
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Maliku Atoll (Viringili Island)
• Only two islands in this atoll – Minicoy and Viringili

• Villingili, is an uninhabited islet in Lakshadweep.
• It is located at the southwestern end of Minicoy’s reef, in Maliku Atoll.
Minicoy Island
• Minicoy, locally known as Maliku, is an island in Lakshadweep.

• Only inhabited island of Maliku Atoll Second largest
• Along with Viringili, it is on Maliku atoll, the southernmost atoll of Lakshadweep
archipelago.
• Long islands (10 km ) completely covered with coconut trees
• Tall lighthouse
• Separated from the rest of Lakshadweep by the Nine Degree Channel.
Ghoramara Island
• An island located 150 km south of Kolkata in the Sundarban Delta complex.

• Small island roughly five square kilometers in area.
• It is fast disappearing due to erosion and sea level rise.
Henry Island
• Henry Island is an island near Bakkhali in South 24 Parganas of West Bengal.

• The island is home to millions of red crabs.
• Dense mangrove forests parted by numerous canals
• Wildlife: Tiger, deer, wild pig, crocodile and snake.
Lohachara Island
• Lohachara Island was an islet that was permanently flooded in the 1980s.
• It was located in the Hooghly River as part of the Sundarban delta in the Sundarban
National Park, located near the Indian state of West Bengal.
• In April 2009 local Newspapers announced that Lochara Island rises from water
again.
• Was an inhabited island where more than 6000 people used to live
• Thousands of refugees in the area who were forced to move to the mainland
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Nayachar Island
• Nayachar is a newly emerged island with mangrove ecosystem in the middle

estuary of the Hooghly River in West Bengal.
• This land mass was created in the Indian Sunderbans by river silt deposits, and
remained largely submerged, rising occasionally above the water level.
• Till 1990 it was completely barren, with hardly any plant or animal species, at present
there are 151 animal species on the island, making it a rare case in ecology.
• The natural succession of species on the island has been aided by the inundation of
water during tides, and the soil brought from other places by fishermen.
• Has flashed in the larger public view as the site of a major chemical hub initiated by
the West Bengal Govt. The hub was earlier proposed at Nandigram.
Pirotan Island
• Pirotan Island (also known as Pirotan) is an island in the Marine National

Park, Arabian Sea. It is located 12 nautical miles (22 km) off the coast (Bedi
Port), Jamnagar District of Gujarat.
• It consists of mangroves and low-tide beaches and has an area of 3 square
kilometers.
• Rozi island is located about 10 kilometers to the southeast.
• Of the 42 islands in the park, Pirotan Island is the most popular and is one of the two
islands where visitors are normally permitted.
Diu Island
• Diu Island is an island off the Southern coast of Gujarat’s Kathiawar peninsula,
separated from the mainland by a tidal creek.
• It has an area of 40 km² and a population of 44,110. It belongs to Diu District and lies 5
km to the east of Diu Head.
• Diu is part of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Both Daman and Diu share the same member of parliament.
• The town of Diu and Diu Fort are located on the island. There is also a domestic
airport, Diu Airport.
• Site of the famous Battle of Diu in 1509 between Portugal and others, and the Sultan
of Gujarat, Mahmud Begada
Shortt’s Island
• An island off the coast of Orissa, near the Wheeler Island

• Located in the Bay of Bengal in the northeastern coast off the Mahanadi delta
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Parikud Island
• Parikud is an island within Chilika lake.

• It is surrounded by Chilika Lake and the Bay of Bengal in its two sides.
• Jahnikuda is present at the easternmost position of the island near Chilika lake.
Jahnikuda acts as a gateway to Puri, the land of lord Jagannath.
Teen Chinar
• Dal lake
Aaliya Bet
• An island at the mouth of the Narmada River in the Gulf of Khambhat

• Good place for entertainment and tourism
• Area has mangroves and rehabilitation of the vegetation is required as the industries
are polluting them.
Khaliabet
• An island in the Gulf of Khambhat

• Has mangroves and corals
• Affected by the industrial pollution
• A Tidal energy potential region
Khandheri Island
• Khanderi is an island with a fort, located south of Mumbai, along the coast of
Maharashtra.
• Fort was built by Shivaji in 1660 is still in tact, the most prominant structure is a
lighthouse built in 1837
• It can only be accessed with the permission from the Bombay Port Trust.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island
• Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island, formerly known as Ross Island, is an island of
the Andaman Islands.
• It belongs to the South Andaman administrative district, Andaman and Nicobar
Islands.
• The island is situated 3 km east from central Port Blair.
• Controlled by the Indian Navy
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• It was the administrative headquarter of the Andaman and Nicobar Island, before an
earthquake rocked it in 1943
• With its treasure of ruins, it has become hot tourist spot.
Aminidivi
• They are the northernmost of the Lakshadweep group

• 5 islands: Amini, Kiltan, Chetlat, Kadmat and Bitra
• Each of these islands is exquisitely beautiful
• Among them Kadmat is very popular.
Laccadive Islands
• The Laccadive or Cannanore Islands are one of the three island subgroups in the
Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
• It is the central subgroup of the Lakshadweep, separated from the Amindivi
Islands subgroup roughly by the 11th parallel north and from the atoll
of Minicoy (Maliku) – far to the south – by the 9 Degree or Mamala Channel
• Islands: Suheli Par, Pitti, Kalpeni, Andrott, Agatti, Kavaratti
• Harmonious blend of traditional culture, nature and modernity
Pachham Island
• Westernmost of the islands formed of marshy lands in the Kachchh region of

Gujarat
• Khavda is the main town here.
• The island is characterized by two parallel and structurally controlled Kaladungar hill
range and Goradungar hill range separated by a synclinal central valley.
Khadir Bet
• Central island of the Kachchh region

• Part of the Great Rann of Kachchh
• Marsy landforms
• Luni River drains here
Bela Island
• Easternmost of the islands of the Kachchh region

• Part of the Great Rann of Kachch
• Marsy landforms
• Luni River drains here
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Majuli
• Largest riverine island of the world Between the Brahmaputra and Subansiri rivers
• Formed due to course changes by the rivers
• Adobe of Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture
• India is trying to include it under the World Heritage Sites
• It is facing ecological problems
Pigeon-Cock
• West of the Mangalore seaport

• Elongated island extending north to south
• Helped in the development of the Mangalore seaport
• Surrounding water is polluted
Srirangapatna island
• Riverine island mere 19 km from Mysore, but lies in Mandya district

• The main Kaveri River flows along the eastern coast
• It was a de facto capital of Hyder Ali and Tipu
• Site of the last (fourth ) Mysore War, 1799
Kachchatheevu
• Uninhabited island of Sri Lanka, northeast of the Adam’s Bridge

• A Catholic shrine is located there
• India ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974
• Under the treaty, Indian fishermen have rights to catch fish in the region
Abunda island
• In the Gulf of Mannar

• Coral island
• Inhabited by Tamil fishermen
• Thin soil cover supports coconut and vegetables
• Petro- refinery of Tuticorin is polluting it
Nallathanni Theevu
• It is situated in the gulf of Mannar about 4 km from the coast of Tamil nadu.
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• It is one of the three inhabited islands in the gulf, the other being Kruadai and Musal
tivu
• It forms part of the Ramnathapuram district.
Quibble Island
• It is a riverine island located in Tamil Nadu, fromed by Asayar river and one of its
tributaries.
• During the British time, an European cemetary was built here.
Srirangam
• It is a riverine island located in Tiruchirapalli city. It is formed between the Cauvery

and the Kollidam rivers.
• The grand anicut is located to the east of the island.
• Srirangam is important Hindu vaishnavite pilgrimage center.
Bhavani Island
• It is a riverine island located 4 km upstream from Vijaywada in the Krishna river.

• It is located at the upstream of Prakasam Barrage and is considered one of the
largest river islands in India, with an area of 133 acres.
• It has a robotic dinosaur park, garden maze, mirror maze, golf and badminton
simulator, cycling, etc
• The island is grate tourist attraction.
Ekakula Island
• It is located in Odisha within the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary.

• It is a prominent neasting site of Olive Ridley sea turtles.
• The serene and tranquil Ekkaula beach attracts lots of tourists.
Chowra Island
• Chowra is an island in the Andaman and Nicobar islands group of India.

• It is located to the north of Teressa island and to the south of Battimalv Island in the
Indian Ocean.
• It is also known as Choura, Tatat or Sanenyo.
Other Coastal Features

Coco Channel
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• Located between Landfall Island and Coco Island (Myanmar)
• Links the Bay of Bengal with the Andman Sea
• Maritime boundary between India and Myanmar
Duncan Passage
• Strait that separates the Rutland Island to the north and the Little Andaman to the
south
• Links the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea
• Several islands in the passage
Austen Strait
• Located between North Andaman and Middle Andaman

• East of the Interview Island
• Links Bay of Bengal with the Andaman Sea
Ten Degree Channel
• Separates Andaman and Nicobar islands

• 150 km wide, lies on the 10-degree North latitude
• Links Bay of Bengal with the Andaman Sea
Sombrero Channel
• Between Katchal Island and Little Nicobar

• Links Andaman Sea the Indian Ocean
• Waterway for the Port Nancowry
Great Channel
• Between Great Nicobar and Sumatra

• Maritime boundary between India and Indonesia
• Important international waterway passes through it
• South of the Indira Point
Palk Bay
• Between India and Sri Lanka

• NE of Adam’s Bridge and South-West of the Palk Strait, which links it with the Bay of
Bengal
• So many smaller islands are found
• Fishing ground and strategically important
Gulf of Mannar
• Between India and Sri Lanka, South-West of the Adam’s Bridge
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• Dotted with many islands
• Marine biosphere reserve
• Fishing ground, sea route, strategically important
• Coral reefs
Kakinada Bay
• Shallow- bar- built water body (Depth 3-8 m at high tide), north-east of the Godavari
Delta
• Kakinada Port on the western coast
• Hope Island protects the port from storms, waves and cyclones.
Indira Point
• Located at the southern tip of the Great Nicobar

• The southernmost point of India
• Touches the Great Channel
• Also called as Pygmalion Point
Cape Comorin
• The Virgin Princess

• The southernmost point of mainland India in Tamil nadu
• Meeting point of Arabian Sea, Gulf of Mannar and Indian Ocean
• Average elevation- 0 metre
• Favourite tourist place
• Closest major city is Nagercoil.
Point Calimere
• Low headland on the Coromandel Coast

• At the apex of the Kaveri Delta
• A right angle turn in the Indian Peninsula
• Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary
Thane Creek
• Part of the estuary of Ulhas River opening into the Bombay Harbour
• Stretches from Mumbra Ritibunder to the Mankhurd Vashi Bridge
• Thane city is located at its head
• Important bird nesting area
Mahim Bay
• Between Worli (S) and Bandra (N) to the west of Mumbai

• Named after the island of Mahim
• Mithi River drains into the Mahim Creek
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• Bandra- Worli Sea Link aims to link the two ends by a flyover bridge
Gulf of Khambhat
• Between Kathiawar Peninsula and Gujarat Plain

• Sabarmati, Mahi, Narmada and Tapi drain into it
• It is shallow and abounds in shoals and sandbank’s including Mal Bank and Malacca
Banks
• Oil and gas, tidal energy, corals
Gulf of Kutch
• Between Kutch and Kathiawar

• Rukmavati River drains into it
• Mandvi, Mundra, Kandla, Jamnagar, Salaya, Okha are located
• Marine National Park (near Jamnagar)
• Corals, tidal power, sea route
• So many small islands.
Sir Creek
• Strip of water disputed between India and Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch marshlands
• Locally called as Baan Ganga
• Pakistan claims entire creek as per Paras 9 and 10 of the Bombay Government
Resolution of 1914.
• Rich in oil and gas
Kori Creek
• Large creek east of the Sir Creek in the marshlands of the Kutch
• Disputed between India and Pakistan
• Region is rich in oil and gas
Mal Bank
• Located at the head of the Gulf of Khambhat, where Sabarmati and Mahi rivers drain
• Khambhat city is located in the north-eastern part
• Oil and gas, coral, tidal power potential
Malacca Banks
• At the southern entrance of the Gulf of Khambhat

• Sandbanks below the sea surface (shoals)
• West and southwest of Surat
• A system of four irregular ridges running roughly from north to south
• Malacca Bank proper refers to the second ridge from the west
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Sundarbans
• Largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forests in the world

• The name came from ‘Sundari trees’
• Spreaded at the seaward fringe of the Ganga Delta in West Bengal and Bangladesh
• UNESCO’s World Heritage Site
• Royal Bengal Tigers are much famous
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Beaches in India
A beach is a landform alongside a body of water that consists of loose particles. There are many beaches on
the Indian coast that stretch for 7517 km both on the eastern and western coasts.
India’s shorelines are endowed with a glorious beauty that is reflected in its undulating golden beaches that
make for an ideal vantage point to watch the sun dipping into the sea. Beaches stroke both the eastern and
western coasts of the Indian peninsula.
They also act as sentinels of the rich cultural heritage of India and host many temples, memorials, and
monuments. Several beaches in the country are sites of adventure sports like skiing, scuba diving, parasailing,
and windsurfing. India’s coastal line lures many migratory birds and aquatic life to come and nestle on the
sun-kissed shores.
West coast Beaches in India

Gujarat
Shivrajpur Beach
Dumas Beach
Suvali Beach
Umbharat Beach
Dandi Beach
Diu Beach
Tithal Beach
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Mandavi Beach
Dwarka Beach
Ghogla Beach
Nagoa Beach
Okha Madhi Beach
Madhavpur Beach
Somanth Beach
Nargol Beach
Sarkheswar Beach
Maharashtra
Aksa Beach
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Aare Ware Beach
Anjarle Beach
Ganpatipule Beach
Alibaug Beach
Kashid Beach
Karde (Murud) Beach
Ganeshgule Beach
Devghali Beach
Devgad Beach
Devbagh Beach
Khavane Beach
Kondura Beach
Nivti Beach
Tarkarli Beach (Malvan)
Ganpatipule Beach
Murud Beach
Malvan Beach
Guhagar Beach
Srivardhan Beach
Gorai Beach
Juhu beach
Manori Beach
Marvé Beach
Versova Beach
Agardanda Beach
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Diveagar Beach
Guhagar Beach
Kelwa Beach
Shivaji Park Beach
Dapoli Beach
Dahanu Beach
Srivardhan beach
Kihim Beach
Mandwa Beach
Velneshwar Beach
Vengurla Beach
Bassein Beach
Bhandarpule Beach
Nagaon Beach
Revdanda Beach
Rewas Beach
Harihareshwar Beach
Bagmandla Beach
Kelshi Beach
Harnai Beach
Bordi Beach
Ratnagiri Beach
Awas Beach
Sasawne Beach
Ambolgad Beach
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Goa
Morjim Beach
Baga Beach
Candolim Beach
Calangute Beach
Sinquerim Beach
Arossim Beach
Majorda Beach
Varca Beach
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Mobor Beach
Cola Beach
Palolem Beach
Agonda Beach
Arambol Beach
Benaulim Beach
Cavelossim Beach
Chapora Beach
Mandrem Beach
Mariposa Beach Grove
Colva Beach
Miramar Beach
Bambolim Beach
Cabo de rama Beach
Anjuna Beach
Utorda Beach
Betul Beach
Querim Beach
Vagator Beach
Ashvem Beach
Betalbatim Beach
Caranzalem Beach
Dona Paula Beach
Siridao Beach
Bogmalo Beach
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Polem Beach
Baina Beach
Hansa Beach
Hollant Beach
Cansaulim Beach
Velsao Beach
Canaiguinim Beach
Kakolem Beach
Dharvalem Beach
Patnem Beach
Rajbag Beach
Talpona Beach
Vainguinim Beach
Kegdole Beach
Kalacha Beach
Sernabatim Beach
Utorda Beach
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Karnataka
Kasarkod Beach
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Padubidri Beach
Om Beach
Gokarna Beach
Paradise Beach
Karwar Beach
Kudle beach
Malpe Beach
Murudeshwara Beach
Panambur Beach
Maravanthe Beach
Tannirubhavi Beach
Devbagh Beach
NITK Beach
Sasihithlu Beach
Apsarakonda Beach
Kaup Beach
Someshwar Beach
Half Moon Beach
St Mary’s Island Beach
Mukka Beach
Ullal beach
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Kerala
Kappad Beach
Varkala Beach (Papanasham Beach)
Alappuzha Beach (Alleppey beach)
Kovalam Beach
Hawa Beach, Kovalam
Samudra Beach, Kovalam
Lighthouse Beach, Kovalam
Azheekkal Beach
Bekal Beach
Vizhinjam Beach
Chavakkad Beach
Cherai Beach
Chootad Beach
Dharmadam Beach
Fort Kochi beach
Kollam Beach
Kappad Beach
Kanhangad Beach
Haripad Beach
Marari beach
Meenkunnu Beach
Muzhappilangad Beach
Mundakkal Beach
Payyambalam Beach
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Saddam Beach
Shangumughom Beach
Snehatheeram Beach
Thirumullavaram Beach
Thangassery Beach
Kannur Beach
Thiruvambadi Beach
Kappil Beach
Nattika Beach
Neendakara Beach
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East coast Beaches in India
Tamil Nadu
Marina Beach
Dhanushkodi Beach
Mahabalipuram Beach
Kovalam Beach (Covelong), Chennai
Edward Elliot’s Beach
Tharangambadi Beach
Golden Beach, Chennai
Silver Beach
Covelong Beach
Olaikuda Beach
Ariyaman/kushi Beach, Rameswaram
Pamban Beach, Rameswaram
Velankanni Beach
Sothavilai Beach
Kanyakumari Beach
Vattakotai Beach
Sanguthurai Beach
Sengumal Beach
Thoothukudi Beach
Tiruchendur Beach
Poompuhar beach
Nettukuppam Beach
Kunthukal Beach
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Andhra Pradesh
Manginapudi Beach
Baruva Beach
Bheemunipatnam Beach (Bheemili Beach)
Kalingapatnam Beach
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Kakinada Beach
Kalingapatnam Beach
Koduru Beach
Mypadu Beach
Perupalem Beach
Rama Puram Beach
Ramakrishna Beach
Rushikonda Beach
Sagarnagar beach
Suryalanka Beach
Tenneti Park Beach
Tupilipalem beach
Kakinada Beach
Uppada Beach
Vodarevu Beach
Yarada Beach
Antarvedi Beach
Motupalle Beach
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Odisha
Golden Beach (Puri Beach)
Chandipur-on-sea
Konark Beach
Sonapur beach
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Talsari Beach (Baleswar district of Odisha)
Dagara beach
Gahirmatha Beach
Satabhaya beach
Pentha Sea Beach
Hukitola beach
Paradeep sea beach
Astaranga beach
Beleswar beach
Chandrabhaga beach
Ramachandi beach
Satpada beach
Parikud beach
Ganjam beach
Aryapalli beach
Gopalpur-on-Sea
Dhabaleshwar beach
Ramayapatnam Beach
Balighai Beach
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West Bengal
Henry Island Beach
Bakkhali sea beach
Digha Sea Beach
Junput beach
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Frasergunj Sea Beach
Gangasagar Sea Beach
Sagar Island
Tajpur beach
Udaypur Sea Beach
Bankiput Sea Beach
Mandarmani beach
Shankarpur Beach
Falta Beach
Diamond Harbour
Pondicherry
Eden Beach
Paradise Beach
Serenity Beach
Promenade Beach
Karaikal Beach
Yanam Beach
Auroville Beach
Veerampattinam Beach
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Island Territories
Beaches In Lakshadweep
Bangaram beach, Lakshadweep Islands
Kadamat Beach
Agatti Beach
Kalpeni Beach
Kavaratti Island
Minicoy Beach
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Beaches in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Radhanagar Beach, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Bharatpur Beach
Laxmanpur Beach
Kala Patthar Beach
Elephant Beach
Baratang Island
Wandoor Beach
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Western and Eastern Coastal Plains of India
The Indian coastline which is 7516.6 km long covers 6100 km of mainland coastline along
with the Andaman, Nicobar, and the Lakshadweep islands.
The straight and regular coastline of India is the result of the faulting of the Gondwana
land during the Cretaceous period.
The coastline of India touches 13 states and Union Territories. The western coastal plains
are along the Arabian Sea whereas the eastern coastal plains are located along the Bay
of Bengal.
India is a country that is surrounded by the sea on three of its sides. The coastal plains in
India are along the west and east of the country. Extending up to 7516.6 km, the coastal
plains in India are of two types:
1. Western Coastal Plains of India

2. Eastern Coastal Plains of India
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West Coast of India
• The west coast strip extends from the Gulf of Cambay (Gulf of Khambhat) in the
north to Cape Comorin (Kanniyakumari).
• Starting from north to south, it is divided into (i) the Konkan coast, (ii) the Karnataka
coast and (iii) the Kerala cost.
• It is made up of alluvium brought down by the short streams originating from the
Western Ghats.
• It is dotted with a large number of coves (a very small bay), creeks (a narrow,
sheltered waterway such as an inlet in a shoreline or channel in a marsh) and a few
estuaries. {Marine Landforms}
• The estuaries, of the Narmada and the Tapi are the major ones.
• The Kerala coast (Malabar Coast) has some lakes, lagoons and backwaters, the
largest being the Vembanad Lake.
Western Coastal Plains of India

• Rann of Kachchh in the north to Kanniyakumari in the South.
• These are narrow plains with an average width of about 65 km.
• Western coast is mainly divided into four categories
• Kachchh and Kathiawar coast
• Konkan coast
• Kanada coast
• Malabar coast
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Kutch and Kathiawar region
• Kutch and Kathiawar, though an extension of Peninsular plateau (because Kathiawar

is made of the Deccan Lava and there are tertiary rocks in the Kutch area), they are
still treated as integral part of the Western Coastal Plains as they are now levelled
down.
• The Kutch Peninsula was an island surrounded by seas and lagoons. These seas and
lagoons were later filled by sediment brought by the Indus River which used to flow
through this area. Lack of rains in recent times has turned it into arid and semi-arid
landscape.
• Salt-soaked plain to the north of Kutch is the Great Rann. Its southern continuation,
known as the Little Rann lies on the coast and south-east of Kachchh.
• The Kathiawar Peninsula lies to the south of the Kachchh. The central part is a
highland of Mandav Hills from which small streams radiate in all directions (Radial
Drainage). Mt. Girnar (1,117 m) is the highest point and is of volcanic origin.
• The Gir Range is located in the southern part of the Kathiawar peninsula. It is covered
with dense forests and is famous as home of the Gir lion.
Gujarat Plain
• The Gujarat Plain lies east of Kachchh and Kathiawar and slopes towards the west
and south west.
• Formed by the rivers Narmada, Tapi, Mahi and Sabarmati, the plain includes the
southern part of Gujarat and the coastal areas of the Gulf of Khambhat.
• The eastern part of this plain is fertile enough to support agriculture, but the greater
part near the coast is covered by windblown loess (heaps of sand).
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Konkan Plain
• The Konkan Plain south of the Gujarat plain extends from Daman to Goa (50 to 80
km wide).
• It has some features of marine erosion including cliffs, shoals, reefs and islands in the
Arabian Sea.
• The Thane creek around Mumbai is an important embayment (a recess in a coastline
forming a bay) which provides an excellent natural harbour.
Karnataka Coastal Plain
• Goa to Mangalore.
• It is a narrow plain with an average width of 30-50 km, the maximum being 70 km
near Mangalore.
• At some places the streams originating in the Western Ghats descend along steep
slopes and make waterfalls.
• The Sharavati while descending over such a steep slope makes an impressive
waterfall known as Gersoppa (Jog) Falls which is 271 m high. [Angel falls (979 m) in
Venezuela is the highest waterfall on earth. Tugela Falls (948 m) in Drakensberg
mountains in South Africa is the second highest.]
• Marine topography is quite marked on the coast.
Malabar Plain (Kerala Plain)
• The Kerala Plain is also known as the Malabar Plain.

• Between Mangalore and Kanniyakumari.
• This is much wider than the Karnataka plain. It is a low-lying plain.
• The existence of lakes, lagoons, backwaters, spits, etc. is a significant characteristic of
the Kerala coast.
• The backwaters, locally known as kayals are the shallow lagoons or inlets of the sea,
lying parallel to the coastline.
• The largest among these is the Vembanad Lake which is about 75 km long and 5-10
km wide and gives rise to a 55 km long spit {Marine Landforms}.
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East Coast of India
• Lies between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal.
• It extends from the Ganga delta to Kanniyakumari.
• It is marked by deltas of rivers like the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna, and the
Cauvery.
• Chilka lake and the Pulicat lake (lagoon) are the important geographical features of
the east coast.
Eastern Coastal Plains of India

• Extending from the Subarnarekha river along the West Bengal-Odisha border to
Kanniyakumari.
• A major part of the plains is formed as a result of the alluvial fillings of the littoral
zone (relating to or on the shore of the sea or a lake) by the rivers Mahanadi, Godavari,
Krishna and Cauvery comprising some of the largest deltas.
• In contrast to the West Coastal Plains, these are extensive plains with an average
width of 120 km.
• This plain is known as the Northern Circars between the Mahanadi and the Krishna
rivers and Carnatic between the Krishna and the Cauvery rivers.
• Eastern coast is divided into three categories-
• Utkal coast
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• Andhra coast
• Coromandel coast
Utkal Plain
• The Utkal Plain comprises coastal areas of Odisha.

• It includes the Mahanadi delta.
• The most prominent physiographic feature of this plain is the Chilka Lake.
• It is the biggest lake in the country and its area varies between 780 sq km in winter
to 1,144 sq km in the monsoon months.
• South of Chilka Lake, low hills dot the plain.
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Andhra Plain
• South of the Utkal Plain and extends upto Pulicat Lake. This lake has been barred by
a long sand spit known as Sriharikota Island (ISRO launch facility).
• The most significant feature of this plain is the delta formation by the rivers Godavari
and Krishna.
• The two deltas have merged with each other and formed a single physiographic unit.
• The combined delta has advanced by about 35 km towards the sea during the recent
years. This is clear from the present location of the Kolleru Lake which was once a
lagoon at the shore but now lies far inland {Coastline of Emergence}.
• This part of the plain has a straight coast and badly lacks good harbours with the
exception of Vishakhapatnam and Machilipatnam.
Tamil Nadu Plain
• The Tamil Nadu Plain stretches for 675 km from Pulicat lake to Kanniyakumari along
the coast of Tamil Nadu. Its average width is 100 km.
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• The most important feature of this plain is the Cauvery delta where the plain is 130
km wide.
• The fertile soil and large scale irrigation facilities have made the Cauvery delta the
granary of South India.
Coastlines of Emergence and Submergence

• Coastline of emergence is formed either by an uplift of the land or by the lowering of
the sea level. Coastline of submergence is an exact opposite case.
• Bars, spits, lagoons, salt marshes, beaches, sea cliffs and arches are the typical
features of emergence. {Marine Landforms}
• The east coast of India, especially its south-eastern part (Tamil Nadu coast), appears
to be a coast of emergence.
• The west coast of India, on the other hand, is both emergent and submergent.
• The northern portion of the coast is submerged as a result of faulting and the
southern portion, that is the Kerala coast, is an example of an emergent coast.
• Coromandel coast (Tamil Nadu) – Coastline of emergence

• Malabar coast (Kerala Coast) – Coastline of emergence
• Konkan coast (Maharashtra and Goa Coast) – Coastline of submergence.
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Significance of Indian Coastlines
The coastlines of India extend up to 7516.6 km including the island groups Andaman and
Nicobar and Lakshadweep.
As a result, the areas that are covered under the Indian coastlines enjoys a favorable
climate with no extreme temperature which is ideal for human development. Some of the
major significance of the coastal plains in India are mentioned below:
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1. The coastal plains in India are mostly covered by fertile soils which are best for
cultivations. Rice is the major crop that is cultivated in these regions.
2. The big and small ports along the Indian coastlines help in carrying out trade.
3. The sedimentary rocks of these coastal plains are said to contain large deposits of
mineral oil which can be used as a source of marine economy.
4. Fishing has become an important occupation of the people living in coastal areas.
5. The coastal plains in India are rich in coastal and marine ecosystems which also
include a wide range of mangroves, coral reefs, estuaries, and lagoons serving as
great tourism potential.
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Lakes of India & World
• Lake is a surface water body that is surrounded by land. Rivers will be outlet or inlet
to the lakes i.e. lakes take the water from rivers or act as a source of water.
• Lakes are found in various landscapes like Hilly areas, plains, plateaus, rift zones, etc.
• There are various types of lakes that can be classified based on different criteria –
They are
• Fresh Water Lakes,
• Salt Water lakes,
• Natural Lakes,
• Artificial Lakes,
• Oxbow lake, (Formed by river deposits)
• Crater Lake, etc. (formed due to volcanic activity)
• Lakes have various applications like drinking water, irrigation, navigation, water
storage, livelihood (fishing, etc.), impact on microclimate, etc.
Subglacial Lake
• A subglacial lake is a body of liquid water located in between an ice sheet and the
continental landmass.
• The water remains liquid because the ice sheet above the water acts as an
insulator and traps geothermal heat from the Earth’s crust.
• Lake Vostok is the largest of Antarctica’s almost 400 known subglacial lakes.
Lake Vostok is located at the southern Pole of Cold, beneath Russia’s Vostok
Station under the surface of the central East Antarctic Ice Sheet, which is at
3,488 m above mean sea level.
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Important Facts related to Lakes of India
• Largest freshwater lake in India – Wular Lake, Jammu and Kashmir

• Largest Saline water lake in India – Chilka Lake, Orissa
• Highest lake in India (Altitude) – Cholamu lake, Sikkim
• Longest Lake in India – Vembanad lake, Kerala
• Largest Artificial Lake in India – Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar (Rihand Dam)
• Dhebar Lake is India’s second-largest artificial lake, after Govind Ballabh Pant
Sagar. It is located in the Udaipur District of Rajasthan.
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Lakes of India
Name State District Type of Facts/Description
Lakes
Pulicat Lake Andhra Sullurpet Brackish It encompasses
Pradesh Water Pulicat Lake Bird
Sanctuary;
Satish Dhawan
Space Centre
located here
Kolleru Lake Andhra Vijayawada Freshwater Home to migratory
Pradesh birds
Nagarjuna Sagar Andhra Nalgonda Freshwater Artificially
Pradesh constructed;
Krishna river
Cumbum Lake Andhra — — —
Pradesh
Haflong Lake Assam Silchar Freshwater High altitude lake
DeeporBeel Assam Kamrup Freshwater Under Ramsar
Convention
Son Beel Assam Karimganj Freshwater Largest wetland in
(Tectonical Assam
ly formed)
Chandubi lake Assam Kamrup Freshwater Migratory Birds
(winter);
formed by 1897
earthquake
Sala Lake Arunachal —- —- —–
Pradesh
Sangestar Tso Arunachal Tawang —- —-
(Madhuri Lake) Pradesh
Ganga Lake (Geker Arunachal Itanagar —- —-
Sinying) Pradesh
Kanwar Lake Bihar Begusarai Oxbow Asia’s largest
(freshwate freshwater oxbow
r) lake;
Nal Sarovar Gujarat
Hamirsar lake Gujarat Kutch Artificial Situated in centre
of Bhuj
Kankaria lake Gujarat Ahmedabad Artificial During 14th century
by Muhammed
Shah II
Narayan Sarovar Gujarat Kutch Artificial Pilgrimage site for
freshwater Hindus
Thol Lake Gujarat Mehsana Lentic lake Constructed for
irrigation purpose
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Vastrapur Gujarat Ahmedabad Freshwater Narmada River;
Picnic spot
Sursagar Lake Gujarat
Lakhota Lake Gujarat
Badkhal Lake Haryana Faridabad Freshwater Man made
Blue Bird Lake Haryana Hisar Freshwater Migratory Birds,
Wetland Habitat
Brahma Sarovar Haryana Thaneswar Freshwater Ancient water pool
sacred to Hinduism
Damdama Lake Haryana Sohna Freshwater Constructed by
British government
for Rainwater
Harvesting
Karna Haryana Karnal Freshwater Connected to great
epic Mahabharata
Tilyar Haryana Rohtak Freshwater Located inside
(canal Tilyar Zoo
inflow)
Surajkund Lake Haryana Faridabad
Chandra Taal Himachal Lahul and Spiti Sweetwat Ramsar wetland
Pradesh er lake site
Suraj Taal Himachal Lahul and Spiti Freshwater Bhaga River inflow
Pradesh (High
Altitude)
MaharanaPratapSa Himachal Kangra Freshwater Ramsar site
gar Pradesh
Prashar lake Himachal Mandi Holomitic It has a floating
Pradesh (Freshwate Island
r)
Renuka lake Himachal Sirmaur Freshwate It is designated
Pradesh r as the Ramsar site
Nako Lake Himachal Kinnaur
Pradesh
Dal lake J &K Srinagar Warm Remnants of past
monomiti glacial period
c
Pangong Tso J &K Ladakh Endorheic Indo-China Border
Lake
(saline
water)
Wular lake J &K Bandipora Tectonic Largest freshwater
lake (fresh lake in India
water)
TsoMoriri J &K Ladakh Saltwater High altitude lake
Anchar Lake J &K
Manasbal Lake J &K
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Gadsar Lake J &K
Gangabal Lake J &K
Vishansar Lake J &K
Mansar Lake J &K
Marsar Lake J &K
Tarsar Lake J &K
Sheshnag J &K
Tulian lake J &K
Agata lake Karnataka Bangalore Freshwater Located in the
southwest part of
the city
Bellandur Lake Karnataka Bangalore Freshwater –
Karachi lake Karnataka Mysore – Butterfly park
Ulsoor lake Karnataka Bangalore Stale It has several
water islands
Kukarahalli lake Karnataka Mysore Freshwater Recreational
Honnamana Karnataka Kodagu Freshwater Holy lake, place for
various festivals
Pampa Sarovar Karnataka Hampi Freshwater Tungabhadra river
Hebbal Lake Karnataka — — —
Ashtamudi Kayal Kerala Kollam Brackish Ramsar wetland
water site
Kuttanad Kerala Alappuzha, Backwater paddy
Kottayam cultivation
Vembanad Kerala – Brackish Ramsar wetland;
water boat race
Shashtamkotta Kerala Kollam Freshwater Ramsar wetland
Vellayani Lake Kerala Thiruvananthapur
am
Bhojtal Madhya. Bhopal Freshwater Ramsar site; largest
Pradesh artificial lake in
India
Salim Ali Lake Maharasht Aurangabad Freshwater Birdwatching
ra
Shivsagar Maharasht Satara Freshwater Koyna dam
ra
Lonar lake Maharasht Buldhana Crater lake National Geo-
ra Heritage
monument
Gorewada Lake Maharasht
ra
Pashan Lake Maharasht
ra
Powai Lake Maharasht
ra
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Rankala Lake Maharasht
ra
Venna Lake Maharasht
ra
Tulsi Lake Maharasht
ra
Vihar Lake Maharasht
ra
Loktak lake Manipur – Lenticular Ramsar wetland;
freshwater Phumdis (Floating
Islands);
Multipurpose
project
Umiam Meghalaya Shillong Freshwater Famous for cycling
and boating
Tam Dil Mizoram Saitual Freshwater –
Chilika lake Orissa Puri Brackish India’s largest
water brackish water lake;
lagoon
Kanjia lake Orissa Bhubaneswar Freshwater Wetland of national
importance
Anshupa Lake Orissa Cuttack Freshwater On the left bank of
the Mahanadi river
Harike Punjab Ferozepur Freshwater Ramsar wetland
site
Rupar Punjab Rupnagar Freshwater Manmade riverine
lake
Kanjli Punjab Kapurthala Freshwater Ramsar wetland
site
Sambhar lake Rajasthan Sambhar Lake- Saltwater Ramsar wetland;
town largest inland
saltwater lake in
India
Rajsamand Rajasthan Rajsamand Freshwater –
Dhebar Lake Rajasthan
Kaylana Lake Rajasthan
Nakki Lake Rajasthan
Pachpadra Lake Rajasthan
Man Sagar Lake Rajasthan
Didwana Lake Rajasthan
Lunkaransar Salt Rajasthan
Lake
Anasagar Lake Rajasthan
Talwara Lake Rajasthan
Tsomgo lake Sikkim East Sikkim Freshwater Winter frozen
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Khecheoplari Sikkim West Sikkim Freshwater Sacred lake for
Hindus and
Buddhists
Gurudongmar Lake Sikkim — — north of the
Kanchendzonga ra
nge
Ooty lake Tamilnadu Nilgiris Freshwater Boat House
Chembarambakka Tamilnadu Chennai Artificial –
m lake
Kodaikanal Lake Tamilnadu Dindigul Artificial Boat club,
lake boathouse, and
boat service
Kaliveli Lake Tamil Viluppuram Coastal —
Nadu lake and
lagoon
Kolavai Tamil — — —
Nadu
Puzhal lake (Red Tamil — — —
Hills Lake) Nadu
Sholavaram lake Tamil
Nadu
Berijam Lake Tamil
Nadu
Veeranam Lake Tamil
Nadu
Hussain Sagar Telangana Hyderabad Artificial Artificial Gibraltar
lake rock-island
Badrakali lake Telangana Warangal Freshwater Artificial lake
Osman Sagar Telangana — — —
Himayat Sagar Telangana — — Artificial lake
Pakhal Lake Telangana — — Artificial lake
Shamirpet Lake Telangana — — Artificial lake
Saroornagar Lake Telangana — — Artificial lake
Durgam Cheruvu Telangana Rangareddy
Govind Ballabh Pant Uttar Sonbhadra Man-made Rihand dam
Sagar Pradesh lake
Belasagar Uttar Kulpahar Freshwater Irrigation lake
Pradesh
Bhimtal Uttarakha Nainital Freshwater Medium altitude
nd lake
East Calcutta West Calcutta Brackish Ramsar wetland
wetlands Bengal water
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Important Lakes of World
Note:
• Black Sea is not a lake since Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits connect it to the
Mediterranean Sea. Many big rivers fall into the Black Sea, making the salinity of its
surface water half that of the ocean: 17‰.
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• Caspian Sea and the Dead Sea are lakes. The surface and shores of the Dead Sea
are 423 meters below sea level, making it Earth’s lowest elevation on land.
• While writing facts about lakes, people ignore the Caspian Sea because for them it
is too big to be considered a lake. But it is still a lake.
• Just like everybody else, even I have ignored the Caspian Sea while stating the
below facts.
Lake Baikal – Deepest Lake
• Lake Baikal is a rift lake located in southern Siberia, Russia.

• It is the largest freshwater lake by volume in the world, containing 22 to 23% of the
world’s fresh surface water.
• It is the seventh-largest lake in the world by surface area.
• Maximum depth: 1,642 m (5,387 ft)
• It is the world’s oldest (25–30 million years) and deepest lake.
• It has a long, crescent shape.
• The region to the east of Lake Baikal is referred to as Transbaikalia or as the Trans
baikal.
• The loosely defined region around the lake itself is sometimes known as Baikalia.
• UNESCO declared Lake Baikal a World Heritage Site in 1996.
• Baikal-GVD (Gigaton Volume Detector)
• Russian scientists launched one of the world’s biggest underwater neutrino
telescopes called the Baikal-GVD (Gigaton Volume Detector) in the waters of
Lake Baikal.
• It is one of the three largest neutrino detectors in the world along with the
IceCube at the South Pole and ANTARES in the Mediterranean Sea.
• It seeks to study in detail the elusive fundamental particles called
neutrinos and to possibly determine their sources.
Lake Tanganyika – Longest Lake
• The longest lake in the world. [660 kilometres long]

• It is also the second largest by volume.
• It is the second deepest lake in the world, after lake Baikal.
World’s Highest and Lowest Lakes
• The world’s highest lake, if size is not a criterion, may be the crater lake of Ojos del
Salado, at 6,390 metres. It is in Andes.
• The highest large lake in the world is the Pumoyong Tso (Pumuoyong Tso), in the
Tibet Autonomous Region of China. [5,018 metres above sea level]
• The world’s highest commercially navigable lake is Lake Titicaca in Peru and
Bolivia border at 3,812 m. It is also the largest lake in South America.
• The world’s lowest lake is the Dead Sea, bordering Israel and Jordan at 418 metres
below sea level. It is also one of the lakes with highest salt concentration.
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The Largest Lakes (surface area) by Continent
• Australia – Lake Eyre (salt lake)

• Africa – Lake Victoria, also the third-largest freshwater lake on Earth. It is one of the
Great Lakes of Africa.
• Antarctica – Lake Vostok (subglacial)
• Asia – Lake Baikal (if the Caspian Sea is considered a lake, it is the largest in Eurasia,
but is divided between the two geographic continents)
• Europe – Lake Ladoga, followed by Lake Onega, both located in northwestern Russia.
• North America – Lake Superior.
• South America – Lake Titicaca, which is also the highest navigable body of water on
Earth at 3,812 metres above sea level. The much larger Lake Maracaibo is a
contiguous body of water with the sea, so it is ignored. ,
Great Lakes
• Great Lakes of North America are a series of interconnected freshwater lakes which
connect to the Atlantic Ocean through the Saint Lawrence Seaway.
• Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario [in the order of
west to east]. Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario [In the order of largest to
smallest].
• Lake Superior is the largest continental lake in the world by area, and Lake Michigan
is the largest lake that is entirely within one country.
Shipping
• The Great Lakes are today used as a major water transport corridor for bulk goods.
• The Great Lakes Waterway connects all the lakes; the smaller Saint Lawrence
Seaway connects the lakes to the Atlantic oceans.
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Dead Sea
• Also called the Salt Sea.

• Lake bordering Jordan to the east, and Palestine and Israel to the west.
• It Earth’s lowest elevation on land.
Aral Sea
• It was a lake lying between Kazakhstan in the north and Uzbekistan, in the south.
• Aral Sea has been steadily shrinking since the 1960s after the rivers that fed it were
diverted by Soviet irrigation projects.
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African Great Lakes
• Series of lakes constituting the part of the Rift Valley lakes in and around the East
African Rift.
• They include Lake Victoria, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world, and Lake
Tanganyika, the world’s second-largest in volume as well as the second deepest.
Largest Lakes by Surface Area

[Caspian Sea Excluded in all facts]
1. Lake Superior – North America

2. Lake Victoria – Africa
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3. Lake Huron – North America
4. Lake Michigan – North America
Largest Lakes by Volume
1. Baikal – Asia
2. Tanganyika – Africa
3. Superior – North America
Deepest Lakes in the World
1. Lake Baikal – Asia

2. Lake Tanganyika
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List of Mountain Ranges in India
Mountain Ranges States Highest Peak Remarks
Sub-range of the
Saltoro Mountains Ladakh Saltoro Kangri
Karakoram
Godwin-Austen or
Karakoram PoK, Ladakh K2 Highest peak in India
8,611 m
Deosai Mountain J&K
Ladakh Range J&K
Kamet Peak
Zanskar Range J&K
7,756 m
J&K,
Indrasan
Pir Panjal Range Himachal
6,221 m
Pradesh
Zabarwan Range J&K Part of Pir Panjal
Dhauladhar
J&K
Range
Kishtwar
J&K Bharanzar
Himalaya
Garhwal
Uttarakhand
Himalaya
Dundwa Range Northern UP Part of Sivalik Hills
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Mountain Ranges in Central India – West to East
Girnar Range Gujrat
Gujrat oldest fold mountains

Aravalli Range Guru Shikhar
Rajasthan in India
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Haryana
Delhi
MP
Malwa Plateau
Rajasthan
Rajpipla Hills Gujrat Part of Satpura
Maharashtra
Gawilgarh Hills Part of Satpura
MP
Mahadeo Hills MP Mount Dhupgarh Part of Satpura
Bhanrer Range MP Part of Vindhya
Bhander Plateau MP
Maikal Hills Chhattisgarh Part of Satpura
Kaimur Range Jabalpur, MP Part of Vindhya
Baghelkhand
UP
Plateau
Sonpar Hills MP
Gujrat
MP
Sad-bhawna Shikhar or
Vindhya Range UP
Kalumar peak
Bihar
Chhattisgarh
Gujarat
Maharashtra
Satpura Range Mount Dhupgarh
MP
Chhattisgarh
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Chota Nagpur Plateau – North to South
Mountain Ranges States
Rajmahal Hills Jharkhand
Hazaribagh Plateau Jharkhand
Mailan Hills Chhattisgarh
Ranchi Plateau Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Hazaribagh Hills
Chhattisgarh
Ramgarh Hills Chhattisgarh
Jharkhand
Garhjat Hills Chhattisgarh
Odisha
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Mountain Ranges in North East India
West to East & South to

North
Arunachal
Dafla Hills Part of Purvanchal
Pradesh
Arunachal
Miri Hills
Pradesh
Arunachal
Abor Hills
Pradesh
Arunachal
Mishmi Hills
Pradesh
3rd highest mountain in

Nepal Part of eastern
Kangchenjunga the world
Sikkim Himalayas
2nd in India
West to East
Garo Hills Meghalaya
Shyllong Shillong city

Khasi Hills Meghalaya
1,968 m situated on it
Jaintis Hills Meghalaya
Mikir Hills Assam
Rengma Hills Assam
North to South
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Arunachal
Patkai Bum
Pradesh
Naga Hills Nagaland Mount Saramati
Langpangkong Range Nagaland
Assam
Barail Range Part of Purvanchal
Nagaland
Laimatol Range Manipur
Assam
Bhuban Hills
Mizoram
Atharamura Range Tripura Part of Siwalik Hills
Lushai Hills or Mizo Hills Mizoram Phawngpui Blue Mountain
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Western Ghats Mountains – North to South
Satmala Hills Maharashtra Dhodap
Ajanta Hills Maharashtra
Harishchandra
Maharashtra Harischandragarh
Range
Balaghat Range Maharashtra
Chikkamagaluru,
Kudremukh Kudremukha
Karnataka
Mullayanagiri
Baba Budan Hills Karnataka kurinji blooms
1930 m
Doddabetta Eastern & Western Ghats

Nilgiri Mountains Tamil Nadu
2,637 m meet
Akamala Machad Vazhani sanctuary

Thrissur, Kerala
Hills Vazhani Dam
Anamudi is the highest

Tamil Nadu Anamudi
Anaimalai Hills peak in south India
Kerala 2,695 m
World Heritage Site
Tamil Nadu
Palani Hills Vandaravu
Kerala
Tamil Nadu cardamom spice

Cardamom Hills
Kerala cultivation
Varushnad Hills Tamil Nadu Part of Cardamom
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Eastern Ghats Mountains – North to South
Mountain Ranges States Remarks
Nayagarh Hills Orissa
Bastar Plateau Chhattisgarh
AP
Nallamala Hills
Telangana
Erramala Hills Andhra Pradesh
Velikonda Range Andhra Pradesh
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Mountain Ranges States Remarks
Palkonda Range Andhra Pradesh
Seshachalam Hills Andhra Pradesh Tirupati City
Nagari Hills Andhra Pradesh
Javedi Hills Tamil Nadu
Melagiri Range Tamil Nadu
Shevaroy Hills Tamil Nadu
Pachaimalai Hills Tamil Nadu
Sirumalai Hills Tamil Nadu
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Mountain Ranges in India (with few Details)
CARDAMOM HILLS :
• Southernmost part of the Western Ghats, in Kerala and Tamil Nadu

• Named after the cardamoms which are grown here, beside pepper and coffee
• Has the Shencottah Gap
• Climatic barrier, source of many rivers
• So many forest reserves for ecological conservation, source of HEPs
PALANI HILLS :
• Mountains of Tamil Nadu east of the Anaimudi Peak

• North of Vaigai River
• Mostly within Dindigul district
• Hill station of Kodaikanal
• Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
ANAIMALAI HILLS :
• Anaimalai means ‘Elephant Hills’

• Located between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, south of the Palghat Gap
• Highest peak -Anaimudi (Idukki district, Kerala )
• Many sanctuaries and parks
• Trekking destination
• Tea, coffee, rubber and teak forests
NILGIRI HILLS :
• Trijunction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, north of the Palghat

• Meeting point of the Eastern and Western ghats
• Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and other conservation areas
• Highest peak – Doddabetta, 4 km from Otty
• So many falls Pykara, Catherine, Kotagiri
BABA BUDAN HILLS :
• Part of the Western Ghats in the Chikamangaluru District of Karnataka

• Highest peak- Mullayangiri
• Baba Budan was a 17th century sufi, who is believed to have introduced coffee in
India
• Known for coffee cultivation
VARUSHNAD HILLS :
• South of the Vaigai River and southwest of Madurai, up to the Cardamom Hills
• Eastern offshoot of the Western Ghats
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• Cumbum Valley (Vaigai) divides it from the Western Ghats
• Source of Arjuna and Gunnar rivers
SIRUMALAI HILLS :
• Between Vaigai (S) and Kaveri in Tamil Nadu

• Source of Valiyar and Manimuttar rivers
• Dindigul is the main city nearby it
• Hill station: Sirumalai
PANCHAIMALAI HILLS :
• Panchai mean ‘green’ and malai means ‘hills’

• Between Kaveri and Vellar rivers in Tamil Nadu
• Haven of tribals
• Average elevation : 500m to 1000m
• Good for trekking and enjoying nature
• Namakkal is the main city
SHEVROY HILLS :
• Between Vellar and Ponnaiyar rivers in Tamil Nadu

• Around Salem city
• Sanatorium and several old coffee plantations
• Tourist attraction
• Source of Turunanimuttai, Vellar, Gomukha and Manimukta rivers
JAVADI HILLS :
• Northern Tamil Nadu in Vellar district

• Between Ponnaiyar and Palar rivers
• Bisected into eastern and western sections by Cheyyar and Agaram, tributaries of the
Palar
• Sparsely populated
• Grains, legumes, oilseeds are chief crops
NAGARI HILLS :
• Southernmost part of Andhra Pradesh, west of the Pulicat Lake in Chittur District
• Main city – Nagari
• ‘Nag’ means nose in Telugu
• Beautiful picnic spot
• Highest cliff: Nagari Nose
PALKONDA RANGE :
• Arc-shaped mountain between Penneru and Palar rivers
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• Relict of mountains formed during the Cambrian Period
• Main crops- Jowar,peanuts
• Formed of quartzites, slates and lavas
• Source of rivers
• Densely forested
VELIKONDA RANGE :
• Part of the Eastern Ghats

• Southeast of Andhra Pradesh, east of the Nallmalla Hills
• Strongly folded and faulted
• Assumed to be elevated during the Cambrian Period, now a relict range
• Sparsely wooded
• Chenchu tribal people live here
MELAGIRI RANGE :
• Smaller hill located south of Bangalore in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

• Range of hills, part of the Eastern Ghats
• Melagiri Sanctuary is located here
• Arkaveti River flows through the range
• Hosur city, Bennerghatta NP and Kolar gold fields are near to it
VELIKONDA :
• Located in the southeastern part of Andhra Pradesh

• Forms part of the Eastern Ghats
• Parallel to the Coromandel Coast
• Crossed by the Penneru River
NALLAMALLA RANGE :
• Between Penneru and Krishna

• Parallel to the Coromandel Coast
• Part of the Eastern Ghats
• Old mountain extensively weathered and eroded
• Largest stretch of undisturbed forests in SouthernIndia excluding the Western Ghats
• Srisailam Tiger Reserve
ERRAMALA RANGE :
• A range of low hills in southern India, in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh

• Between Krishna and Penneru rivers
• West of Nallamalla Range
HARISHCHANDRA RANGE :
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• Eastward spur of the Western Ghats, in Maharashtra
• Average elevation -600m.
• Elevation gradually decreases towards the southeast
• Flat topped, consisting of basaltic lava
• Slops are eroded into terraces
• Named after Harishchandragarh, its highest peak
• Ahmednagar is the chief city in the region
BALAGHAT RANGE :
• Series of hills in western Maharashtra originates from the Western Ghats

• Extends for 200 miles to form border between Maharashtra and Karnataka
• Flat topped hills with lava covers
• Source of Manjra River
• Rainier west has dense vegetation but the eastern part is barren and stony
AJANTA RANGE :
• A mountain of Maharashtra entirely within the state

• Forms the watershed between the Godavari and the Tapi river systems
• Source of Purna and Penganga
• Ajanta Caves are located
SATMALA RANGE :
• Branch the northern Western Ghats in the northwest Maharashtra
NIRMAL RANGE :
• A low hill of Maharashtra located between Penganga and Godavari rivers

• Nanded city is located on it
GARHJAT HILLS :
• Hill on the northern Orissa and adjoining Jharkhand

• Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar come under it
• Famous for iron ores
• Several Gond tribes live here
• Highest peak-Malaygiri (1187m)
RAMGARH HILLS :
• Hills of the northeastern Chhattisgarh, adjoining Jharkhand

• Source of Rihand, Sankh and Mand and Ib rivers
• Main city is Ambikapur
RAJPIPLA HILLS :
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• The westernmost part of the Satpura Range, mainly in eastern Gujarat, around the
city ofRajpipla
• Separated from the Gawilgarh Hills by the Khandwa Gap
GAWILGARH HILLS :
• Part of the Satpura Range located between the Rajpipla Hills (West) and the
Mahadeo Hills(East)
• Spreaded over Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
• Located between Tapi and Purna rivers
• Main city- Burhanpur
MAHADEO HILLS :
• Central part of the Satpura Range in southern Madhya Pradesh

• Watershed between Narmada and Godavari
• Highest Peak – Dhupgarh
• Origin of the Tapi River
MAIKAL HILLS :
• Eastern part of the Satpura Range, located between Madhya Pradesh and
Chhattisgarh
• Source of many tributaries of Narmada, Mahanadi and Godavari
• Inhabited by the tribal peoples like Baiga and Gond
• Kanha National Park, Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve.
KAIMUR RANGE :
• Eastern range of the Vindhyas located between the Son and the Tons rivers in
northeastern Madhya Pradesh
• Its northern edge forms escarpments
• Prehistoric rock paintings have been discovered
GIR HILLS :
• Low hills of the Kathiawar Peninsula to the southeast of the Girnar Hills
• Highest Peak – Sarkala (643m)
• The Gir National Park is located in the region
GIRNAR HILLS :
• A collection of mountains in the Junagarh district, in the Kathiawad

• Girnar Peak (945m) is highest peak of Gujarat
• The Gir National Park is located in the region
• Holy place for both Hindus and Jains
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MANDAV HILLS :
• Hills of the central Kathiawar

• Forms a radial drainage pattern
• Main city-Rajkot
• Covered with the basaltic lava
ABU HILLS :
• The southwestern part of the Aravalli Range, between the Sabarmati and the Banas
Rivers
• Mount Abu is located on it
ARAVALLI RANGE :
• Old dissected mountains of northwestern India, from Gujarat to Haryana

• Source of Banas, Luni and Sabarmati rivers
• Rich in non- ferrous minerals
• Highest peak – Guru Shikhar
KARAKORAM RANGE :
• A Trans- Himalayan mountain starts from the Pamir Knot

• Heavily glaciated part of the world outside the polar regions
• K2-Second highest peak of the world
• Glaciers – Siachen, Biafo, Batloro, Batura
LADAKH RANGE :
• Trans-Himalayan mountain located between Shyok and Indus rivers

• Leh is located at its southern edge
• Runs parallel to the Indus River from the Shyok River in the west to the Tibet border
in the east
• Khardung La Pass is located on it
ZASKAR RANGE :
• Trans-Himalayan or Tibetan Himalayan range located between the Great Himalayas

and the Ladakh Range
• Branches off from the Great Himalayas near 80º E longitude runs parallel to the latter
• Nanga Parbat forms its culmination in the northwest
• Coldest place of India, Dras is located here
PIR PANJAL :
• Westernmost range of the Lesser Himalayas which separates Jammu from Kashmir
• Extends from the Jhelam River to the upper Beas River for 300-400km.
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• Pir Panjal and Banihal passes are located in it
• Jawahar Tunnel passes through the Banihal Pass.
DHAULADHAR RANGE :
• Range of the Lesser Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh
• Hill Stations -Dalhousie,Chamba, Kullu, Manali, Botata, Dharmshala, Shimla
• Southern slope is steeper than the northern slope
• The southernmost range of the Lessar Himalayas
NAG TIBBA :
• Part of the Lesser Himalaya in the southwestern Uttarakhand

• Nag Tibba (3022m) is its highest peak
• Most easterly of the ranges of the Lesser Himalayas in India
• Hill Station– Mussoorie
KUMAON RANGE :
• Part of the Lesser Himalayas in the south-eastern part of Uttrakhand
GARO :
• Westernmost part of the Meghalaya Plateau

• Inhabited by the Garo tribes
• Nokrek Biosphere Reserve
• Tura is the main city in the region
• Highest peak- Nokrek
KHASI :
• Middle part of the Meghalaya Plateau

• Highest point of the Meghalaya Plateau
• Cherrapunjee and Mawsynram are located in it
• Shillong is located in the hill
• Inhabited by the matrilineal Khasi tribes
JAYANTIYA :
• Eastern part of the Meghalaya Plateau

• Inhabited by the Jatantiya tribes
• Jhuming cultivation is practised
• High rainfall region
• Presence of the laterite soils
BARAIL RANGE :
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• Lies along the border of Assam and Manipur
• Links the Meghalaya Plateau with the Purvanchal Hills
• Covered with bamboo and pine trees
• Degraded due to the Jhuming
• Water divide between the Brahmaputra and the Barak rivers
• The Barak rises in its southern slopes
Koubru Hill Range:
• Koubru Hill also known as Mount Koupalu is one of the highest mountains in
Manipur, and the abode of the god Lainingthou Koubru and the goddess Kounu in
Manipuri mythology.
MIZO HILLS :
• Southernmost part of the Purvanchal, also known as the Lusai Hills

• Lies in Mizoram
• Highest peak – Blue Mountain
• Crossed by the Tropic of Cancer
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MANIPUR HILLS :
• Part of the Purvanchal in Manipur

• Loktak Lake is located in it
• Manipur River originates here
• Forms boundary between India and Myanmar
NAGA HILLS :
• Part of the Purvanchal, located between the Patkai Bum and the Manipur Hills in
Nagaland
• Highest peak- Saramati (3826m)
PATKAI BUM :
• Northernmost range of the Purvanchal, located in Arunachal Pradesh

• Source of Burhi Dihing and Disang rivers
MIKIR :
• Part of the Meghalaya Plateau located in Assam, just south of the Brahmaputra River
• Mikir tribes live here who practise Jhuming cultivation
• Hills consist of the Archaean rocks
RENGMA :
• Part of the Meghalaya Plateau in Assam located to the east of the Mikir Hills
• Full of bamboos and Rengma tribes live here.
DAFLA :
• Part of the Siwalik located in Arunachal Pradesh between the Subansiri River and the
Kameng River, that to the south of the Kamla River
• Tribes living here practice Jhuming
• Covered with dense bamboo, pine and deodar trees.
MIRI :
• Part of the Outer Himalayas (Siwalik) in Arunachal Pradesh located between the
Subansiri River and the Kameng River that to the north of the Kamla River which
separates it forms the Dafla Hills.
• Inhabited by tribes.
• Terraces are built for the cultivation.
ABOR :
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• Part of the Siwalik,located in Arunachal Pradesh between the Dibang and the
Subansiri river
• Covered with deciduous and evergreen forests
• Inhabited by the tribal peoples
• Highest peak is 3992 m above sea leve
MISHMI :
• Easternmost part of the Siwalik in northeast Arunachal Pradesh from the Dibang
River (West) to the Myanmar border in the east
• Dibang River flows through it
NAG PAHAR :
• Located between Pushkar Lake and the city of Ajmer.

• Famous for Panchkund and saint Agastaya’s Cave, and it is believed that Kalidas, the
4th century poet and playright composed Abhigyanam Shakuntalam here itself
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Important Mountain Peaks in India
Highest Mountain Peaks in India

Mountain Peak Height Description
The highest peak in the Indian subcontinent lies

8611
K2 between Baltistan and Xinjiang.
metres
It is the highest peak in the Karakoram
The third highest summit in the World.

8586
Kangchenjunga Also known as the ‘five treasures of snow.
metres
Lies in Himalayan Mountain Range
Ranked the 23rd highest peak across the world.

The Nanda Devi National Prak, located in the
vicinity to the peak, consists of the best high-
7816 altitude flora and fauna.
Nanda Devi
metres This is the highest peak located entirely within
India.
It is a part of Himalayan mountain
ranges (Garhwal)
7756 It is located near the Tibetan Plateau.

Kamet
metres It is located in the Garhwal region
It is located near the Siachen Region.

The Saltoro Kangri is ranked the 31st highest
7742
Saltoro Kangri independent peak in the world.
metres
It lies in the Saltoro range (a part of the
Karakoram Mountain range)
Located in Ladakh.
This mountain peak is the 35th highest mountain
7672
Saser Kangri peak in the world.
metres
It lies in the Saser Muztagh range (an easternmost
subrange of Karakoram Range.)
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It is located near Siachen Glacier.
Mamostong
7516 It is the 48th independent peak in India.
Kangri/Mamostang
metres It is the highest peak of the Rimo Muztagh range
Kangri
(a subrange of the Karakoram range)
The Rimo I is a part of Rimo Muztagh, a subrange

7385
Rimo I of Great Karakoram range.
metres
It is the 71st highest peak in the world.
This peak is also known as the ‘Temple of God’.

7151
Hardeol It is one of the oldest summits in the Kumaon
metres
Himalaya
It is located in the Garhwal district of Uttrakhand.

7138
Chaukhamba I It is a part of the Gangotri Group of Garhwal
metres
Himalaya ranges
The name of this mountain peak is taken from the

7120 weapon of Lord Shiva.
Trisul I
metres It is one of three mountain peaks located in the
Kumaon Himalaya in Uttrakhand.
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State-wise Highest Mountain Peaks in India
Peak Range/Region State Height
Arma Konda Eastern Ghats Andhra Pradesh 1680 m
7060
Kangto Eastern Himalaya Arunachal Pradesh
m
Someshwar West Champaran

Bihar 880 m
Fort District
Bailadila Range Dantewada District Chhattisgarh 1276 m
Sonsogor Western Ghats Goa 1166 m
Girnar Junagadh District Gujarat 1069 m
Karoh Peak Morni Hills Haryana 1467 m
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Reo Purgyil Western Himalaya Himachal Pradesh 6816 m
Parasnath Parasnath Hills Jharkhand 1370 m
Mullayanagiri Western Ghats Karnataka 1930 m
Anamudi Western Ghats Kerala 2695 m
Dhupgarh Satpura Madhya Pradesh 1350 m
Kalsubai Western Ghats Maharashtra 1646 m
Mount Iso Senapati District Border of Manipur and Nagaland 2994 m
Shillong Peak Khasi Hills Meghalaya 1965 m
Phawngpui Saiha District Mizoram 2157 m
Mount Saramati Naga Hills Nagaland 3826 m
Deomali Eastern Ghats Odisha 1672 m
Guru Shikhar Aravalli Range Rajasthan 1722 m
Kanchenjunga Eastern Himalaya Sikkim 8586 m
Doddabetta Nilgiri Hills Tamil Nadu 2637 m
Border of Telangana and

Doli Gutta Deccan Plateau 965 m
Chhattisgarh
Betalongchhip Jampui Hills Tripura 930 m
Amsot Peak Shivalik Hills Uttar Pradesh 945 m
Nanda Devi Garhwal Himalaya Uttarakhand 7816 m
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Sandakphu Eastern Himalaya West Bengal 3636 m
Important Mountain Peaks

Nanga Parbat:
• Ninth highest peak of the world located in the PoK, just near the Indus Gorge
(8126m)
• Forms western terminus of the Himalayas
• First climbed by Austrian climber Hermann Buhl on 3 July 1953
Godwin Austin (K2):
• 2nd highest peak of the world located in the central part of the Karakoram Range
• Known as the Savage Mountain due to the difficulty of ascent, second highest
fatality rate after the Annapurna
• Never been climbed in the winter
Kamet:
• Second highest peak of Uttarakhand located north of the Gangotri Glacier, near the
border with Tibet.
• Lies in the Chamoli district.
• A peak of the Great Himalayas near the Mana Pass
Nanda Devi:
• Highest peak of Uttarakhand between the Milam Glacier and the Pindar Glacier
• Part of the Nanda Devi National Park
• Second highest peak of India (excluding PoK )
Satopanth:
• Lies in the Gangotri region of Garhwal Himalayas (Uttarakhand).

• It is located in the Gangotri National Park.
• The River Alaknanda originates in this peak.
Dunagiri:
• Situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.

• It is one among the peaks which surround the Nanda Devi peak.
Kangtoh:
• It lies in India-China border (Arunachal Pradesh).

• It is also known as Kanggardo Rize.
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• Located on the Eastern Himalayas along the borders of the Autonomous region of
China, Tibet and India.
• It is the source of the Pachuk river which is a tributary of the River Kameng.
Guru Shikhar:
• Highest peak of the Aravallis and Rajasthan.

• Located at a distance of 15km from Mount Abu.
• Home to the temple of Dattatreya, an incarnation of the Lord Vishnu.
• Adjacent to the temple is the Mt. Abu Observatory
Dhupgarh:
• Highest peak of the Satpura Range located in the Mahadeo Hills near Pachmarhi
(1350m.)
• Rock structure is basaltic with abundance of slate, schist and granite deposits
• An important tourist spot
Malaygiri:
• Located in the southeastern part of the Garhjat Hills, is the highest peak of the hills
• Located between the Brahmani and Baitarni rivers
• Rich in metallic minerals
Mahendragiri:
• Peak of the Eastern Ghats located near Behrampur in the district of Gajapati, Orissa
• Highest peak of Orissa located near the border with Andhra Pradesh
Doddabetta:
• Highest peak of the Nilgiri Hills in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu
• 35km north of Otty
• A popular tourist attraction with road access up to the summit
• There is an observatory at the top with two telescopes
• Shola forests over its slopes
Anai Mudi:
• Located in the state of Kerala, it is the highest peak of the Western Ghats as well as
of the South India, also highest outside the Himalayas in India
• It literally means ‘Elephant Forehead’
• Located at the junction of the Palni Cardamom and Annamalai hills, in the southern
part of the Eravikulam National Park
Kalsubai:
• Highest peak of the Sahyadris in Maharashtra

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• To reach the summit there are various trekking routes and animal tracks
• At the summit a small temple of Kalsubai is located
Mahabaleshwar:
• Largest hill station in the Sahyadri Range of Maharashtra

• Located in the Satara district,with the height of 1438m.
• Due to its high altitude it has cool climate
Namcha Barwa:
• Eastern anchor of the Himalayas located in Tibet near the Indian border where the
Brahmputra bends
• Easternmost mountain in the world over 7600m. high
Saramati:
• With the height of 3826m. it is the highest peak of the Purvanchal Hills located in
the Naga Hills, near the border with Myanmar
• Snow covered during the winter
• A popular trekking destination
Blue Mountain:
• Also known as Phawngpui is the highest peak of Mizoram (2156m.) near the
Myanmar border
• With spectacular trees and flowers of all colours it presents a fairytale view of
the blue hazed hills
• The area is encircled by matted bamboo groves and other alluring vegetations
Saddle Peak:
• A twin peaks with a distinct saddle between them, is the highest peak of Andaman
and Nicobar
• Located in the North Andaman Island
• It is 732m. high
• Part of the Saddle Peak National Park
Parasnath:
• Highest peak of the Rajmahal Hills, located in the northeast Jharkhand

• An important Jain temple devoted to Parasnath
• Archaean rock deposits of iron and manganese are found in this region
Agastyamalai:
• It is located at the border of Tamil nadu and kerala.

• The Thavirabarni River originates from the eastern side of the hill.
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• The hill is part of the Neyyar wildlife sanctuary.
• Surrounding region has been declared the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.
Saltoro Kangri:
• It is located at the Line of control.

• Its elevation is 7,742m above the sea level.
• In 1984 India assumed military control on the peak.
Abi Gamin:
• Located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.

• Abi Gamin is separated from Kamet by a high saddle known as Maede’s col.
• The famous Mana pass and Niti pass are located here.
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Important Hill Ranges of India
• Aravalli hills
• Vindhyan range
• Satpura range
• Western Ghat
• Eastern Ghat
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Aravalli hills
• They originate in Gujarat (at Palanpur) and extend till Haryana. They terminate in
the Delhi ridge.
• They have a maximum extent of 800 km
• They are old fold mountain ranges, one of the oldest tectonic mountains in the
world.
• Rocks that make up the Aravallis are more than 2 billion years old.
• Unlike other fold mountains, Aravallis have an average elevation in the range of 400-
600m only. This is because throughout their geological history they were subjected
to the processes of weathering and erosion.
• Only a few peaks reach an elevation of above 1000m. These include – Mt.
Gurushikhar (1722m, the highest point of Aravallis), Mt.Abu (1158m, it’s part of a
plateau).
• Geologically, they are mainly made up of Dharwar igneous and metamorphic rocks.
• They contain the largest marble deposits in India.
• Rivers Banas, Luni, Sabarmati are born in Aravallis. Banas is a tributary of Chambal.
Luni is an ephemeral river that terminates in the Rann of Kutch.
• They contain several passes that cut through them, especially between Udaipur and
Ajmer like Piplighat, Dewair, Desuri, etc.
• They also contain several lakes such as Lake Sambhar (largest inland saline water
body in India), Lake Dhebar (south of Aravallis), Lake Jaisamand (in the Jaisamand
wildlife sanctuary), etc.
Vindhyan range
• These are non-tectonic mountains, they were formed not because of plate collision
but because of the downward faulting of the Narmada Rift Valley (NRV) to their
south.
• They extend for 1200km from Bharuch in Gujarat to Sasaram in Bihar.
• Geologically, they are younger than Aravallis and Satpura hills.
• Their average height is in the range of 300-650m.
• They are made up of older Proterozoic rocks. They are cut across by Kimberlite piles
(diamond deposits)
• They are known by local names such as Panna, Kaimur, Rewa, etc.
• They rise from the NRV in the form of steep, sharp slopes called the escarpments.
These escarpments are well developed in Kaimur and Panna regions.
Satpura range
• Satpura range is a combination of Satpura, Mahadeo, and Maikala hills.

• Satpura hills are tectonic mountains, formed about 1.6 billion years ago, as a result
of folding and structural uplift. They are a Horst landform.
• They run for a distance of about 900km.
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• Mahadeo hills lie to the east of Satpura hills. Pachmarhi is the highest point of the
Satpura range. Dhupgarh (1350m) is the highest peak of Pachmarhi.
• Maikala hills lie to the east of Mahadeo hills. Amarkantak plateau is a part of the
Maikala hills. It is about 1127m.
• The plateau has the drainage systems of Narmada and Son, hence it has drainage
into the Bay of Bengal as well as the Arabian sea.
• These are mostly situated in the States of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
• These hills are rich in bauxite, due to the presence of Gondwana rocks.
• Dhuandhar waterfalls over the Narmada is situated in MP.
Maikal Range Eastern part of the Satpuras range (MP)
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Eastern portion of the Vindhya Range in MP, UP & Bihar, Parallel to
Kaimur Range
river son
forms the central part of the Satpura Range, located in MP

Mahadeo Range
Highest peak: Dhoopgarh
Maharashtra, south of river Tapi, sheltering caves of world famous

Ajanta Range
paintings of Gupta period
In Jharkhand made up of lava basaltic rocks

Rajmahal Hills
Point of Ganges bifurcation
Garo Khasi
Continuous mountain range in Meghalaya
Jaintia Hills
a group of hills located to the south of the Kaziranga National Park

Mikir Hills
(Assam) a part of the Karbi Anglong Plateau
Hills of Arunachal Pradesh, near the border with China, bordered

Abor Hills by Mishmi and Miri Hills drained by Dibang River, a tributary of
the Brahmaputra
in Arunachal Pradesh with its northern & eastern parts touching China
Mishmi Hills Situated at the junction of Northeastern Himalaya and Indo-Burma
ranges
Also known as Purvanchal Range, consist of three major hills

Patkai Range The Patkai-Bum, the Garo-Khasi-Jaintia, and Lushai Hills
situated on India’s north-eastern border with Burma
also known as Mount Koupalu is one of the highest mountains in

Koubru Hill Manipur, and the abode of the god Lainingthou Koubru and the
goddess Kounu in Manipuri mythology.
Mizo Hills
part of the Patkai range in Mizoram and partially in Tripura
(Lushai Hills)
Located in Jamshedpur, famous for Dalma national park & minerals

Dalma Hills
like iron ore & manganese.
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Dhanjori Hills Jharkhand
Girnar Hills Gujrat
Baba Budan Giri Karnataka
At Pune, acts as a water divide bw Godavari & Krishna

Harishchandra
Hills made up of lava
Balaghat range Bw MP & Maharashtra, famous for manganese deposits
Chilpi series MP
Talcher series Odisha, rich in bituminous coal
Champion
Karnataka, Dharawar period, rich in gold (contains kolar mines)
series
Referred as Blue mountains, a range of mountains in the westernmost

part of Tamil Nadu at the junction of Karnataka and Kerala Hills are
Nilgiri Hills separated from the Karnataka plateau to the north by the Moyar River
and from the Anaimalai Hills & Palni Hills to the south by the Palghat
Gap
The eastward extension of the Western Ghats ranges

Palani Hills adjoin the high Anamalai range on the west, and extend east into the
plains of Tamil Nadu
Also known as Elephant Hill, a range of mountains in the Western

Anamalai Hills
Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala with the highest peak Anamudi
Part of the southern Western Ghats located in southeast Kerala and

Cardmom Hills
southwest Tamil Nadu
Pachamalai
also known as the Pachais, The Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu
Hills
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Parasnath is a mountain peak in the Parasnath Range. It is located
Parasnath Hill towards the eastern end of the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Giridih
district of Jharkhand.
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Major Mountain Passes in India
Mountain Passes in India

Mountain pass is a connectivity route through the mountain run. It is a gateway to
connect different parts of the country and also with neighboring countries for different
purposes.
Mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Passes have
played a key role in trade, war, and both human and animal migration throughout
history.
At lower elevations it may be called a hill pass.
Mountain Passes are often found just above the source of a river, constituting
a drainage divide. A pass may be very short, consisting of steep slopes to the top of the
pass, or maybe a valley many kilometers long, whose highest point might only be
identifiable by surveying.
Important Mountain Passes in India

Zoji La (Pass)-It is in the Zaskar range of Jammu & Kashmir. The road route from Srinagar to
Leh goes through this pass. It has been created by the Indus River.
Banihal Pass-Banihal Pass is a mountain pass across the Pir Panjal Range at a maximum
elevation of 2,832 m. It connects the Kashmir Valley in the union territory of Jammu and
Kashmir to the outer Himalayas and the plains to the south. In the Kashmiri language,
“Banihāl” means blizzard.
Shipki La (Pass)-Shipki La is a mountain pass and border post with a dozen buildings of
significant size on the India-China border. The river Sutlej enters India near this pass.
Bara-Lacha Pass- Bara-lacha la also known as Bara-lacha Pass, is a high mountain pass in
the Zanskar range, connecting Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Leh district in
Ladakh, situated along the Leh–Manali Highway.
Rohtang Pass-It is a high mountain pass on the eastern end of the Pir Panjal Range of
the Himalayas around 51 km from Manali. It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and
Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India.
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Mana Pass-The pass is one of the highest vehicle-accessible passes in the world,
containing a road constructed in the 2005-2010 period for the Indian military by the
Border Roads Organisation. Mana Pass is the last point between India and China’s Border.
Niti Pass-The Niti Pass located at 5800 meters connects India with Tibet. The pass
is located in Uttarakhand.
Nathu La (Pass)-Nathu La is a mountain pass in the Himalayas in the East Sikkim district. It
connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. Nathu
means “listening ears” and La means “pass” in Tibetan.
Jalep La (Pass)-Jelep La or Jelep Pass, elevation 4,267 m or 13,999 ft, is a high mountain
pass between East Sikkim District, Sikkim, India, and Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It
is on a route that connects Lhasa to India.
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Mountain Passes in India (state wise) – Location & Significance
Mountain Passes in Leh & Ladakh
It is the highest motorable pass in the country. It connects Leh and

Khardung La
Siachen glaciers. This pass remains closed during the winter.
Thang La / It is located in Ladakh. It is the second-highest motorable mountain pass

Taglang La in India.
It is situated to the North of Mount Godwin-Austen in the Karakoram. It

Aghil Pass connects Ladakh with the Xinjiang province of China. It remains closed
during the winter season from November to May.
It is a high mountain pass in the Greater Himalayas. It connects Ladakh

Chang-La
with Tibet.
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This is located in the Aksai Chin in the Ladakh region. It connects Ladakh
Lanak La and Lhasa. The Chinese authority has built a road to join Xinjiang with
Tibet.
The pass has a difficult geographical terrain and steep slopes. This pass
Imis La
remains closed during the winter season. It connects Ladakh and Tibet.
Bara-La/ Bara- It is situated on the National Highway in the state of Jammu and
Lacha La Kashmir. It connects Manali and Leh.
Mountain Passes in Uttarakhand
It is located in Uttarakhand. It is situated at the end of the Pindari

Traill’s Pass glacier and connects the Pindari valley to Milam valley. This pass
is very steep and rugged.
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It is located in Uttarakhand. It connects Uttarakhand with Tibet.
Lipu Lekh:
This pass is an important border post for trade with China. The
Uttarakhand-Tibet
pilgrims for Manasarovar travel through this pass.
Mana Pass: It is located in the Greater Himalayas and connects Tibet with
Uttarakhand-Tibet Uttarakhand. It remains under snow for six months during winter.
The pass which connects Uttarakhand-Tibet is known for

Mangsha Dhura Pass:
landslides. The pilgrims for Manasarovar cross this route. It’s
Uttarakhand-Tibet
located in the Kuthi Valley.
It is situated in the north of Gangotri, at an elevation of 5669 m in

Muling La: the Great Himalayas. This seasonal pass that connects
Uttarakhand-Tibet Uttarakhand with Tibet remains snow-covered during the winter
season.
This pass joins Uttarakhand with Tibet. This also remains snow-
Niti Pass
covered during the winter season.
Debsa Pass: Spiti It joins Spiti Valley and Parvati Valley. It is a high mountain pass in
Valley and Parvati between the Kullu and Spiti of Himachal Pradesh. It is a bypass
Valley route of Pin-Parvati Pass.
Rohtang Pass: Kullu- This is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It has excellent
Lahul-Spiti road transportation. This pass connects Kullu, Spiti and Lahul.
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Mountain Passes in the Northeastern States
The Nathu La Pass is located in the Himalayan Range in the state of

Sikkim, India at an elevation of 4,310 m. The road passing
Nathu La through Nathu La was once an important auxiliary route making up
the ancient Silk Route. It is one of the trading border posts between
India and China.
This pass passes through the Chumbi valley. It connects Sikkim with
Jelep La
Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
Bomdi-La:
The Bomdi-La pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Lhasa, the
Arunachal
capital city of Tibet. It is located in the east of Bhutan.
Pradesh-Lhasa
Yonggyap pass lies at an altitude of 3962 meters on the Indo-China

Yonggyap Pass
border and joins Arunachal Pradesh with the Tibet region.
Dihang pass:
It is located in the Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh. This
Arunachal
pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar (Mandalay). At an
Pradesh-
elevation of more than 4000 m, it provides passage.
Mandalay
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Diphu (Dipher) Pass is a mountain pass around the area of the
disputed tripoint borders of India, China, and Myanmar. Diphu Pass
is also a strategic approach to eastern Arunachal Pradesh. It lies on
Diphu pass:
the McMahon Line. In October 1960 China and Burma demarcated
Arunachal
their border to Diphu Pass, which is 5 miles south of the watershed of
Pradesh-
the mountain ranges. However, this caused a diplomatic row with
Mandalay
India, which expected the tri-point to be at the watershed. The
dispute has become part of the ongoing border disagreement
between China and India regarding Arunachal Pradesh
Kumjawng Pass also lies on the Indo-Myanmar border at an

Kumjawng Pass
altitude of 2929 and joins Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar.
It is located in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. This pass

connects Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. Pangsau Pass or Pan
Saung Pass, 3,727 feet (1,136 m) in altitude, lies on the crest of the
Pangsau Pass Patkai Hills on the India-Burma (Myanmar) border. The pass offers
one of the easiest routes into Burma from the Assam plains. It is
named after the closest Burmese village, Pangsau, that lies 2 km
beyond the pass to the east.
Chaukan Pass This pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar.
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Mountain Passes in Kashmir
Banihal Pass (Jawahar Banihal pass is a popular pass in Jammu and Kashmir. It is
Tunnel): Banihal with situated in the Pir- Panjal Range. It connects Banihal with
Qazigund Qazigund.
It connects Srinagar with Kargil and Leh. Beacon Force of

Zoji La: Srinagar- Kargil
Border Road Organization is responsible for clearing and
& Leh
maintaining the road, especially during the winter.
Burzail pass: Srinagar- This pass joins the Astore Valley of Kashmir with the Deosai
Kishan Ganga Valley Plains of Ladakh.
The Pensi La connects the Kashmir valley with Kargil. It is

Pensi La
situated in the Greater Himalayas.
It is a traditional pass from Jammu to Srinagar. This pass was

Pir-Panjal Pass closed after the partition. It provides the shortest roadway
access to Kashmir valley from Jammu.
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Mountain Passes in Deccan Plateau (Central & Southern India)
It is located in the Western Ghats. It joins the Madurai city in Tamil
Shencottah Nadu with the Kottayam district in Kerala. The second-largest gap in
Gap: Madurai- the Western Ghats which is situated five kilometers from town is
Kottayam known by its name that is the Shencottah Gap road-rail lines pass
through this gap which connects Shencottah with Punalur.
Bhor Ghat or Bor Ghat or Bhore Ghaut is a mountain passage located

between Palasdari and Khandala for railway and
between Khopoliand Khandala on the road route in Maharashtra,
India situated on the crest of the Western Ghats. It is located at an
elevation of four hundred and forty-one meters elevation above sea
Bhor Ghat level. The ghat has a bit of historical evidence. The ghat was the
ancient route developed by Satavahana to connect the ports of
Choul, Revdanda Panvel, etc. on the Konkan coast and the
surrounding areas on the Deccan plateau. Today the ghat plays a
massive part of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway laid from Mumbai
to Pune.
Thal Ghat (also called Thul Ghat or Kasara Ghat) is a ghat section
(mountain incline or slope) in the Western Ghats near the town
of Kasara in Maharashtra. The Thal Ghat is located on the
Thal Ghat
busy Mumbai–Nashik route, and is one of the four major routes, rail,
and road routes, leading into Mumbai. The railway line, which passes
through the ghat is the steepest in India with a gradient of 1 in 37
The Palakkad Gap is located in the Western Ghats between the

states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. India at an elevation of about 140 m.
The mountain pass is located between Nilgiri Hills in the north and
Pal Ghat Anaimalai Hills towards the south and connects Coimbatore in
Tamil Nadu with Palakkad in Kerala. The mountain pass was an
important instrument for human migration across India’s southern tip
throughout settled history.
Asirgarh Pass is located in the Satpura Range in the state of Madhya

Asirgarh Pass Pradesh, India at an elevation of about 260 m. The Asirgarh Pass
(Madhya connects the Narmada and Tapti Valleys and is also known as the
Pradesh) ‘Key to the Deccan’ for being among the most important routes from
northern India to the Deccan. Asirgarh Fort overlooks the mountain
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pass and during the Mughal era, Hindustan would be the land from
Delhi to Asirgarh and the land beyond would be the Deccan.
Goram Ghat is located in the Aravali Range in the state of Rajasthan.

Goram Ghat connects Mewar and Marwar in Rajasthan through the
Aravali Hills and has a railway line passing through it that crosses 2
Goram Ghat tunnels and 172 bridges in total. The terrain is densely forested with
Dhok forest and is rich in biodiversity, including many medicinal
plants and a variety of fauna like sloth bears, leopards, wild boars,
etc.
Haldighati Pass is located in the Aravali Range in the state of

Rajasthan. The name Haldighati is derived from the turmeric (‘haldi’ in
hindi) colored soil in the mountain pass. Located about 40 km from
Udaipur, the mountain pass is said to be the historic location of
Haldighati Pass the ‘Battle of Haldighati’ between the Mewar king Maharana Pratap
and the Mughals under Emperor Akbar in 1576. The Government of
India commissioned the setting up of the Maharana Pratap National
Memorial in 1997 on the site which included a bronze statue of
Maharana Pratap’s horse Chetak.
Jabalpur (formerly Jubbulpore) is a tier 2 city in the state of Madhya

Jabalpur Gap
Pradesh.
Khandwa is a city and a nagar nigam in the Nimar region of Madhya

Khandwa Gap
Pradesh.
Burhanpur is a district present in the state of Madhya Pradesh. There

are many geographic features in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
The river Tapti and the presence of Satpura range act as natural
Burhanpur Gap
boundaries for the Burhanpur district. There is a gap which is present
to the north of the Tapti river and the Satpura range and the gap is
famously called as the Burhanpur gap.
Amba Ghat It has picturesque mountain-scapes and a pleasant climate. This

Pass region is famous for paragliding sport.
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State: Maharashtra
Location: Sahyadri Mountains of Western Ghats
This region is famous for the rare species of wolf snake (Lycodon
striatus).
Chorla Ghat
State: Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
Pass
Location: Sahyadri mountain range of Western Ghats (On the
intersection of the borders of Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra)
This region is famous for wide variety of birds such as quails, rails,
crakes, flamingos, and cuckoos.
Malshej Ghat
State: Maharashtra, India
Pass
Location: Sahyadri Range of Western Ghats (Lofty rugged hills of the
Western Ghats)
It is also called as Nanaghat or Nana Ghat. It was a part of an ancient

trading route. The name nane means “coin” and ghat means “pass”.
The name is given because this path was used as a tollbooth to collect
Naneghat Pass tolls from traders crossing the hills.
Location: Sahyadri Range of Western Ghats
Between/Separating: It connects Pune district to Junnar City.
This region is famous for sprawling green Ghats, misty roads, and
cascading waterfalls.
Tamhini Ghat
Location: Sahyadri Range of Western Ghats
Between/Separating: It connects the talukas of Mulshi and Tamhini in
the Pune district.
This region is for wildlife, dense hilly forests, Hiranyakeshi temple, and
a number of waterfalls.
Amboli Ghat State: Maharashtra, India
Pass Location: Sahyadri Range of Western Ghats
Between/Separating: It connects Sawantwadi of Maharashtra to
Belgaum of Karnataka.
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It connects the coastal Ratnagiri district in the Konkan region of
Maharashtra with the Satara District in the Desh region.
Kumbharli
Location: Western Ghats
Ghat Pass
Between/Separating: It connects the coastal Ratnagiri district in the
Konkan region of Maharashtra with the Satara District in the Desh
region.
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Khyber Pass –
• The Khyber Pass is a mountain pass in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province

of Pakistan, on the border with Afghanistan (Nangarhar Province).
• It connects the town of Landi Kotal to the Valley of Peshawar at Jamrud by
traversing part of the Spin Ghar mountains. An integral part of the ancient Silk Road,
it has long had substantial cultural, economic, and geopolitical significance
for Eurasian trade.
• Throughout history, it has been an important trade route between Central Asia and
the Indian subcontinent and a vital strategic military choke point for various states
that came to control it.
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Bolan Pass –
• The Bolān Pass is a mountain pass through the Toba Kakar Range of Balochistan
province in western Pakistan, 120 km from the Afghanistan border.
• The pass is an 89 km stretch of the Bolan river valley from Rindli in the south to
Darwāza near Kolpur in the north. It is made up of a number of narrow gorges and
stretches.
• Bolan Pass is located in the south-east of Quetta. Mehrgarh is located near the Bolan
Pass. The Toba Kakar Mountains are a southern offshoot of the Himalayas in
the Balochistan region of Pakistan.
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List of Major Mountain Passes in India
Height
Name State Between/ Separating
(ft)
Asirgarh Madhya Pradesh
Auden’s Col Uttarakhand 17,552
Jammu and
Banihal Pass 9,291 Jammu & Kashmir
Kashmir (Jammu, Kashmir)
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Height
(ft)
Bara-lacha-la Himachal Pradesh 16,400
Bomdila Arunachal Pradesh
Changla Pass Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) 17,585 Leh & Changthang
Chanshal Pass Himachal Pradesh 14,830
Dehra Compass Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)
Debsa Pass Himachal Pradesh 17,520
Diphu Pass Arunachal Pradesh 4,587
Dongkhala Sikkim 12,000
Dhumdhar Kandi
Uttarakhand
Pass
Fotu La Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) 13,451
Goecha La Sikkim 16,207
Haldighati Pass Rajasthan
Indrahar Pass Himachal Pradesh 14,473
Jelep La Sikkim 14,300
Khardung La Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) 17,582 Leh & Nubra
Kongka Pass Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) 16,965 Ladakh & Aksai Chin
Lanak Pass Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) 17,933 Ladakh & Tibet
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Height
(ft)
Himachal Pradesh (Lahaul and

Kunzum Pass 14,931 Lahaul & Spiti
Spiti)
Karakoram Pass Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) Ladakh & Xinjiang
Lipulekh Pass Uttarakhand 17,500
Lungalacha La Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) 16,600
Lamkhaga Pass Himachal Pradesh 17,336
Marsimik La Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) 18,314
Mayali Pass Uttarakhand 16,371
Nama Pass Uttarakhand 18,399
Namika La Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) 12,139
Nathu La Sikkim 14,140 Sikkim & Tibet
Palakkad Gap Kerala 750 Kerala & Tamil Nadu
Thamarassery
Wayanad Kerala 1,700 Malabar & Mysore
Pass
Travancore & Tamil

Shenkottai pass Kollam Kerala 690
Nadu
Pensi La Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)
Rezang La Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)
Rohtang Pass Himachal Pradesh 13,051 Manali & Lahaul
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Height
(ft)
Nubra & Siachen

Sasser la Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) 17,753
Glacier
Sela Pass Arunachal Pradesh 14,000
Shipki La Himachal Pradesh
Jammu and Kashmir (Siachen

Sia La 18,337
Glacier)
Shingo La Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)
Spangur Gap Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)

Gyong La 18,655
Glacier)

Bilafond La 17,881
Glacier)
Sin La Uttarakhand
Tanglang La Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) 17,583
Traill’s Pass Uttarakhand 17,100
Jammu and
Zojila Pass 12,400 Kashmir & Ladakh
Kashmir (Kashmir, Ladakh)
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Important Glaciers in India
Glacier
Glaciers are a bulk of ice moving under its weight. It forms in areas where the amassing of
snow goes beyond its ablation over many years. They are sensitive indicators of changing
climate.
• They are generally seen in the snow-fields.

• This largest freshwater basin covers around 10 percent of the land surface of the
Earth.
• Out of total water on Earth, 2.1% is in glaciers while 97.2% is in the oceans and
inland seas.
• Condition of glacier formation:
• Mean annual temperatures are close to the freezing point.
• Winter precipitation produces significant accumulations of snow.
• Temperatures throughout the rest of the year do not result in the complete
loss of the previous winter’s snow accumulation.
• According to the topography and the location of the glacier, it can be categorized
as Mountain Glacier (Alpine Glaciers) or Continental Glacier (Ice Sheets).
• The Continental Glacier moves outward in all directions whereas the Mountain
Glacier moves from a higher to a lower altitude.
Alpine Glaciers
• Alpine glaciers are formed on the mountainsides and they usually move downwards
through the valleys.
• There are times when an alpine glacier also deepens the valleys by pushing away the
dirt, soil, and other materials.
• These glaciers are found in high mountains.
Ice Sheets
• Ice sheets form broad domes and usually spread out in all directions.
• When the ice sheets spread, they cover all the areas such as valleys, plains, and
mountains with a thick blanket of ice.
• The continental glaciers are the largest ice sheets and cover most of Antarctica and
islands of Greenland.
Geographical Location of Glaciers
• 91% of the Glaciers are in Antarctica and 8% are in Greenland. They occupy about
10% of the world’s total land area.
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Important Glaciers in India
Name State Mountain Range
Batura Glacier Jammu & Kashmir Karakoram Mountain Range
Khurdopin Glacier Jammu & Kashmir Karakoram Mountain Range
Hispar Glacier Jammu & Kashmir Karakoram Mountain Range
Biafo Glacier Jammu & Kashmir Karakoram Mountain Range
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Baltoro Glacier Jammu & Kashmir Karakoram Mountain Range
Chomolungma
Jammu & Kashmir Karakoram Mountain Range
glacier
Khurdapin glacier Ladakh Karakoram
Godwin Austen Ladakh Karakoram
Trango Glacier Ladakh Karakoram
Chong Kumdan Ladakh Karakoram
Diamir Glacier Jammu & Kashmir Karakoram Mountain Range
Siachen Glacier Jammu & Kashmir Karakoram Mountain Range
Bara Shigri Glacier Himachal Pradesh Pir Panjal Range of the Inner Himalayas.
Chhota Shigri
Himachal Pradesh Pir Panjal
Glacier
Sonapani Glacier Himachal Pradesh Pir Panjal
Rakhiot Glacier Ladakh Pir Panjal
Uttarkashi,
Gangotri Glacier Himalayas
Uttarakhand
Bandarpunch Western edge of the high Himalayan

Uttarakhand
Glacier range
Milam Glacier Uttarakhand Trishul peak of Pithoragarh
Nanda Devi,
Pindari glacier Upper reaches of the Kumaon Himalayas
Uttarakhand
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Kafni Glacier Uttarakhand Kumaon-Garhwal
Kalabaland Glacier Uttarakhand Kumaon-Garhwal
Kedar Bamak
Uttarakhand Kumaon-Garhwal
Glacier
Meola Glacier Uttarakhand Kumaon-Garhwal
Namik Glacier Uttarakhand Kumaon-Garhwal
Panchchuli Glacier Uttarakhand Kumaon-Garhwal
Ralam Glacier Uttarakhand Kumaon-Garhwal
Sona Glacier Uttarakhand Kumaon-Garhwal
Satopanth Glacier Uttarakhand Kumaon-Garhwal
Sunderdhunga
Uttarakhand Kumaon-Garhwal
Glacier
Dokriani Glacier Uttarakhand Kumaon-Garhwal
Chorabari Glacier Uttarakhand Kumaon-Garhwal
Eastern Himalaya Located on

Zemu Glacier Sikkim
Kanchenjunga peak
Kanchenjunga
Sikkim Eastern Himalaya
Glacier
Glaciers in Himalayas
• There are about 15,000 glaciers in the Himalayas.
• Total area of Himalayas is about five lakh square kilometres (Area of India is nearly 32
lakh sq km). About 33,000 sq km area is covered by snow.
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• The snow line (the lowest level of perpetual snow) varies in different parts of the
Himalayas depending upon latitude, amount of precipitation and local
topography.
Glaciers of the Karakoram Range
• Maximum development of glaciers occurs in the Karakoram range.

• Some of the largest glaciers outside the polar and sub-polar regions are found in this
range. The southern side of this range has many gigantic glaciers.
• The 75 km long Siachen Glacier in Nubra valley has the distinction of being the
second largest glacier outside the polar and the sub-polar regions. The largest is the
77 km long Fedchenko Glacier (Pamirs)
• Third largest is the Hispar Glacier. It is 62 km long and occupies a tributary of
the Hunza River.
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Glaciers of the Pir Panjal Range
• The glaciers of the Pir Panjal Range are less numerous and smaller in size as
compared to those of the Karakoram Range.
• The longest Sonapani Glacier in the Chandra Valley of Lahul and Spiti region is only
15 km long.
Glaciers of the Kumaon-Garhwal Region
• In the Kumaon-Garhwal region of the Himalayas, the largest is the 30 km long

Gangotri Glacier which is the source of the holy Ganga.
Garhwal Region
• Lying in the Himalayas, it is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by Kumaon
region, on the south by Uttar Pradesh state, and on the northwest by Himachal
Pradesh state.
• It includes the districts of Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag,
Tehri Garhwal, and Uttarkashi.
Glaciers of Central Nepal
• Zemu and the Kanchenjunga glaciers are the major ones.
Gangotri Glacier
• Largest Glacier in Uttarakhand.

• Source of the Ganges. (River Bhagirathi)
• The Gangotri glacier originates at the northern slope of Chaukhamba range of
peaks in Garhwal Himalayas.
• Gangotri is not a single valley glacier, but a combination of several other glaciers.
• Carbon Deposits on Gangotri
• The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology is an Autonomous Institute
administered by the Department of Science and Technology.
• They have the Chirbasa station at a height of 3,600 m and Bhojbasa station at
a height of 3,800 m.
• They research the number of carbon deposits on the important glaciers of the
Himalayas. Gangotri being the source of the Ganges is one of the most
important Glaciers in the country.
• According to recent data from the research, the concentration of Black
Carbon present on the Gangotri Glacier has doubled when compared to the
results of the past few years.
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• The primary reason for this is the agricultural burning and forest fires in the
nearby regions.
Siachen Glacier
• Located over the Karakoram Range in the Nubra Valley, is the second largest glacier
outside the polar and sub-polar regions
• Lolofond and Teram Shehr are its main tributaries
• Disputed between India and Pakistan
• Highest battle field of the world
Fedchenko
• The Fedchenko Glacier is a large glacier in the Yazgulem Range, Pamir Mountains, of
north-central Gorno-Badakhshan province, Tajikistan.
• Largest glacier after the Siachen
• It covers an area of 450 sq. km in the north western Pamir and has nearly 550m deep
ice.
Hispar
• Third largest glacier of the Karakoram region, occupies a tributary of the Hunza
River
• Combines with Biafo Glacier occupying about 65 sq. km area of Braldoh Valley
• Kunyong /Lak (24 km) is an important tributary of Hispar.
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Biafo
• Located between Hispar and Baltoro glaciers, occupies the Braldoh Valley
• 4th largest glacier of the Karakoram region
• Occipies the valley of the Gori Ganga River
• Formed by the union of nine glaciers
Pindari
• Located to the south of the Nanda Devi in northeast Uttarakhand

• Source of the Pindar River
• Located in the Upper reaches of the Kumaon Himalayas
• Provides a 90 km round trip trek.
Rongbuck
• Tibetan side of the Mount Everest

• Largest glacier outside the Karakoram
• Famous Rongbuck Monastery is located at the northern end of the Rougbuk Valley
• Englishman George Mallory first explored while searching possible routes to the
summit of the Mount Everest
Zemu
• Flows in easterly direction at the head of the Zemu River

• About one kilometre wide and 180m thick
• Largest glacier of the Eastern Himalayas (26 km)
• Found at the base of the Kanchanjunga
• One of the possible sources of the Teesta River
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Baltoro
• ∙ A 65 km long glacier over the Karakoram range, west of the siachen glacier.
• ∙ It gives rise to the shigar river, a tributary of the Indus river.
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Important Rivers in India
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Indus :
• 2880 km long river originates in Tibet near the Mansarovar Lake and empties into the
Arabian Sea
• Its five great tributaries meet it at Mithankot in Pakistan.
• Flows between Ladakh and Zaskar ranges in India, forming a gorge.
• Leh is located on its bank
Shyok :
• Right bank tributary of the Indus, originates in Depsang Plains and flows along the
Karakoram Range
• Forms the eastern limit of the Karakoram
• Fed by various glaciers like Siachen Glacier
• Found completely inside Jammu and Kashmir
Zaskar :
• Left bank tributary of the Indus, flows between the Zaskar Range (S) and the Ladakh
Range (N)
• It meets the Indus just west of Leh
• Found completely inside Jammu and Kashmir
Gilgit :
• Right bank tributary of the Indus River, at present in the PoK.

• Rises in the northwest corner of India proper and meet the Indus very near, where
the latter bends towards the southwest
• Gilgit city is located on its bank
Jhelum :
• Rises from Verinag, located at the foothill of the Pir Panjal in the southeast Kashmir
• It is the main river of the Kashmir Valley flow through the Wular Lake
• Srinagar is located on its bank
• Tributaries– Kishanganga, Lidar, Sind, Pohru
• Forms 170 km.boundary between India and Pakistan
Chenab :
• It originates near the Bara Lacha Pass as two headstreams Chandra and Bhanga on
the both sides of the pass.
• The united stream flows through the Pangi Valley parallel to the Pir Panjal Range.
• Meets the Indus at Panchnad in Pakistan.
• Cities – Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban.
• Projects– Salal, Baglihar, Dul Hasti.
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Ravi :
• Rises in the Kullu hills near the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh.
• Flows between the Pir Panjal and the Dhauladhar
• Forms deep gorge in the Dhaula Dhar Range
• Cities-Chamba, Kathua
• Forms boundary between Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir and then between India
and Pakistan.
Beas :
• Rises near the Rohtang Pass in HP and meets the Satluj at Harike near Kapurthala
• Completely in India
• Pong Reservoir (HP)
• Forms a deep gorge in the Dhaula Dhar Range
Satluj :
• Southernmost major tributary of the Indus, it originates from the Rakas Lake in Tibet
and enters India through the Shipki La
• Projects : Nathpa Jhakri, Bhakra – Nangal
• Tributaries: Beas, Spiti, Parechhu.
Spiti :
• Right bank tributary of the Satluj rises near the Rohtang Pass
• Completely found inside Himachal Pradesh in its northeastern corner
• Tributaries: Parechhu, Rohtang, Surahi, Hanze etc.
• In Kinnaur it merges with the Satluj
• In the summer its flow is increased and becomes dangerous
Parechhu :
• Right bank tributary of the Satluj rises near the Tso Moriri Lake, then flows through
Tibet and meets the Satluj after the Shipki La
• Its flow is increased in the summer and becomes dangerous, while in the winter it is
somewhat frozen.
Tons :
• The tributary of the Yamuna, rises in the Yamunotri Glacier and flows through the
western part of Uttrakhand
• The NH-94 runs along it.
Bhagirathi :
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• The headstream of the Ganga, rises from the Gangotri Glacier and meets the
Alaknanda River at Devprayag
• Cities – Uttarkashi, Tehri
• Projects: Tehri, Koteshwar.
Alaknanda :
• First major tributary of the Ganga found completely inside Uttarakhand

• Rises near the Niti Pass , at the border with Tibet
• Meets Bhagirathi River at Devprayag
• Tributaries: Pindar, Mandakini
Pindar :
• Most important tributary of the Alaknanda River, found completely inside

Uttarakhand
• Rises from the Pindar Glacier near the Nanda Devi Peak
• Joins the Alaknanda at Karan Prayag
Kali-sarda :
• Important tributary of the Ghaghra, that rises in Tibet near the Rakas Lake
• Flow between India and Nepal forming a natural boundary and known as Kali in the
Nepal section and Sarda in the Indian part
• Passes through the Doodhwa National Park
Karnali/ghaghra :
• Originates near Gurla Mandhata peak, south of Mansarovar in Tibet

• Known as Karnali in western Nepal
• Tributaries: Sarda, Sarju, Rapti.
• Meets Ganga a few kilometers downstream of Chapra in Bihar.
• Forms boundary between UP and Bihar.
Ganga :
• Largest and longest river inside India.

• Originates from the Gangotri Glacier as the Bhagirathi and drains into the Bay of
Bengal.
• Named Ganga after Devprayag and enters the plain after Haridwar.
• Known as Padma in Bangladesh.
• Holiest river of India.
Ramganga :
• Important tributary of the Ganga between the Gomati (E) and the Ganga (W)
• Rises in Garhwal district of Uttarakhand and joins the Ganga near Kannauj
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• City: Moradabad
Gomati :
• Important tributary of the Ganga, rises from the Pilibhit district of UP and joins the
Ganga downstream of Sarnath.
• Irrigates the Avadh Plain
• Cities: Lucknow
Sarju :
• A small river in UP on the bank of which Ayodhya is located

• Some times synonymous with the river Ghaghra or some time as its tributary
Rapti :
• Important tributary of the Ghaghra

• Rises in Nepal and joins the Ghaghra downstream Gorakhpur
• Tributary : Burhi –Rapti
• Cities : Shrasvati , Gorakhpur
Gandak :
• Important tributary of Ganga, originates near the Tibet-Nepal border

• Tributaries: Kali-Gandak, Mayagadi, Bari, Trishula
• Join the Ganga at Hajipur, just east of Patna.
• Flows between UP and Bihar
Burhi gandak :
• Originates from the western slopes of Sumesar Hills near the India- Nepal border,
joins the Ganga opposite Monghyr town.
• Cities : Motihari, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur
• Flows through the Valmiki National Park
Bagmati :
• River of Nepal and India which flows through the Kathmandu Valley and joins Kosi in
India
• Forms Chokar Gorge in the Mahabharat Range
• Kathmandu is located on its bank
• Considered holy by both Budhists and Hindus
Kosi :
• Consists of seven streams namely Sut Kosi, Tamba Kosi, Talkha, Doodh Kosi, Botia
Kosi, Arun and Tamber
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• Arun is the main stream which rises to the north of Gosainthan
• The three important streams (Tumar, Arun and Sun Kosi ) unite at Triveni
• North of the Mahabharat Range to form Kosi
• It is ill-famous for floods and changing its directions as it enters India and known as
the ‘Sorrow of Bihar’
• A barrage has been built at Hanuman Nagar in Nepal
Rangit :
• The largest river of Sikkim

• A tributary of Teesta
• Famous among the rafters owing to its turbulent waters
• Forms boundary between Sikkim and West Bengal
• Has 60 MW electricity plant
Mahananda :
• Trans-boundary river that flows through West Bengal, Bihar and Bangladesh.
• Last important left bank tributary of the Ganga before the Brahmaputra.
• Rises in the Darjeeling district and flows through the Mahananda Wildlife
Sanctuary.
• 360 km long (324 km in India ).
Tista :
• A major tributary of the Brahmaputra

• Rises in Tibet and flows through Sikkim and West Bengal and joins the Brahmaputra
in Bangladesh
• Upto 1787 it was a tributary of the Ganga, when a devastating flood diverted it
eastward
• An antecedent river, does large scale cutting during the rainy season
Sankosh :
• An important tributary of the Brahmaputra, rises in Bhutan and joins the

Brahmaputra near the Indo-Bangladesh border
• Forms boundary between West Bengal and Assam
Manas :
• Important right bank tributary of the Brahmaputra , rises in Bhutan and joins the
Brahmaputra opposite to Goalpara
• Flows through the Manas Biosphere Reserve
• NH-31 passes over it, linking Bongaigaon with Nalbari.
Kameng :
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• Important right bank tributary of the Brahmaputra, rises near the Indo- Tibet border
in Arunachal Pradesh and joins the Brahmaputra, a few kilometres downstream
of Tezpur
Subansiri :
• Important right bank tributary of the Brahmaputra, rises near the Indo – Tibet border,
and joins the Brahmaputra near the Majuli Island
• Separates the Abor Hills (East) from the Miri and Dafla Hills
• Tributary – Kamla
Brahmaputra :
• Rises in the Chemayungdung Glacier in the Kailas Range and joins the Padma in
Bangladesh.
• Known as Tsangpo in Tibet.
• Forms the largest riverine island Majuli.
• Largest volume of water of any river in India.
• Famous for floods.
Dibang :
• Important left bank tributary of the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam
• Flows through the Mishmi Hills
• Forms a Trijunction in the northeast Assam along with the Dihang and the Lohit
• Cities – Tezu, Parasuram Kund
Lohit :
• Important left bank tributary of the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam
• Forms a Trijunction in the northeast corner of Assam along with the Dihang and the
Dibang
Burhi Dibang :
• Left bank tributary of the Brahmaputra, rises from the Patkai Bum in Arunachal
Pradesh and joins the Brahmaputra downdream of Dibrugarh before the Majuli
Island
• Cities: Naharkatia , Digboi
Dikhu :
• Left bank tributary of the Brahmaputra, rises from the Naga Hills and joins the
Brahmaputra at the south of the Majuli Island
• City: Sibsagar
Dhansiri :
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• Left bank tributary of the Brahmaputra rises from the Barail Range and joins the
Brahmaputra just downstream of the Majuli Island
• Flows east of the Rengma Hills and the Mikir Hills where the Kaziranga National
Park is situated
• Boundary between Assam and Nagaland
• Cities – Dimapur, Golaghat
Barak :
• Important river of the northeast India rises from the Barail Range , near the
trijunction of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland
• Forms boundary between Assam and Manipur
• Tipaimukh Dam in Manipur
• It becomes Surma and then Meghna
• City – Silchar.
• NH-53 crosses it.
Manipur :
• It originates in the Manipur Hills and flows southward, just east of the Loktak Lake
and enters Myanmar to join the Myitha River, a tributary of the Chindwin.
• Flows between the Laimatol Range and the east Manipur Hills.
Dhaleshwari :
• Originates in the Mizo Hills and flows northward to join the Barak River
• Passes through the Tropic of Cancer
Ajay :
• Important northernmost tributary of the Hoogly

• Flows through Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal
• Shantiniketan is situated north of it
Damodar :
• Most important tributary of the Hoogly originates from the Palamau district of
Jharkhand.
• Known as ‘Sorrow of Bengal’.
• DVC-First multipurpose project of India.
• Tributaries: Barakar, Konar, Jamunia, Ghari etc.
Rupnarayan :
• Tributary of Hoogly south of the Damodar

• Rises in the western part of West Bengal and meets Silai River before joining the
Hoogly
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• City – Bankura
• NH-6 passes over it.
Haldi :
• Important southernmost tributary of the Hoogly River, rises from the Purulia
district of West Bengal and joins the Hoogly at Haldia
• Cities –Medinipur , Haldia
Yamuna :
• Most important tributary of the Ganga, rises from the Yamunotri Glacier and joins the
Ganga at Allahabad
• Tributaries : Chambal, Sind, Betwa , Ken
• Cities – Delhi, Mathura, Agra, Allahabad
• Excessively used and highly polluted
Barakar :
• Main tributary of the Damodar River

• 225 km long, originates in the Hazaribagh district and joins the Damodar in the
Bardhman district of West Bengal
• Tributaries – Barsoti, Usri.
• Dams and HEPs – Tilaiya , Maithon
Gambhir :
• Important tributary of the Yamuna, between the Yamuna and the Chambal.
• Rises from the northeastern part of the Aravallis, north of Jaipur.
• Before meeting the Yamuna , it forms boundary between Rajasthan and Uttar
Pradesh
• Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary is located just north of it
Chambal :
• Most important tributary of the Yamuna

• Rises from the Janapao Hills of the Vindhyas and meets the Yamuna in Uttar
Pradesh near Etawah
• Tributaries: Banas, Kali Sindh, Parbati
• Reservoirs: Gandhi Sagar, Rana Pratap Sagar, Jawahar Sagar.
• Famous for ‘ravines’ (bandland topography )
• Forms border between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
Sind :
• A right bank tributary of the Yamuna, flows between Chambal and Betwa rivers
through Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
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• Originates in the Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh and joins the Yamuna in the
Etawah district of Uttar Padesh
• Manikheda Dam in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh
Banas :
• Most important left bank tributary of the Chambal

• ∙Rises from the southeastern part of the Aravallis and meets the Chambal at the
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh border
• Ranthambore National Park is situated at the confluence of the Banas and the
Chambal
• Tributaries: Berach, Khairi, Bandi, Dhand
Kali sindh :
• First important right bank tributary of the Chambal flows through the Malwa
Plateau in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan
• Crosses the Tropic of Cancer from the south to north
• Tributaries: Parwan, Ahu
• Forms ravines in its lower course
Parbati :
• Important right bank tributary of the Chambal

• Flows through the Malwa Plateau in Madhya Padesh and Rajasthan
• Crosses the Tropic of Cancer from the south to north
• Forms the boundary between Madhya Padesh and Rajasthan for a short length twice
Betwa :
• Tributary of the Yamuna rises from the Vindhyan Range near Kumara Village of
the Raisen district of Madhya Padesh
• Flows through the Bundelkhand Plateau
• Dams: Matatila, Rajghat
• Cities – Sanchi , Orchha
Ken :
• Rises from the Kaimur Hills in the Satna district of MP and joins the Yamuna in the
Banda district of Uttar Padesh
• Flows through the Bundelkhand Plateau
• Almost dried up during the summer
• There is a plan to link it with the Betwa
Tons :
• Tributary of the Ganga between the Yamuna and the Son
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• Rises from the Vindhyan Range and joins the Ganga few kilometers downstream
of Allahabad
Son :
• Important right bank tributary of the Ganga, rises near Amarkantak and joins the
Ganga near Ramnagar in Bihar
• Flows between the Kaimur Hills and the Sonpar Hills
• Forms various waterfalls
• Forms short border between Jharkhand and Bihar
• Tributaries: Johilla, Gopad, Rihand , Kanhar, North Koel.
Rihand :
• Most important tributary of the Son

• Rises from the Ramgarh Hills of Chhattisgarh and joins the Son in the Mirzapur
district of Uttar Pradesh
• Gobind Ballabh Pant Sagar is formed behind the Rihand Dam
• Passes through the Tropic of Cancer
North koel :
• Last important tributary of the Son, rises from the Chotanagpur Plateau and joins the
Son at the Jharkhand-Bihar border.
• Passes through the Tropic of Cancer as well as the Palamau Tiger Reserve.
• City: Daltenganj
Subarnarekha :
• Rises from the Ranchi Plateau and flows through Jharkhand , West Bengal and
Orissa before emptying into the Bay of Bengal
• Cities – Ranchi, Jamshedpur
• Its valley is famous for the alluvial g
Baitarni :
• Important river of Orissa rises from the Garhjat Hills and before emptying into the
Bay of Bengal joins the Mahanadi delta along with the Brahmani River
• Dhamra Port is located at its mouth
Brahmani :
• Important river of the northern Orissa, forms when the Sankh and the South Koel join
together.
• It joins the Mahanadi Delta before emptying into the Bay of Bengal
• Flows through the Garhjat Hills.
• Cities: Rourkela, Talcher.
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• Its valley has rich coal deposits.
Mahanadi :
• Rises from the Sihava Parbat of the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh and forms large
delta in the Bay of Bengal
• Hirakud Dam near Sambalpur in Orissa.
• Tributaries: Sheonath, Hasdo, Ib, Mand, Jonk, Tel etc.
• Cities – Sambalpur, Cuttack
• Forms the Chhattisgarh Plain, ‘Rice Bowl of India’.
Banshadhara :
• Important river of the southwest Orissa and the northeast Andhra Padesh.
• Rises from the Eastern Ghats and empties into the Bay of Bengal
Sileru :
• Last important left bank tributary of the Godavari rises from the Eastern Ghats and
joins the Godavari in Andhra Padesh after forming boundary between Orissa and
Andhra Padesh
• Tributary – Sabari
• Reservoirs – Jalaput, Machhkund, Balimela
• Dudma Falls after the Machhkund Reservoir
Indravati :
• Important left bank tributary of the Godavari rises from the Eastern Ghats near the
Nimgiri (1515m.)in Orissa.
• Flows through the centre of the Bastar Plateau and forms boundary between
Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh before joining the Godavari at the trijunction of
Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Padesh
• City – Jagdalpur–main city of Bastar region
Wainganga :
• Important left bank tributary of the Godavari rises from the eastern part of the
Mahadeo Hills in Madhya Padesh and after joining the Penganga it becomes
Pranhita which forms boundary between Maharashtra and Andhra Padesh
• Short boundary between MP and Maharashtra
• Tribturies: Pench , Kanhan , Mul
• Cities: Balaghat , Bhandara , Garchiroli
Wardha :
• Important tributary of Penganga , rises from the southern Mahadeo Hills and meets
the Penganga near Chandrapur
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• Tributaries : Bemla , Wunna
Penganga :
• Important left bank tributary of the Godavari , rises from the Ajanta Range and joins
Wainganga near the Andhra Padesh – Maharashtra border to form Pranhita which
forms boundary between the above two states
• Upstream it forms the boundary between the two states.
• Tributaries: Wardha , Aran , Pus
Purna :
• Small left bank tributary of the Godavari, rises from the southern part of the Ajanta
Range
Godavari :
• Second largest river inside India and the longest river of southern India
• Rises from the Trimbak Plateau in the Nasik district and forms a large delta along
with Krishna in the Bay of Bengal
• Known as the ‘Vriddha Ganga’
• Projects – Jayakwadi
• Tributaries : Pranhita, Indravati, Sileru, Manjra
Manjra :
• Most important right bank tributary of the Godavari, rises from the Balaghat Range in
Maharashtra and flows through Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
• Nizam Sagar is built on it in Andhra Pradesh near Nizamabad.
• Tributaries – Tirna ,Manar
Muneru :
• Last important left bank tributary of the Krishna

• Found completely inside Andhra Pradesh
• City: Khammam
Musi :
• Important left bank tributary of the Krishna , rises in the Balaghat Range in
the Telangana Plateau (Andhra Pradesh)
• Hyderabad is located on its bank
• Hussain Sagar Reservoir is built on it
Bhima :
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• Most important left bank tributary of the Krishna rises near Pune in the Matheron
Hills of the Western Ghats , and flows through Maharashtra and Karnataka
• Joins the Krishna 26 km away from Raichur
• Tributaries –Mula , Mutha God, Nira , Sina , Bari , Kagna
Krishna :
• Second longest river of the Indian Peninsula rises from the Western Ghats near
Mahabaleshwar and empties into the Bay of Bengal , forming joint delta with the
Godavari
• Tributaries – Koyna, Tungabhadra, Bhima, Musi etc.
• Dams – Srisailam , Nagarjunasagar
Ghatprabha :
• A right bank tributary of the Krishna flows in Karnataka

• 283- km long river that originates in the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats and
joins the Krishna at Almatti
• Tributaries – Hiranyakeshi , Markandeya
• Ghatprabha Project (at Hidkal ) – A dam and HEP
• Gokak Falls is located in the Belgaum district of Karnataka
Malprabha :
• A right bank tributary of the Krishna in Karnataka rises from the Western Ghats in
Belgaum district and joins the Krishna at Kudalasangam in the Balaghat district
• 304 km long
• Tributaries – Bennihalla , Hirehalla , Tuparihalla
• Reservoirs- Navilatirtha Dam
• Aihole, Pattadakal and Badami are located on its bank
Tungadhadra :
• A major right bank tributary of the Krishna, rises from the Western Ghats near
the Baba Budan Hills, joins the Krishna in Andhra Pradesh, few kms downstream
of Kurnool
• Formed after the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra.
• Tungabhadra Reservoir near Hospet
• Tributaries: Varada , Hagari , Chikka Hagari
• Forms a short boundary between Karnataka and Andhra Padesh
• Cities: Hospet , Hampi , Kurnool
Penneru :
• Important river of southern AP, rises near Tumkur in Karnataka and empties into the
Bay of Bengal near Nellore
• Bifurcates the Rayalseema into two almost equal parts.
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• Separates Palkonda from the Nallamalla and passes through the Velikonda Range
• Cities – Cuddapah , Nellore
• Tributaries – Charavati , Papagni , Cheyyaru
Palar :
• Important river of the northern Tamil Nadu

• Rises from Karnataka near the Kolar gold field region and empties into the Bay of
Bengal midway between Chennai and Puducherry
• Tributaries – Ponri , Cheyyar
• Cities – Vellore , Kancheepuram
Ponnaiyar :
• Important river of northern Tamil Nadu.

• Rises from the Melagiri Range region and flows between the Javadi Hills and
the Shevroy Hills.
• Krishnagiri Reservoir in Tamil Nadu.
• Tributaries – Chovrai.
• Cities:– Krishnagiri , Cuddalore (at the mouth )
Cauvery :
• Rises from Taal Cauvery in the Brahmagiri Range of the Western Ghats in Karnataka
• Forms quadrilateral delta
• Falls–Sivasamudram and Hogenekkal
• Reservoirs – Krishnaraj Sagar , Stanley Reservoir
• Tributaries- Hemavati, Shimsa, Arkaveti, Lakshmantirtha, Kabani, Suvarnavati, Noyil
and Amaravati
• Disputed among the riperian states.
Hemavati :
• Left bank tributary of the Cauvery rises near the Baba Budan Hills and meets the
Cauvery at Krishnarajsagar Reservoir
• Completely found in Karnataka
• Tributary – Yagachi
Shimsa :
• Left bank tributary of the Cauvery, completely lies in Karnataka

• Originates in Tumkur district
• Has Shimsha Reservoir
• Meets the Cauvery near the Sivanasamudram Falls
Arkaveti :
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• Left bank tributary of the Cauvary, lies completely inside Karnataka
• Flows west of Bengaluru
• Chamraja Sagar has been built on it
Noyil :
• Right bank tributary of the Cauvery rises from the southern part of the Nilgiri Hills,
near the Pal Ghat
• Coimbatore is located on its bank
Lakshmantirtha :
• Right bank tributary of the Cauvery, rises in the Western Ghats and joins the Cauvery
at the Krishnaraja Sagar.
• Passes through Nagarhole national park
Kabani :
• Right bank tributary of the Cauvery rises from the Western Ghats near the Wayanad
Sanctuary in Kerala, joins the Cauvery near Mysore
• Huge Kabani Dam (696m) near Mysore
• One of the most popular wild-life destinations of Karnataka.
Moyar :
• Right bank tributary of the Cauvery

• Rises from the Nilgiri Hills near Ooty and joins the Cauvery near Erode
• Bhavani Sagar Reservoir is located on it
• Forms a short boundary between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Amaravati :
• Right bank tributary of the Cauvery

• Rises near Anaimudi and meets the Cauvery a few kms downstream of Karur
• Tributaries – Sanmukta , Nanganji
• City –Karur
Vaigai :
• Most important river of southern Tamil Nadu , rises from the Cardamom Hills and
flows between the Varushnad Hills and the Sirumalai Hills.
• Drains near the Pamban Channel.
• Cities: Madurai, Ramnathpuram, Theni.
Pambiyar :
• Third longest river of Kerala.
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• Sabarimala Temple is located on its bank. Originates in Pulachimalai Hills of the
Western Ghats and empties into the Vembanand Lake.
• It irrigates the rice cultivating region of Kuttanad.
• It is venerated as Dakshin Ganga.
Periyar :
• Longest river of Kerala (244 Km), known as ‘the life line of Kerala’
• Perennial river, source of drinking water
• Idukki Dam – HEP in large quantity.
• Source – Shivagiri Hills , flows through the Periyar National Park into Periyar Reservoir.
• Its water is diverted from the reservoir into the Vaigai River.
Kumardhar :
• Small river of S-W Karnataka , rises east of the Kudremukh and empties into the
Arabian Sea
• Mangalore is located at its mouth
• Southernmost river of the western coast of Karnataka
Sharavati :
• West flowing river of Karnataka , rises in the Shimoga district and forms the Jog
Falls
• Has Linganamakki Reservoir
• HEPs – Sharavati , Mahatma Gandhi
Kalinadi :
• Northernmost river of the western coast of Karnataka.

• Rises in the Western Ghats near Dharwad.
• Has an HEP Project.
• Karwar is located just south of its mouth.
• Konkan Railway and NH- 17 pass through it.
Zuari :
• Largest river of Goa (34 km long )

• Originates at Hemad – Barshem in the Western Ghats
• Zuari and Mandovi rivers form the backbone of Goa’s agriculture
• Cumbahuem Canal links the two rivers
• Vasco da Gama city is located at its mouth
Mandovi :
• Also known as Mahadeyi or Mahadei

• Lifeline of Goa
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• 77 km. long (29 km.in Karnataka and 52km. in Goa )
• It originates at Bhimgad in the Belgaum district of Karnataka
• Falls – Dudhasagar Falls , Varapoha Falls
• Cumbahuem Canal links it with the Zuari River
• Cities: Panaji, Old Goa
Ulhas :
• West flowing river near Mumbai.

• Rises from the Western Ghats and empties into the Thane Creek.
• At Thane it branches off into two streams and the main branch empties into the
Vasai Creek.
Tapi :
• Second longest west flowing river of the Indian Peninsula , rises in the Betul
district of Madhya Pradesh in the Mahadeo Hills and empties into the Gulf of
Khambhat near Surat.
• Flows parallel to the Satpura Range
• Tributaries – Purna, Girna, Bori, Panjhra
• Ukai Dam is located on it.
• Cities –Kakrapara, Surat, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Burhanpur.
Purna :
• Most important tributary of the Tapi , rises from the Gawilgarh Hills and joins the
Tapi near Bhusaval
• Completely inside Maharashtra
• Tributary : Mun
Narmada :
• Longest west flowing river of the Indian Peninsula, rises from the Amarkantak
Plateau and empties into the Gulf of Khambhat
• Flow between the Vindhyas and Satpura, through a rift valley.
• Falls – Dhuandhar, Kapildhara
• Dams – Sardar Sarovar, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Indira Sagar
• Tributaries – Chota Tawa, Hiran, Shakkar, Burhner.
Chota Tawa :
• Important left bank tributary of the Narmada , rises from the Satpura Range near the
Madhya Pradesh – Maharashtra border
• Khandwa and Nepanagar are located near to it
• Chota Tawa Project has been built on it
Mahi :
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• It rises from the northwestern part of the Vindhyan Range in Madhya Pradesh
• Flows through Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat before emptying in the Gulf
of Khambhat
• Tributary – Son , Anas, Panam
Sabarmati :
• The name given to the combined stream of the Sabar and Hathmati
• Rises from the hills of Mewar in the southern Aravalli Range
• Flows through a gorge at Dharoi and falls into the Gulf of Khambhat
• Tributaries – Hathmati, Sedhi, Wakrul, Harnav, Meshwa, Vatrak.
• Cities: Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad
Banas :
• Rises from the west of the Abu Hills in the southern Aravalli Range and disappears in
the Little Rann
• Forms an inland drainage
• Flows through Rajasthan and Gujarat
Luni :
• Named so because its water is brackish below Balotara.

• Rises west of Ajmer in the Aravalli Range at an elevation of 550 m.
• Flows south-west through the Thar Desert
• Disappears in the Rann of Kachchh ,so forms the most important inland drainage of
India
• Tributaries: Sukai, Sukri, Jawai
Ghagghar :
• Believed to be the remnant of mythical Saraswati River, flows between Punjab and
Haryana and disappears in the Thar Desert
• Seasonal and inland river, does not reach sea
Falgu :
• It is formed due to the confluence of the Lilajan and Mohana river near Bodh gaya.
• Gaya is located on its bank.
• People do ‘Pindadaan’ in it near Gaya.
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Important Waterfalls in India & the World
Waterfalls
A waterfall is an area where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops in
the course of a stream or river. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge
of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf.
Waterfalls are commonly formed in the upper course of a river where lakes flow into
valleys in steep mountains.
A plunge pool (or plunge basin or waterfall lake) is a deep depression in a stream bed at
the base of a waterfall or shut-in. It is created by the erosional forces of cascading water
on the rocks at the formation’s base where the water impacts.
Waterfalls are an important factor in determining the distribution of lotic organisms such
as fish and aquatic invertebrates, as they may restrict dispersal along streams. The presence
or absence of certain species can have cascading ecological effects, and thus cause
differences in trophic regimes above and below waterfalls. Certain aquatic insects also
specialize in the environment of the waterfall itself.
Types of Waterfalls
• Ledge waterfall: Water descends vertically over a vertical cliff, maintaining partial
contact with the bedrock.
• Cataract: A large, powerful waterfall.
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• Horsetail: Descending water maintains some contact with bedrock.
• Plunge: Fast-moving water descends vertically, losing contact with the bedrock
surface.
• Block: Water descends from a relatively wide stream or river.
• Multi-step: A series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with
its own sunken plunge pool.
• Segmented: Distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends.
• Cascade: Water descends a series of rock steps.
• Punchbowl: Water descends in a constricted form and then spreads out in a wider
pool.
• Tiered: Water drops in a series of distinct steps or falls.
• Fan: Water spreads horizontally as it descends while remaining in contact with
bedrock.
• Moulin: A moulin is a waterfall in a glacier.
There is no standard way to measure the height or width of a waterfall. No ranking of

waterfalls should be assumed because of the heights or widths provided in the list. Many
numbers are estimated and measurements may be imprecise.
List of Highest Waterfalls in India

GK Facts
• Kunchikal Falls in Shimoga District Karnataka is the highest waterfall in India with
a height of 1493 feet.
• The highest waterfall in India (Kunchikal Falls) is formed by the Varahi River.
• Dudhsagar falls is known as the ‘Sea of milk’, it is formed from the Mandovi River.
• Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand is known as the city of waterfalls in India.
• Nohkalikai Falls located near Cherrapunji is the tallest plunge waterfall in India. Its
height is 1115 feet (340 metres) and is one of the wettest places on Earth.
• The Western Ghats are known as the Cherrapunji of South India.
• Nohsngithiang Falls (also known as the Seven Sisters Waterfalls or Mawsmai Falls)
is a seven-segmented waterfall located 1 kilometre south of Mawsmai village in East
Khasi Hills district in the Indian state of Meghalaya.
Waterfalls in India Location Feature
Tiered, Highest waterfall

Kunchikal Falls Shimoga district, Karnataka
in India
Barehipani Falls Mayurbhanj district, Odisha 2 tiered waterfalls
tallest plunge type

Nohkalikai Falls East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya
waterfalls
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Nohsngithiang Falls segmented type
East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya
or Mawsmai Falls waterfalls
Dudhsagar Falls Karnataka and Goa 4 tiered waterfalls
Kynrem Falls East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya 3 tiered waterfalls
3 tiered waterfalls/
Meenmutty Falls Wayanad district, Kerala
segmented type
Batlagundu, Dindigul district, Tamil

Thalaiyar Falls horsetail type waterfalls
Nadu
3 tiered, 2nd tallest

Vajrai Falls Satara district, Maharashtra
plunge type waterfall
Barkana Falls Shimoga district, Karnataka tiered waterfalls
Jog Falls (Gersoppa

Shimoga district, Karnataka cascade waterfalls
Falls)
Kendujhar district & Sundergarh

Khandadhar Falls Horse tail type falls
district, Odisha
Vantawng Falls Serchhip district, Mizoram 2 tiered waterfalls
Kune Falls Pune district, Maharashtra 3 tiered waterfalls
Soochipara Falls, Wayanad district, Kerala, Satara

3 tiered waterfalls
Thoseghar Waterfalls district Maharashtra
2 tiered/Segmented
Magod Falls Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka
waterfalls
Joranda Falls Mayurbhanj district, Odisha plunge type waterfalls
Hebbe Falls Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka 2 tiered waterfalls
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the border of Koraput (Odisha) and
Duduma Falls plunge type waterfalls
Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh)
Palani Falls Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh Surge waterfalls
Lodh Falls Latehar district, Jharkhand 2 tiered waterfalls
Rajrappa is a Hindu
Rajrappa Waterfalls Ramgarh district, Jharkhand
pilgrimage centre
2 tiered waterfalls, tallest

Mauganj, Rewa district, Madhya
Bahuti Falls waterfall in madhya
Pradesh
Pradesh
Bishop Falls East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya 3 tiered waterfalls
on bihad river, comes

Chachai Falls Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh
down from Rewa Plateau
Keoti Falls Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh segmented type waterfall
Kalhatti Falls Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka –
3 tiered waterfall, twin of

Beadon Falls East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya
Bishop Falls
Keppa Falls Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka fan type waterfall
Koosalli Falls Udupi, Karnataka 6 tiered waterfall
Dabbe falls Shivamogga, Sagar, Karnataka –
Pandavgad Falls Thane, Maharashtra Plunge waterfall
Hoshangabad district, Madhya

Rajat Prapat horsetail type waterfall
Pradesh
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Bundla Falls kaimur district bihar –
Vantawng Falls Serchhip district, Mizoram 2 tiered waterfalls
Shivanasamudra
Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka segmented type
Falls
Lower Ghaghri Falls Latehar district, Jharkhand cascade waterfalls
Hundru Falls Ranchi district, Jharkhand segmented type
Sweet Falls East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya horsetail type
1 tiered/segmented
Agaya Gangai Namakkal, Tamil Nadu
waterfalls
Coutrallam Falls
Tenkasi district, Tamil Nadu Chittar River
(Kutralam)
Gatha Falls Panna district, Madhya Pradesh –
Teerathgarh Falls Baster district, Chhattisgarh Block type Waterfall
Kiliyur Falls Yercaud, Tamil Nadu fan type waterfall
Kudumari Falls Udupi district, Karnataka horsetail type waterfall
Muthyala Maduvu
Bangalore rural district, Karnataka –
Falls
located on the
Gokak Falls Belagavi district of Karnataka
Ghataprabha River
Chunchanakatte Falls Mysore district, Karnataka on the Kaveri River
Tirathgarh Falls Bastar district, Chhattisgarh horsetail type waterfall
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Langshiang Falls West Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya –
highest waterfall in
Talakona falls Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh
andhra pradesh
Kakolat Falls Nawada district, Bihar cataract waterfall
Block/Segmented type
Athirappilly Falls Thrissur district, Kerala
waterfall
Chuliya Waterfall Rajasthan Chambal River
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Kunchikal Waterfalls
• Kunchikal Falls is located in Nidagodu village near Masthikatte in Shimoga district of

state Karnataka.
• Kunchikal falls cascades down rocky boulders and a total height of fall is 455
meters according to the world waterfall database.
• Highest waterfall in India
• Kunchikal falls is formed by the Varahi river.
Athirappally Waterfalls
• The famous Athirappally Waterfalls is located on the Chalakudy River in Thrissur

district of Kerala.
• It originates from the upper reaches of the Western Ghats at the entrance to the
Sholayar ranges.
• It is the largest waterfall in Kerala, which stands tall at 80 feet and is nicknamed “The
Niagara of India”.
• Controversy about a state-proposed hydroelectric dam on the Chalakudy River above
the waterfalls began in the 1990s and continued through 2021.
Jog Falls
• The highest untiered (Single Plunge ) falls (253m) of India, located on the Sharavati
River in the Shimoga District of Karnataka
• Also called as Gersoppa or Jogda Guindi
• Famous tourist attraction
• An HEP Project has been eastablished near it
Dhuandhar
• Located on the Narmada River at Bheraghat town , just 20 km away from Jabalpur
Rajrappa
• Located in the Hazaribagh District where Bhairve (Bhera) joins the river Damodar,
falling from a height of 30 ft.
• In the vicinity lies a famous temple called Chinnamasta Temple
• There are some impressive rock formations in this area
Hundroo
• Located in the Ranchi district

• Panoramic view of it is enahanting and attracts many tourists
• 320 feet falls on the Subarnarekha highest waterfalls of Jharkhand
• 45 km from the city of Ranchi
Hogenkkal
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• Located on the Cauvery in the Dharampuri District of Tamil Nadu , near the
Karnataka border
• The most beautiful fall in southern India
• Downstream of it we have the Stanley Reservoir and the Mettur Dam.
Kamtee
• Located in the Mussoorie Valley just 15 kms. from the Mussoorie city.
Chitrakoot
• Located near Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh on the Indravati River

• 29m high
• Called as ‘Niagara of India’
• Falls for the full stretch of the river
• Look majestic in the monsoon season
• A place of Hindu pilgrimage
Teerathgarh
• A waterfall at Kanger Ghati on the Kanger River, just 35 km south–west of Jagdalpur

in Chhattisgarh.
• Plunge for 91m in a single drop
• Highest waterfalls of Chhattisgarh
Rakim Kund
• Located on the Gayghat River, a tributary of the Ausane River

• At the edge of the Rohtas Plateau where a series of waterfalls is formed
• Located in Bihar
Shivasamudram (Cauvery falls)
• Second biggest waterfalls of India

• Located in the Mandya District of Karnataka
• Gardens and parks developed in it add to its beauty.
• The falls are surrounded by the Kaveri Wildlife Sanctuary
Kapildhara
• Waterfalls located on the Narmada River , in Madhya Pradesh , where it descends

from the Amarkantak Hill
• A distance of 8 kms from the origin of river Narmada, the river falls from a height of
100 feet creating a fall. It is believed that the Kapil Rishi meditated here.
Gokak
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• Waterfalls located on the Ghatprabha River in Belgaum district of Karnataka
• 52m high, resembles the Niagara Falls on a smaller scale
• Horse-shoe shaped at the crest
• Power generation is being done nearby it.
Kutralam
• Located on the Western Ghats at an elevation of about 167m in Tirunelveli district of

Tamil Nadu
• It has nine falls
• Nicknamed as ‘the Spa of the South India’ as its water is believed to have medical
properties
Keoti
• Located on the Mahana River, a tributary of the Tons, in the Rewa district of Madhya
Padesh
• It’s a knick point fall at the edge of the Rewa Plateau
• 98m high
• Segmented type of waterfall with a single drop
Johna / Gautamdhara
• Situated at the edge of the Ranchi Plateau, it is a hanging valley fall

• The Gunga River hangs over its master stream, Raru River, and forms the falls
• Drops from a height of 43 meters
• An example of a nick point falls caused by rejuvenation.
Chachai
• Located in the Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh on the Bihad River, a tributary of the
Tons
• Comes down from the Rewa Plateau for 130m.
• It is an example of a nick point falls caused by rejuvenation
Dudma
• 157 m high waterfalls on the Machhkund River in Orissa

• Supports a large hydro electric project
• An important place of pilgrimage
• It is called Matsya Tirth
Dudhsagar
• A tired waterfall on the Mandovi River, located in Goa near the border with Karnataka
• 60 km from Panaji
• 310m high – four tiered
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• During the monsoon season it forms one of the most spectacular natural scene
Vajrai Waterfalls
• These are located just 27km away from Satara in Maharashtra, over Sahyadris.
• These are the highest waterfalls in India.
Kunohikal
• These are located in the Shimaga district in Karnataka.

• These are the highest waterfalls in India.
• These are the second highest waterfalls in India after Vajrai falls (Maharashtra).
List of Highest Waterfalls in the World

Famous Waterfalls in the World
• Iguazu Falls – forms a border between Argentina and Brazil. It is the largest
waterfall system in the world.
• Niagara Falls – share the international border of Canada and the United States and
lie in the states of new york and province of Ontario. It is a collective name of three
waterfalls.
• Victoria Falls – One of the Seven natural wonders of the world by CNN. It is in South
Africa on the Zambezi river and shares the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia.
• Kaieteur Falls – is in Guyana. It is twice as high as Victoria Falls and 5 times higher
than Niagara Falls.
• Angel Falls – are the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfalls, on the Churún River,
a tributary of the Caroní river.
• Paulo Afonso Falls – is a series of waterfalls on the São Francisco River in the north-
east of Brazil.
• Livingstone Falls – are a succession of enormous rapids on the lower course of
the Congo River in west equatorial Africa, downstream from Malebo Pool in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Boyoma Falls (Stanley Falls) – Boyoma Falls, formerly known as Stanley Falls, is a
series of seven cataracts, along a curve of the Lualaba River between the river port
towns of Ubundu and Kisangani in the Orientale Province of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo. Beyond the cataract the Lualaba becomes the Congo River.
• Tugela Falls – Tugela Falls is a complex of seasonal waterfalls located in the
Drakensberg of Royal Natal National Park in KwaZulu-Natal Province, Republic of
South Africa.
• Utigord Falls – in Norway, also known as Ramnefjellsfossen or Utigardsfossen is
unofficially listed as the third-highest waterfall in the world.
• Alexandra Falls – is located on the Hay River in Canada.
• Idaho Falls – on the Snake River, United States.
• International Falls – on the south bank of Rainy River, Minnesota, United States.
• Browne Falls – is a waterfall above Doubtful Sound, which is located in Fiordland
National Park, New Zealand.
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Waterfalls in the Height –
Locality Country
World Metres/Feets
979 metres (3,212 Canaima National

Angel Falls Venezuela
ft) Park, Bolívar
948 metres (3,110

Tugela Falls KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
ft)
914 metres (2,999 Otishi National Park,

Tres Hermanas Falls Peru
ft) Junin
900 metres
Olo’upena Falls Molokai, Hawaii United States
(2,953 ft)
896 metres
Yumbilla Falls Amazonas Peru
(2,940 ft)
860 metres
Vinnufossen Møre og Romsdal Norway
(2,822 ft)
850 metres
Balåifossen Hordaland Norway
(2,789 ft)
840 metres
Pu’uka’oku Falls Hawaii United States
(2,756 ft)
840 metres
James Bruce Falls British Columbia Canada
(2,756 ft)
836 metres Doubtful Sound,

Browne Falls New Zealand
(2,743 ft) Southland
820 metres
Strupenfossen Sogn og Fjordane Norway
(2,690 ft)
818 metres (2,684

Ramnefjellsfossen Sogn og Fjordane Norway
ft)
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792 metres
Waihilau Falls Hawaii United States
(2,598 ft)
788 metres
Colonial Creek Falls Washington United States
(2,585 ft)
773 metres (2,536

Mongefossen Møre og Romsdal Norway
ft)
771 metres (2,530

Gocta Cataracts Amazonas Peru
ft)
762 metres
Mutarazi Falls Manicaland Zimbabwe
(2,500 ft)
755 metres (2,477

Kjelfossen Sogn og Fjordane Norway
ft)
739 metres (2,425

Yosemite Falls California United States
ft)
Cascades de Trou de 725 metres (2,379

Réunion France
Fer ft)
720 metres Norway (Tallest

Olmaafossen Møre og Romsdal
(2,362 ft) Waterfall in Norway)
719 metres (2,359

Manawainui Falls Hawaii United States
ft)
715 metres (2,346

Kjeragfossen Rogaland Norway
ft)
Avalanche Basin 707 metres

Montana United States
Falls (2,320 ft)
707 metres
Harrison Basin Falls Montana United States
(2,320 ft)
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700 metres
Haloku Falls Hawaii United States
(2,297 ft)
700 metres
Chamberlain Falls Southland New Zealand
(2,297 ft)
700 metres
Alfred Creek Falls British Columbia Canada
(2,297 ft)
700 metres
Døntefossen Møre og Romsdal Norway
(2,297 ft)
698 metres
Brufossen Hordaland Norway
(2,290 ft)
690 metres
Spirefossen Sogn og Fjordane Norway
(2,264 ft)
680 metres (2,231

Lake Unknown Falls Otago New Zealand
ft)
674 metres (2,211

Kukenam, Salto Bolívar Venezuela
ft)
671 metres (2,201

Yutaj, Salto Amazonas Venezuela
ft)
590 metres
La Chorrera Falls Cundinamarca Colombia
(1,936 ft)
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World’s highest Waterfalls (Artificial Waterfalls)
Height
Artificial Waterfall in the world Country
Metres/Feet
Cascata Delle Marmore (Created by

165 metres
Ancient Romans) tallest man-made Parco Fluviale del NeraItaly
(541 ft)
waterfall in the world
Liebian Waterfall (largest artificial

108 metres Liebian International
waterfall in the world, tallest waterfall
(354 ft) Plaza China
included in a building)
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40 metres (131
Rain Vortex – Largest Indoor Waterfall Jewel Changi Airport Singapore
ft)
35 metres (115 Cloud Forest, Gardens by the

Cloud Forest Indoor Waterfall
ft) Bay Singapore
30 metres (98
Jurong Falls Jurong Bird Park Singapore
ft)
24 metres (79
Viktoriapark Waterfall Viktoriapark Germany
ft)
18.2 metres Aqua Mall, Lotte Department

Lotte Music Fountain
(60 ft) Store (Busan) South Korea
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Multi-Purpose Projects in India
Multi Purpose Projects

Multipurpose project is the scientific management of water resources in the country. A multipurpose project
is a massive project which serves a variety of purposes like- flood control, fish breeding, irrigation,
generation of electricity, soil conservation, etc. whereas, the hydropower projects are those related to
providing only electricity mainly.
Main objectives or Advantages of Multipurpose Project:
• Generation of Power : They produce neat, pollution free and cheapest energy which
is the back bone of industry and agriculture. According to the economic survey
2005-06 these produce more than 30, 000 M.W. power.
• Flood Control : These projects control the flood because water can be stored in
them. These projects have converted many ‘rivers of sorrow’ into river of boon.
Example River Kosi.
• Soil Conservation : These conserve the soil because they slow down the speed of
water.
• Irrigation : They irrigate the fields during the dry seasons. Many canals have been dug
and they irrigate dry areas.
• Afforestation : Trees are systematically planted in and around reservoirs. This helps in
preserving “Wild life” and natural ecosystm.
• Water Navigation : They provide for Inland water navigation through main river or
canal. It is the cheapest means of transport for heavy goods.
• Fisheries : These provide ideal condition for the breeding of fish. Choosen varieties of
fish are allowed to grow.
• Tourist Centres : These projects are well cared and are scientifically developed. So
these become the centre of tourist attraction.
Disadvantages of Multi-purpose Projects:
• Fertile agricultural land submerged under the river water.

• Forest land are either cleared or submerged under water. It is great loss for
environment.
• Large no. of people are displaced. They have to leave their own houses and
properties.
• Siltation in the dam reduces the lifespan of the project.
• Big Multipurpose projects can result into minor earthquakes.
Multi Purpose Projects in India

Multipurpose Project River State
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Bansagar Project Son Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
Bargi Project Bargi Madhya Pradesh
Beas Project Beas HaryanaPunjabRajasthan
Bhadra Project Bhadra Karnataka
Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana,

Bhakhra Nangal Project Sutlej
Rajsthan
Bheema Project Pawana Maharashtra
Chambal Project Chambal Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh
Damodar Ghati Project Damodar Jharkhand, West Bengal
Dulhasti Project Chenab Jammu & Kashmir
Durga Barrage Project Damodar West Bengal, Jharkhand
Ganga,
Farakka Project West Bengal
Bhagirathi
Gandak Project Gandaki Bihar, Uttar Pradesh
Ganga Sagar Project Chambal Madhya Pradesh
Ghatprabha Project Ghatprabha Karnataka
Girna Project Girna Maharashtra
Hansdev Bango Project Hansdev Madhya Pradesh
Hidkal Project Ghatprabha Karnataka
Hirakud Project Mahanadi Orissa
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Idduki Project Periyar Kerala
Indira Gandhi Canal Project Satlaj Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana
Jawahar Sagar Project Chambal Rajasthan
Jayakwadi Project Godawari Maharashtra
Kakrapara Project Tapti Gujrat
Kangsawati Project Kangsawati West Bengal
Kol Dam Project Sutlej Himachal Pradesh
Kosi Project Kosi Bihar & Nepal
Koyana Project Koyana Maharashtra
Krishna Project Krishna Karnataka
Kunda Project Kunda Tamilnadu
Let Bank Ghaghra Canal Ganga Uttar Pradesh
Madhya Ganga Canal Ganga Uttar Pradesh
Mahanadi Delta Project Mahanadi Odisha
Malprabha Project Malprabha Karnataka
Mandi Project Vyas Himachal Pradesh
Matatilla Project Betwa Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
Mayurakshi Project Mayurakshi West Bengal
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Minimato Bango Hasdeo Hasdeo Bango
Madhya Pradesh
Project river
Muchkund Project Muchkund Odisha, Andhra Pradesh
Nagarjunsagar Project Krishna Andhra Pradesh
Nagpur Power Project Koradi Maharashtra
Narmada Sagar Project Narmada Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat
Nathpa Jhakri Project Sutlej Himachal Pradesh
Panam Project Panam Gujarat
Panama Project Panama Gujarat
Panchet Project Damodar Jharkhand, West Bengal
Pong Project Beas Punjab
Poochampad Project Godawari Andhra Pradesh
Purna Project Purna Maharashtra
Rajasthan Canal Project Sutlej, Vyas, Ravi Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana
Ramganga Project Ramganga Uttar Pradesh
Rana Pratap Sagar Project Chambal Rajasthan
Ranjeet Sagar Project Ravi Punjab
Rihand Project Rihand Uttar Pradesh
Salal Project Chenab Jammu & Kashmir
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Sardar Sarovar Project Narmada Madhya PradeshMaharashtraRajasthan
Sarhind Project Sutlej Haryana
Sharawati Project Sharawati Karnataka
Sharda Project Sharda, Gomti Uttar Pradesh
Shivsamundram Project Kaveri Karnataka
Sutlej Project Chenab Jammu & Kashmir
Tawa Project Tawa Madhya Pradesh
Tehri Dam Project Bhagirathi Uttarakhand
Tilaiya Project Barakar Jharkhand
Tulbul Project Chenab Jammu & Kashmir
Tungabhadra Project Tungabhadra Andhra Pradesh.Karnataka
Ukai Project Tapti Gujarat
Upper Penganga Project Penganga Maharashtra
Uri Power Project Jhelum Jammu & Kashmir
Umiam Project Umiam Shillong (Meghalaya)
RajasthanPunjabHaryanaHimachal
Vyas Project Vyas
Pradesh
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Ranjit Sagar :
• Also known as Thein Dam, is located in the Gurudaspur district of Punjab near
Pathankot
• Constructed on the Ravi River
• Project is used for both irrigation and HEP
• It is the biggest HEP project of Punjab (4X150 MW)
• One of the highest Earth Fill Dams of India
Pong Dam :
• A 116m high dam at Pong in the Dhaoladhar Range near Pong village (Himachal
Pradesh) on the Beas River
• Mainly an irrigation scheme to irrigate about 21 lakh hectares in Punjab, Haryana and
Rajasthan
• Total istalled capacity of HEP at the Beas complex – 1020MW
Pandoh Dam :
• The Beas –Satluj link involves the construction of 61m high diversion dam at Pandoh
on the Beas in Himachal Pradesh
• Power Plant at Dehar -660 MW
• Irrigates about 5.25 lakh hectares in Punjab and Haryana
Govind Sagar :
• 88 km long and 8 km wide reservoir formed behind the Bhakra Dam

• Storage capacity – 969.8 crore cubic metres
• Named after the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
Bhakra :
• One of the highest gravity dams in the world on the Satluj at the Bhakra gorge near
Rupnagar (Ropar)
• 222 metre high and 518m long
• Formed reservoir called Govind Sagar
• Joint venture of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan
• HEP-450MW +600MW
Nangal :
• About 13km downstream of the Bhakra on the Satluj

• 29m high and 305m long
• Serves as balancing reservoir for taking up daily fluctuations from the Bhakra Dam
• HEPs at Ganguwal and Kotla
• Joint venture of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan
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Maithon :
• Part of the DVC in Jharkhand

• On the Barakar River near the confluence of the Damodar and Barakar
• HEP- 60MW
Konar :
• On the Konar River in the Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand

• 3549m long and 49m high
• An earthen dam with a concrete spill-way part of the DVC
• HEP-10MW- Bokaro Steel Plant and BokaroThermal Plant receive HEP and water
from it
• Irrigation-45000 hectares
Tilaiya :
• Part of the DVC on the Barakar River in Jharkhand

• Only concrete dam in the area
• Two power stations of 2000 KW each
• Irrigation -40,000 hectares
Farakka Barrage :
• On the Ganga River in the Murshidabad district of WB,10 km away from the Indo-
Bangladeshi border
• Built to divert water into the Hoogly, so that during the dry season silt can be flushed
out to keep the Kolkata Port navigable
• Longest Barrage in the world
• Disputed between India and Bangladesh
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Hirakud :
• On the Mahanadi in Orissa at Hirakud about 14km upstream off the city of
Sambalpur
• 61m high and 4801m long (one of the longest dams in the world )
• Two other dams at Tikrapara and Naraj near Cuttack
• HEP- 3.5 lakh KW
• Irrigation -1 million hectares
Balimela :
• Constructed across the Sileru River at Balimela in Malkangiri district of Orissa

• Both irrigation and HEP(510 Mw)
• It is a joint project of odisha and andhra pradesh.
Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar :
• On the Rihand River behind the Rihand Dam near Pipri in the Mirzapur of Uttar
Padesh
• Largest man made reservoir in India (446 sq km )
• Another dam at Obra, 25km north
• HEP and irrigation to Madhya Pradsh, Uttar Padesh and Bihar
Jawahar Sagar :
• On the Chambal River in Rajasthan about 29km upstream of Kota city

• 45m high and 548m long gravity dam
• Also known as Kota Dam
• Three HEP units of 33000 MW each
Kota Barrage :
• On the the Chambal in Rajasthan at a distance less than 1km from Kota
• 36m high and 600m long earthen barrage
• Canals taken from both sides of the barrage irrigates 4.4 lakh hectares in Rajasthan
and MP
Harike Barrage :
• Located at the confluence of the Satluj and Beas rivers in the Firozpur district of
Punjab
• The Indira Gandhi Canal has been taken out of this barrage
Indira Sagar :
• The most important project of the Narmada Valley Development Project.

• Omkareshwar , Maheshwar and Sardar Sarovar receive water from it
• Largest water storage capacity in the country
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• Located in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh
• HEP-8X125= 1000MW
• Irrigation 1.23 lakh hectares
Omkareshwar :
• On the Narmada at Mandhata village in East Nimar (Khandwa) district of Madhya

Pradesh
• HEP -8X65=520 MW
• Irrigation -1,46,800 hectares
• Its power generation capacity is directly related with the amount of water released
from the Indira Sagar
Maheshwar :
• On the Narmada in Madhya Pradesh downstream off the Omkareshwar

• HEP- 10X40=400MW
• A project which does not affect the forest land
• First privately financed hydroelectric dam in India
Chota Tawa :
• On the Chota Tawa, left bank tributary of the Narmada, at Ranipur village of the
Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh
• HEP-13.50 MW
• Irrigation – 24,700 hectares
• Located at the confluence of the Tawa and the Denwa rivers
• Third largest dam of the Narmada Valley Project
Sardar Sarovar :
• Project of MP, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan

• On the Narmada at Kevadia village of the Vadodara district of Gujarat
• 121.92 m high can be raised upto 163 m as per the proposal
• HEP-1450MW
• Irrigation – Around 20 lakh hectares.
Ukai :
• Built on the Tapi River when it enters Gujarat

• Mainly for HEP
• Capacity -300 MW
• Electricity is supplied to Surat and other neighbouring cities
Koyna :
• Constructed across the Koyna River in the Satara district of Maharashtra
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• Has formed the Shivaji Sagar
• Constructed mainly to generate HEP
• HEP capacity -860 MW
• Experienced earthquake in 1967, which proved that the Deccan Plateau is made of
several minor plates
Nizam Sagar :
• An irrigation and HEP project on the Manjra River in AP near Nizamabad

• Water is supplied to Nizamabad and Hyderabad
• Constructed in 1923 by Nizam-Ul-Mulk, the then ruler of the erstwhile Nizam state
• A masonry dam over which fourteen feet wide motorable road is present
• Frequented by tourists
Hussain Sagar :
• An artificial lake in Hyderabad built by Hazrat Husain Shah Wali in 1562 during the
rule of Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah
• Built on a tributary of the Musi River to meet the water and irrigation needs of
Hyderabad
• A large monolith statue of the Lord Buddha in the middle of the lake
Nagarjunasagar :
• On the Krishna River in Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh

• 125m high and 1450m long concrete dam
• 2 Canals – Jawahar Canal (349km) and Lal Bahadur Canal (357km)
• Irrigation -7 lakh hectares
• HEP- 100 MW
Tungabhadra :
• Joint venture of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh on the Tungabhadra River at

Mallapur in Bellary district
• 50 m and 2441 m long straight gravity masonasy dam
• Two irrigation canals -41.32 lakh hectares
• Three power houses -126MW
Almatty Dam :
• Located on the Krishna River in the Bijapur district of Karnataka

• Main reservoir of the Upper Krishna Project
• HEP – 290 MW
• 52.25 m high and 1565.15 m long.
Linganamakki :
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• Located on the Sharavati River about 6km upstream from the Jog Falls
• 2.4 km long and 193 feet high
• HEP capacity – 55MW
Shivanasamudra Dam:
• Shivanasamudra Dam (1902) is located on the Kaveri River.

• It was built in Karnataka during the British era and was designed by Diwan
Sheshadri Iyer.
Bhadra :
• Located on the Bhadra River, a tributary of the Krishna River, in Karnataka

• The project consists a dam and 2 canals
• Located 50km upstream of the point where the Bhadra River joins the Tungabhadra
• The Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the vicinity
Krishnaraj Sagar :
• Irrigation and HEP project on the Cauvery River near Mysore in Karnataka
• The Vrindavan Park is located near the dam
• Located in the Mandya district
• Named after the then ruler of the Mysore Kingdom, Krishnaraja Wodeyar
• Mokshagundam Visvesvarayaya served as the chief engineer
Chamraj Sagar :
• Built across the Arkavati River, about 35km from Bengaluru

• Attractive picnic spot for relaxation and fishing
• Supplies water to Bengaluru
Periyar Lake :
• Formed behind the Mulla Periyar Dam in Kerala inside the Periyar National Park
• Operated by Tamil Nadu Govt according to a 999- year lease agreement made
during the erstwhile British Rule
• Area – 26 sq km
• The dam is 1200 feet long and 155 feet high
• Disputed between Tamil Nadu and Kerala
• Located after the coufluence of Mullaiyar and Periyar
Stanley Reservoir :
• Formed by the Mettur Dam in northwestern Tamin Nadu

• One of the largest fishing reservoirs of India
• Length of the dam – 1700m
• Installed capacity -240 MW
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Bhavani Sagar :
• Located on the Bhavani River in the Erode district of Tamin Nadu

• Among the biggest earthen dams of India
• The dam is used to divert water to the Lower Bhavani Project Canal
• 32m high
• Reservoir Capacity -32.80tmc
Bansagar Project :
• Joint venture of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on the Son on the Rewa-
Shahdol way in Madhya Pradesh
• HEP – 405 MW
• Irrigation in Sidhi, Satna, Rewa and Shahdol districts of Madhya Pradesh
Matatila :
• On the Betwa River in Madhya Pradesh

• Joint project of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
• Irrigation 1.09 lakh hectares in Uttar Pradesh and 1.16 lakh hectares on Madhya
Pradesh
• Famous as Rani Lakshmibai Project
Rajghat Project :
• Joint venture of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on the Betwa in Lalitpur of Uttar
Pradesh
• Irrigation – cum – HEP project
• HEP capacity – 45 MW (3X15)
Gandhi Sagar :
• On the Chambal at the border of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan

• 64m high and 514 m long
• Irrigation – 4.44 lakh hectares
• HEP-5 units of 23000 KW each
Rana Pratap Sagar :
• On the Chambal at Rawatbhata

• 54m high and 1143 hectares
• HEP-4units of 43,000 KW each
Ravishankar Sagar Project :
• It is built across the Mahanadi river in the Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh.

• It is the longest dam of Chhattisgarh.
• Alongwithtion it produces 10 MW of HEP
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• It supplies water to the Bhiai steel plant.
Hasdo-Bango Project :
• It is built across the Hasdeo river in the Korba district, Chhattisgarh.

• It is the longest and highest dam of Chhattisgarh.
• Irrigation capacity : 2 ,55000 hectares
• It has three units of hydroelectric plant with the capacity of 40 MW each.
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Important Dams in India (River Valley Projects)
Dam
A dam is a barrier that stops the flow of water and results in the creation of a
reservoir. Dams are mainly built in order to produce electricity by using water. This form of
electricity is known as hydroelectricity.
Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities
such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aquaculture, and navigability.
Based on the structure the types of dams are as mentioned below:
1. Arch Dam: An arch dam is a concrete dam that is curved upstream in the plan. It is
designed so that the hydrostatic pressure (force of the water against it) presses
against the arch, causing the arch to straighten slightly and strengthening the
structure as it pushes into its foundation or abutments. An arch dam is most suitable
for narrow canyons or gorges with steep walls of stable rock to support the structure
and stresses.
2. Gravity Dam: Dams constructed from concrete or stone masonry are Gravity dams.
They are designed to hold back water by using only the weight of the material and its
resistance against the foundation to oppose the horizontal pressure of water pushing
against it. These are designed in such a way that each section of the dam is stable
and independent of other section.
3. Arch-Gravity Dam: This dam has the characteristics of both an arch dam and a
gravity dam. It is a dam that curves upstream in a narrowing curve that directs most
of the water pressure against the canyon rock walls. The inward compression of the
dam by the water reduces the lateral (horizontal) force acting on the dam.
4. Barrages: A barrage is a type of low-head, diversion dam which consists of a number
of large gates that can be opened or closed to control the amount of water passing
through. This allows the structure to regulate and stabilize river water elevation
upstream for use in irrigation and other systems.
5. Embankment Dams: An embankment dam is a large artificial dam. It is typically
created by the placement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of
various compositions of soil, sand, clay, or rock. It has a semi-pervious waterproof
natural covering for its surface and a dense, impervious core.
6. Rock-Fills Dams: Rock-fill dams are embankments of compacted free-draining
granular earth with an impervious zone. The earth utilized often contains a high
percentage of large particles, hence the term “rock-fill”.
7. Concrete-face rock-fill dams: A concrete-face rock-fill dam (CFRD) is a rock-fill dam
with concrete slabs on its upstream face. This design provides the concrete slab as an
impervious wall to prevent leakage and also a structure without concern for uplift
pressure.
8. Earth-fill dams: Earth-fill dams, also called earthen dams, rolled-earth dams or
simply earth dams, are constructed as a simple embankment of well-compacted
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earth. A homogeneous rolled-earth dam is entirely constructed of one type of
material but may contain a drain layer to collect seep water.
Highlights on some important Dams in India:
Highest Dam in India Tehri Dam(Uttarakhand) River: Bhagirathi River
Longest Dam in India Hirakud Dam (Odisha) River: Mahanadi
Oldest Dam in India Kallanai Dam(Tamil Nadu) River: Kaveri
Significance of Dams
• Source of Clean Energy: Dams are the sources of clean power. Many countries have
embraced dams as a way to reduce reliance on expensive fossil fuels.
• Irrigation: Dams and waterways store and provide water for irrigation so farmers can
use the water for growing crops.
• In areas where water and rain are not abundant (like the desert), irrigation
canals from rivers and dams are used to carry water.
• Prevent Flooding: Dams, if planned well, help in preventing floods. They catch extra
water so that it doesn’t run wild downstream.
• Source of Drinking Water: Since the water stored in dams is freshwater, it can also
be used as drinking water.
Dams and Destruction

While dams can benefit society in many ways, they are also one of the biggest menaces to
river ecology, wildlife, the aquatic habitat of fish, and ultimately humans.
• Affect the Aquatic Life: Dams prevent fish migration and limit their ability to access
spawning habitat, seek out food resources, and escape predation.
• Aquatic organisms depend on steady flows to guide them while stagnant
reservoir pools disorient migrating fish and can significantly increase the
duration of their migration.
• Dams block Rivers: Dams and reservoirs are physical barriers to the flow of water
bodies as they fragment them and reservoirs, which impact their seasonal flow.
• They also change the way rivers function and trap sediment, burying rock
riverbeds where fish spawn.
• Gravel, logs, and other important food and habitat features can also become
trapped behind dams. This negatively affects the creation and maintenance of
more complex habitats downstream.
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• A Hazardous Infrastructure: Large dams, even if structurally sound, are regarded as
“high hazard” infrastructure because of the potential for a massive loss of human
lives, livelihoods, and destruction in the event of failure.
• In the most recent Uttarakhand flash floods, experts say the incident was
induced by the effect of global warming on melting glaciers but the effect was
worsened by the construction of infrastructure (Hydroelectric Power Projects,
HEPs).
• HEPs which use large-scale blasting, tree felling, and tunneling, most
certainly added to the proportion of the impact. They became a force
multiplier in the destruction.
• The construction was against the recommendation of the Chopra Committee
which submitted a detailed report warning that a glacial retreat in the state of
Uttarakhand, coupled with structures built for hydroelectricity generation and
dams, could lead to large-scale disasters downstream.
• Reservoir Induced Seismicity: There is a strong relationship between the
earthquakes and the loading and unloading of water from the dam. The Koyna and
Warna region is possibly the best example of reservoir-induced seismicity (RIS).
• The Koyna and Warna reservoirs are responsible for the earthquakes in the
south Maharashtra region which has experienced many earthquakes in five
decades.
• This series of earthquakes have occurred post the construction of dams
in the region.
• Displacement of People: The land submergence and large-scale displacement of
people due to the construction of large dams is one prevailing issue which is often
overlooked by the authorities.
• Construction of dams such as Hirakud, Bhakra Nangal, and Tehri had displaced
a number of families many of which were not rehabilitated at all.
• Even after rehabilitation, lack of livelihood opportunities and poor living
conditions are still observed.
• Sardar Sarovar Dam, the largest structure on the Narmada river, has displaced
over 3 lakh families.
• Older Dams are Greater Hazard: Older dams pose greater safety risks, cost higher in
terms of maintenance, and have declining functionality due to sedimentation, stated
• Globally, over 1,115 large dams will be about 50 years old by 2025.
• China, the US, and India top the list of countries with a significant number of
large dams.
• China alone hosts 40% of the world’s large dams (numbering 23,841),
their average age being 45 years.
• India has 4,407 large dams of which more than 1,000 would be 50 years or
older by 2025, a new study has shown.
• India has 209 dams that are over 100-year-old, built when design
practices and safety were far below current norms.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Particularly in tropical regions, hydropower reservoirs
emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases.
• The water gathers behind the dam, creates an unnatural, stagnant lake that
often kills off a lot of the existing ecosystem. Bacteria in the water decompose
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these plants and generate carbon dioxide and methane (potent greenhouse
gas).
• Methane from reservoirs accounts for more than 4% of all human-caused
climate change comparable to the climate impact of the aviation sector.
• In some cases, hydropower projects are producing higher emissions than coal-
fired power generating the same amount of electricity plants.
Major Dams in India State River
Bhavani Sagar dam Tamil Nadu Bhavani
Tungabhadra Dam Karnataka Tungabhadra
Rihand Dam Uttar Pradesh Rihand
Maithon Dam Jharkhand Barakar
Koyna Dam Maharashtra Koyna
Bisalpur Dam Rajasthan Banas
Mettur Dam Tamil Nadu Kaveri
Krishnarajasagar Dam Karnataka Kaveri
Indira Sagar Dam Madhya Pradesh Narmada
Cheruthoni Dam Kerala Cheruthoni
Sardar Sarovar Dam Gujarat Narmada
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Telangana Krishna
Hirakud dam Odisha Mahanadi
Punjab-Himachal
Bhakra Nangal Dam Sutlej
Pradesh Border
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Thein Dam project Punjab Ravi
A joint venture of
Punjab, Haryana, and
Beas Project (Sharda Sahayak Project) Beas
Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh
Tehri Dam Uttarakhand Bhagirathi
Dulhasti project Jammu and Kashmir Chenab
Salal project Jammu and Kashmir Chenab
Banasagar project M.P., Bihar, and U.P. Son
Rihand Scheme Reservoir Uttar Pradesh Rihand
Damodar valley multipurpose

project four dams: Tilaiya and Maithon (on West Bengal (also
Damodar
the Barakar River), Konar (Konar River), and shared by Jharkhand).
Panchet (Damodar River).
Mayurakshi project West Bengal Mayurakshi
Poochampad Project Andhra Pradesh Godavari
Jayakwadi Project Maharashtra Godavari
Upper Krishna Project Karnataka Krishna
Ghatprabha (A
Andhra Pradesh and
Ghatprabha project tributary of
Karnataka.
Krishna)
Malprabha project Karnataka Malprabha
Bima project Maharashtra Bhima
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Shivasamudram Scheme Karnataka On Cauvery Falls
Kundah project Tamil Nadu Kundah
Sharavati (near Jog

Sharavati Project Karnataka
falls)
Chambal project(Gandhi Sagar Dam (M.P.),

Rajasthan, Madhya
Rana Pratap Sagar and Jawahar Sagar Chambal
Pradesh
Dam or Kota Dam.
Kakrapara Project Gujarat Tapi
Ukai Project Gujarat Tapi
Tawa (A tributary
Tawa project Madhya Pradesh
of Narmada.
Mahi Project (Jamnalal Bajaj Sagar) Gujarat Mahi
Uttar Pradesh, Madhya

Matatila Project Betwa
Pradesh
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Dams in News State River
Edamalayar Dam Kerala Idamalayar (a tributary of the Periyar River)
Idukki dam Kerala Periyar River
Cheruthony Dam Kerala Periyar River
Peppara Dam Kerala Karamana River
Kakki dams Kerala Kaki River (a tributary of the Pampa)
Anathode dams Kerala Anathode river (a tributary of Pamba River)
Sholayar Dam Kerala Chalakkudi River
Kallarkutty Dam Kerala Muthirapuzha river
Kundala Dam Kerala Muthirapuzha River (a tributary of Periyar River)
Pampa Dam Kerala Pampa river
Malankara Dam Kerala Thodupuzha river
Nanak Sagar Dam Uttarakhand Deoha river
Mullaperiyar Dam
• The Mullaperiyar Dam, a gravity dam in Kerala is a 126-year-old barrage that has
dangerously outlived its 50 years of life.
• The dam is located in the Western Ghats, adjacent to the Periyar wildlife
sanctuary, built during the British colonial period.
• A gravity dam is one that is designed to withstand water by its own
weight and resistance.
• The weight and width of the base prevent the dam from overturning
when subjected to the force of impounded water.
• The dam is considered hazardous, not only because of its age but also for its
location in an acknowledged seismic zone (zone-III).
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• Decommission of the Dam: The government of Kerala carried out hydrological
review studies between 2006 and 2011 that concluded that the Mullaperiyar Dam is
unsafe for passing the estimated probable maximum flood limit.
• Both IIT-Roorkee and IIT-Delhi have deemed the dam to be fit to be
decommissioned.
• However, decommissioning Mullaperiyar is strongly opposed by Tamil
Nadu state, which inherited a lease agreement between the former
princely state of Travancore (now Kerala) and the British government.
• The lease allows Tamil Nadu to operate the dam and divert 640 million
cubic metres of water annually for irrigation and power generation
through a tunnel bored into the Western Ghat mountains that form a
wall between the two states.
Daudhan Dam
• A 77 metre high dam, namely Daudhan is proposed across river Ken, about 2.5 km
upstream of the existing Gangau Weir on Ken river.
• Construction of the Daudhan dam will result into the submergence of 10% of the
critical tiger habitat of MP’s Panna Tiger Reserve that will adversely affect the tiger
conservation efforts.
• Submergence by Daudhan and Makodia reservoirs will result into the displacement
of 20,000 people of the Bundelkhand region and will give rise to rehabilitation
issues.
• Ken Betwa Link Project: two phases
• Under Phase-I, one of the components — Daudhan dam complex and its
appurtenances like Low-Level Tunnel, High-Level Tunnel, Ken-Betwa link canal,
and Powerhouses — will be completed.
• While in Phase-II, three components — Lower Orr dam, Bina complex project,
and Kotha barrage — will be constructed.
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Polavaram Irrigation Project
• Polavaram Project is located in Andhra Pradesh on the river Godavari, near

Polavaram village.
• It is a multi-purpose irrigation project as the project once completed will
provide Irrigation benefits and will generate Hydroelectric Power. In addition, this
project will also supply drinking water.
• It will facilitate an inter-basin transfer to the Krishna river basin through its Right
canal.
• Its reservoir spreads in parts of Chhattisgarh and Orissa States also.
• It will also provide indirect benefits such as the development of Pisciculture
(breeding and rearing of fish), tourism, and urbanization.
• The Project has been accorded national project status by the union government in
2014 (under Section-90 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014).
• Kolam tribes, Kondareddis tribes
• Six other projects in Andhra Pradesh
• Vamsadhara-Phase 2 [River Vamsadhara or River Banshadhara]
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• Vamsadhara-Nagavali link [Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers]
• Owk tunnel-2
• Velugonda-Phase 1
• Nellore
• Sangam barrages
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Indian Peninsular Plateau (Deccan Plateau)
Plateau is an area of raised land that is flat on top. Plateaus are often by themselves with no surrounding
plateau. National Geographic describes plateaus as flat and elevated landform that rises sharply above the
surrounding area on at least one side.
Features of the Peninsular Plateau

• Roughly triangular in shape with its base coinciding with the southern edge of the
great plain of North India. The apex of the triangular plateau is at Kanniyakumari.
• It covers a total area of about 16 lakh sq km (India as a whole is 32 lakh sq km).
• The average height of the plateau is 600-900 m above sea level (varies from region to
region).
• Most of the peninsular rivers flow west to east indicating it’s the general slope.
• Narmada-Tapti is the exception that flows from east to west in a rift (rift is caused by
a divergent boundary (Go back to Interaction of plates).
• The Peninsular Plateau is one of the oldest landforms of earth.
• It is a highly stable block composed mostly of the Archaean gneisses and schists.
• It has been a stable shield that has gone through little structural changes since its
formation.
• Since a few hundred million years, the Peninsular block has been a land area and has
never been submerged beneath the sea except in a few places.
• Peninsular Plateau is an aggregation of several smaller plateaus, hill ranges
interspersed with river basins and valleys.
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Minor Plateaus in the Peninsular Plateau
Marwar Plateau or Mewar Plateau
• It is the plateau of eastern Rajasthan. [Marwar plain is to the west of Aravalis whereas
Marwar plateau is to the east].
• The average elevation is 250-500 m above sea level and it slopes down eastwards.
• It is made up of sandstone, shales, and limestones of the Vindhayan period.
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• The Banas River, along with its tributaries [Berach river, Khari rivers] originate in the
Aravali Range and flow towards northwest into the Chambal river. The erosional
activity of these rives makes the plateau top appear like a rolling plain.
• Rolling Plain: ‘Rolling plains’ are not completely flat: there are slight rises
and falls in the landform. Ex: Prairies of USA
Central Highland
• Also called the Madhya Bharat Pathar or Madhya Bharat Plateau.

• It is to the east of the Marwar or Mewar Upland.
• Most of the plateau comprises the basin of the Chambal river which flows in a rift
valley.
• The Kali Sindh, flowing from Rana Pratap Sagar, The Banas flowing through Mewar
plateau, and The Parwan and the Parbati flowing from Madhya Pradesh are its main
tributaries.
• It is a rolling plateau with rounded hills composed of sandstone. Thick forests grow
here.
• To the north are the ravines or badlands of the Chambal river [They are typical to
Chambal river basin].
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ravines or badlands
Bundelkhand Upland
• Yamuna river to the north, Madhya Bharat Pathar to the west, Vindhyan Scarplands
to the east and south-east, and Malwa Plateau to the south.
• It is the old dissected (divided by a number of deep valleys) upland of the
‘Bundelkhand gneiss’ comprising of granite and gneiss.
• Spreads over five districts of Uttar Pradesh and four districts of Madhya Pradesh.
• An average elevation of 300-600 m above sea level, this area slopes down from the
Vindhyan Scarp toward the Yamuna River.
• The area is marked by a chain of hillocks (small hill) made of granite and sandstone.
• The erosional work of the rivers flowing here have converted it into an undulating
(wave-like surface) area and rendered it unfit for cultivation.
• The region is characterized by senile (characteristic of or caused by old age)
topography.
• Streams like Betwa, Dhasan, and Ken flow through the plateau.
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Malwa Plateau
• The Malwa Plateau roughly forms a triangle based on the Vindhyan Hills, bounded by
the Aravali Range in the west and Madhya Bharat Pathar to the north, and
Bundelkhand to the east.
• This plateau has two systems of drainage; one towards the Arabian sea
(The Narmada, the Tapi, and the Mahi), and the other towards the Bay of Bengal
(Chambal and Betwa, joining the Yamuna).
• In the north, it is drained by the Chambal and many of its right bank tributaries like
the Kali, the Sindh, and the Parbati. It also includes the upper courses of the Sindh,
the Ken, and the Betwa.
• It is composed of the extensive lava flow and is covered with black soils.
• The general slope is towards the north [decreases from 600 m in the south to less
than 500 m in the north]
• This is a rolling plateau dissected by rivers. In the north, the plateau is marked by
the Chambal ravines.
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Baghelkhand
• North of the Maikal Range is the Baghelkhand.

• Made of limestones and sandstones on the west and granite in the east.
• It is bounded by the Son river on the north.
• The central part of the plateau acts as a water divide between the Son drainage
system in the north and the Mahanadi river system in the south.
• The region is uneven with general elevation varying from 150 m to 1,200 m.
• The Bharner and Kaimur are located close to the trough-axis.
• The general horizontality of the strata shows that this area has not undergone any
major disturbance.
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Rohtas Plateau
• The Rohtas Plateau (also referred to as Kaimur Plateau) is a plateau that lies in the
south-western part of Bihar.
• The Rohtas Plateau or Kaimur Plateau comprises about 800 square
miles (2,100 km2). It is an undulating table land. At Rohtasgarh it attains a height of
1,490 feet (450 m) above sea level.
• Surrounding geography: A series of fluvial plateaux that run along the Kaimur
Range consist of a series of descending plateaux, starting with the Panna Plateau in
the west, followed by Bhander Plateau and Rewa Plateau and ending with Rohtas
plateau in the east.
Bhander Plateau
• The Bhander Plateau is a plateau in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India. It has an
area of 10,000 square kilometres.
• It links the Deccan Plateau to the south with the Indo-Gangetic Plains and the
Chota Nagpur Plateau to the north and east respectively.
• The plateau is part of the Vindhya Range in central India.
• A series of plateaux runs along the Kaimur Range. These fluvial plateaux consist of a
series of descending plateaux, starting with the Panna Plateau in the west, followed
by Bhander Plateau and Rewa Plateau, and ending with Rohtas Plateau in the east.
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Chotanagpur Plateau
• Chotanagpur plateau represents the north-eastern projection of the Indian

Peninsula.
• Mostly in Jharkhand, the northern part of Chhatisgarh and Purulia district of West
Bengal.
• The Son River flows in the north-west of the plateau and joins the Ganga.
• The average elevation of the plateau is 700 m above sea level.
• This plateau is composed mainly of Gondwana rocks.
• The plateau is drained by numerous rivers and streams in different directions and
presents a radial drainage pattern. {Drainage Pattern}
• Rivers like the Damodar, the Subarnrekaha, the North Koel, the South Koel, and
the Barkar have developed extensive drainage basins.
• The Damodar River flows through the middle of this region in a rift valley from west
to east. Here are found the Gondwana coal fields which provide the bulk of coal in
India.
• North of the Damodar river is the Hazaribagh plateau with an average elevation of
600 m above mean sea level. This plateau has isolated hills. It looks like a peneplain
due to large scale erosion.
• The Ranchi Plateau to the south of the Damodar Valley rises to about 600 m above
mean sea level. Most of the surface is rolling where the city of Ranchi (661 m) is
located.
• At places, it is interrupted by monadnocks (an isolated hill or ridge of erosion-
resistant rock rising above a peneplain. Ex: Ayers Rock in Australia) and conical hills.
• The Rajmahal Hills forming the northeastern edge of the Chotanagpur Plateau are
mostly made of basalt and are covered by lava flows {Basaltic Lava}.
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• They run in the north-south direction and rise to an average elevation of 400 m (the
highest mount is 567 m). These hills have been dissected into separate plateaus.
Meghalaya Plateau
• The peninsular plateau extends further east beyond the Rajmahal hills to
from Meghalaya or the Shillong plateau.
• Garo-Rajmahal Gap separates this plateau from the main block.
• This gap was formed by down-faulting (normal fault: a block of earth slides
downwards). It was later filled by sediments deposited by the Ganga and
Brahmaputra.
• Down warping along Rajmahal–Garo hills = ‘Malda gap’
• Ganga-Brahmaputra flow through the Malda gap.
• The plateau is formed by Archaean quartzites, shales, and schists.
• The plateau slopes down to Brahmaputra valley in the north and the Surma and
Meghna valleys in the south.
• Its western boundary more or less coincides with the Bangladesh border.
• The western, central, and eastern parts of the plateau are known as the Garo
Hills (900 m), the Khasi-Jaintia Hills (1,500 m), and the Mikir Hills (700 m).
• Shillong (1,961 m) is the highest point of the plateau.
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Deccan Plateau
• It covers an area of about five lakh sq km.
• It is triangular in shape and is bounded by the Satpura and the Vindhya in the north-
west, the Mahadev and the Maikal in the north, the Western Ghats in the west, and
the Eastern Ghats in the east.
• Its average elevation is 600 m.
• It rises to 1000 m in the south but dips to 500 m in the north.
• Its general slope is from west to east which is indicated by the flow of its major rivers.
• Rivers have further subdivided this plateau into a number of smaller plateaus.
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Maharashtra Plateau
• The Maharashtra Plateau lies in Maharashtra.

• It forms the northern part of the Deccan Plateau.
• Much of the region is underlain by basaltic rocks of lava origin [Most of the Deccan
Traps lies in this region].
• The area looks like a rolling plain due to weathering.
• The horizontal lava sheets have led to the formation of typical Deccan Trap
topography [step like].
• The broad and shallow valleys of the Godavari, the Bhima, and the Krishna are
flanked [bordered on the opposite sides] by flat-topped steep-sided hills and ridges.
• The entire area is covered by black cotton soil known as regur.
Karnataka Plateau
• The Karnataka Plateau is also known as the Mysore plateau.

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• Lies to the south of the Maharashtra plateau.
• The area looks like a rolling plateau with an average elevation of 600-900 m.
• It is highly dissected by numerous rivers rising from the Western Ghats.
• The general trend of the hills is either parallel to the Western Ghats or across it.
• The highest peak (1913 m) is at Mulangiri in Baba Budan Hills in the Chikmaglur
district.
• The plateau is divided into two parts called Malnad and Maidan.
• The Malnad in Kannada means the hill country. It is dissected into deep valleys
covered with dense forests.
• The Maidan on the other hand is formed of a rolling plain with low granite hills.
• The plateau tapers between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats in the south
and merges with the Niligiri hills there.
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Telangana plateau
• The Telangana plateau consists of Archaean gneisses.

• It is made up of Dharwar rocks. Gondwana rocks are also found in the Godavari valley,
famous for its coal fields.
• Because of the Dharwar rock strata, the plateau is rich in mineral resources.
• Its average elevation is 500-600 m.
• The southern part is higher than its northern counterpart.
• The region is drained by three river systems, the Godavari, the Krishna, and the
Penner.
• The entire plateau is divided into Ghats and the Peneplains (a vast featureless,
undulating plain which the last stage of the deposition process).
Bastar Plateau
• Bastar is a district in the southernmost region in the state of Chhattisgarh.

• It is a forested mineral rich region.
• Southern part of Chhattisgarh between the Mahanadi and Godavari rivers.
• Bisected into two parts by the Indravati River.
• Tribal dominated region.
• Under the strong grip of Naxalism.
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Chhattisgarh Plain
• The Chhattisgarh plain is the only plain worth the name in the Peninsular plateau.
• It is a saucer-shaped depression drained by the upper Mahanadi.
• The whole basin lies between the Maikala Range and the Odisha hills.
• The region was once ruled by Haithaivanshi Rajputs from whose thirty-six forts
(Chhattisgarh) it derives its name.
• The basin is laid with nearly horizontal beds of limestone and shales.
• The general elevation of the plain ranges from 250 m in the east to 330 m in the
west.
Dandakaranya Plateau
• Dandakaranya is a historical region in India, mentioned in Ramayana. It is located in

the Bastar region of the present-day state of Chhattisgarh in the central part of
India.
• Dandakaranya is a physiographic region in the central part of India. Extending over a
neighborhood of about 35600 square miles, it includes the Abujhmad Hills within
the west and borders the Eastern Ghats within the east.
• Abujmarh is a hilly forest area in Chhattisgarh, covering Narayanpur district,
Bijapur district, and Dantewada district. It is home to indigenous tribes of
India, including Gond, Muria, Abuj Maria, and Halbaas.
• The Dandakaranya includes parts of the Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, and
Andhra Pradesh states. It’s a dimension of about 200 miles from north to south and
about 300 miles from east to west.
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Northern Plains of India
The northern plains have been formed by the interplay of the three major river systems,
namely the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra along with their tributaries.
This plain spreads over an area of 7 lakh sq. km. The plain being about 2400 Km long and
240 to 320 Km broad, is a densely populated physiographic division.
With a rich soil cover combined with an adequate water supply and favorable climate, it
is agriculturally a very productive part of India.
They lie to the south of the Shivaliks, separated by the Himalayan Frontal Fault (HFF). The
southern boundary is a wavy irregular line along the northern edge of Peninsular India. On
the eastern side, the plains are bordered by the Purvanchal hills.
Northern Plains of India

Punjab Plains
• The Punjab plains form the western part of the northern plain.
• In the east, the Delhi-Aravalli ridge separates it from the Ganga plains.
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• This is formed by the Indus and its tributaries; like Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and
Sutlej. A major portion of these plains is in Pakistan.
• It is divided into many Doabs (do-“two” + ab- “water or river” = “a region or land lying
between and reaching to the meeting of the two rivers”).
Punjab Doabs
• Sindh Sagar Doab

• The Sindh Sagar Doab lies between the Indus and Jhelum rivers.
• Jech Doabs
• The Jech Doab (also Chaj Doab) (small portion of the Jech Doab is Majha lies
between the Jhelum and Chenab rivers.
• Rechna Doab
• The Rechna Doab (considerable portion of the Rechna Doab is Majha lies
between the Chenab and Ravi rivers.
• Bari Doabs
• The Bari Doab (considerable portion of the Bari Doab is Majha lies between
the Ravi and Beas rivers.
• Bist Doab
• The Bist Doab (or Doaba) – between the Beas and Sutlej rivers.
Ganga Plains
• The Ganga plains lie between the Yamuna catchment in the west to the Bangladesh
border in the East.
• The lower Ganga plain has been formed by the downwarping of a part of the
Peninsular India between Rajmahal hills and the Meghalaya plateau and subsequent
sedimentation by the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers.
• The main topographical variations in these plains include Bhabar, Tarai, Bhangar,
Khadar, levees, abandoned courses etc.
• Almost all the rivers keep on shifting their courses making this area prone
to frequent floods. The Kosi river is very notorious in this respect. It has long been
called the ‘Sorrow of Bihar’.
• The northern states, Haryana, Delhi, UP, Bihar, part of Jharkhand and West
Bengal in the east lie in the Ganga plains.
• The Ganga-Brahmaputra delta: the largest delta in the world. A Large part of the
coastal delta is covered tidal forests called Sunderbans. Sunderbans, the largest
mangrove swamp in the world gets its name from the Sundari tree which grows well
in marshland. It is home to the Royal Tiger and crocodiles.
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Ganga Doab
• Upper Doab
• Uttarakhand:
• Dehradun and Haridwar
• Uttar Pradesh:
• Saharanpur, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Hapur,
Gautam Buddh Nagar and Bulandshahr
• Delhi
• Central or Middle Doab
• Etah, Kasganj, Aligarh, Agra, Hathras, Firozabad, Farrukhabad, Kannauj, Mainpu
ri, Etawah, Auraiya and Mathura. Mathura is in the trans-Yamuna region of Braj.
• Lower Doab
• Kanpur, Fatehpur, Kaushambi and Allahabad.
Rohilkhand Plain
• Rohilkhand, low-lying alluvial region is located in northwestern UP, on the upper

Ganges alluvial plain.
• Between the Ganga River (West) and the Avadh Plain (East).
• Named after the Rohilla tribe, and was known as Madhyadesh in the Mahabharata.
• Rohillas were the Pathan highlanders of the Yusufzai tribe
Awadh Plain
• Central part of UP between Purvanchal (E) and the Rohilkhand (W)

• Earlier known as the granary of India
• Known for its unique cuisines and culture
• Cities – Lucknow, Kanpur, Rae Barelly, Faizabad
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Rarh Plain
• The Rarh region lies between the Chota Nagpur Plateau on the west and the chief
flow of the Ganges River (which has been continuously changing) in the east.
• The Rarh plains comprise the lower Gangetic plains to the south of the Ganges
river, and to the west of its Bhagirathi-Hooghly distributary.
• These plains are formed of old alluvial deposits. The elevation ranges between 75
and 150 m
• The main river being Damodar
• Highly industrialized region
• Earlier ill famous for disastrous floods.
Malwa Doab
• The rivers flowing through the Malwa region, covering current states of Madhya
Pradesh and parts of north-eastern Rajasthan, also has doab region such as Upper
Malwa doab and Lower Malwa doab.
Chhattisgarh Plain
• The Chhattisgarh plain is the only plain worth the name in the Peninsular plateau.
• It is a saucer shaped depression drained by the upper Mahanadi.
• The whole basin lies between the Maikala Range and the Odisha hills.
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• It is bounded by the Chota Nagpur plateau to the north, the Raigarh hills to the
northeast, the Raipur Upland to the southeast, the Bastar plateau to the south, and
the Maikala Range to the west.
• The region was once ruled by Haithaivanshi Rajputs from whose thirty six forts
(Chhattisgarh) it derives its name.
• The basin is laid with nearly horizontal beds of limestone and shales.
• Famous as the ‘rice bowl of India’
• Extensive coal deposits and substantial deposits of iron ore, bauxite, manganese, and
commercial clays have aided its development.
• The general elevation of the plain ranges from 250 m in the east to 330 m in the
west.
• Bhilai, Bilaspur, Raipur, Raigarh, and Durg are the chief commercial centres. Korba,
Nandgaon, and Rajgarh are other developing urban centres.
Raichur Doab
The Raichur Doab is the triangular region of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states
which lies between the Krishna River and its tributary the Tungabhadra River, named for
the town of Raichur.
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Important National Highways in India
National Highways
According to the Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways (MoRTH), there are 599 National Highways
in India. Over a period of time, the numbering of National Highways in India has been renewed. The Ministry
has released details of National Highways in the country on its official website.
The National highways are a network of trunk roads owned by the Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways. It is constructed and managed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the National
Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and the public works
departments (PWD) of state governments.
India has 151,019 km (93,839 mi) of National Highways as of March 2021. National Highways constituted
2.7% of India’s total road network, but carried about 40% of road traffic, as of 2013.
• The longest National Highway is NH44, which runs between Srinagar in Jammu
and Kashmir and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, covering a distance of 3,806 km
(2,365 mi).
• The shortest National Highway is NH766EE, which spans 4.27 km (2.65 mi),
from Hettikeri to Belekeri port in Karnataka.
• The Leh–Manali Highway connecting Leh in Ladakh to Manali in Himachal
Pradesh is the world’s second highest-altitude motorable highway.
• The first National Highway in India was the old NH-1. It linked the National capital
Delhi to Attari in Punjab near Indo-Pak Border. Now as per the new numbering
system, NH 1 runs between Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
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On 28 April 2010, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways officially published a new numbering system
for the national highway network.
How Indian Highways are numbered?

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1. All North-South highways will carry EVEN number
2. All East-West highways will have ODD numbers
3. All major Highways will be a single-digit or double-digit in a number
4. North-South highways will increase their numbers from East to West. For example,
a particular North-South highway in Central India or Western India will have a higher
number than the one in East India.
5. Three digits numbered highways are secondary routes or branches of the main
highway. For example, 144, 244, 344, etc will be the branches of the main National
Highway 44.
6. Suffixes A, B, C, D, etc are added to the three-digit sub highways to indicate very
small spin-offs or stretches of sub-highways. For example, 966A, 527B, etc.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
• National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was set up under NHAI Act, 1988. It is
under the administrative control of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
• It has been entrusted with the National Highways Development Project, along with
other minor projects for development, maintenance and management.
• National Highways Development Project (NHDP) is a project to upgrade,
rehabilitate and widen major highways in India to a higher standard. The
project was started in 1998.
• NHAI (an autonomous authority) maintains the National Highways network to
global standards and cost effective manner and promotes economic well being and
quality of life of the people.
• It has completed construction of 3,979 km of national highways in the financial Year
2019-20.
• NHAI has mandated development of about 27,500 km of national highways
under Bharatmala Pariyojna Phase-I.
• Bharatmala Pariyojana is an umbrella program for the highways sector that
focuses on optimizing efficiency of freight and passenger movement across
the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps through effective
interventions.
• The effective interventions include development of Economic Corridors, Inter
Corridors and Feeder Routes, National Corridor Efficiency Improvement, Border
and International connectivity roads, Coastal and Port connectivity roads and
Green-field expressways.
List of Important National Highways in India

Old National New National Highway
States/UTs Through which it Passes
Highway Number Number
NH 1 A and NH 1 D NH 1 Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh
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NH 1 B NH 244 Jammu & Kashmir
NH 19 (Golden Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Uttar

NH 2
Quadrilateral) Pradesh, West Bengal
NH 2A NH 519 Uttar Pradesh
NH 2B NH 114 West Bengal
NH 3
NH 60 Maharashtra
NH 50
NH 223 NH 4 Andaman & Nicobar Islands
NH 4 A NH 748 Goa, Karnataka
NH 4 B NH 348 Maharashtra
NH 5
NH 6 NH 16 (Golden Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu,
NH 60 Quadrilateral) West Bengal
NH 217
NH 7 NH 135 Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh
NH 7 A NH 138 Tamil Nadu
NH 48 (Golden Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka,

NH 8
Quadrilateral) Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu
NH 8 A NH 41 Gujarat
NH 8 C NH 147 Gujarat
NH 8 D NH 151 Gujarat
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NH 17 NH 66 (Parallel to the Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala,
NH 47 Western Ghats) and Tamil Nadu
Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra,

NH 9 NH 65
Karnataka, Telangana
NH 11 NH 21 Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh
NH 11 A NH 148 Rajasthan
NH 12 NH 45 Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh
NH 18
NH 40 Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
NH 4
NH 21
Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal
NH 22 NH 5
Pradesh, Punjab
NH 95
NH 23 NH 320 Jharkhand
NH 24 NH 530 Uttar Pradesh
NH 30 NH 319 Bihar
NH 35 NH 112 West Bengal
NH 39 NH 129 Assam, Nagaland
NH 47 NH 544 Kerala, Tamil Nadu
NH 47 A NH 966 B Kerala
NH 47 C NH 966 A Kerala
NH 55 NH 110 West Bengal
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NH 56 NH 731 Uttar Pradesh
NH 79 NH 156 Rajasthan
NH 152 NH 127 A Assam
NH 38 & NH 153 NH 315 Assam, Arunachal Pradesh
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NH-1
• National Highway 1 (NH 1) in India runs between the union territories of Jammu &
Kashmir and Ladakh.
• It comprises parts of old NH1A and NH1D.
• The number 1 indicates, under the new numbering system, that it is the
northernmost East-West highway in India.
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Ports and Waterways
Ports and Waterways

• Water transport is the cheapest and the oldest mode of transport. It operates on a
natural track and hence does not require huge capital investment in the
construction and maintenance of its track except in case of canals.
• Water transport has played a very significant role in bringing different parts of the
world closer and is indispensable to foreign trade.
Water transport advantages
• Cheapest means of transport:

• Rivers are a natural highway that does not require any cost of construction and
maintenance.
• Even the cost of construction and maintenance of canals is much less or they
are used, not only for transport purposes but also for irrigation, etc. Moreover,
the cost of operation of inland water transport is very low.
• Thus, it is the cheapest mode of transport for carrying goods from one place to
another.
• Least consumption of energy: Waterways are a fuel-efficient and environment-
friendly mode of transportation. The boats and steamers, even if mechanized,
consume much lesser fuel and do not pollute the surrounding
• Suitable for heavy bulky goods: Waterway can carry much larger quantities of heavy
and bulky goods such as coal, and, timber, etc
• No friction: Since the boats and steamers flow in the direction of water the friction
force is less as compared to road and railways.
• Eco-friendly: The boats and steamers consume much lesser fuel and do not pollute
the surrounding.
Limitations of inland waterways in India
• In India, it rains heavily during monsoons, so the water current is so torrential that it is
difficult to ply boats.
• During the dry winter & summer season, most rivers run dry, not even have sufficient
water for irrigation, so navigation is hindered.
• River’s of south India flow is rocky areas. Hence they are not fit for plying boats
because of waterfalls.
• As compared to boats, railways are quicker & reliable means of transport.
• Since Indian rivers falls from the shallow and sandy delta’s so ships cannot sail from
seashores to inland parts.
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• But inland water transport has the inherent advantage of cheap means of transport,
especially for more load and long journey’s. One horsepower can carry 4000 kg load
in water whereas it can carry 150 kg & 500 kg load by road & rail respectively,
moreover water transport is less polluting.
Role of inland water transport is Regional development
• The river water transport can contribute significantly in the regional development of
the country. This is the cheapest mode of transport and except in the maintenance
of ports, Jetties, canals, not much money is involved in its maintenance.
• During the pre-colonial period, inland water transport played a major part in the
“Growth of trade” and “regional development in north India. Even today it can play an
important role in reducing the production cost of industries.
• There are some regions like the deltaic regions of Ganga where it is difficult and
costly to construct roads and bridges across numerous distributaries, river waterway
can be a good mode of transport, facilitating the economic development of the
region.
• In fact, rural water transport (RWT), a specific sub-sector of inland water transport
(IWT) is particularly imp due to its potential to help reduce isolation and poverty. It
mostly consists of small family-owned boats that operate on river’s and canal
networks, such boats transport service, employment & promote fishing and
additional employment is generated in boat making.
Types of Waterways
Inland water ways
• Inland water transport consists of transport by rivers, canals, and lakes. Inland
waterway is a network of rivers, canals, backwaters, and creeks that can be utilized
for transportation instead of or in addition to roads and rails. Some of the facts
related to the Inland waterway are:
• It is the cheapest mode of transport
• It has stiff competition from roadways and railways
• Water diversion from the rivers causes navigation difficult making the Inland
waterway less competitive.
• The total navigable length of the inland waterway is 14500 km, out of which
about 5200 km of river and 4000 km of canals can be used by mechanized
crafts Account for 1% of transport
• Out of 3700 km of navigable rivers which are available for transport, only 2000
km is actually used.
• Canals are controlled by Inland Water Way Authority. The Inland Waterways
Authority of India Act, 1985 empowers the Government to declare waterways
with potential for the development of shipping and navigation as National
Waterways.
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Ocean-transport
• Ocean transport is indispensable for foreign trade. It has brought the different parts
of the world closer and has knitted together all the nations of the world into one big
world market.
• It operates on a natural track, i.e., the sea, and does not require any investment in the
construction and maintenance of its track.
• Ocean transport includes coastal shipping and overseas shipping.
National Waterways
National Waterways Act came into effect in 2016. It proposed 106 additional National Waterways and
merges 5 existing Acts which were declared the 6 National Waterways which are as follows:
• National Waterways 1 or NW1

• It starts from Allahabad(Prayagraj) to Haldia with a distance of 1620 km.
• The NW 1 run through the Ganges, Bhagirathi, and Hooghly river system with
having fixed terminals at Haldia, Farrakka, and Patna and floating terminals at
most of the riverside cities like Kolkata, Bhagalpur, Varanasi, and Allahabad.
• It is be the longest National Waterways in India.
• National Waterways 2
• It is a stretch on the Brahmaputra river from Sadiya to Dhubri in Assam state.
• The NW 2 is one of the major freight transportation waterways of northeast
India and the third-longest Waterways with and a total length of 891 km.
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• National waterways 3 or the West Coast Canal
• It is located in Kerala state and runs from Kollam to Kottapuram.
• The 205 km long West Coast Canal is India’s first waterway with all-time
navigation facility.
• The NW3 is consists of the West Coast Canal, Champakara Canal, and
Udyogmandal Canal and runs through Kottappuram, Cherthala,
Thrikkunnapuzha Kollam, and Alappuzha.
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• National Waterway 4
• It is connected from Kakinada to Pondicherry through Canals, Tank, and
River Godavari along with Krishna river.
• The NW 4 the second-longest waterway of India with a total length of 1095 km
in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
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• National Waterway 5
• It connects Orissa to West Bengal using the stretch on Brahmani River, East
Coast Canal, Matai river, and Mahanadi River Delta.
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• The 623 km long canal system will handle the traffic of cargo such as coal,
fertilizer, cement, and iron.
• National waterway 6
• It is the proposed waterway in Assam state and will connect Lakhipur to
Bhanga in river Barak.
• The 121 km long waterway will help in trading between the town of Silchar to
Mizoram State.
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Ocean routes and Ports
• India has a coastline of about 7517 km.
• There are 13 major ports and 200 minor ports. 95% of India’s foreign trade and 70%
of the value is trade takes place through seaways.
• Over 7500 kilometers of coastline with 13 major and 60 operational non-major ports.
• 90% of the country’s trade by volume and 70% by value are moved through
maritime transport.
• There are 13 major ports in India that handle approximately 58% of cargo traffic.
• Cargo handled at major ports is bulk (44% – iron ore, coal, and fertilizer), liquid (33%
petrol, oil, and lubricants), and container (23%).
• There are 13 major ports in the country; 7 on the Eastern coast and 6 on the Western
coast. Further, there are about 200 non-major ports.
• The major ports of India are:
• Kolkata Port
• Only riverine major port in India.
• Known for twin dock systems viz, Kolkata Dock System (KDS) on the
eastern bank and Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) on the western bank of
river Hooghly.
• Paradip Port
• It is an artificial, deep-water port on the East coast of India in the
Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha. Located at the confluence of river
Mahanadi in Bay of Bengal in Odisha.
• It was the first major port on East Coast commissioned in independent
India.
• New Mangalore Port
• Located at a side called Panambur in Karnataka at Gurupura river
confluence with the Arabian Sea.
• Cochin Port
• Located on the Willington island on the South – West coast of India
• Located on the crossroads of the East-West Ocean trade.
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• The port is called the natural gateway to the vast industrial and
agricultural produce markets of South – West India.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Port
• It is also known as Nhava Sheva and is the largest container port in India,
handling around half of the containers of all major ports.
• It is located on the eastern shore of Mumbai harbour off Elephanta
Island and is accessed via Thane Creek.
• Vadhavan Port
• This will be 13th major port in India.
• With the development of this port, India will become one of the
countries in the top-10 container ports in the world.
• A special purpose vehicle (SPV) will be formed with Jawaharlal Nehru
Port Trust (JNPT) as the lead partner, with equity participation equal to
or more than 50% to implement the project.
• The port will be developed on the landlord model.
• Vadhavan port has been planned by the JNPT as an ‘All Weather, All
Cargo’ satellite port to enhance capabilities in handling deep draft ships
and larger vessels.
• Mumbai Port
• One of the oldest modern ports of India. Initially, the location was used
by the navies of Shivaji.
• Kandla Port
• Kandla port was built after partition as the Karachi port on the western
coast had gone to Pakistan. It is known for handling much of the crude
oil imports of India.
• Vishakhapatnam Port
• Vizag port is located in Andhra Pradesh and is known for the bulk of
cargo handling on the east coast.
• Chennai Port
• Chennai Port is the largest port in the Bay of Bengal and the second
largest port of India after JNPT. It is the largest port at the east coast.
• Tuticorin Port
• This port has been now renamed as V.O. Chidambaranar Port. It is
located in the Gulf of Mannar. V.O.Chidambaram Port is an artificial port.
• Tuticorin is the only port in South India to provide a direct weekly
container service to the United States.
• Ennore Port
• This port is now named as Kamarajar Port Limited. It is the first corporate
port of India and is registered as a public company with 68% stake held
by the government.
• Mormugao Port
• Mormugao port in Goa is the leading iron ore exporting port of India.
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Important Ports in India
Mandvi :
• An ancient port and ship-building centre situated at Mandvi, in the northern coast
of the Gulf of Kutch
• Well known for country craft construction from ancient time
• Export – Clay, bauxite, cotton, seeds, salt and oil cakes
Mundra :
• Located between Mandvi and Kandla on the coast of the Gulf of Kutch , is
the largest private port in India
• Capable of handling more than 100 million tonnes of bulk, liquid and containarised
cargo.
• Integral part of a SEZ
• Tata Power is building an UMPP here
Kandla :
• Located in the eastern corner of the Gulf of Kutch, one of the major ports of the
western coast
• Constructed in 1950s as the chief sea port serving western India, after the partition of
India from Pakistan when port of Karachi went to Pakistan
Okha :
• Located at the western corner of the Kathiawar Peninsula

• It is a minor port
• Has cement plants and an automobile – assembly plant
• Fishing and salt processing
Sikka :
• Located at near Jaunagar in the Kathiawar Peninsula , is a minor port of Gujarat

• It is all weather direct berthing port
• Offers excellent tranquility conditions for the safe opearations of the vessels
Porbandar :
• An all weather port with direct berthing conveniences , faces the Arabian Sea and
located along the west coast of Saurashtra
• Wharfs for streamer are available
• Connected by a broad guage railway
Veraval :
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• Fair weather lighterage port , situated in the south-western coast of Saurashtra
• Designed mainly for fishing
• Developed during the 18th century
Kodinar :
• City and municipality in the Junagarh district of Saurashtra region

• Located between Somnath (West) and Diu (East)
• Nearest important port is the Veraval Port
Alang :
• Port city on the eastern coast of Saurashtra, in the Bahvnagar district

• One of the largest shipbreaking yards of the world.
• Shot into news when the French aircraft carrier Clemenceau was prohibited by the
Supreme Court of India to enter in the port in 2006
Bhavnagar :
• Located in the west coast of the Gulf of Khambhat in the eastern Kathiawar
Peninsula
• 10 km away from the Bhavnagar city
• An all weather berthing port of small vessels
• Vessels jetty must pass through the lock Gate Door
Bharuch :
• Important port of Gujarat, located at the mouth of the Narmada River in the east
coast of the Gulf of Khambhat
• Dahej Port is located near to it
• Handle the trade of petrochemicals
Alibag :
• Located just 19 km at sea from the south Mumbai

• No significant port facility
• Comes under the Raigarh district
• Called as Mini Goa of Maharashtra
• Tourism is the mainstay of its economy
Ratnagiri :
• Most important port of the southern coast of Maharashtra

• Handles trade of minerals and other commodities
• Marine Biological Research Station for fishery
• Bharati Shipyard Limited is located here.
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Karwar :
• Minor port and coastal city of Karnataka

• Located near the mouth of the Kalindi River.
• Headquarters of the Uttar Kannada district.
• Karwar port plays a major role in the sea trade, fishing and maritime services of the
nation.
• Located on the NH-66 and the Konkan Railway.
• Mountain towards sea protects it and makes it one of the best ports of the world.
Uduppi :
• A minor port and coastal city of Karnataka to the north of Mengaluru , near the
mouth of the Sita River
• Located on the NH-66 and the Konkan Railway
• Has the highest average per-capita income in the state according to a survey by a
private firm
• Known for the Krishna Matt
Kasargod :
• Located near the mouth of the Payaswani River in the northern part of Kerala
• A minor port and the northernmost of the important cities of Kerala
• Agro –based industries are found
• Helped by the NH-66, the Konkan Railway and the West Coast Road
Kannur :
• Minor port and coastal city of Kerala , located north of Mahe (Puducherry)
• Centre of the Moplah community of Arab descent
• Mainly agri-based industries
• Helped by the NH-66 and the Konkan Railway
Mumbai Port :
• A natural deep water harbour and major port located in the eastern edge of the
Mumbai City
• Nhava Sheva (on Navi Mumbai ) was created to relieve off its pressure
• It has been the gateway to India and was the contributing factor in the emergence of
Mumbai as the commercial capital of India
Nhava Sheva (JNPT):
• Also named as Jawaharlal Nehru Port

• Lies on the mainland, opposite the city of Mumbai across the Thane Creek
• Located close to the Elephanta Island
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• Created to reduce pressure on the Mumbai Port and increase the shipping capacity
of Mumbai
• Most modernised and the largest port of India
• The port handles 65% of India’s container traffic
• Has three terminals: JNCPT, NSICT, GTI
• NSICT is India’s first privately managed container terminal
Mangalore :
• A major port city in the southern part of Canara Coast, located near the mouth of the
Kumardhar River
• Upgraded in the Fourth Five Year Plan
• Hinterland – Karnataka , northern Kerala
• Export : Tea, coffee, spices, iron ore
• Import – Petroleum, fertilizers, edible oils
• Petroleum refinery
• Facility of the NH-66 and the Konkan Railway
Mahe :
• Exclave of Puducherry, located on the Malabar Coast as an enclave of Kannur

district of Kerala
• minor port
• Agri- based industries, fishing, tourism
• Aided by the NH-66
Kozhikode :
• Also known as Calicut, is the third largest city of Kerala

• Ancient and Middle Ages – ‘City of Spices’.
• Declared the country’s first hunger free city
• Vasco da Gama reached here in 1498
• Was famous for trade of spices in the old times
• Located on the NH-66
Alapuzha (Aleppy) :
• City on the Malabar Coast, to the southwest of the Vembanad Lake

• minor port
• Centre of coir, coconut, and cashewnut processing.
• Served by an inland waterway system stretching from Kochi to Kollam
Ernakulam :
• Located on the shore of the Vembanand Lake, opposite of Kochi

• Seat of the Kerala High Court
• An important port, engineering and ship building
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Kottayam :
• Located in the south-east corner of the Vembanand Lake

• First tobacco free district in India
• Hub of inland navigable water system
• Newsprinting, rubber, cement, chemicals
• Headquarter of Malyalam Manorama
• In 1989 became first municipality of India to achieve 100% literacy
Kollam :
• Formerly known as Quilon, located on the coast of the Asthamudi Lake

• Trading port during the Greek and Roman times.
• Beach sands are processed for rare earth
• Industries – Aluminium, cashewnut processing, procelain and ceramics
Kochi :
• Major port at the mouth of the Vembanand Lake

• Traditional seaport even during the Roman Period
• Many islands
• Naval Command Centre and Coast Guard District Headquarters
• Natural harbour, shipbuilding, oil refinery
• Export : Tea, coffee, spices/ Import-Oil, fertilizers
Kanniyakumari :
• Located at the Cape Comorin in Tamil Nadu

• A minor port, and religious and tourist place
• National Highway-44
• Agri–based industries
• Kudankulam Nuclear Reactor is located nearby it
Colachel Seaport :
• Colachel International Seaport also known as Enayam port, is proposed (and

located in Colachel, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu) into a major port transforming
it into India’s southern trans-shipment gateway.
• The Port is proposed at Colachel, 19 km away from Nagercoil, capital of Kanyakumari
District.
• Colachel is already a natural harbour.
Tuticorin :
• A major port on the coast of the Gulf of Mannar

• A new port has been developed about 8km southwest of the old port
• Handles the traffic of coal, salt, food grains, edible oils, sugar and petroleum products
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• Location of a new oil refinery
Vedaranniyam :
• A minor port near the Point Calimere , the apex of the Kaveri Delta
• Economy : salt manufacturing , fishing, salt water prown, agriculture
• Salt March on 30 April 1930 – Trichy to Vedaranniyam by Rajgopalchari
• Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary
Dhanushkodi :
• A small town located in the eastern part of the Pamban Island

• 1964 cyclone destroyed the railway line that connected India with Sri Lanka
• According to Hindu scriptures at the request of Vibeeshana, Rama broke the sethu
with one end of his bow, so it is named Dhanushkodi
• It is said that the pilgrimage to Kashi is completed only when followed by a holy bath
at Dhanushkodi
Nagapattinam :
• A minor port on the Kaveri Delta, south of Karaikal (Puducherry)

• Industries – Textiles, leather goods, oil extractions
• Fishing is main industry
• One of the best harbours in the country
• A major pilgrimage centre of Hindus, Muslims and Christians
Yanam :
• A district and distant territory (exclave) of Puducherry, located in Andhra Padesh

between the deltas of Godavari and Krishna
• Rice cultivation, agro based industries
• Tourism is significant
• A 30 km enclave in the East Godavari district
Srikakulam :
• A minor port and coastal city of Andhra Padesh, to north-east of Vishakhapatnam

• Once the capital of the of the Northern Circar
• Located on the National Highway-16 (previously NH-5) and the Chennai Kolkata
main rail line.
• Known for many temples.
Karaikal :
• Territory of Puducherry on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu, to the south of

Puducherry
• Bounded by the Nagapattnam (north and south)
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• Was a French colony and a minor trading hub
• Known for its rich cultural heritage
Cuddalore :
• A minor port on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu, at the mouth of the
Ponnaiyar River.
• A few kms south of Puducherry
• Known for its picturesque beaches, especially the Silver Beach
• Neyveli Lignite Corporation is located near to it.
• The city is fast emerging as an industrial city.
Puducherry :
• Main part of the Union Territory of Puducherry, located on the Coromandel Coast
midway between Chennai and Point Calimere
• Former French colony still has its imprints
• Auroville is world famous
• Auroville is a universal city (experimental township) in the making in south-
India dedicated to the ideal of human unity based on the vision of Sri
Aurobindo and The Mother.
Machilipatnam :
• Located in the northeastern part of the Krishna Delta, as a minor seaport and
headquarter of the Krishna District
• Port from the old time, has a long history
• It is being developed to reduce the pressure on the Vishakapatnam
Gopalpur :
• Important sea beach and coastal town located in the southwestern part of Orissa
• Its beach with coconut groves is characterised with sand dunes for several kms.
• Often affected by the tropical cyclones
• Has an ancient commercial port, now lying in ruins
• Became prominant port during the British Rule
Kakinada :
• A minor seaport and the headquarters of the East Godavari District, located in
the north-western part of the Koringa Bay
• One of the safest ports in the east coast of India due to the presence of a small island
called Hope Island
• Kakinada is the sixth largest city of Andhra Pradesh.
• Most well planned city in Asia after Chandigarh.
Krishnapatnam :
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• Important port of Andhra Padesh in the Nellore district
• Krishnapatnam Port popularly known as KPCL is a privately built and owned all
weather, deep water port on the east coast.
• Iron ore and granite are exported
• Site of 4000 MW UMPP (Ultra Mega Power Project) awarded to the Reliance Power
Vishakhapatnam :
• The deepest land locked and protected port on the Andhra Coast
• A major port, handles the traffic of iron ore, coal, oil, fertilizers, agri products etc.
• Ship building and repairing facility
• Headquarters of the Eastern Command of the Indian Navy
• Steel, petrochemical and fertilizers plants
Ganjam :
• A minor port and coastal city in Orissa, to the southwest of the Chilka Lake
• Agro–based industries, fishing, salt and fish processing
• National Highway-16 (previously NH-5) and Chennai–Kolkata rail line pass through it
Paradeep :
• A major port located at the northeastern corner of the Mahanadi Delta

• A deep water and all weather port
• Constructed during the Second Five Year Plan.
• Handles the traffic of iron ore, coal, and other dry cargos.
• Iron exported to Japan.
Dhamra :
• Located to the northeast of Paradeep in Orissa.

• Dhamra Port will become the deepest port of India with a drought of 18 metres,
which can accommodate super cape- size vessels upto 180,000DWT.
• Awarded responsibility to the Dhamra Port Company Ltd. A 50:50 joint venture of
L&T and Tata Steel
Chandippur :
• A minor seaport in the northeastern part of Orissa

• Its beach is unique in that the water recedes about one to four kms during the ebb
and returns at the time of the high tide
• Location of the Indian Army’s Integrated Test Range (ITR)
• A number of missiles have been launched from the ITR including Akash, Agni,
Shaurya and Prithvi
Diamond Harbour :
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• It is located quite near where the Hooghly river meets the bay of Bengal.
• It was earlier a stronghold of the Portuguese pirates.
• It is minor port as well as a happening tourist spot.
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Important Canals in India
Canal
Canals are waterway channels, or artificial waterways, for water conveyance, or for servicing water transport
vehicles. They carry free surface flow under atmospheric pressure and can be thought of as artificial rivers.
Canals are a human-made waterway that allows boats and ships to pass from one body of water to another.
Canals are also used to transport water for irrigation and other human uses.
There are two types of canals: waterways and aqueducts. Waterways are the navigable parts of a body of
water and can be located within a bay or open sea, can connect two or more water bodies, or may even form
networks within a city. Aqueducts are used exclusively to transport water for drinking, agriculture, and
hydroelectric power.
Canals, channels, and reservoirs constructed, maintained, or controlled by the State Government for the
supply or storage of water.
List of Important Canals in India

Canal Name Area Served
Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project Tamilnadu, Kerala
Indira Gandhi Canal Sultanpur, Punjab, Rajasthan
Buckingham Canal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
National Waterway 3 (India) (West Coast Canal) Kerala
Upper Ganges Canal Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh
Lower Ganges Canal Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh
Agra Canal Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan
Telugu Ganga project Andhra Pradesh
Handri-Neeva Andhra Pradesh
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K. C. Canal Andhra Pradesh
Tajewala Canal Haryana
Munak canal (part of Western Yamuna Canal) Haryana & Delhi
Western Yamuna Canal Haryana & Delhi
Kalingarayan Canal Tamilnadu
Buddha Nullah Canal Punjab
Sutlej Yamuna link Canal Punjab
Sirhind Canal Punjab
Anupgarh canal Rajasthan (western India)
Narmada Canal Gujarat, Rajasthan
Conolly Canal Kerala
Ainsley canal Tamilnadu
Kalingarayan Canal Tamilnadu
Basavarajeshwari Camp Karnataka
Lower Bhavani Project Canal Tamilnadu
Kaveri-Vaigai link canal Kerala, Karnataka, Tamilnadu
Trivandrum-Shoranur canal Kerala
Tamirabarani-Nambiar link canal Kerala, Karnataka
Kakatiya Canal Telangana
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Sharda Canal Uttar Pradesh
Zamania Canal Uttar Pradesh
Deokali Canal Uttar Pradesh
Karmanasa Canal Bihar
Durgavati Canal Bihar
Kutte Kol Jammu and Kashmir
Nallah Mar or Mar Canal Jammu and Kashmir
Tsoont Kol Jammu and Kashmir
Cumbarjua Canal Goa
Soundane Cut Maharashtra
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Upper Ganges Canal
• The Upper Ganges canal is the original Ganges Canal, which starts at the Bhimgoda
Barrage near Har ki Pauri at Haridwar, traverses Meerut and Bulandshahr, and
continues to Nanau in Aligarh district, where it bifurcates into
the Kanpur and Etawah branches.
• The 1412 Km long Upper Ganges Canal is use to irrigates the Doab region of India.
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Lower Ganges Canal
• This is lower part of Ganga Canal. It originates from a barrage at Narora (near
Bulandshahar).
• Lower Ganges canal has two main branches – Bhognipur Branch which starts near
Jera village of Mainpuri district and Kanpur & Etawah branch.
• The Bhognipur branch was opened in year 1880.
Indira Gandhi Canal
• The Indira Gandhi Canal (originally, Rajasthan Canal) is the longest canal in India.
• It starts from the Harike Barrage at Harike, a few kilometers below the confluence
of the Satluj and Beas rivers in the Indian state of Punjab, and terminates
in irrigation facilities in the Thar Desert in the northwest of Rajasthan.
• Indira Gandhi Canal is 649 km long and consists of Rajasthan feeder
canal and Rajasthan main canal and runs through 167 km
in Punjab and Haryana and remaining 492 km in Rajasthan.
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Buckingham Canal
• The Buckingham Canal is a 796 kilometers long fresh water navigation canal,
that parallels the Coromandel Coast of South India from Kakinada City in the East
Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh to Viluppuram District in Tamil Nadu.
• It connect most of the water bodies like Pulicat Lake,Krishna River and the port of
Chennai.
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Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal
• The Sutlej Yamuna link canal is also known as SYL is a major project to connect the
Sutlej and Yamuna rivers.
• Sutlej Yamuna link canal is 214-km long freight canal that will create important
commercial links to India.
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• The Sutlej Yamuna waterway is 90 percent completed but the remaining 10 are still
remaining.
Western Yamuna Canal
• Western Yamuna Canal was originally built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1335 AD. It
was renovated and restructured during the British period in the year 1817.
• The length of the main canal is 86 Km and the total length including branches is 325
Km.
• This canal originates from the Hathnikund barrage near Dakpathar, Dehradun of
Uttarakhand state.
• Tajewala barrage of Yamunanagar district, Haryana regulates and controls the flow of
water to Western Yamuna Canal.
• Pathrala barrage, Somb river dam is constructed on this canal to harvest the water
efficiently.
• Sirsa branch is one of the largest branches of this canal which was built in 1895.
One of the branches of this canal feeds the Agra Canal near Okhla.
• This canal and its branches irrigate the vast expense of Punjab and Haryana namely
cities like Ambala, Karnal, Rohtak, Jind, Hissar, etc.
Sharda Canal
• The Sharda Canal is the longest canal in Uttar Pradesh along with its several
branches it forms a network of canals.
• Sharda Canal is located in the Pilibhit district and has a total length of 938 Km
including all branches.
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Narmada Canal
• Narmada canal is a major canal in the western part of India. The origin of this canal
is Sardar Sarovar Dam, Navgam in Gujarat.
• It runs for 460 Kms in Gujarat and then 74 Kms in Rajasthan making a total length of
534 Km. It is mainly an irrigation-type canal and irrigates an area of 52,60,000 acres
of western India. The width of this canal is 73 meters and the depth is 7.6 meters.
• This canal has transformed the arid lands of the Gujarat Kutch region and adjacent
dry areas of the Jalore and Barmer districts of Rajasthan.
Kakatiya Canal
• Kakatiya canal is an important canal of Telangana state. The origin of this canal is
Sriram Sagar Reservoir (Dam) and it discharges/ empties into Lower Manair Dam.
• This canal irrigates and provides drinking water to many cities of North Telangana
including Nizamabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, and Khamman.
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• The total length of this canal is 284 Km and its average flow rate is 275 cubic meters
per second.
Agra Canal
• Agra canal originates from Okla barrage, 18 Km south of Delhi. Its construction was
completed in the year 1928.
• It draws water from the right bank of the Yamuna river.
• Agra canal is responsible for the irrigation of nearly 1.5 lakh hectares of cultivated
land of Agra, Mathura, Faridabad, Bharatpur.
Handri Neeva Canal Project
• This canal project is one of the longest canals of the Rayalseema (South Andhra
Pradesh) region. The length of this canal is 569 Km.
• This canal originates from Srisailam reservoir and runs through four districts
namely Anantpur Chittoor, Kadapa and Kurnool.
• This canal is a multi-utility canal that is meant for irrigation, supplying drinking water,
and removal of excess floodwater from srisailam reservoir.
• This canal originates from Srisailam reservoir and along with its course links a
number of rivers of Rayalseema region like Penna, Chitravati, Mandavya, Papagni, etc,
and feeds numerous reservoirs along its course.
• Handri Neeva canal project started in the year 2005.
Sirhind canal
• Sirhind canal is basically an irrigation-type canal. This canal originates from the
Sutlej river near Ropar city, Rupnagar district of Punjab.
• The construction of this canal was completed in the year 1882. This canal is meant
for irrigation of most of the Malwa region of Punjab.
Soundane Cut
• Soundane Cut is the name of the canal that originates from the Ujani dam.
• This dam is located at Ujani, Madha Taluka, Solapur district of Maharashtra.
• It draws water from the Bhima river.
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Ramsar Sites in India
Wetland
A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by water, either permanently or
seasonally, where oxygen-free processes prevail. The primary factor that distinguishes
wetlands from other landforms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic
plants, adapted to the unique hydric soil.
The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands. It includes all lakes and rivers,
underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatland, oases, estuaries,
deltas, and tidal flats, mangroves, and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made
sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs, and salt pans.
Significance of Wetlands
• Wetlands are a critical part of our natural environment. They mitigate floods, protect
coastlines and build community resilience to disasters, reduce the impacts of
floods, absorb pollutants and improve water quality.
• Wetlands are critical to human and planet life. More than 1 billion people depend on
them for a living and 40% of the world’s species live and breed in wetlands.
• They are a vital source for food, raw materials, genetic resources for
medicines, and hydropower.
• 30% of land-based carbon is stored in peatland.
• They play an important role in transport, tourism, and the cultural and spiritual
well-being of people.
• Many wetlands are areas of natural beauty and many are important to Aboriginal
people.
Threats
• As per the IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and

Ecosystem Services)’s global assessment wetlands are the most threatened
ecosystem.
• Wetlands are disappearing 3 times faster than forests due to human activities and
global warming.
• According to UNESCO, the threat to wetlands will have an adverse impact on 40% of
the world’s flora and fauna that live or breed in wetlands.
• Major threats: Agriculture, development, pollution, and climate change.
IPBES
• IPBES is an independent intergovernmental body established to strengthen

the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for
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the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being,
and sustainable development.
• It was established in Panama City (US), in April 2012.
• It is not a United Nations body.
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The term was coined when the International Treaty for the Conservation and Sustainable
use of Wetlands was signed at a city of Iran called Ramsar in 1971.
It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands.
Ramsar Convention is a convention on wetlands that was signed in 1971 in the Iranian
city of Ramsar. The negotiations for the convention started in the 1960s by the different
countries and NGOs for the protection of wetland habitats of migratory waterbirds. Finally,
it came into force in 1975.
February 2 is celebrated as International Wetlands Day as the Ramsar Convention was

signed on February 2, 1971.
The Ramsar Convention works with the collaboration of the following organizations:
1. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

2. Birdlife International.
3. International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
4. Wetlands International.
5. Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
6. WWF International
Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to:
1. work towards the wise use of all their wetlands;

2. designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the
“Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management;
3. cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems,
and shared species.
Ramsar Sites
Any Wetland site which has been listed under the Ramsar Convention that aims to
conserve it and promote sustainable use of its natural resources is called a Ramsar Site.
At the time of joining the Convention, each Contracting Party undertakes to designate at
least one wetland site for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance.
The inclusion of a “Ramsar Site” in the List embodies the government’s commitment to
take the steps necessary to ensure that its ecological character is maintained.
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The Ramsar sites are maintained in Montreux Record to track any major ecological
changes that might affect any of the wetland sites positively or in a reverse way.
• The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Ramsar wetlands of
international importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are
occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution,
or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
• At present, two wetlands of India are in Montreux Record:
• Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and
• Loktak Lake (Manipur).
• Note: Chilka Lake (Odisha) was placed in the record but was later removed from it.
There are currently over 2,400 Ramsar Sites on the territories of 171 Ramsar Contracting
Parties across the world. They cover over 2.5 million square kilometers, an area larger than
Mexico.
• India is a party to the Ramsar Convention. India signed under it on 1st February 1982.
• Sundarbans is the largest Ramsar Site of India.
• Chilika Lake (Orissa) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were recognized as the
first Ramsar Sites of India.
• Renuka Wetland (Area – 20 ha) in Himachal Pradesh is the smallest wetland of
India.
• World’s First Ramsar site was identified in 1974, which was the Cobourg Peninsula in
Australia.
Ramsar Sites in India

• The Ramsar convention entered into force in India on 1 February 1982.
• All wetlands, irrespective of their location, size, ownership, biodiversity, or
ecosystem services values, can be notified under the Wetlands Rules
2017, except river channels, paddy fields, human-made waterbodies specifically
constructed for drinking water, aquaculture, salt production, recreation, irrigation
purposes, wetlands falling within areas covered under the Indian Forest Act, 1927,
Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Coastal
Regulation Zone Notification, 2011.
• India has over 7 lakh wetlands, covering 4.5% of the country’s area, yet none of the
wetlands has been notified under domestic laws.
• Wetlands are regulated under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management)
Rules, 2017.
As of August 2022, there are 75 Ramsar Sites in India.
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List of Ramsar sites in India
S.No. Ramsar Sites in India State – Location
1 Ashtamudi Wetland Kerala
2 Beas Conservation Reserve Punjab
3 Bhitarkanika Mangroves Odisha
4 Bhoj Wetlands Madhya Pradesh
5 Chandra Taal Himachal Pradesh
6 Chilika Lake Odisha
7 Deepor Beel Assam
8 East Kolkata Wetlands West Bengal
9 Harike Wetlands Punjab
10 Hokera Wetland Jammu & Kashmir
11 Kanjli Wetland Punjab
12 Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan
13 Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve Punjab
14 Kolleru lake Andhra Pradesh
15 Loktak lake Manipur
16 Nalsarovar Bird sanctuary Gujarat
17 Nandur Madhameshwar Maharashtra
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18 Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary Punjab
19 Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
20 Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
21 Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
22 Pong Dam lake Himachal Pradesh
23 Renuka lake Himachal Pradesh
24 Ropar Wetland Punjab
25 Rudrasagar Lake Tripura
26 Saman Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
27 Samaspur Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
28 Sambhar lake Rajasthan
29 Sandi Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
30 Sarsai Nawar Jheel Uttar Pradesh
31 Sasthamkotta lake Kerala
32 Surinsar-Mansar lakes Jammu & Kashmir
33 Tsomoriri Ladakh
34 Upper Ganga river Uttar Pradesh
35 Vembanad Kol Wetland Kerala
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36 Wular lake Jammu & Kashmir
37 Sunderban Wetland West Bengal
38 Asan Barrage (Asan Conservation Reserve) Uttarakhand
Kanwar Taal or Kabartaal Lake (Kabartal

39 Bihar, Begusarai
Wetland)
40 Sur Sarovar Lake Uttar Pradesh, Agra district
Maharashtra, Buldhana
41 Lonar Lake
district
42 Tso Kar Wetland Complex Ladakh, Leh district
43 Sultanpur National Park Gurugram, Haryana
44 Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary Jhajjar, Haryana
45 Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary Mehsana, Gujarat
46 Wadhwana Wetland Vadodara, Gujarat
47 Haiderpur Wetland Uttar Pradesh
48 Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary Gujarat
49 Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
50 Karikili Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
51 Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest Tamil Nadu
52 Pichavaram Mangrove Tamil Nadu
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53 Sakhya Sagar Madhya Pradesh
54 Pala Wetland in Mizoram Mizoram
55 Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
56 Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu
57 Vembannur Wetland Complex Tamil Nadu
58 Vellode Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
59 Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
60 Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
61 Satkosia Gorge Odisha
62 Nanda Lake Goa
63 Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary Karnataka
64 Sirpur Wetland Madhya Pradesh
65 Tampara Lake Odisha
66 Hirakud Reservoir Odisha
67 Ansupa Lake Odisha
68 Yashwant Sagar Madhya Pradesh
69 Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
70 Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex Tamil Nadu
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71 Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
72 Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
73 Thane Creek Maharashtra
74 Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve Jammu and Kashmir
75 Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve Jammu and Kashmir
Ramsar sites in India with International importance
1. Ashtamudi Wetland
• It is a natural backwater in the Kollam district.

• River Kallada and Pallichal drain into it.
• It forms an estuary with Sea at Neendakara (a famous fishing harbor in Kerala).
• National Waterway 3 passes through it.
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2. Beas Conservation Reserve
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• It is a 185-kilometer stretch of the Beas River.
• The stretch is dotted with islands, sand bars, and braided channels.
• The Reserve hosts the only known population in India of the endangered Indus river
dolphin.
• In 2017, a program was initiated to re-introduce the critically endangered gharial.
3. Bhitarkanika Mangroves
• It is part of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and designated as Ramsar Wetland of

International Importance in 2002.
• Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary is adjacent to the Bhitarkanika Wildlife
Sanctuary.
• It is famous for its saltwater crocodiles and Olive ridley sea turtle.
• The core area of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary was declared Bhitarkanika National
Park.
• Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary includes Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Bhitarkanikais located in the estuary of Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra& Mahanadi
river systems.
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4. Bhoj Wetland
• The Wetland consists of two lakes located in the city of Bhopal.

• The two lakes are the Bhojtal and the Lower Lake.
• It is a humanmade reservoir.
• The largest bird of India, the sarus crane is found here.
5. Chandra Taal
• It is a high-altitude lake. Tso Chikgma or Chandra Taal (meaning the Lake of the
Moon), or Chandra Tal is a lake in the Lahaul part of the Lahul and Spiti district of
Himachal Pradesh.
• Chandra Taal is near the source of the Chandra River (a source river of the Chenab).
• It supports IUCN Red-listed Snow Leopard.
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• Migratory species such as the Ruddy shelduck are found in summer.
6. Chilika Lake
• It is a brackish water lagoon at the mouth of the Daya River.

• It is the largest coastal lagoon in India.
• Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea, and other remote parts of
Central Asia, Ladakh, and the Himalayas come here.
• In 1981, Chilika Lake has designated the first Indian wetland of international
importance under the Ramsar Convention.
• Nalbana Bird Sanctuary is the core area of the Ramsar designated wetlands of
Chilika Lake.
• The Irrawaddy dolphin (critically endangered) is the flagship species of Chilika lake.
• Chilka is home to the only known population of Irrawaddy dolphins in India.
• Chilika Lake is claimed to have 20% of India’s seagrass distribution, which plays a
vital role in oxygen production and absorption of carbon dioxide and acts as a
purifier in aquatic ecology.
7. Deepor Beel
• A permanent freshwater lake in a former channel of the Brahmaputra river.

• It is a few kilometers to the left of Guwahati whereas Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is
around 35 km to the right.
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8. East Kolkata Wetlands
• It is multiple use wetland that serves the city of Kolkata.
9. Harike Wetland
• It is a shallow water reservoir at the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers.
• It is an important site for breeding, wintering, and staging birds, supporting over
200,000 Anatidae (ducks, geese, swans, etc.) during migration.
• The Punjab government has planned to introduce amphibious vehicles which can
run both on water and land at Harike wetlands.
• Reintroduction of wild gharials in the Beas river area of Harike wetlands.
10. Hokera Wetland
• It is only 10 km from Srinagar.

• It is a natural perennial wetland contiguous to the Jhelum basin.
11. Kanjli Wetland
• Kanjli Wetland, a man-made Wetland, which subsumes the Kanjli Lake, located in
the Kapurthala district of Punjab was created by constructing the headworks across
the perennial Bien River, a tributary of the Beas River to provide irrigation facilities
to the hinterland.
• The stream is considered to be the most significant in the state from the religious
point of view, as it is associated with the first guru of the Sikhs, Shri Guru Nanak.
12. Keoladeo National Park
• Formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

• A complex of ten artificial, seasonal lagoons, varying in size.
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• Vegetation is a mosaic of scrub and open grassland that
provides habitat for breeding, wintering, and staging migratory birds.
• The invasive growth of the grass Paspalum distichum has changed the ecological
character of large areas of the site, reducing its suitability for certain waterbird
species, notably the Siberian crane.
• It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
13. Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve
• The Site is an example of wise use of a community-managed wetland, which

provides food for people and supports local biodiversity.
• Threatened species present include the vulnerable common pochard and
the endangered spotted pond turtle.
14. Kolleru Lake
• A naturaleutrophic lake situated between the river basins of the Godavari and
the Krishnain Andhra Pradesh.
• The lake serves as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for the two rivers.
• It was previously a lagoon, but now it is several kilometers inland due to the
coastline of emergence and delta formation.
• It was notified as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1999 under India’s Wild Life Protection
Act,1972.
• It was declared a wetland of international importance in 2002 under the Ramsar
convention.
The Atapaka Bird Sanctuary at Kolleru Lake has become a safe breeding ground for two
migratory species namely, Grey Pelicans and Painted Storks.
• The present water level in Kolleru Lake, including Atapaka Sanctuary, is posing a
slight challenge for the birds to hunt their prey in the deep waters.
• Grey Pelican and Painted Stork both are near-threatened species under the IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species.
Eutrophic water body
• The eutrophic waterbody, commonly a lake or pond, has high biological

productivity.
• Due to excessive nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, these water bodies
are able to support an abundance of aquatic plants.
• Usually, the water body will be dominated either by aquatic plants or algae.
When aquatic plants dominate, the water tends to be clear. When algae dominate,
the water tends to be darker.
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15. Loktak Lake
• Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the north-eastern region of the country.
• Keibul Lamjao the only floating national park in the world floats over it.
16. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary
• A natural freshwater lake (a relict sea) that is the largest natural wetland in the Thar
Desert.
• The wetland is a lifeline for a satellite population of the endangered Indian Wild Ass.
17. Nandur Madhameshwar
• Construction of the Nandur Madhameshwar Weir at the confluence of the Godavari

and Kadwa Rivers helped create a thriving wetland.
18. Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary
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• Located in the Shiwalik foothills of Punjab.
• It supports abundant flora and fauna including threatened species, such as the
endangered Indian pangolin and Egyptian vulture.
• It occupies a human-made reservoir constructed as part of the Bhakra-
Nangal Project in 1961.
• The site is of historic importance as the Indian and Chinese Prime Ministers
formalized the “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence” there in 1954.
19. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary
• It was renamed as Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary in 2015.
20. Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary
• It is a permanent freshwater environment consisting of two oxbow lakes.

• The Sanctuary is a refuge for some of India’s threatened vulture species: the critically
endangered white-rumped vulture and Indian vulture.
21. Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary
• One of the last remnants of Dry Evergreen Forests.

• Habitat: Dry Evergreen Forests, Mangrove & Wetlands.
22. Pong Dam Lake
• It is also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar.

• Pong Dam Lake is a water storage reservoir created in 1975 on the Beas River in the
low foothills of the Himalaya on the northern edge of the Indo-Gangetic plain.
• The avian habitats formed by the creation of the Pong Dam assume great
significance – given the site’s location on the trans-Himalayan flyway, more
than 220 bird species have been identified, with 54 species of waterfowl.
• Fauna: Barking deer, sambar, wild boars, nilgai, leopards, and oriental small-
clawed otters.
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23. Renuka Lake
• A natural wetland with freshwater springs and inland subterranean karst

formations.
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24. Ropar Wetland
• A human-made wetland of lake and river formed by the construction of a barrage

for diversion of water from the Sutlej River.
25. Rudrasagar Lake
• It is a reservoir fed by three perennial streams discharging to the River Gomti.

• It is an ideal habitat for IUCN Red-listed Three-striped Roof Turtle.
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26. Saman Bird Sanctuary
• It is a seasonal oxbow lake on the Ganges floodplain.
27. Samaspur Bird Sanctuary
• It is a perennial lowland marsh typical of the Indo-Gangetic Plains.

• The Sanctuary harbours threatened species such as the endangered Egyptian
vulture.
28. Sambhar Lake
• The Sambhar Salt Lake is India’s largest inland saltwater lake.

• It is a key wintering area for tens of thousands of flamingos.
29. Sandi Bird Sanctuary
• The wetland is typical of the Indo-Gangetic plains.
30. Sarsai Nawar Jheel
• It is a permanent marsh.
• It is an example of co-habitation of humans and wildlife.
• The site’s name is derived from the large non-migratory sarus crane.
31. Sasthamkotta Lake
• It is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala, situated in Kollam district.

• River Kallada had a unique replenishing system through a bar of paddy field.
• The lake is now depleting due to destruction of replenishing mechanism.
32. Sundarban Wetland
• Sundarban Wetland is located within the largest mangrove forest in the world.
• It is the largest Ramsar Site in India.
• The Indian Sundarban, covering the south-westernmost part of the delta, constitutes
over 60% of the country’s total mangrove forest area and includes 90% of Indian
mangrove species.
33. Surinsar-Mansar Lakes
• Freshwater composite lake in semi-arid Panjab Plains, adjoining the Jhelum Basin.
34. Tsomoriri (Tso Moriri)
• Tso Moriri or Lake Moriri or “Mountain Lake”, is a lake in the Changthang

Plateau (literally: northern plains) in Ladakh
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• Changpa Tribes or Champa are semi-nomadic Tibetan people found mainly in
the Changtang in Ladakh and in Jammu and Kashmir.
• A freshwater to brackish lake lying at 4,595m above sea level.
• The site is said to represent the only breeding ground outside of China for one of the
most endangered cranes, the Black-necked crane, and the only breeding ground
for Bar-headed geese in India.
• The Great Tibetan Sheep or Argali and Tibetan Wild Ass are endemic to the region.
• With no outflow, evaporation in the arid steppe conditions causes varying levels of
salinity.
35. Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch)
• The river provides habitat for IUCN Red listed Ganges River
Dolphin and Gharial Crocodile.
36. Vembanad-Kol Wetland
• The largest lake of Kerala, spanning across Alappuzha, Kottayam,

and Ernakulam districts.
• It is the second-largest Ramsar Site in India after Sundarbans.
• It is also the longest lake in India.
• It is below sea level and is famous for exotic fish varieties and Paddy fields that are
below sea level.
• The ‘Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary’ is located on the east coast of the lake.
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37. Wular Lake
• It is the largest freshwater lake in India.

• The lake basin was formed as a result of tectonic activity and is fed by the Jhelum
River.
• The Tulbul Project is a “navigation lock-cum-control structure” at the mouth of Wular
Lake.
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38. Asan Conservation Reserve
• ACR is a 444-hectare stretch of the Asan River running down to its confluence with
theYamuna River in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. It is Uttarakhand’s first
Ramsar Site.
• The damming of the River by the Asan Barrage in 1967 resulted in siltation
above the dam wall, which helped to create some of the Site’s bird-friendly
habitats.
• These habitats support 330 species of birds including the critically endangered
red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), white-rumped vulture (Gyps
bengalensis), and Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri).
• Other non-avian species present include 49 fish species, one of these being
the endangered Putitora mahseer (Tor putitora). Fish use the site for feeding,
migration, and spawning.
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39. Kabartal Wetland
• Also known as Kanwar Jheel, it covers 2,620 hectares of the Indo-Gangetic plains in
the Begusarai district of Bihar.
• It acts as a vital flood buffer for the region besides providing livelihood opportunities
to local communities.
• Significant biodiversity is present, with 165 plant species and 394 animal species
recorded, including 221 bird species. It is also a valuable site for fish
biodiversity with over 50 species documented.
• It is an important stopover along the Central Asian Flyway, with 58 migratory
waterbirds using it to rest and refuel.
• Five critically endangered species inhabit the site, including three vultures –
the red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), white-rumped vulture (Gyps
bengalensis) and Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) – and two waterbirds, the sociable
lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) and Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri).
• Major threats to the Site include water management activities such as drainage,
water abstraction, damming and canalization.
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40. Soor Sarovar Lake
• It is also known as Keetham lake situated within the Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary,
which was declared as a bird sanctuary in the year 1991.
• Location:
• This lake is situated alongside the river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
• The Soor Sarovar bird sanctuary covered an area of 7.97 sq km.
• It is today home to more than 165 species of migratory and resident birds.
• It also has a Bear Rescue center for rescued dancing bears.
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41. Lonar Lake
• The Lonar lake, situated in the Deccan Plateau’s volcanic basalt rock, was created by
the impact of a meteor 35,000 to 50,000 years ago.
• The lake is part of Lonar Wildlife Sanctuary which falls under the unified
control of the Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR).
• It is also known as a Lonar crater and is a notified National Geo-heritage Monument.
Geo-heritage refers to the geological features which are inherently or culturally
significant offering insight to earth’s evolution or history to earth science or that can
be utilized for education.
• It is the second Ramsar site in Maharashtra after Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird
Sanctuary in the Nashik district.
• The water in the lake is highly saline and alkaline, containing special
microorganisms like anaerobes, Cyanobacteria, and phytoplankton.
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42. Tso Kar Wetland Complex (Tso Kar Lake)
• Ladakh’s Tso Kar Wetland Complex has been recognized as a wetland of

international importance, becoming India’s 42nd Ramsar site. This is the second
Ramsar site in the Union Territory of Ladakh. It is a high-altitude wetland complex,
found at more than 4,500 meters above sea level in the Changthang region of
Ladakh.
• The Tso Kar Basin is a high-altitude wetland complex, which comprises two
principal waterbodies– Startsapuk Tso and Tso Kar Lake situated in Ladakh’s
Changthang region.
• Startsapuk Tso is a freshwater lake and Tso Kar is a hypersaline lake.
• The TSO Kar name means white lake and it was given because of the white salt
efflorescence found on the margins of the wetlands due to the evaporation of highly
saline water.
• The TSO Kar basin is categorized as A1 Category Important Bird Area (IBA) as per
BirdLife International and is also a key staging site in the Central Asian Flyway.
• The basin is one of the most important breeding areas of the Black-necked Crane
(Grus nigricollis) in India.
• It is also a major breeding area for the Bar-headed Geese (Anserindicus), Great
Crested Grebe (Podicepscristatus), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadornaferruginea), Lesser Sand-
Plover (Charadriusmongolus) and Brown-headed Gull (Larusbrunnicephalus), and
many other species.
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Based on the criteria, the Global Important Bird Areas are classified as follows:
• A1 Category: Globally Threatened Species. The sites under this category hold bird
population that is categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable by
the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• A2 Category: Restricted Range species
• A3: Biome Restricted Species
• A4: Congregations
43. Sultanpur National Park, Haryana
• Sultanpur National Park (formerly Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary) is located at Sultanpur

village on Gurugram-Jhajjar highway, 15 km from Gurugram, Haryana, and 50 km
from Delhi in India.
• More than 10 globally threatened, including the critically endangered sociable
lapwing, and the endangered Egyptian Vulture, Saker Falcon, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, and
Black-bellied Tern birds are found here.
• It is essentially a bird watcher’s paradise.
44. Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary
• It is a human-made freshwater wetland, located in Jhajjar district, Haryana.

• It is an important part of the ecological corridor along the route of Sahibi
River which traverses from Aravalli hills in Rajasthan to the Yamuna.
• It shares its border with Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary (Haryana).
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45. Thol Lake
• It is located in the Mehsana district of Gujarat. It is a shallow freshwater

reservoir and a predominantly open water area. It is a man-made wetland.
• It lies on the Central Asian Flyway and more than 320 bird species can be found
here.
• The wetland supports more than 30 threatened waterbird species, such as the
critically endangered White-rumped Vulture and Sociable Lapwing, and the
vulnerable Sarus Crane, Common Pochard, and Lesser White-fronted Goose.
46. Wadhvana Wetland
• It is located in Dabhoi Tehsil (Taluka), Vadodara district, Gujarat.

• River Orsang (which joins with the Narmada River at Chandod) flows into the lake.
• The red-crested pochard (Netta rufina), a duck that is otherwise rare in Western
India, is regularly recorded here during winter.
• It is internationally important for its birdlife as it provides wintering ground to
migratory waterbirds, including over 80 species that migrate on the Central Asian
Flyway.
47. Haiderpur Wetland
• The Haiderpur Wetland is spread over an area of 6908 hectares on the

Muzaffarnagar-Bijnor border between the Ganges and the Solani River.
• It is a part of Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Haiderpur Wetland is a man-made lake, which was formed in 1984. The biodiversity
here attracts birds. Exotic birds reach here by crossing the hills of Mongolia.
• Also there are many species of dolphins, turtles, alligators, crocodiles, butterflies and
deer etc. There are over 30 plant species and over 300 bird species, as well as over 40
fish species and over 102 waterfowl species.
48. Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary
• Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary (KBS) is a unique wetland ecosystem located in Jamnagar

district on the southern coast of the Gulf of Kutch, of Gujarat state.
• Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary (KBS) is one of the Important Bird Area (IBA) from Gujarat
state.
• Khijadiya Wildlife Sanctuary joins with Marine National Park on one side and on
the other Dhunvav river empties fresh water in it.
• The sanctuary is having a unique habitat with fresh water on one side and salt pans
on another side.
• Also, on the northern side is a large creek that flows from the Gulf of Kutch. This
supports mangroves and marine diversity.
• There are two freshwater lakes (reclamation dam) located in the Sanctuary.
• Many migratory birds stop here during the winter.
• This sanctuary provides a nesting and breeding ground for migratory birds.
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• The sanctuary is located at the watershed of Ruparel and Kalindri river at the
North East coastal region of Jamnagar district in the Gulf of Kutch.
49. Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary
• The Bakhira Bird Sanctuary is the largest natural flood plain wetland of India in
Sant Kabir Nagar district of Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
• The sanctuary was established in 1980. It is situated 44 km west of Gorakhpur city.
• Bakhira bird sanctuary also known as Bakhira Tal, located to the west of the Rapti
riverbank, is a shallow-water, river-connecting wetland.
• Bakhira Tal (wetland) is the largest natural wetland of Eastern U.P. It is a perennial
wetland, where the source of water is natural rain and the Ami River, a tributary of
the Rapti River.
• Apart from birds, the Sanctuary has a variety of trees, shrubs, hydrophytes.
• About 40,000 birds belonging to about 30 species have been recorded during
winters.
• It is a vast stretch of water body expanding over an area of 29 sq. km.
• The landscape and terrain of the wetland is almost flat, representing a typical ‘Terai’
landscape.
• The sanctuary is named after the village Bakhira located adjacent to the lake.
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50. Karikili Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
• The sanctuary is spread over a five-kilometer-wide belt and is home to cormorants,

egrets, grey heron, open-billed stork, darter, spoonbill, white lbis, night herons,
grebes, grey pelican among others.
51. Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest (Tamil Nadu)
• One of the last remaining natural wetlands, the marsh drains in an area of 250
square kilometres encompassing 65 wetlands.
• The Pallikaranai Marsh is one of the few natural coastal aquatic habitats that
qualify as a wetland in India.
52. Pichavaram Mangrove (Tamil Nadu)
• One of the last mangrove forests in the country.

• It has an island of a vast expanse of water covered with mangrove forests.
53. Sakhya Sagar (Madhya Pradesh)
• Created from the Manier river in 1918, Sakhya Sagar is located near Madhav National
Park.
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54. Pala Wetland in Mizoram (Mizoram)
• It is home to a wide range of animals, birds, and reptiles.

• Its geographical location falls under the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot and is
therefore rich in animal and plant species.
• The lake is a major component of the Palak Wildlife Sanctuary and it supports the
major biodiversity of the sanctuary.
55. Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary
• It adjoins the tiny village of Koonthankulam in Nanguneri Taluk of Tirunelveli

district, Tamil Nadu.
• It is an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) on the Central Asian Flyway. This
is the largest reserve for breeding water birds in South India.
56. Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve
• The Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay forming part of the Laccadive Sea in the
Indian Ocean with an average depth of 5.8 m. It lies between the southeastern tip
of India and the west coast of Sri Lanka, in the Coromandel Coast region.
• Gulf of Mannar is one of the biologically richest coastal regions in all of the
mainland of India. It is the first Marine Biosphere Reserve in South and South East
Asia.
• In India, the Gulf of Mannar region in Tamil Nadu is one of the four major coral reef
areas and the others are Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat, Lakhsadweep and Andaman and
Nicobar islands.
• The Gulf of Mannar includes three distinct Coastal ecosystems. Those three
ecosystems are coral reef, seagrass bed, and mangroves (world’s richest region
from a marine biodiversity perspective), which is a storehouse of marine diversity of
global significance and is known for its unique biological wealth.
57. Vembannur Wetland Complex
• Vembannur Wetland Complex is a man-made inland tank which forms the

southernmost tip of peninsular India.
• This wetland forms part of the Important Bird and Biodiversity Area and hence part
of the BirdLife International Data Zone.
58. Vellode Bird Sanctuary
• Vellode Birds Sanctuary is an 80 ha sanctuary located in the Erode District in the

state of Tamil Nadu.
• This human-made tank is an ideal habitat for birds, due to the abundant food
resources it provides from neighbouring agricultural fields, and other aquatic
organisms.
59. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

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• Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is a 30-hectare protected area located in the
Madurantakam taluk of the Chengalpattu District in the state of Tamil Nadu.
• The sanctuary is about 75 kilometers from Chennai on National Highway 45.
• Vedanthangal is home to migratory birds such as pintail, garganey, grey wagtail,
blue-winged teal, common sandpiper, and the like.
• Vedanthangal is the oldest water bird sanctuary in the country.
• Vedanthangal in Tamil language means ‘hamlet of the hunter’.
60. Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary
• Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary is a protected area in Tiruvarur District, Tamil

Nadu.
• A notable aspect of the sanctuary is a large number of purple moorhen and openbill
storks during February and March.
• The Sanctuary consists of human-made irrigation tanks, interconnected by an
ancient network of canals and fed by the Mettur dam through the Koraiyar canal.
61. Satkosia Gorge (Odisha)
• Satkosia Gorge is a gorge in eastern Odisha, carved by the Mahanadi River.

• The gorge is located within the Satkosia Tiger Reserve which is a United Nations
Protected area.
62. Nanda Lake (Goa)
• Nanda Lake comprises intermittent freshwater marshes that lie adjacent to one of
the major tributaries of the Zuari River.
• They are linked to the adjacent river channel by a sluice gate, which when closed
enables the flooding of the marshes.
• This wetland supports a wide variety of migratory waterbirds and many other
important plants and animals.
• Notable bird species include black-headed ibis, common kingfisher, wire-tailed
swallow, bronze-winged jacana, brahminy kite, intermediate egret, little
cormorant, and lesser whistling duck.
• The Site enables local communities to store water during the off-monsoon season, to
cultivate rice paddies downstream of the lake, and support fishing and recreation.
The lake also protects downstream areas from monsoon floods.
• Threats include invasive non-native species, garbage, and solid waste, overfishing,
and harvesting of aquatic resources.
63. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary(Karnataka)
• Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary is a part of the Kaveri River on the Southern Deccan
Plateau.
• This region comprises gently rolling plains traversed by several of the large rivers that
rise in the Western Ghats mountain range and flow eastward to the Bay of Bengal.
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• The Site is an ecologically important riverine wetland, rich in plant and animal
species.
• It supports healthy populations of mugger crocodile, smooth-coated otter, and
hump-backed mahseer.
• The Site also supports over 1% of the global population of a painted stork, spot-billed
pelican, and black-headed ibis and as such it is classified as an Important Bird and
Biodiversity Area (IBA).
• The Site is classified as an Eco-Sensitive Zone and a management plan is currently
being implemented to safeguard its ecological integrity as well as the ecosystem
services provided to the local communities.
64. Sirpur Wetland (Madhya Pradesh)
• Sirpur Wetland is a human-made wetland that has stabilized and acquired near-
natural characteristics in the last two centuries.
• Sirpur Lake is located on Indore-Dhar Road in Indore.
• the Site is a shallow, alkaline, nutrient-rich lake that floods during the monsoon to a
maximum depth of two metres.
65. Tampara Lake
• Tampara Lake is among the most prominent freshwater lakes in the State of Odisha
situated in Ganjam district.
• The depression on the ground gradually filled with rainwater from catchment flow
and was called “Tamp” by the British and subsequently termed “Tampra” by the
locals.
• The wetland is an important habitat for vulnerable species such as Cyprinus carpio,
common pochard (Aythya ferina), and river tern (Sterna aurantia).
66. Hirakud Reservoir
• Hirakud Reservoir, the largest earthen dam in Odisha started operating in 1957.
• The reservoir is a source of water for producing around 300 MW of hydropower and
irrigating 436,000 ha of cultural command area.
• The wetland also provides important hydrological services by moderating floods in
the Mahanadi delta, the ecological and socio-economic hub of the east coast of
India.
67. Ansupa Lake
• Ansupa Lake is the largest freshwater lake of Odisha situated in Banki sub-division
of Cuttack district and has its fame from time immemorial for its scenic beauty,
biodiversity, and natural resources.
• The wetland is an oxbow lake formed by River Mahanadi and is spread over an area
of 231 ha.
• The wetland provides a safe habitat to at least three threatened bird species-
Rynchops albicollis (EN), Sterna acuticauda (EN) and Sterna aurantia (VU) and three
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threatened fish species- Clarias magur (Clariidae) (EN), Cyprinus carpio (Cyprinidae)
(VU) and Wallago attu (VU).
68. Yashwant Sagar
• Yashwant Sagar is one of the two Important Bird Areas (IBA) in the Indore region
as well as one of the most important birding sites in Malwa region of Madhya
Pradesh.
• Presently it is mainly used for water supply to the city of Indore and is also being used
for fish culture on a commercial scale.
• The catchment area of this wetland is predominantly agriculture.
• Yashwant Sagar is considered to be a stronghold of the vulnerable Sarus Crane in
central India. The lake backwaters have plenty of shallow areas, conducive for
waders and other waterfowl.
69. Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary
• Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary, locally known as “Chitrangudi Kanmoli” is located in

Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu.
• The wetland is a protected area since 1989 and declared as Bird Sanctuary, coming
under the jurisdiction of Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Ramanathapuram division.
• Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary is an ideal habitat for winter migratory
birds. Chitrangudi is surrounded by agricultural fields, where different crops are
grown throughout the year.
70. Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex
• Suchindrum Theroor Wetland complex is part of the Suchindrum-Theroor

Manakudi Conservation Reserve.
• It is declared an Important Bird Area and lies at the southern tip of the Central
Asian flyway of migratory birds. It was formed for birds’ nesting purposes and it
attracts thousands of birds every year.
• Copper plate inscriptions from the 9th century mention Pasumkulam,
Venchikulam, Nedumarthukulam, Perumkulam, Elemchikulam and Konadunkulam.
71. Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary
• Vaduvur bird sanctuary spreads over an area of 112.638 ha, is a large human-made
irrigation tank and shelter for migratory birds as it provides a suitable environment
for food, shelter, and breeding ground.
72. Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary
• Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary is a Protected area near Mudukulathur

Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu India, declared in 1989.
• It is notable as a nesting site for several migratory heron species that roost in the
prominent growth of babul trees there.
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• The breeding population of migratory waterbirds arrive here between October and
February and include: painted stork, white ibis, black ibis, little egret, great egret.
• The site qualifies as an IBA as the threatened Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus
philippensis breeds here.
• The wetland exhibits rich biodiversity including many globally near-threatened
species like Spot-billed Pelican, Oriental Darter, Oriental white Ibis and Painted Stork
and also commonly occurring shore and water birds like greenshank, plovers, stilts
and forest birds like bee-eaters, bulbuls, cuckoos, starlings, barbets, etc.
• They act as breeding, nesting, roosting, foraging, and stopover sites for the birds.
• The wetland supports IUCN RedList vulnerable avian species like Sterna aurantia
(River Tern).
73. Thane Creek
• Thane Creek is located in Maharashtra, India.

• There are several sources of fresh water to the creek, of which Ulhas River is the
largest, followed by many drainage channels from various suburban areas of
Mumbai, Navi Mumbai & Thane.
• It has been declared as Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.
• Thane creek is fringed by mangroves on both banks & comprises around 20% of the
total Indian mangrove species.
• The area is an important part of the wetland complex of the Central Asian Flyway of
the birds and has been categorized as an Important Bird Area (IBA).
74. Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve
• Hygam Wetland falls within the River Jhelum basin and plays a significant role as a
flood absorption basin, biodiversity conservation site, eco-tourism site, and livelihood
security for the local communities.
• The wetland is located in the Baramulla district.
• It serves as an abode to many residents and migratory bird species. It is also
recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA).
• Consequent to the high rate of siltation, Hygam Wetland has lost its wetland
characteristics to a large extent and in many places changed its profile into a
landmass.
75. Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve
• Shallabug Wetland Conservation Reserve is located in the District Srinagar, UT of

J&K.
• Large areas of the wetland dry up between September and March.
• The area has extensive reedbeds of Phragmites communis and Typha angustata, and
rich growth of Nymphaea candida and N. stellata on open water.
• It serves as an abode to more than four lakh resident and migratory birds of at least
21 species.
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Biosphere Reserves in India
There are living organisms all around us and we must make a conscious effort to preserve
as well as conserve this biodiversity in our environment.
Simply put, Biosphere Reserves can be defined as widespread areas of bio-diversity

wherein fauna and flora are protected.
‘Biosphere’ refers to water, land, and atmosphere that supply life on our planet. The
word ‘reserve’ symbolizes that it is a special area designated for creating a balance
between conservation and sustainable use.
You must not misinterpret the word ‘reserve’ to be a place that is set aside from human use
and development. A biosphere reserve program also aims at studying human interaction
with a particular area.
Biosphere reserves are a great example of community-based initiatives aimed towards

the protection of our natural environment while also ensuring consistent healthy growth
of the local economy.
It can include one or more National Parks or sanctuaries. Protection is granted to all the
living organisms flourishing inside the boundaries of the reserve, including flora, fauna as
well as the human communities who inhabit those regions.
Biosphere Reserves
The biosphere reserve network was launched in 1971 by UNESCO, two years after the
initiation of MAB- Man and the biosphere program.
As per the law, these regions of environmental protection related to the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Category V Protected areas.
• Biosphere Reserve (BR) is an international designation by the United Nations

Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for representative parts
of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large areas of terrestrial or
coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination of both.
• Biosphere Reserves tries to balance economic and social development and
maintenance of associated cultural values along with the preservation of nature.
• Biosphere Reserves are thus special environments for both people and nature and
are living examples of how human beings and nature can co-exist while respecting
each others’ needs.
• Biosphere Reserve (BR) is not covered under any law.
The first biosphere reserve of the world was established in 1979. There are 701 Biosphere
reserves across 124 countries in the world which also include 21 transboundary sites.
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Criteria for Designation of Biosphere Reserve
• A site must contain a protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of
nature conservation.
• Core area must be a bio-geographical unit and should be large enough to sustain a
viable populations representing all trophic levels.
• The involvement of local communities and use of their knowledge in biodiversity
preservation.
• Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for
harmonious use of the environment.
Structure of Biosphere Reserve
• Core Areas:
• It is the most protected area of a biosphere reserve. It may contain endemic
plants and animals.
• They conserve the wild relatives of economic species and also
represent important genetic reservoirs having exceptional scientific interest.
• A core zone is a protected region, like a National Park or
Sanctuary/protected/regulated mostly under the Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972. It is kept free from human interference.
• Buffer Zone:
• The buffer zone surrounds the core zone and its activities are managed in this
area in the ways that help in the protection of the core zone in its natural
condition.
• It includes restoration, limited tourism, fishing, grazing, etc; which are
permitted to reduce its effect on the core zone.
• Research and educational activities are to be encouraged.
• Transition Zone:
• It is the outermost part of the biosphere reserve. It is the zone of
cooperation where human ventures and conservation are done in harmony.
• It includes settlements, croplands, managed forests, and areas for intensive
recreation and other economic uses characteristics of the region.
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Functions of Biosphere Reserve
• Conservation:
• Managing Biosphere Reserve’s genetic resources, endemic species, ecosystems,
and landscapes.
• It may prevent man-animal conflict eg. death of tiger Avni who was shot dead
when she turned man-eater
• Along with the wildlife, culture and customs of tribals are also protected
• Development:
• Promoting economic and human growth that is sustainable on a sociocultural
and ecological level. It seeks to strengthen the three pillars of sustainable
development: social, economic, and protection of the environment.
• Logistic support:
• Promoting research activities, environmental education, training, and
monitoring in the context of local, national, and international conservation and
sustainable development.
UNESCO Protected Biosphere Reserves

The World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) covers globally chosen protected areas.
It consists of a vibrant and interactive network of sites of distinction.
It promotes the harmonious assimilation of people and nature for sustainable

development in different ways. If one country declares one area as a biosphere reserve, it
can nominate the same under the UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme. If
UNESCO accepts the proposal of the government, the biosphere reserve will enter into
the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).
The UNESCO has introduced the designation ‘Biosphere Reserve’ for natural areas to
minimize conflict between development and conservation. Biosphere Reserves are
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nominated by the national government which meets a minimal set of criteria under
the Man and Biosphere Reserve Program of UNESCO.
Man and Biosphere Programme
• Launched in 1971, UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is an

intergovernmental scientific program that aims to establish a scientific basis for the
improvement of relationships between people and their environments.
• MAB combines natural and social sciences, economics, and education to improve
human livelihoods and the equitable sharing of benefits, and to safeguard natural
and managed ecosystems, thus promoting innovative approaches to economic
development that are socially and culturally appropriate, and environmentally
sustainable.
There are total 12 biosphere reserves of India which have been recognized
internationally under Man and Biosphere Reserve program:
• Nilgiri (First to be included)

• Gulf of Mannar
• Sunderban
• Nanda Devi
• Nokrek
• Pachmarhi
• Similipal
• Achanakmar – Amarkantak
• Great Nicobar
• Agasthyamala
• Khangchendzonga
• Panna National Park
YEAR NAME STATES
2001 Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve West Bengal
2009 Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Odisha
2009 Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve Madhya Pradesh
2009 Nokrek Biosphere Reserve Meghalaya
2000 Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu
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2004 Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve Uttarakhand
2001 Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu
2013 Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Great Nicobar
Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere
2012 Chhattisgarh
Reserve
2016 Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Part of North and West Sikkim

2018 Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve
districts
2020 Panna National Park Madhya Pradesh
Biosphere Reserves in India

Biosphere reserves are announced by the state or central governments by notification. The
Governments can nominate them under the UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB)
Programme after its establishment as a biosphere reserve.
There are 18 biosphere reserves in India:
1. Cold Desert, Himachal Pradesh

2. Nanda Devi, Uttrakhand
3. Khangchendzonga, Sikkim
4. Dehang-Debang, Arunachal Pradesh
5. Manas, Assam
6. Dibru-Saikhowa, Assam
7. Nokrek, Meghalaya
8. Panna, Madhya Pradesh (Smallest Area)
9. Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh
10. Achanakmar-Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh
11. Kachchh, Gujarat (Largest Area)
12. Similipal, Odisha
13. Sundarban, West Bengal
14. Seshachalam, Andhra Pradesh
15. Agasthyamalai, Tamil Nadu-Kerala
16. Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu-Kerala (First to be Included)
17. Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu
18. Great Nicobar, Andaman & Nicobar Island
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Biosphere Conservation
• A scheme called Biosphere Reserve is being implemented by the Government of
India since 1986, in which financial assistance is given in 90:10 ratio to the North
Eastern Region States and three Himalayan states and in the ratio of 60:40 to
other states for maintenance, improvement, and development of certain items.
• The State Government prepares the Management Action Plan which is approved
and monitored by the Central MAB Committee.
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1. Nilgiri
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 1986, Nilgiri falls within the state
boundaries of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, along the western ghats.
• The key fauna of the Nilgiris is the Lion-tailed Macaque and Nilgiri Tahr.
• It includes the Aralam, Mudumalai, Mukurthi, Nagarhole, Bandipur, and Silent
Valley national parks, as well as the Wayanad and Sathyamangalam wildlife
sanctuaries.
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2. Nanda Devi
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 1988, Nanda Devi falls within the state
boundaries of Uttarakhand, along the western Himalayas.
• Rishi Ganga river
• UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Himalayan Musk Deer, Mainland Serow, Himalayan Tahr
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3. Nokrek
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 1988, Nokrek falls within the state
boundaries of Meghalaya, along the eastern Himalayas.
• Garo Hills
• The key fauna of the Nokrek is the Red Panda.
• Other species – Hoolock Gibbon, Pig-tailed macaque, stump-tailed macaque,
Binturong, Clouded Leopard, Elephant, Leopard, Gaur
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4. The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 1989, Great Nicobar falls within the
boundaries of the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
• The key fauna of the Great Nicobar is the Saltwater crocodile.
• Galathea WS, Campbell Bay WS
• Nicobarese and Shompen tribe
5. Gulf Of Mannar
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 1989, the Gulf of Mannar falls within the
state boundaries of Tamil Nadu.
• The key fauna of this coast is the dugong(sea cow).
• Coral reefs
6. Sunderbans
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 1989, Sunderbans falls within the state
boundaries of West Bengal, along the Gangetic delta.
• The key fauna of the Sunderbans is the royal Bengal tiger.
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• Largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world.
• Sunderbans Delta is the only mangrove forest in the world inhabited by tigers.
• UNESCO World Heritage Site & and a Ramsar site (a wetland site designated to be
of international importance).
7. Manas
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 1989, Manas falls within the state
boundaries of Assam, along the eastern Himalayas.
• It is located in the Himalayan foothills in Assam. It is contiguous with the Royal
Manas National Park in Bhutan.
• The key fauna of Manas is the red panda and the golden langur.
• NP, TR, ER, BR, UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Manas river flows through the west of the park. Manas is a major tributary
of Brahmaputra river.
• Other species – Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur, pygmy hog
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8. Simlipal
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 1994, Simlipal falls within the state
boundaries of Odisha, along the Deccan peninsula.
• The key faunas are the royal Bengal tiger and wild tiger.
• Park is home to the Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, Gaur, and Chausingha.
• Waterfalls – Joranda and Barehipani Falls.
• Named after Semul tree, also called red silk cotton tree
• National Park, Elephant Reserve, Tiger Reserve
• It includes three protected areas Similipal Tiger Reserve, Hadgarh Wildlife
Sanctuary, Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Erenga Kharias and Mankirdias tribes
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red silk-cotton tree
9. Dibru-saikhowa
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 1997, Dibru-saikhowa falls within the
state boundaries of Assam, along the eastern Himalayas.
• Brahmaputra and Lohit rivers
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• The key fauna is the golden langur, Rare white-winged wood duck
• The forest type of Dibru-Saikhowa comprises semi-evergreen forests, deciduous
forests, littoral and swamp forests, and patches of wet evergreen forests.
• It is the largest swamp forest in north-eastern India.
• Dibru-Saikhowa National Park – It is an identified Important Bird Area
(IBA), notified by Birdlife International. It is most famous for the rare white-winged
wood ducks as well as feral horses.
• Maguri Motapung wetland is a part of the Reserve.
10. Dehang-dibang
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 1998, Dehang-dibang falls within the
state boundaries of Arunachal Pradesh, along the eastern Himalayas.
• Siang and Debang Valley
• Mishmi takin, Red goral, Musk deer, Red panda, Asiatic black bear
• 2 flying squirrel- 1. Mechuka Giant Flying Squirrel 2. Mishmi Hills Giant Flying Squirrel
• Mouling National Park
• Dibang Wildlife S.
• Mishmi Hills
11. Panchmarhi
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 1999, Panchmarhi falls within the state
boundaries of Madhya Pradesh.
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• The key fauna of Panchmarhi are the giant squirrel and the flying squirrel.
• Bori, Panchmarhi and Satpura National Park
12. Khangchendzonga
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 2000, Khangchendzonga falls within

the state boundaries of Sikkim, along the eastern Himalayas.
• The key fauna of this region is the red panda and the snow leopard.
• Zemu glacier
• Lepcha tribe
• Tholung monastery – located in the park’s buffer zone.
• India’s first “Mixed World Heritage Site” on UNESCO World Heritage List
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13. Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 2001, the Agasthyamalai biosphere

reserve falls within the state boundaries of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, along the western
ghats.
• The key fauna here are the elephants and the Nilgiri Tahr.
• Neyyar, Peppara, and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries and their adjoining areas in
Kerala.
• Shola Forest
• Kanikaran tribe
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14. Achanakamar -Amarkantak
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 2005, Achanakamar –Amarkantak falls

within the state boundaries of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh, along the Maikala
hills.
• Narmada, Johila and Son rivers emerge from Amarkantak Plateau
• The topography of the soil in the Amarkantak plateau is bauxite rocks.
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15. Great Rann of Kutch
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 2008, Great Rann of Kutch falls within
the state boundaries of Gujarat.
• The key fauna of this desert is the Indian Wild Ass.
• Luni, Rupen and Banas river end there
• Flamingo city is there famous for the Great Flamingo
• Indian wild ass is in Little Rann of Kutch
• Famous for Chir Batti, a strange dancing light phenomenon
• Banni Grassland is there which was thought for re-introduction of cheetah
• Chari-Dhand Wetland
• Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary
• Kutch Bustard Sanctuary
• 3 Indian bustard species– Great Indian Bustard, Greater Florican, Lesser Florican
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16. Cold Desert
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 2009, Cold Desert falls within the state
boundaries of Himachal Pradesh along the western Himalayas.
• The key fauna here is the snow leopard.
• Pin Valley National Park
• Chandratal Ramsar site
• Sarchu and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary
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17. Seshachalam Hills
• Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 2010, Seshachalam hills fall within the
state boundaries of Andhra Pradesh, along the eastern ghats.
• Tirumala hills, Malwadi Gundam waterfalls on Tirumala hills
• Famous for Slender Loris
• It has large reserves of red sandalwood which is used in medicines, soaps, spiritual
rituals.
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18. Panna
• It is situated in the Vindhya mountain range in the northern part of Madhya

Pradesh. Designated as a biosphere reserve in the year 2011. This is the only Tiger
Reserve in the Bundelkhand region.
• Ken River (one of the least polluted tributaries of the Yamuna River) flows through
the reserve and the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project will also be located in it.
• The region is also famous for Panna diamond mining.
• Panna Biosphere Reserve is the third in Madhya Pradesh to be included in
the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) after Pachmarhi and
Amarkantak.
• Panna National Park has also been declared as Panna Tiger Reserve, apart from this
the entire area of Panna National Park and 3 parts of Gangau Sanctuary have also
been notified as Critical Tiger Habitat Area.
• The key fauna here is the Sambhar and Sloth bear, Bengal tiger, Chinkara, and
Chital.
• The other 2 species of cats claim this region as their home; the Siyah Gosh (Felis
caracal) and Jungle cat (Felis chaus).
• The dominating vegetation type is Miscellaneous Dry Deciduous forest inter spread
with grassland areas.
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Difference between Biosphere Reserves, National Park and
WildLife Sanctuaries
1. Biosphere Reserve
The International Co-ordinating Council (ICC) of UNESCO’s designation of ‘Biosphere

reserve’ for natural areas became active in November 1971.
Features of Biosphere Reserve
• These are marked areas covering a larger area of land which includes multiple
National Parks, Sanctuaries, and reserves as well
• These places are meant for the conservation of biodiversity of a specific area
• The 3 areas include Core, Buffer & Marginal. There’s no outside Species
allowed.
• It is used for Conservation & research purpose.
• It is internationally recognized within the framework of UNESCO’s Man and
Biosphere (MAB) program and nominated by national governments.
2. Wildlife Sanctuary
It is a declared area place where endangered species are kept. It restricts any activity
that would put the protected animals in any state of undue stress or harm.
Features of Wildlife Sanctuary
• It is a natural area declared/protected by a governmental or private agency for

the conservation of particular species.
• It is strictly designated for the protection of wild fauna.
• Only fauna is conserved. No outside activities are allowed
• It comes under the category called “Protected Areas”. The Protected Areas are
declared under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has defined its
Category IV type of protected areas
3. National Park
National parks are home to multiple species of birds and animals which is marked by
Central And State Government for the purpose of conservation.
Features of National Park
• It is reserved land owned by the government.

• The area is protected from industrialization, human exploitation, and pollution.
• Cutting, Grazing, and Outside Species Is not Allowed
• It comes under the category called “Protected Areas”. The Protected Areas
are declared under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
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• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and its World
Commission on Protected Areas, has defined its Category II type of
protected areas.
Natural World Heritage Sites

1. Kaziranga National Park – Assam
2. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary – Assam
3. Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers – Uttarakhand
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4. Great Himalayan National Park – Himachal Pradesh
5. Sunderbans National Park – West Bengal
6. Western Ghats
7. Keoladeo Ghana National Park – Rajasthan
Potential sites
The following is a list of potential sites for Biosphere Reserves as selected by Ministry of
Forests and Environment:
• Abujmarh, Chhattisgarh
• Andaman and Nicobar, North Islands
• Chintapalli, Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh
• Kanha, Madhya Pradesh
• Kovalam, Kerala
• Lakshadweep Islands, Lakshadweep
• Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
• Phawngpui (Blue Mountain), Mizoram
• Namdapha, Arunachal Pradesh
• Singhbhum, Jharkhand
• Tawang and West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh
• Thar Desert, Rajasthan
• Tadoba National Park and Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Maharashtra
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National Parks in India
Important National Parks in India act as an apt place for preserving animals by providing
natural habitat and prey. Anthropogenic activities like developmental activities, industrial
activities, forestry, poaching, hunting, and cultivation are not permitted. The boundaries of
National Parks are well defined and no private activities are allowed inside the National
Park.
National Parks in India

A national park has more restrictions as compared to a wildlife sanctuary. Their
boundaries are fixed and defined.
Here, no human activity is allowed. They cannot be downgraded to the status of a

‘sanctuary’. National parks can be declared both by the Central Government and State
governments.
National parks in India are IUCN category II protected areas. India’s first national park was
established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, now known as Jim Corbett National
Park, Uttarakhand.
By 1970, India only had five national parks. In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife Protection
Act and Project Tiger to safeguard the habitats of conservation-reliant species.
As of June 2021, there were 106 national parks encompassing an area of

40,501.13 km2 (15,637.57 sq mi), under-protected areas of India category
II comprising 1.33% of India’s total surface area.
The Chief Wildlife Warden shall be the authority who shall control, manage, and maintain
all protected areas.
Declaration of the Protected Area by the State government:
• Initial notification: The State government may, by notification, declare its

intention to constitute any area within or outside any reserve forest as a
sanctuary/national park if it considers that such area is of adequate ecological,
faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural, or zoological significance, for the purpose of
protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment.
• Final notification: After the initial notification has been issued and the period for
preferring claims has elapsed, the State government may issue a notification
specifying the limits of the area which can be comprised within the sanctuary and
declare the said area shall be a sanctuary/national park from such date as may be
specified in the notification.
Declared by the Central government:

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• The Central Government may declare an area to be a sanctuary/national park if it is
satisfied that the area is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological,
natural, or zoological significance, for the purpose of protecting, propagating or
developing wildlife or its environment.
• Largest National Park of India: Hemis National Park, Ladakh

• Smallest National Park: South Button Island National Park, Andaman, and Nicobar
Island
• First Marine National Park: Gulf of Kutchh National Park
• Floating National Park: Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur
Protected Areas
In simplest terms, protected areas are regions or zones of land or sea which are given
certain levels of protection for conservation of biodiversity and socio-environmental
values. In these areas, human intervention and exploitation of resources are limited.
Protected Areas are the principal mechanism of conservation of biodiversity on Earth and
serve as the most important units for in-situ biodiversity conservation.
Protected Areas of India (As of June 2021)
No. Coverage % of Country
National Parks (NPs) 106 1.33
Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLSs) 566 3.72
Conservation Reserves (CRs) 97 0.14
Community Reserves 214 0.04
Protected Areas (PAs) 993 5.59 %
As of June 2021, there were 993 notified protected areas covering 5.59% of India’s land
area. This is far below Target 11 of the Aichi Targets – which states that by 2020, at least
17% of terrestrial and inland water areas should be conserved under Protected Areas.
There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection. Examples
include national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, marine protected areas, community reserves,
etc.
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In terms of protection, National Parks > Wildlife Sanctuary > Reserved forests > Protected
forests
Different IUCN categories of Protected areas
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), through its World Commission
on Protected Areas, has put forward six Protected Area Management Categories. The
categories are as follows:
• Category I a– Strict Nature Reserve: Protected areas managed mainly for science
and receives the least human intervention. E.g. Urwald Rothwald in Austria
• Category I b – Wilderness Area: Wilderness protection. E.g. wilderness areas in the
Sami native region in Finland
• Category II – National Park: ecosystem protection and recreation
• Category III – Natural Monument or Feature: Conservation of specific natural
features. E.g. cliffs, caves, forest groves. E.g. Cono de Arita in Argentina.
• Category IV – Habitat/Species Management Area: Conservation of specific species
that require protection.
• Category V – Protected Landscape/Seascape: Conservation of entire area. It permits
the surrounding community to interact. Example: Great Barrier Reef in Australia
• Category VI – Protected Area with sustainable use of natural
resources: Conservation of ecosystem and habitats together with associated cultural
values and traditional natural resource management systems.
• Forests and wildlife are included in the Concurrent List of the Indian Constitution.
Therefore, the Union government makes the policies and plans for Wildlife
Conservation. On the other hand, the State Forest Departments are the ones
implanting those national policies and plans at the state level.
• National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) puts forward a policy framework for wildlife
conservation in India. The Board was constituted under Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972. It is chaired by the Prime Minister.
• National Board for Wildlife:
• It is a “Statutory Organization” constituted under the Wildlife
Protection Act, 1972.
• Its role is “advisory” in nature and advises the Central Government on
framing policies and measures for the conservation of wildlife in the
country.
• The primary function of the Board is to promote the conservation and
development of wildlife and forests.
• It has the power to review all wildlife-related matters and approve
projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries.
• No alternation of boundaries in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries
can be done without the approval of the NBWL.
• Composition: The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister. It has 47
members including the Prime Minister. Among these, 19 members are
ex-officio members. Other members include three Members of
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Parliament (two from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha), five NGOs,
and 10 eminent ecologists, conservationists, and environmentalists.
• National Board for Wildlife may make recommendations on the setting
up of and management of national parks, sanctuaries, and other
protected areas and on matters relating to restriction of activities in
those areas.
• The State Board for Wildlife shall advise the State government on the
selection and management of areas to be declared as protected areas.
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (with Amendment Acts of 2003 and 2006)
• It provides for the protection of plants and animals in India. The aim of the
Act is to ensure the ecological and environmental security of India.
• It is the principal act that contains provisions for setting up and managing
national parks, sanctuaries, and other protected areas.
In India, there are four major categories of Protected areas. These protected areas are
constituted under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The four categories of protected areas are:
1. Wildlife Sanctuaries
2. National Parks
3. Community Reserves
4. Conservation Reserves
Apart from these protected areas, India also has the following:
• Biodiversity Reserves
• Tiger Reserves
• Elephant Reserves
Acronym
• BR: Biosphere Reserve

• NP: National Park
• TR: Tiger Reserve
• WS: Wildlife Sanctuary
• BS: Bird Sanctuary
• PF: Protected Forest
• RF: Reserve Forest
• ER: Elephant Reserve
• RS: Ramsar Site
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List of National Parks of India
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A complete list of National Parks in India: State-wise
Name State
South Button Island National Park Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Saddle Peak National Park Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Rani Jhansi Marine National Park Andaman and Nicobar Islands
North Button Island National Park Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Mount Harriet National Park Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Middle Button Island National Park Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Galathea National Park Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Campbell Bay National Park Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Sri Venkateswara National Park Andhra Pradesh
Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Rameswaram) Andhra Pradesh
Papikonda National Park Andhra Pradesh
Namdapha National Park Arunachal Pradesh
Mouling National Park Arunachal Pradesh
Orang National Park Assam
Nameri National Park Assam
Manas National Park Assam
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Name State
Kaziranga National Park Assam
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park Assam
Dehing Patkai National Park Assam
Raimona National Park Assam
Valmiki National Park Bihar
Kanger Ghati National Park Chhattisgarh
Indravati National Park Chhattisgarh
Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) National Park Chhattisgarh
Mollem National Park Goa
Vansda National Park Gujarat
Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch Gujarat
Gir Forest National Park Gujarat
Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar Gujarat
Sultanpur National Park Haryana
Kalesar National Park Haryana
Simbalbara National Park Himachal Pradesh
Pin Valley National Park Himachal Pradesh
Khirganga National Park Himachal Pradesh
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Name State
Inderkilla National Park Himachal Pradesh
Great Himalayan National Park Himachal Pradesh
Salim Ali National Park Jammu and Kashmir
Kishtwar National Park Jammu and Kashmir
Dachigam National Park Jammu and Kashmir
Kazinag National Park Jammu and Kashmir
Betla National Park Jharkhand
Nagarhole National Park Karnataka
Kudremukh National Park Karnataka
Bannerghatta National Park Karnataka
Bandipur National Park Karnataka
Anshi National Park Karnataka
Silent Valley National Park Kerala
Periyar National Park Kerala
Pambadum Shola National Park Kerala
Mathikettan Shola National Park Kerala
Eravikulam National Park Kerala
Anamudi Shola National Park Kerala
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Name State
Hemis National Park Ladakh
Van Vihar National Park Madhya Pradesh
Satpura National Park Madhya Pradesh
Sanjay National Park Madhya Pradesh
Pench National Park Madhya Pradesh
Panna National Park Madhya Pradesh
Mandla Plant Fossils National Park Madhya Pradesh
Madhav National Park Madhya Pradesh
Kuno National Park Madhya Pradesh
Kanha National Park Madhya Pradesh
Bandhavgarh National Park Madhya Pradesh
Tadoba National Park Maharashtra
Sanjay Gandhi National Park Maharashtra
Navegaon National Park Maharashtra
Gugamal National Park Maharashtra
Chandoli National Park Maharashtra
Sirohi National Park Manipur
Keibul Lamjao National Park Manipur
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Name State
Nokrek National Park Meghalaya
Balphakram National Park Meghalaya
Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park Mizoram
Murlen National Park Mizoram
Ntangki National Park Nagaland
Simlipal National Park Odisha
Bhitarkanika National Park Odisha
Sariska Tiger Reserve Rajasthan
Ranthambore National Park Rajasthan
Mukundra Hills National Park Rajasthan
Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan
Desert National Park Rajasthan
Khangchendzonga National Park Sikkim
Mukurthi National Park Tamil Nadu
Mudumalai National Park Tamil Nadu
Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park Tamil Nadu
Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park Tamil Nadu
Guindy National Park Tamil Nadu
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Name State
Mrugavani National Park Telangana
Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park Telangana
Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park Telangana
Clouded Leopard National Park Tripura
Bison (Rajbari) National Park Tripura
Dudhwa National Park Uttar Pradesh
Valley of Flowers National Park Uttarakhand
Rajaji National Park Uttarakhand
Nanda Devi National Park Uttarakhand
Jim Corbett National Park Uttarakhand
Govind Pashu Vihar National Park Uttarakhand
Gangotri National Park Uttarakhand
Sundarbans National Park West Bengal
Singalila National Park West Bengal
Neora Valley National Park West Bengal
Jaldapara National Park West Bengal
Gorumara National Park West Bengal
Buxa Tiger Reserve West Bengal
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Top ten Largest National Parks in India
AREA
RANK NAME ESTABLISHED IN SQ STATE FAMOUS FOR
KM
Hemis National
1 1981 4400 Ladhak Snow Leopards
Park
Desert National Great Indian

2 1981 3162 Rajasthan
Park Bustard
Royal Bengal
Simlipal National
3 1980 2750 Odisha Tiger and Asian
Park
elephant
Gangotri National Gaumukh

4 1989 2390 Uttarakhand
Park Glacier
Namdapha Arunachal
5 1974 1985.23 Flora and Fauna
National Park Pradesh
Khangchendzonga UNESCO World

6 1977 1784 Sikkim
National Park Heritage Site
Guru Ghasidas
7 (Sanjay) National 1981 1440.71 Chhattisgarh Tiger
Park
Gir Forest National

8 1965 1412 Gujarat Asiatic lion
Park
UNESCO World
Sundarbans Heritage Site,
9 1984 1330.12 West Bengal
National Park Royal Bengal
Tiger
Jim Corbett First national

10 1936 1318.5 Uttarakhand
National Park park of India
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National Parks and their famous animals
Animal/Bird Predominant in Sanctuary/Reserve State
Wild Ass Rann of Kutch Wild Ass Sanctuary Gujarat
One horned
Kaziranga National Park Assam
Rhinoceros
Elephants Periyar National Park Kerala
Asiatic Lions Gir National Park Gujarat
Ghatigaon Wildlife Sanctuary & Madhya Pradesh &

Great Indian Bustard
Desert National Park Rajasthan
Royal Bengal Tiger Sunderbans National Park West Bengal
Olive Ridley Turtle Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary Orissa
Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin

Dolphins Bhagalpur, Bihar
Sanctuary
Vulture Ramdevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary Karnataka
Bear Daroji Bear Sanctuary Hampi, Karnataka
Loktak Lake (Bishnupur),

Sangai Keibul Lamjao National Park
Manipur
Barasingha (Swamp
Kanha National Park Madhya Pradesh
deer)
Siberian cranes Keoladeo national park Rajasthan (Bharatpur)
Sri Lankamaleswara Wildlife

Jerdon’s Courser Andhra Pradesh
Sanctuary
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Animal/Bird Predominant in Sanctuary/Reserve State
Gharial National Chambal Sanctuary U.P., Rajasthan, and M.P.
Virudhinagar & Madurai,

Grizzled Giant Squirrel Srivilliputhur Wildlife Sanctuary
Tamil Nadu
Clouded Leopard Clouded Leopard National Park Tripura
Snow Leopard Hemis National Park Ladakh
Hoolock Gibbon Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary Assam
Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary &

Golden langur Assam
Raimona National Park
Hangul (Kashmir Stag) Dachigam Sanctuary Jammu and Kashmir
Nilgiri Tahr Eravikulam National Park Kerala
Red Panda Khangchendzonga National Park Sikkim
Nandankanan Zoological Park
• Nandankanan, literally meaning The Garden of Heaven, is located

near Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• Unlike other zoos in the country, Nandankanan is built right inside the forest and set
in a completely natural environment.
• Nandankanan is among the six participating zoos for the conservation breeding of
White-backed vulture.
Few Unique Features of the Nandankanan Zoological Park
• First zoo in the World to breed the White tiger and Melanistic tiger.
• White Tiger is a rare form of Bengal Tiger with a unique (recessive) gene which
gives it a white color. A white tiger is not a sub-species of the tiger. White tigers
are born only when two Bengal tigers that possess a recessive gene (gene that
affects the coat color) are bred together.
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• Melanistic Tigers are black striped tigers which are born purely due to
genetic reasons. Increased development of melanin pigment in the body
causes black stripes. Melanistic tigers are rarely found in the world.
• Only conservation breeding centre of Indian Pangolin in the world.
• Only zoological park in India to become an institutional member of World
Association of Zoos and Aquarium (WAZA).
• Gharials have bred for the first time in captivity in the world at Nandankanan
Zoological Park in 1980.
• The first zoo in India where endangered Ratel was born in captivity.
• The second largest heronry for Open Billed Storks in Odisha.
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Tiger Reserves in India
S.No. Name of Tiger Reserve State
1 Bandipur Karnataka
2 Corbett Uttarakhand
Amangarh (buffer of Corbett TR) Uttar Pradesh
3 Kanha Madhya Pradesh
4 Manas Assam
5 Melghat Maharashtra
6 Palamau Jharkhand
7 Ranthambore Rajasthan
8 Similipal Odisha
9 Sunderbans West Bengal
10 Periyar Kerala
11 Sariska Rajasthan
12 Buxa West Bengal
13 Indravati Chhattisgarh
14 Namdapha Arunachal Pradesh
15 Dudhwa Uttar Pradesh
16 Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tamil Nadu
17 Valmiki Bihar
18 Pench Madhya Pradesh
19 Tadoba-Andhari Maharashtra
20 Bandhavgarh Madhya Pradesh
21 Panna Madhya Pradesh
22 Dampa Mizoram
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23 Bhadra Karnataka
24 Pench Maharashtra
25 Pakke Arunachal Pradesh
26 Nameri Assam
27 Satpura Madhya Pradesh
28 Anamalai Tamil Nadu
29 Udanti-Sitanadi Chattisgarh
30 Satkosia Odisha
31 Kaziranga Assam
32 Achanakmar Chattisgarh
33 Dandeli-Anshi Karnataka
34 Sanjay-Dubri Madhya Pradesh
35 Mudumalai Tamil Nadu
36 Nagarahole Karnataka
37 Parambikulam Kerala
38 Sahyadri Maharashtra
39 Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Karnataka
40 Kawal Telangana
41 Sathyamangalam Tamil Nadu
42 Mukandra Hills Rajasthan
43 Nawegaon-Nagzira Maharashtra
44 Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Andhra Pradesh
45 Amrabad Telangana
46 Pilibhit Uttar Pradesh
47 Bor Maharashtra
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48 Rajaji Tige Reserve Uttarakhand
49 Orang Tiger Reserve Assam
50 Kamlang Tiger Reserve Arunachal Pradesh
51 Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve Tamil Nadu
52 Ramgarh Vishdhari TR Rajasthan
53 Guru Ghasidas TR Chhattisgarh
54 Ranipur Tiger Reserve Uttar Pradesh
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BR: Biosphere Reserve
NP: National Park
TR: Tiger Reserve.
WS/WLS: Wildlife Sanctuary
BS: Bird Sanctuary
PF: Protected Forest
RF: Reserve Forest
ER: Elephant Reserve
1. Kamlang, Arunachal
• Kamlang river
• Lohit district
• Tropical, Subtropical
• Tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, snow leopard
• Mishmi, Digaru, Mizo tribes
• It is separated from Namdapha by the Lang River
2. Namdapha, Arunachal
• Changlang district
• Biodiversity hotspots in Eastern Himalayas
• The fourth-largest national park of India
• Mishmi and Patkai Bum hills
• Evergreen, tropical, semi-tropical, temperate, arctic
• Tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, snow leopard
• Palearctic and Indo-Malayan biogeographic areas
• Namdapha Flying Squirrel which is endemic and critically endangered
• Dhole, red panda, marbled cat, fishing cat, binturong, takin, Bharal, serow, capped
langur
3. Pakhui(Pakke), Arunachal
• East Kameng District

• Hornbill is found
• Kameng River
• Nameri National Park of Assam is nearby.
4. Kaziranga, Assam
• Golaghat, Karbi Angling and Nagaon districts

• Famous for Great One-horned rhinoceros
• Highest tiger density
• Elephants, wild water buffalo
• Brahmaputra river
• Elephant reserve, National park, Biodiversity hotspot
• It is not a biosphere reserve.
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• Important bird area by Birdlife International
5. Manas, Assam
• TR, NP, BR, UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Royal Manas NP in Bhutan is contiguous
• Manas river flows through it which is a tributary of Brahmaputra river
• Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur, pygmy hog, wild water buffalo
6. Nameri, Assam
• Sonitpur district of Assam

• Lies just south of Pakke Tiger Reserve of Arunachal Pradesh
7. Orang, Assam
• Brahmaputra river
• Darrang and Sonitpur district
• Indian Rhinoceros, Pygmy hog, Asian elephant, wild water buffalo, Bengal tiger
• It is the only stronghold of rhinoceros on the north bank of the Brahmaputra river.
8. Dampa, Mizoram
• Lushai Hills
9. Rajaji TR, Uttarakhand
• Shivaliks
• Named after C. Rajagopalchari
• Ganga and Song rivers
• Goral is found here
• Asian elephant, Bengal tiger, Leopard, Jungle cat, striped hyena, Goral
10. Corbett , Uttarakhand
• Oldest NP of India, created in 1936

• Earlier called Hailey National Park
• Nainital and Pauli Garhwal districts
• Ramganga river
• The first national park of Asia
• Spotted dear, sambar deer, elephant, tawny fish owl, golden jackal
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11. Dudhawa, UP
• Billy Arjan Singh – famous for conservation of Tiger

• In the Terai belt of marshy grasslands of (Lakhimpur Kheri district) northern Uttar
Pradesh.
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• Swamp deer, Sambar deer, barking deer, spotted deer, hog deer, sloth beer, ratel,
jackal, civets, jungle cats, fishing cat, leopard cat.
• It is the only place in U.P. where both Tigers and Rhinos can be spotted together.
• It comprises of:
• Dudhwa National Park through which Suheli and Mohana streams flow,
• Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary through which Sharda River flows, and
• Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary through which Geruwa River flows.
• All of these rivers are tributaries of the Ghagra River.
12. Pilibhit, UP
• Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich districts

• In 2020, it bagged the international award Tx2 for doubling up the number of tigers
in the past four years.
• River Sharada( Mahakali), River Ghagara
• It forms the part of Terai Arc Landscape in the upper Gangetic Plain.
• The northern edge of the reserve lies along the Indo-Nepal border while
the southern boundary is marked by the river Sharada and Khakra.
• Wild animals include tiger, swamp deer, Bengal florican, leopard, etc.
• It has high sal forests, plantations, and grasslands with several water bodies.
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13. Valmiki , Bihar
• West Champaran district

• Royal Chitwan national park of Nepal is contiguous
• River Gandak
• Barking deer, spotted deer, hog deer, sambar, blue bull, spotted hyena, leopard cat,
wild cat, fishing cat, flying squirrel, clouded leopard, Indian gaur, Mongoose
14. Palamu TR, Jharkhand
• Betla NP and Palamu WS

• Naxal affected
• One among the original 9 tiger reserves
• North Koel river
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15. Sunderbans, WB
• NP, TR, BR
• Ganges river
• Mangrove-ecotone
• Sundarbans mangrove forest, one of the largest such forests in the world lies
across India and Bangladesh on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and
Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal.
• Saltwater crocodile
• Recently declared Ramsar site
• UNESCO World Heritage site
• It is home to many rare and globally threatened wildlife species such as the estuarine
crocodile, Royal Bengal Tiger, Water monitor lizard, Gangetic dolphin, and olive
ridley turtles.
16. Buxa, WB
• North part of WB
• Near Manas TR
• Asian elephant, gaur, sambar deer, clouded leopard, Indian leopard, Bengal tiger
17. Simlipal, Odissa
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• Mayurbhanj district
• Red silk-cotton trees
• World Network of Biosphere Reserves
• 12 small rivers are there
• ER
• Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, gaur, chausingha
18. Satkosia, Odissa
• Satkosia TR, Bhubaneswar comprises two adjoining sanctuaries of central

Odisha named as Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary and Baisipalli Sanctuary.
• Mahanadi river
• Slightly southward of Simlipal TR
• Lying in a transitional zone extending between the Chhota Nagpur Plateau and
the Deccan Plateau, the tiger reserve exhibits endemic life forms of both biotic
provinces.
• The area supports moist deciduous forest, dry deciduous forest, and moist
peninsular Sal forest.
• This area is the home for Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Gaur, Chousingha, Sloth bear,
Wild dog, varieties of resident and migratory birds, reptilian species, etc.
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19. Ranthambore, Rajasthan
• Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary

• Indian leopard, Nilgai, Wild boar, Sambar, Striped hyena, Sloth bear
• Banas and Chambal rivers
• The forest type is mainly tropical dry deciduous with ‘dhak’ (Butea monsoperma), a
species of tree capable of withstanding long periods of drought, being the
commonest.
• This tree is also called as ‘Flame of forest’ and is one of the many flowering
plants that add colour to the dry summers here.
20. Sariska, Rajasthan
• Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in Aravali hills and forms a part of the Alwar
District of Rajasthan.
• Copper and marble mining
• Indian leopard, jungle cat, caracal, striped hyena, golden jackal, chital, sambar deer,
nilgai
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• All tigers in Sariska became extinct in 2005.
• The Sanctuary houses ruined temples, forts, pavilions, and a palace.
• Kankarwadi fort is located in the center of the Reserve and it is said that
Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh at this
fort in the struggle for succession to the throne.
• The Reserve also houses a famous temple of Lord Hanuman at
Pandupole related to Pandavas.
21. Mukundra Hills, Rajasthan
• The park is situated in a valley formed by two parallel mountains viz. Mukundra and
Gargola.
• Darrah, Chambal and Jawahar Sagar WSs
• The 4 rivers (Ramzan, Ahu, Kali, and Chambal) form the boundary of the valley.
• It is located on the eastern bank of the Chambal River and is drained by its
tributaries.
• It was considered for the introduction of the Asiatic lion.
22. Achanmakar, Chattisgarh
• Mungeli district
• Achanmakar- Amarkantak BR
• Indian leopard, gaur, chital, striped hyena, Indian jackal , sloth bear
23. Udanti-Sitanadi, Chattisgarh

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• Udanti and Sitanadi Was
• Sitanadi river
24. Indravati, Chattisgarh
• Indravati river
• Wild Asian buffalo, Nilgai, Blackbuck, Chowsingha, sambar, chital, Indian muntjac,
tiger, leopard, sloth bear, dholes
25. Panna, MP
• Will be submerged because of Ken-Betwa interlinking

• Ken river passes through it
• 2012 – tiger extinction
• Chital, chinkara, nilgai, sambar, sloth bear
26. Bandhavgarh, MP
• Umaria district
• White tiger used to be found
• Sambar, barking deer, nilgai, caracal, striped hyena, Indian wolf
27. Sanjay-Dhubri, MP
• Some part is in Chattisgarh (Guru Ghasidas NP)

• Bengal tiger, the Indian Leopard, spotted deer, sambar deer, wild boar, nilgai,
chinkara, civet, porcupine
28. Kanha, MP
• also called Kanha-Kisli National Park

• Largest NP of Madhya Pradesh
• Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian leopards, Sloth Bear, Barasingha, Indian wild Dog
• The forest is depicted in Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book
• First TR to have a mascot– Bhoorsingh, the Barasingha
29. Satpura, MP
• Satpura Range
• Indian bison, tigers, Dholes, Blackbuck, Porcupine,Sambar,Barasingha, Flying
Squirrels
• Mahuva tree in its buffer zone
• located south of Narmada River.
• Denwa river is the main water source of the park.
30. Pench, MP
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• Both in MP and Maharastra
• Southern slopes of Satpura
• Pench river
• Chital,Sambar, Gaur, Nilgai, Wild pig, Indian muntjac, Chowsingha
31. Nawagaon-Nagzira, Maharastra
• Nawagaon means new village

• Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
• Gondia district
• Formed out of 2 WSs
32. Pench, Maharastra
• Also in MP
• Pench river flows right through the middle of the park.
• Pench Tiger Reserve is located in the southern reaches of the Satpura hills.
• Mammals: Sloth bear, jackal, nilgai, wild dog
• Birds: Peafowl, magpie robin, pintail, drongo, unia, myna, etc.
33. Bor TR, Maharastra
• Wardha district
• Bor Dam
34. Tadoba- Andhari, Maharastra
• Tadoba NP and Andhari WS

• Maharastra’s oldest and largest NP
• Chandrapura district
• Andhari river
35. Sahyadari, Maharastra
• Westernmost TR of India
36. Melghat, Maharastra
• Among the first 9 TR

• Amravati district
• Satpura range
• Tapti river
• Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Sloth bear, Indian jackal, sambar, gaur, barking deer,
nilgai, cheetal
37. NagarjunaSrisailam
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• Found both in AP and Telangana
• Nallamalla hills
• Krishna river
• Largest TR of India
38. Amrabad, Telangana
• Lies in the Nallamala Hills of Telangana.

• It is India’s second-largest tiger reserve, next only to Nagarjunasagar Srisailam
Tiger Reserve (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana).
• It has a large presence of the Chenchu tribe.
39. Kawal TR, Telanghana
• Godavari and Kadam rivers
40. Parambikulam, Kerala
• Palakkad district
• Anamalai hills
• Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, Elephants, Bengal tigers,Indian leopards, Wild
boar, Sambar, Travancore Flying Squirrel
41. Periyar, Kerala
• Sabrimala temple
• TR, ER
• Periyar and Pamba rivers
• Cardamom hills and Pandalam hills
• Mullaperiyar dam
• Six tribal communities nestled inside the reserve such as Mannans, Paliyans,
Malayarayans, Mala Pandarams, Uralis, and Ulladans.
• Tiger, Elephant, Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, etc.
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42. Sathyamangalam, TN
• Erode district
• Wildlife corridor in Nilgiri between Western Ghat and Eastern Ghat
43. Mudumalai, TN
• Nilgiri hills
• Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, Gaur, Indian leopard
44. Anamalai, TN
• Anamalai hills
• Indira Gandhi WS and NP
• Also called Topslip
45. Kalakad- Mundathurai TR, TN
• Western Ghats
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• Part of Agasthyamalai BR
• Southernmost TR
46. Dandeli- Anshi, Karnataka
• Uttara Kannada district

• Bengal tigers, Black panthers, Indian elephants
• Kali river
• Western Ghat
47. Bhadra, Karnataka
• Bhadra river
• Bada Budan Giri range
48. Nagarhole, Karnataka
• It is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park.

• Kodagu and Mysore district
• The Park lies in the Western Ghats and is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
• Tiger, Gaur, Elephant, Indian Leopard, Deer
• Brahmagiri hills
• Kabini reservoir separates Bandipore and Nagarhole
• Nagarahole River flows through the park, which joins the Kabini River which also is
a boundary between Nagarahole and Bandipur National Park.
49. Bandipore, Karnataka
• Kabini river in north and Moyar river in the south.

• Nugu river runs through the park
• Night traffic ban
• Lantana lace used to remove Lantana weed
• Indian elephants, Gaurs, tigers, sloth bears, muggers, Indian rock pythons, Four-
horned antelopes, jackals, dholes
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50. BRT, Karnataka
• Biligiri Rangana Hills

• Biligiri Rangana Swamy Temple WS
• Connects Eastern and the Western Ghats
51. Srivilliputhur-Megamalai TR, Tamil Nadu
• The Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve will span the forests of Megamalai
wildlife sanctuary and Srivilliputhur grizzled squirrel wildlife sanctuary.
• Srivilluputhur hosts leopards, Nilgiri tahrs, Lion tailed macaques, jungle cats, and
sambars.
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52. Ramgarh Vishdhari TR, Rajasthan
• Ramgarh Vishdhari wildlife sanctuary is located at a distance of 45 Km from Bundi

City on Bundi-Nainwa Road near Village Ramgarh, District Bundi, Rajasthan.
• It was notified in the Year 1982.
• Ramgarh Vishdhari WLS acts as a buffer for Ranthambore National Park.
• The sanctuary is covered with deciduous forests.
• Its flora consists of Dhok, Khair, Salar, Khirni trees with some Mango and Ber trees.
• The Fauna consists of birds and animals like Leopard, Sambhar, Wild boar,
Chinkara, Sloth bear, Indian Wolf, Hyena, Jackal, Fox, deer, and Crocodile.
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53. Guru Ghasidas TR, Chhattisgarh
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has designated the combined areas of
the Guru Ghasidas National Park (Sanjay National Park) and Tamor Pingla Wildlife
Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve.
• It is located in the northern part of Chhattisgarh, bordering Madhya Pradesh and
Jharkhand.
• This will be the fourth Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh, after the Udanti-
Sitanadi, Achanakmar, and Indravati Reserves.
• Guru Ghasidas National Park was the last known habitat of the Asiatic cheetah in
the country.
• It connects Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh and provides a corridor for tigers to
move between the Bandhavgarh (Madhya Pradesh) and Palamau Tiger
Reserves (Jharkhand).
• Flora: The vegetation consists mainly of mixed deciduous forest with teak, sal and
bamboo trees.
• Fauna: Tiger, Leopard, Chital, Nilgai, Chinkara, Jackal, Sambar, Four-horned
Antelope etc.
• Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary
• It is located in the Surajpur district of Chhattisgarh bordering Uttar Pradesh.
It is named after Tamor hill and Pingla Nalla.
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• Tamor hill and Pingla Nalla are considered to be the old and prominent
features of the sanctuary area.
• Mixed deciduous forests dominate the sanctuary. Sal and bamboo forests are
seen all through.
54. Ranipur Tiger Reserve
• Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary (RWS) founded in 1977, has no resident tiger. However,
it is an important corridor for the movement of tigers, according to the Status of
tigers, co-predators and prey in India report by the National Tiger Conservation
Authority (NTCA).
• The Ranipur Tiger Reserve will be the fourth in UP.
• It will also be the first in the Bundelkhand region of the state.
• Flora: There is dry deciduous forest of Bamboo, Palash, Khair, Mahua, Dhau, Saal,
Tendu, etc.
• Fauna: Blackduck, Chinkara, Sambar, Cheetal, Bear, Leopard, Wolf, Wild dog, Blue
bull, etc.
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Elephant Reserves in India
The Indian Elephant is widely seen in 16 of the 28 states of India, especially in the
Southern part of the Western Ghats, North-Eastern India, Eastern India, Central India, and
Northern India.
Elephant Reserves in India

World Elephant Day is celebrated on 12th August every year to spread awareness for the
conservation and protection of the largest mammal on land.
The day was launched in 2012 to bring attention to the urgent plight of Asian and African
elephants.
• Elephants
• Elephants have the longest gestation period of any mammal—22 months.
Females give birth every four to five years.
• Elephant herds have complex social structures, are led by matriarchs, and are
comprised of a group of other adult females and calves, while male elephants
tend to live in isolation or small bachelor groups.
• An elephant trunk has up to 40,000 muscles. [A human has more than 600
muscles in the entire body.]
• Elephant tusks are actually teeth, once a tusk is broken, damaged, or
removed, it stays that way [i.e. can not grow back].
• Asian Elephants: There are three subspecies of Asian elephants which are
the Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lankan.
• Global Population: Estimated 20,000 to 40,000.
• The Indian subspecies has the widest range and accounts for the majority of
the remaining elephants on the continent.
• There are around 28,000 elephants in India with around 25% of them in
Karnataka.
• IUCN Red List Status: Endangered.
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
• CITES status – Appendix I.
• African Elephants: There are two subspecies of African elephants, the Savanna (or
bush) elephant, and the Forest elephant.
• Global Population: Around 4,00,000.
• IUCN Red List Status:
• African Forest elephant: critically endangered
• Savanna elephant: endangered
• Earlier in July 2020, Botswana (Africa) witnessed the death of hundreds of
elephants.
• Difference between Asian and African elephants
• Asian elephants are smaller than their African cousins, and their ears are
smaller compared to the large fan-shaped ears of the African species.
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• Only some male Asian elephants have tusks, while both male and female
African elephants grow tusks.
• It is also important to note that there are two distinct elephant species on the
African continent—the savanna elephant and the forest elephant, with a
number of characteristics that differentiate them both as well.
Project Elephant
• Tiger faces threat of extinction, whereas the elephant faces threat of attrition.
• The elephant numbers have not increased or decreased drastically but there is
increasing pressure on the elephant habitats.
• Project Elephant was launched in 1992. It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
• To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors.
• To address issues of man-animal conflict.
• The welfare of captive elephants.
• The elephant census is conducted once in 5 years under the aegis of Project
elephant.
• The direct elephant counting method is based on the sightings of elephants.
• In the indirect method, surveyors follow a dung decay formula for arriving at
population estimation which is being used by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka at
present.
• A variation of about 8% to 9% has been noticed between the two methods.
• Karnataka has the highest number of elephants (6,049), followed by Assam (5,719)
and Kerala (5706).
Objectives:
1. to assist states having populations of wild elephants and to ensure long term survival
of identified viable populations of elephants in their natural habitats
2. addressing man-animal conflict.
3. Developing scientific and planned management measures for the conservation of
elephants.
4. Protecting the elephants from poachers, preventing illegal ivory trade, and other
unnatural causes of death
Project RE-HAB
• A pilot project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant-Human Attacks using Bees) has been
launched in Karnataka which entails installing bee boxes along the periphery of the
forest and the villages to mitigate human-elephant conflict.
• These spots are located on the periphery of Nagarahole National Park and Tiger
Reserve, which is a known conflict zone.
• It is intended to create “bee fences” to thwart elephant attacks in human habitations
using honeybees.
• Implementing Agency:
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• The project is an initiative of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission
(KVIC).
• It is a sub-mission of KVIC’s National Honey Mission.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission
• KVIC is a statutory body established under the Khadi and Village Industries
Commission Act, 1956.
• The KVIC is charged with the planning, promotion, organization, and
implementation of programmes for the development of Khadi and other village
industries in the rural areas in coordination with other agencies engaged in rural
development wherever necessary.
• It functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.
Elephant Corridor
• An elephant corridor is defined as a stretch/narrow strips of forested (or otherwise)

land that connects larger habitats with elephant populations and forms a conduit for
animal movement between the habitats.
• This movement helps enhance species survival and birth rate.
• There are 88 identified elephant corridors in India.
• Out of the total of 88 corridors,
• 20 are in south India,
• 12 in north-western India,
• 20 in central India,
• 14 in northern West Bengal, and
• 22 in north-eastern India.
Threats to Elephant Corridors
• Habitat loss leading to fragmentation and destruction caused by developmental

activities like construction of buildings, roads, railways, holiday resorts, and fixing
solar energized electric fencing, etc.
• Coal mining and iron ore mining is the two “single biggest threats” to elephant
corridors in central India.
• Orissa, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh are mineral-rich states, but also have
the highest number of elephant corridors in the country, which makes them
known for elephant-man conflicts.
• There is also a serious poaching problem, as elephant ivory from the tusks is
extremely valuable.
• Elephants need extensive grazing grounds and most reserves cannot
accommodate them. If protected areas are not large enough, elephants may search
for food elsewhere. This often results in conflicts with humans, due to elephants
raiding or destroying crops.
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Mitigation
• The fusion of the corridors with nearby protected areas wherever feasible; in other
cases, declaration as Ecologically Sensitive Areas or conservation reserves to grant
protection.
• During the process of securing a corridor, monitoring for animal movement has to be
carried out; depending on the need, habitat restoration work shall also be done.
• Securing the corridors involves sensitizing local communities to the option of
voluntarily relocation outside the conflict zones to safer areas.
• Preventing further fragmentation of the continuous forest habitat by encroachment
from urban areas.
Initiatives for protecting elephants

Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme
• The MIKE Programme was established by a CITES Resolution adopted at the CoP10
in 1997.
• MIKE is an international collaboration that measures the levels, trends, and causes
of elephant mortality.
• MIKE’s information base is used to support international decision-making related
to the conservation of elephants in Asia and Africa.
• The information and analyses are also presented at annual CITES meetings and
meetings of the CoPs.
• One of the core mandates given to the MIKE Programme is to build capacity
in elephant range States.
• Mandated by COP resolution of CITES, MIKE program started in South Asia in the
year 2003 with the following purpose:
• To provide the information needed for elephant range States to make
appropriate management and enforcement decisions, and
• to build institutional capacity within the range States for the long-term
management of their elephant populations
• MIKE is entirely dependent on donor support. The European Union has been the
most important donor for the MIKE programme in Africa since 2001, and in Asia
since 2017.
Objectives–
• To measure the levels and trends in illegal poaching and ensure changes in the
trends for elephant protection.
• To determine the factors responsible for such changes, and to assess the impact of
decisions by the conference of parties to CITES.
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MIKE sites & MIKE Sites in India
• There are around 50 MIKE sites across Africa.

• There are currently 28 sites participating in the MIKE program in Asia, distributed
across 13 countries
• India has 10 sites
MIKE Sites in India
1. Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve

2. Dihing Patkai Elephant Reserve
3. Eastern Dooars Elephant Reserve
4. Deomali Elephant Reserve
5. Garo Hills Elephant Reserve
6. Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve
7. Shivalik Elephant Reserve
8. Mysore Elephant Reserve
9. Nilgiri Elephant Reserve
10. Wayanad Elephant Reserve
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Haathi Mere Saathi
• Haathi Mere Saathi is a campaign launched by the Ministry of environment and

forest (MoEF) in partnership with the wildlife trust of India (WTI).
• The campaign was launched at the “Elephant- 8” Ministerial meeting held in Delhi in
2011.
• The E-8 countries comprise India, Botswana, the Republic of Congo, Indonesia,
Kenya, Srilanka, Tanzania, and Thailand.
• This public initiative was aimed at increasing awareness among people and
developing friendship, companionship between people and elephants.
Elephant Task Force
• The Union government constituted an Elephant Task Force (ETF) in 2010 under the
leadership of historian Mahesh Rangarajan to review the existing policy of elephant
conservation in India and formulate future interventions.
• The task force came out with a comprehensive report in August that year,
called Gajah: Securing the Future for Elephants in India.
• The ETF was headed by a wildlife historian and political analyst, Dr. Mahesh
Rangarajan. And the other members included were conservation and animal
welfare activists, elephant biologists, and a veterinarian.
• The focus of the Elephant Task Force was to bring pragmatic solutions for the
conservation of elephants in the long-term.
• India has around 25000 – 29000 elephants in the wild. However, the tuskers
(male) in India are as threatened as the Tigers as there are only around 1200 tusker
elephants left in India.
• The Asian elephants are threatened by habitat degradation, man-elephant
conflict, and poaching for the Ivory. This problem is more intense in India which has
around 50% of the total population of the world’s Asian elephants.
List of Elephant Reserves In India

As notified by the government, there are around 32 elephant Reserves in India. The
very first elephant reserve or elephant sanctuary was the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve
of Jharkhand.
The List of Elephant reserves in India is as mentioned below:
Zone State Elephant Reserves
North-Western Landscape Uttrakhand Shivalik Elephant Reserve
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Uttar Pradesh Elephant
Uttarpradesh
Reserve
Mayurjharna Elephant
East-Central Landscape West Bengal
Reserve
Singhbhum Elephant
Jharkhand
Reserve
Mayurbhanj Elephant
Reserve
Mahanadi Elephant Reserve
Sambalpur Elephant
Orissa
Reserve
Baitami Elephant Reserve
South Orissa Elephant
Reserve
Lemru Elephant Reserve

Chhattisgarh
Badalkhol-Tamor Pingla ER
Arunachal
Kameng- Sonitpur Landscape Kameng Elephant Reserve
Pradesh
Assam Sonitpur Elephant Reserve
Dihing-Patkai Elephant
Eastern-South Bank Landscape Assam
Reserve
Arunachal South Arunachal Elephant

Pradesh Reserve
Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong-Intanki Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong ER

Assam
Landscape Dhansiri-Lungding ER
Nagaland Intanki Elephant Reserve
North Bengal-Greater Manas Chirang-Ripu Elephant

Assam
Landscape Reserve
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West Bengal Eastern Dooars ER
Garo Hills Elephant Reserve

Meghalaya Landscape Meghalaya
Khasi-hills Elephant Reserve
Brahmagiri-Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats
Karnataka Mysore Elephant Reserve
Landscape
Wayanad Elephant Reserve

Kerala
Nilambur Elephant Reserve
Coimbatore Elephant
Tamil Nadu Reserve
Nilgiri Elephant Reserve
Andhra Pradesh Rayala Elephant Reserve
Annamalai- Nelliyampathy-High Range Annamalai Elephant

Tamil Nadu
Landscape Reserve
Kerala Anamudi Elephant Reserve
Periyar- Agasthyamalai Landscape Kerala Periyar Elephant Reserve
Srivilliputhur Elephant
Tamil Nadu
Reserve
Agasthyamalai Elephant
Tamil Nadu
Reserve
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Kameng Elephant Reserve
• Kameng Elephant Reserve is established in June 2002 in the Himalayan

foothills of West Kameng and East Kameng Districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
• It includes Sessa Orchid Sanctuary in the north, Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in the
west, Pakhui Tiger Reserve across the Kameng River to the east, and reserved forests
under Khellong Forest Division.
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Shivalik Elephant Reserve
• It was notified in 2002 under the ‘Project Elephant’.

• The Kansora-Barkot Elephant Corridor is located near to it.
• It is considered to have one of the highest densities of elephants found in India.
• The Indian elephant (Elephas maximus) occurs in the central and southern Western
Ghats, North-east India, eastern India, and northern India, and in some parts of
southern peninsular India.
• As per the Elephant Census, 2017, Karnataka has the highest population of
Indian elephants.
Lemru Elephant Reserve
• The reserve is located in the Korba district of Chhattisgarh.
Agasthyamalai Elephant Reserve
• It is the 32nd elephant reserve in the country and the fifth in Tamil Nadu.
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Bird Sanctuaries of India
Bird sanctuaries are nature facilities that advocate the conservation of various species of
birds and their natural habitats while promoting rehabilitation and survival.
List of Bird Sanctuaries of India

Name State
Atapaka Bird Sanctuary Andhra Pradesh
Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary Andhra Pradesh
Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary Andhra Pradesh
Sri Penusila Narasimha Wildlife Sanctuary Andhra Pradesh
Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary Andhra Pradesh
Nagi Dam Bird Sanctuary Bihar
Najafgarh drain bird sanctuary Delhi
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary Goa
Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary Gujarat
Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary Gujarat
Kutch Bustard Sanctuary Gujarat
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary Gujarat
Porbandar Bird Sanctuary Gujarat
Thol Lake Gujarat
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Name State
Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary Haryana
Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary Haryana
Gamgul Himachal Pradesh
Attiveri Bird Sanctuary Karnataka
Bankapura Peacock Sanctuary Karnataka
Bonal Bird Sanctuary Karnataka
Gudavi Bird Sanctuary Karnataka
Kaggaladu Bird Sanctuary Karnataka
Magadi Bird Sanctuary Karnataka
Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary Karnataka
Puttenahalli Lake Karnataka
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary Karnataka
Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary Kerala
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Kerala
Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary Kerala
Pathiramanal Kerala
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary Kerala
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Name State
Mayani Bird Sanctuary Maharashtra
Karnala Bird Sanctuary Maharashtra
Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary Maharashtra
Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary Mizoram
Chilika Lake Odisha
Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan
Tal Chhapar Sanctuary Rajasthan
Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
Suchindram Theroor Birds Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
Vellode Birds Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
Sarsai Nawar Wetland Uttar Pradesh
Lakh Bahosi Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
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Name State
Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
Okhla Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
Patna Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
Saman Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
Samaspur Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
Sandi Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary West Bengal
Kulik Bird Sanctuary (Raiganj WLS) West Bengal
Rasikbill Bird Sanctuary West Bengal
Thasrana Bird Sanctuary (Dhanauri Wetlands) Uttar Pradesh
Wachana Bird Sanctuary Gujarat
Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary Maharashtra
Hokera Wetland Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)
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Atapaka Bird Sanctuary
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• Atapaka Bird Sanctuary at Kolleru Lake is an important safe breeding ground for
two migratory species namely, Grey Pelicans and Painted Storks.
• Grey Pelican and Painted Stork both are near-threatened species under the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• Kolleru lake is located between the deltas of the Krishna and Godavari rivers in
Andhra Pradesh.
Nelapattu bird sanctuary
• Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh,

• It is an important breeding site for spot-billed pelicans.
• Spot-billed pelicans are a bird of large inland and coastal waters, especially
large lakes.
• It breeds only in peninsular India, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia.
• They are not migratory but are known to make local movements.
• They are colonial breeder, often breeding in the company of other waterbirds.
• It is categorized as “Near Threatened” in IUCN red list.
• Copious rain from the southwest and northeast monsoon led to the return of
pelicans in the Nelapattu sanctuary.
Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary
• Pulicat Lake is the second-largest brackish water ecosystem in the country after
Chilika Lake (Odisha).
• Pulicat Lake is located on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It lies
majorly in Andhra Pradesh.
• The sanctuary is most noted for the many greater flamingos seen here.
• It also attracts many migratory birds and also is a feeding and nesting ground for
aquatic and terrestrial birds such as pelicans, storks, etc.
• The large varieties of birds like grey pelicans, painted storks, visit the site annually.
• Grey Pelican and Painted Stork both are near-threatened species under the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Nagi Bird Sanctuary
• Nagi Bird Sanctuary is located in Jhajha Jamui district of south Bihar, near
the Jharkhand border.
• The Nagi Dam and Nakti Dam are two sanctuaries so close to each other that they
can be taken as one bird area.
• The Nagi- Nakti Bird Sanctuaries have been the home of a wide variety of indigenous
species of birds and of migratory birds that turn up during the winters from places
like Eurasia, Central Asia, the Arctic Circle, Russia, and Northern China.
• Avian Fauna :
• Over 136 species of birds have been spotted at these sanctuaries.
• Bar-headed geese: Around 1,600 bar-headed geese, which is about 3% of the
global population of this variety, have been seen here, as per a report of
the Wetlands International, and because of this rare phenomenon, the
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Birdlife International, a global body, has held the Nagi Dam Bird Sanctuary to
be globally important for the conservation of birds’ population and has
declared it as an important bird area.
• Wetland International is a global not-for-profit organization dedicated
to the conservation and restoration of wetlands.
• BirdLife International is a global partnership of conservation
organizations (NGOs) that strives to conserve birds, their habitats, and
global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use
of natural resources.
• Other major birds: Indian Courser, Indian Sandgrouse, Yellow-wattled
Lapwing, and Indian Robin.
• Major threats to the biodiversity of the sanctuaries: Agricultural runoff; Land
dispute between Irrigation and Forest Departments; Leasing out of the site for
fishing.
• Other Bird Sanctuaries of Bihar:
• Gautam Budha bird sanctuary, Gaya
• Kawar Jheel bird sanctuary, Bigusarai
• Kusheshwar asthan bird sanctuary, Darbhanga
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
• Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is an estuarine mangrove habitat, which is declared as

the bird sanctuary, and located on the western tip of the Island of Chorão along
the Mandovi River in Goa.
• The sanctuary is named after Salim Ali, the eminent Indian ornithologist.
Mayani Bird Sanctuary
• The Mayani Bird Sanctuary is globally reckoned for its gigantic range of species
for migratory birds situated in the Satara district of Maharashtra.
• Many migratory birds pass through the area, such as Flamingos from Siberia come
in large numbers.
• It is one of the most prominent and Famous Bird Sanctuaries in India.
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary
• Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, consisting primarily of the lake and ambient marshes, is
situated about 64 km to the west of Ahmedabad near Sanand Village, in Gujarat.
• Mainly inhabited by migratory birds in winter and spring, it is the
largest wetland bird sanctuary in Gujarat, and one of the largest in India.
• Nalsarovar in Gujarat is a bird watcher’s paradise, one can find rosy pelicans, lesser
and greater flamingos, crakes, brahminy ducks, purple moorhen, herons, white
storks, various species of bitterns, grebes, etc in the lake.
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Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
• Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is also known as Vembanad Bird Sanctuary is situated

in Kerala, near the famous Vembanad Lake.
• It offers a home to a large number of migratory birds like Flycatcher, Teal, Siberian
Stork, Crane, Parrots, and Wood Beetle by riding a houseboat will be the best way
for birdwatching in Kerala.
• Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a popular Vallam Kali (boat race) held in
the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, Kerala on the second Saturday of August
every year.
• Vembanad Lake is also known as Vembanad Kayal, Vembanad Kol,
Punnamada Lake.
• It is a favorite spot for migratory birds and a paradise for bird lovers.
• Other bird Sanctuaries in Kerala are Mangalavanam and Thattekkad Bird
Sanctuary, situated on the banks of the Periyar River and famous for some of the
rarest species of birds and other unique fauna.
Kaundinya Bird Sanctuary
• Kaundinya Bird Sanctuary is one of the best bird sanctuaries in India, situated near
Chittor in Andhra Pradesh.
• The habitat is rugged with high hills and deep valleys and Kaigal and Kaundinya are
two beautiful streams, which flow through the sanctuary.
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• Kaundinya Sanctuary offers the best of wildlife and bird watching in India. [Kolleru
Lake Bird Sanctuary also offers a variety of migratory birds to its largest freshwater
Kolleru Lake.]
Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary
• Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is the only sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh with a

population of Asian elephants.
• The sanctuary is covered by southern tropical dry deciduous and thorn
forests. Some of the important flora consists of Albizia amara, Acacia, Lagerstroemia,
Ficus, bamboo, and a species which is a regeneration of Santalum album.
• Apart from Elephant, some of the animals found in the sanctuary are: sloth bear,
panther, cheetal, chowsingha, sambar, porcupine, wild boar, jungle cat, jackal, jungle
fowl, starred tortoise, and slender loris.
Asian Elephant
• There are three subspecies of Asian elephants – the Indian, Sumatran, and Sri
Lankan.
• African elephants are listed as “vulnerable” and Asian elephants as
“endangered” in the IUCN Red List of threatened species.
• The elephant has been accorded the highest possible protection under the Indian
wildlife law through its listing under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972.
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
• Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is situated near to the banks of the Kaveri River in
Karnataka.
• Exotic migratory birds like light Ibis, Egret, Partridge, Heron, River Tern, Snake Bird,
stone Plougher are the attraction for the tourist.
• This is an important tourist destination of Mysore and is located about 20 kilometers
from the famous Brindavan garden lies adjoining the Krishnarajasagara dam.
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
• The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is the oldest bird sanctuary in India, situated in
Tamil Nadu.
• The Vedanthankal Lake region attracted a variety of birds such as pintail, garganey,
grey wagtail, blue-winged teal, common sandpiper.
• One-sixth of the landmass of Tamil Nadu is covered with forests, which is a paradise
for animal lovers and bird watchers.
• Kunthakulam bird sanctuary and Pulicat lake bird Sanctuary are also famous for
bird watching situated at the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
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• The famous Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is also known as Keoladeo Ghana National
Park is situated in Rajasthan.
• Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the best bird sanctuaries in India and one of the
finest bird parks in the world.
• Apart from the Great Thar Desert, Big forts and beautiful lakes, the Birds of
Bharatpur Sanctuary are one of the major tourist attractions in Rajasthan.
• Thousands of rare and highly endangered birds come here during the winter
season.
• The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is a paradise for bird lover’s to watch some of the
most exotic birds in the world.
Kulik Bird Sanctuary (Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary)
• Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary (also popularly known as Kulik Bird Sanctuary) is

situated near Raiganj in Uttar Dinajpur district in West Bengal.
• The sanctuary is home to 164 bird species and has one of the highest numbers
of Openbill stork population not only in India but in Asia which makes this
sanctuary unique.
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Wildlife Sanctuaries of India
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Sanctuary is an area that is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural, or zoological
significance. The Sanctuary is declared for the purpose of protecting, propagating, or developing wildlife or
its environment. Certain rights of people living inside the Sanctuary could be permitted.
Further, during the settlement of claims, before finally notifying the Sanctuary, the Collector may, in
consultation with the Chief Wildlife Warden, allow the continuation of any right of any person in or over any
land within the limits of the Sanctuary.
Wildlife sanctuaries of India are classified as IUCN Category IV protected areas.
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 provided for the declaration of certain areas by the State government as
wildlife sanctuaries if the area was thought to be of adequate ecological, geomorphological, and natural
significance.
As of December 2021, 564 wildlife sanctuaries were established in the country which is 3.73 % of the
geographical area of the country.
The oldest bird sanctuary is Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary near Chennai in Tamil Nadu state. It was
established in 1796.
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List of Wildlife Sanctuaries of India
Name of Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) State
Arial Island WLS Andaman
and Nicobar
Islands
Bamboo Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Barren Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Battimalv Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Belle Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Benett Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Bingham Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Blister Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Bluff Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Bondoville Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Brush Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Buchanan Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Chanel Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Cinque Islands WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
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Clyde Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Cone Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Curlew (B.P.) Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Curlew Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Cuthbert Bay WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Defence Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Dot Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Dottrell Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Duncan Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
East Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
East of Inglis Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Egg Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Elat Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Entrance Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Gander Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
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Girjan Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Galathea Bay WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Goose Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Hump Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Interview Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
James Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Jungle Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Kwangtung Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Kyd Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Landfall Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Latouche Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Lohabarrack (Saltwater Crocodile) WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Mangrove Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Mask Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Mayo Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
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Megapode Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Montogemery Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Narcondam Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
North Brother Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
North Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
North Reef Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Oliver Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Orchid Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Ox Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Oyster Island-I WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Oyster Island-II WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Paget Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Parkinson Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Passage Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Patric Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
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Peacock Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Pitman Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Point Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Potanma Islands WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Ranger Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Reef Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Roper Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Ross Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Rowe Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Sandy Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Sea Serpent Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Shark Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Shearme Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Sir Hugh Rose Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Sisters Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
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Snake Island-I WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Snake Island-II WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
South Brother Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
South Reef Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
South Sentinel Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Spike Island-I WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Spike Island-II WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Stoat Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Surat Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Swamp Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Table (Delgarno) Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Table (Excelsior) Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Talabaicha Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Temple Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Tillongchang Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
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Tree Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Trilby Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Tuft Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Turtle Islands WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
West Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Wharf Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
White Cliff Island WLS Andaman and
Nicobar
Islands
Coringa WLS Andhra
Pradesh
Gundla Brahmeswaram WLS Andhra
Pradesh
Kambalakonda WLS Andhra
Pradesh
Koundinya WLS Andhra
Pradesh
Kolleru WLS Andhra
Pradesh
Krishna WLS Andhra
Pradesh
Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam WLS Andhra
Pradesh
Nellapattu WLS Andhra
Pradesh
Pulicat Lake WLS Andhra
Pradesh
Rollapadu WLS Andhra
Pradesh
Sri Lankamalleswara WLS Andhra
Pradesh
Sri Penusila Narasimha WLS Andhra
Pradesh
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Sri Venkateswara WLS *Combined area with Telangana Andhra
Pradesh
Kinnersani WLS Telangana
Eturnagaram WLS Telangana
Kawal WLS Telangana
Lanja Madugu Siwaram WLS Telangana
Manjeera Crocodile WLS Telangana
Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam WLS Telangana
Pakhal WLS Telangana
Pocharam WLS Telangana
Pranahita WLS *Combined area with Andhra Pradesh Telangana
Barela Jheel Salim Ali Bird WLS Bihar
Bhimbandh WLS Bihar
Gautam Budha WLS Bihar
Kanwarjheel WLS Bihar
Kaimur WLS Bihar
Kusheshwar Asthan Bird WLS Bihar
Nagi Dam WLS Bihar
Nakti Dam WLS Bihar
Pant (Rajgir) WLS Bihar
Udaipur WLS Bihar
Valmiki WLS Bihar
Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin WLS Bihar
City Birds WLS Chandigarh
Sukhna Lake WLS Chandigarh
Achanakmar WLS Chhattisgarh
Badalkhol WLS Chhattisgarh
Barnawapara WLS Chhattisgarh
Bhairamgarh WLS Chhattisgarh
Bhoramdev WLS Chhattisgarh
Sarangarh-Gomardha WLS Chhattisgarh
Pamed Wild Buffalo WLS Chhattisgarh
Semarsot WLS Chhattisgarh
Sitanadi WLS Chhattisgarh
Tamor Pingla WLS Chhattisgarh
Udanti Wild Buffalo WLS Chhattisgarh
Dadra & Nagar Haveli WLS Dadra Nagar
Haveli
Fudam WLS Daman and
Diu
Bondla WLS Goa
Chorao Island (Dr.Salim Ali ) WLS (Bird) Goa
Cotigaon WLS Goa
Madei WLS Goa
Bhagwan Mahavir (Mollem) WLS Goa
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Netravali WLS Goa
Abubshehar WLS Haryana
Bhindawas WLS Haryana
Bir Shikargarh WLS Haryana
Chhilchila WLS Haryana
Kalesar WLS Haryana
Khaparwas WLS Haryana
Morni Hills (Khol-Hi-Raitan) WLS Haryana
Nahar WLS Haryana
Balaram Amji WLS Gujarat
Barda WLS Gujarat
Gaga Great Indian Bustard WLS Gujarat
Gir WLS Gujarat
Girnar WLS Gujarat
Hingolgadh Nature Reserve WLS Gujarat
Jambugodha WLS Gujarat
Jessore WLS Gujarat
Lala Great Indian Bustard WLS Gujarat
Kachchh Desert WLS Gujarat
Khijadiya WLS Gujarat
Marine (Gulf of Kachchh) WLS Gujarat
Mitiyala WLS Gujarat
Nal Sarovar Bird WLS Gujarat
Narayan Sarovar (Chinkara) WLS Gujarat
Paniya WLS Gujarat
Porbandar Lake WLS Gujarat
Purna WLS Gujarat
Rampara Vidi WLS Gujarat
Ratanmahal WLS Gujarat
Shoolpaneswar (Dhumkhal) WLS Gujarat
Thol Lake WLS Gujarat
Wild Ass WLS Gujarat
Bandli WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Chail WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Chandratal WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Churdhar WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Daranghati WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Dhauladhar WLS Himachal
Pradesh
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Gamgul Siyabehi WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Kais WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Kalatop-Khajjiar WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Kanawar WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Khokhan WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Kibber WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Kugti WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Lippa Asrang WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Majathal WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Manali WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Nargu WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Pong Dam Lake WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Renuka WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Rupi Bhaba WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Sainj WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Sangla Valley (Rakchham Chitkul) WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Sech Tuan Nala WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Shikari Devi WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Shimla Water Catchment WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Talra WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Tirthan WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Tundah WLS Himachal
Pradesh
Baltal-Thajwas WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
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Changthang Cold Desert WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
Gulbarga WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
Hirapora WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
Hokersar WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
Jasrota WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
Lachipora WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
Limber WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
Nandni WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
Overa Aru WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
Rajparian (Daksum) WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
Ramnagar Rakha WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
Surinsar Mansar WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
Trikuta WLS Jammu and
Kashmir
Dalma WLS Jharkhand
Gautam Buddha WLS Jharkhand
Hazaribagh WLS Jharkhand
Koderma WLS Jharkhand
Lawalong WLS Jharkhand
Mahauadanr WLS Jharkhand
Palamau WLS Jharkhand
Palkot WLS Jharkhand
Parasnath WLS Jharkhand
Topchanchi WLS Jharkhand
Udhwa Lake WLS Jharkhand
Adichunchunagiri WLS Karnataka
Arabithittu WLS Karnataka
Attiveri WLS Karnataka
Bhadra WLS Karnataka
Bhimgad WLS Karnataka
Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (B.R.T.) WLS Karnataka
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Brahmagiri WLS Karnataka
Cauvery WLS Karnataka
Chincholi WLS Karnataka
Dandeli WLS Karnataka
Daroji Bear WLS Karnataka
Ghataprabha Bird WLS Karnataka
Gudavi WLS Karnataka
Gudekote Sloth Bear WLS Karnataka
Malai Mahadeshwara WLS Karnataka
Melkote Temple WLS Karnataka
Mookambika WLS Karnataka
Nugu WLS Karnataka
Pushpagiri WLS Karnataka
Ranebennur Black Buck WLS Karnataka
Ranganathittu Bird WLS Karnataka
Ramadevara Betta Vulture WLS Karnataka
Rangayyanadurga Four-horned antelope Karnataka
Sharavathi Valley WLS Karnataka
Shettihalli WLS Karnataka
Someshwara WLS Karnataka
Talakaveri WLS Karnataka
Jogimatti WLS Karnataka
Thimlapura WLS Karnataka
Yadahalli Chinkara WLS Karnataka
Aralam WLS Kerala
Chimmony WLS Kerala
Chinnar WLS Kerala
Chulannur Peafowl WLS Kerala
Idukki WLS Kerala
Kottiyoor WLS Kerala
Kurinjimala WLS Kerala
Malabar WLS Kerala
Mangalavanam Bird WLS Kerala
Neyyar WLS Kerala
Parambikulam WLS Kerala
Peechi-Vazhani WLS Kerala
Peppara WLS Kerala
Periyar WLS Kerala
Shendurney WLS Kerala
Thattekad Bird WLS Kerala
Wayanad WLS Kerala
Pitti WLS (Bird) Lakshadweep
Bagdara WLS Madhya
Pradesh
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Bori WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Gandhi Sagar WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Ghatigaon WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Karera WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Ken Gharial WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Kheoni WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Narsighgarh WLS Madhya
Pradesh
National Chambal WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Noradehi WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Orcha WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Pachmarhi WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Kuno WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Panna (Gangau) WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Panpatha WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Pench WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Phen WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Ralamandal WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Ratapani WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Sailana WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Sanjay Dubri WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Sardarpur WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Singhori WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Son Gharial WLS Madhya
Pradesh
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Veerangna Durgawati WLS Madhya
Pradesh
Amba Barwa WLS Maharashtra
Andhari WLS Maharashtra
Aner Dam WLS Maharashtra
Bhamragarh WLS Maharashtra
Bhimashankar WLS Maharashtra
Bor WLS Maharashtra
Chaprala WLS Maharashtra
Deolgaon-Rehkuri WLS Maharashtra
Dhyanganga WLS Maharashtra
Gautala- Autramghat WLS Maharashtra
Great Indian Bustard WLS Maharashtra
Jaikwadi WLS Maharashtra
Kalsubai Harishchandragad WLS Maharashtra
Karnala WLS Maharashtra
Karanja Sohal Blackbuck WLS Maharashtra
Katepurna WLS Maharashtra
Koyana WLS Maharashtra
Lonar WLS Maharashtra
Malvan Marine WLS Maharashtra
Mansingdeo WLS Maharashtra
Mayureswar Supe WLS Maharashtra
Melghat WLS Maharashtra
Nagzira WLS Maharashtra
Naigaon Mayur WLS Maharashtra
Nandur Madhameshwar WLS Maharashtra
Narnala Bird WLS Maharashtra
Nawegaon WLS Maharashtra
New Bor WLS Maharashtra
New Nagzira WLS Maharashtra
Painganga WLS Maharashtra
Phansad WLS Maharashtra
Radhanagari WLS Maharashtra
Sagareshwar WLS Maharashtra
Tansa WLS Maharashtra
Thane Creek Flamingo WLS Maharashtra
Tipeshwar WLS Maharashtra
Tungareshwar WLS Maharashtra
Yawal WLS Maharashtra
Yedsi Ramlin Ghat WLS Maharashtra
Umred-Kharngla WLS Maharashtra
Wan WLS Maharashtra
Gangewadi New Great Indian Bustard WLS Maharashtra
Badrama WLS Orissa
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Baisipalli WLS Orissa
Balukhand Konark WLS Orissa
Bhitarkanika WLS Orissa
Chandaka Dampara WLS Orissa
Chilika (Nalaban) WLS Orissa
Debrigarh WLS Orissa
Gahirmatha (Marine) WLS Orissa
Hadgarh WLS Orissa
Karlapat WLS Orissa
Khalasuni WLS Orissa
Kotagarh WLS Orissa
Kuldiha WLS Orissa
Sunabeda WLSLakhari Valley WLS OrissaOrissa
Nandankanan WLS Orissa
Satkosia Gorge WLS Orissa
Simlipal WLS Orissa
Kapilash WLS Orissa
Abohar WLS Punjab
Bir Aishvan WLS Punjab
Bir Bhadson WLS Punjab
Bir Bunerheri WLS Punjab
Bir Dosanjh WLS Punjab
Bir Gurdialpura WLS Punjab
Bir Mehaswala WLS Punjab
Bir Motibagh WLS Punjab
Harike Lake WLS Punjab
Jhajjar Bacholi WLS Punjab
Kathlaur Kushlian WLS Punjab
Takhni-Rehampur WLS Punjab
Nangal WLS Punjab
Oussudu WLS Pondicherry
Bandh Baratha WLS Rajasthan
Bassi WLS Rajasthan
Bhensrodgarh WLS Rajasthan
Darrah WLS Rajasthan
Jaisamand WLS Rajasthan
Jamwa Ramgarh WLS Rajasthan
Jawahar Sagar WLS Rajasthan
Kailadevi WLS Rajasthan
Kesarbagh WLS Rajasthan
Kumbhalgarh WLS Rajasthan
Mount Abu WLS Rajasthan
Nahargarh WLS Rajasthan
National Chambal WLS Rajasthan
Phulwari Ki Nal WLS Rajasthan
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Ramgarh Vishdhari WLS Rajasthan
Ramsagar WLS Rajasthan
Sajjangarh WLS Rajasthan
Sariska WLS Rajasthan
Sawaimadhopur WLS Rajasthan
Sawai Man Singh WLS Rajasthan
Shergarh WLS Rajasthan
Sitamata WLS Rajasthan
Tal Chhapper WLS Rajasthan
Todgarh Raoli WLS Rajasthan
Van Vihar WLS Rajasthan
Cauvery North WLS TamilNadu
Chitrangudi Bird WLS TamilNadu
Gangaikondam Spotted Dear WLS TamilNadu
Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) WLS TamilNadu
Kalakad WLS TamilNadu
Kanjirankulam Bird WLS TamilNadu
Kanyakumari WLS TamilNadu
Karaivetti WLS TamilNadu
Karikili WLS TamilNadu
Kodaikanal WLS TamilNadu
Koonthankulam-Kadankulam WLS TamilNadu
Melaselvanoor-Keelaselvanoor WLS TamilNadu
Mudumalai WLS TamilNadu
Mundanthurai WLS TamilNadu
Nellai WLS TamilNadu
Oussudu Lake Bird Sanctuary TamilNadu
Point Calimere WLS TamilNadu
Pulicat Lake WLS TamilNadu
Satyamangalam WS TamilNadu
Srivilliputhur Grizzled SquirrelWLS TamilNadu
Udayamarthandapuram Lake WLS TamilNadu
Vaduvoor WLS TamilNadu
Vedanthangal WLS TamilNadu
Vellanadu (Blackbuck) WLS TamilNadu
Vellode WLS TamilNadu
Vettangudi WLS TamilNadu
Megamalai WLS TamilNadu
Theerthangal WLS TamilNadu
Sakkarakottai WLS TamilNadu
Bakhira WLS Uttar Pradesh
Chandraprabha WLS Uttar Pradesh
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Bird WLS Uttar Pradesh
Hastinapur WLS Uttar Pradesh
Kaimur WLS Uttar Pradesh
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Katerniaghat WLS Uttar Pradesh
Kishanpur WLS Uttar Pradesh
Lakh Bahosi Bird WLS Uttar Pradesh
Mahavir Swami WLS Uttar Pradesh
National Chambal WLS Uttar Pradesh
Nawabganj WLS Uttar Pradesh
Okhala Bird WLS Uttar Pradesh
Parvati Aranga WLS Uttar Pradesh
Patna WLS Uttar Pradesh
Ranipur WLS Uttar Pradesh
Saman Bird WLS Uttar Pradesh
Samaspur WLS Uttar Pradesh
Sandi Bird WLS Uttar Pradesh
Sohagibarwa WLS Uttar Pradesh
Sohelwa WLS Uttar Pradesh
Sur Sarovar WLS Uttar Pradesh
Jai Prakash Narayan (Surhatal) Bird WLS Uttar Pradesh
Turtle WLS Uttar Pradesh
Vijai Sagar WLS Uttar Pradesh
Pilibhit WLS Uttar Pradesh
Askot Musk Deer WLS Uttarakhand
Nandhaur WLS Uttarakhand
Binsar WLS Uttarakhand
Govind Pashu Vihar WLS Uttarakhand
Kedarnath WLS Uttarakhand
Mussoorie WLS Uttarakhand
Sonanadi WLS Uttarakhand
Ballavpur WLS West Bengal
Bethuadahari WLS West Bengal
Bibhuti Bhusan WLS West Bengal
Buxa WLS West Bengal
Chapramari WLS West Bengal
Chintamani Kar BirdSanctuary West Bengal
Haliday Island WLS West Bengal
Jorepokhri SalamanderWLS West Bengal
Lothian Island WLS West Bengal
Mahananda WLS West Bengal
Raiganj WLS West Bengal
Ramnabagan WLS West Bengal
Sajnakhali WLS West Bengal
Senchal WLS West Bengal
West Sunderban WLS West Bengal
Asola Bhati (Indira Priyadarshini) WLS Delhi
D’Ering Memorial (Lali) WLS Arunachal
Pradesh
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Dibang WLS Arunachal
Pradesh
Eagle Nest WLS Arunachal
Pradesh
Itanagar WLS Arunachal
Pradesh
Kamlang WLS Arunachal
Pradesh
Kane WLS Arunachal
Pradesh
Mehao WLS Arunachal
Pradesh
Pakhui/ Pakke WLS Arunachal
Pradesh
Sessa Orchid WLS Arunachal
Pradesh
Tale Valley WLS Arunachal
Pradesh
Yordi-Rabe Supse WLS Arunachal
Pradesh
Amchang WLS Assam
Barail WLS Assam
Barnadi WLS Assam
Bherjan-Borajan-Padumoni WLS Assam
Burachapori WLS Assam
Chakrashila WLS Assam
Deepor Beel WLS Assam
Dihing Patkai WLS Assam
East Karbi Anglong WLS Assam
Garampani WLS Assam
Hollongapar Gibbon WLS Assam
Lawkhowa WLS Assam
Marat Longri WLS Assam
Nambor WLS Assam
Nambor Doigrung WLS Assam
Porbitora WLS Assam
Pani-Dihing Bird WLS Assam
Sonai Rupai WLS Assam
Dampa WLS (TR) Mizoram
Khawnglung WLS Mizoram
Lengteng WLS Mizoram
Ngengpui WLS Mizoram
Pualreng WLS Mizoram
Tawi WLS Mizoram
Thorangtlang WLS Mizoram
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Tokalo WLS Mizoram
Khongjaingamba Ching WLS Manipur
Yangoupokpi-Lokchao WLS Manipur
BarseyRhododendronWLS Sikkim
Fambong Lho WLS Sikkim
Kitam WLS (Bird) Sikkim
Kyongnosla Alpine WLS Sikkim
Maenam WLS Sikkim
Pangolakha WLS Sikkim
Shingba (Rhododendron) WLS Sikkim
Fakim WLS Nagaland
Puliebadze WLS Nagaland
Rangapahar WLS Nagaland
Baghmara Pitcher Plant WLS Meghalaya
Nongkhyllem WLS Meghalaya
Siju WLS Meghalaya
Narpuh WLS Meghalaya
Gumti WLS Tripura
Rowa WLS Tripura
Sepahijala WLS Tripura
Trishna WLS Tripura
Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam WLS is calculated two times Andhra Pradesh & Telangana.
Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary
• Gahirmatha is the mass nesting spot in Indian Ocean region and the only turtle
sanctuary in Odisha.
• It is the world’s largest nesting beach of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.
• Gahirmatha was declared a turtle sanctuary in 1997 by the Odisha government after
considering its ecological importance and as part of efforts to save the sea turtles.
• It extends from the Dhamra River mouth in the north to the Brahmani river mouth
in the south.
• The wetland is represented by 3 Protected Areas, the Bhitarkanika National Park,
the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.
Olive Ridley Turtle
• The Olive ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found
in the world, inhabiting warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
• These turtles are carnivores and get their name from their olive-colored carapace.
• They are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where
thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
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• The olive ridley turtles turn up in millions for mass nesting along the Odisha coast
every year namely at three river mouths: Dhamara, Devi, and Rushikulya.
• The species is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, Appendix 1 in CITES,
and Schedule 1 in Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• Five species of sea turtles are known to inhabit Indian coastal waters and islands.
• Olive Ridley turtle
• Green turtle
• Hawksbill turtle
• Loggerhead turtle
• Leatherback turtle
• Except, the Loggerhead, the remaining four species nest along the Indian coast.
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Important Hill stations in India
A hill station is a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley.
The hill stations are high-altitude towns for recreation, enjoyment and are used as a
place of refuge to escape the blistering heat in India during summertime.
As India is a vast peninsular country with limited amounts of coastal area most of its towns
and districts face continental type of climate with summer being very hot so hill stations
(as situated on high altitude due to which it faces low temperature) becomes an excellent
spot to escape such hot and humid conditions as well as a place of enjoyment to spent
quality time with your family and partner during summer break.
The Most Popular Hills in India are:
1. Shivalik Hills
2. Anamalai Hills
3. Ashambu Hills
4. Cardamom Hills
5. Biligiriranga Hills
6. Palani Hills
7. Nilgiri Hills
8. Nallamala Hills
9. Lushai Hills
10. Garo-Khasi-Jainitia Hills
List of Important Hill Stations in India

States Hill Station
Araku Valley
Horsley Hills
Lambasingi
Andhra Pradesh Ananthagiri
Nallamala Hills
Tirumala
Nagari Hills
Itanagar
Arunachal Pradesh Ziro Valley
Bomdila
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Pasighat
Tawang
Haflong
Diphu
Assam
Umrangso
Maibang
Brahmajuni Hills
Ramshila Hills
Bihar Pretshila Hills
Gurpa Peak
Pragbodhi
Manipat
Chirmiri
Chhattisgarh Baila Dila
Gadiya Mountain
Ambikapur
Saputara
Wilson Hills
Gujarat
Don Hills
Girnar
Haryana Morni Hills
Dalhousie
Dharamshala
Kasauli
Kullu valley
Manali
Himachal Pradesh Shimla
Solan
Keylong
Khajjiar
Kufri
Kiarighat
Chail
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Chamba
Chitkul
Gulmarg
Srinagar
Jammu
Vaishno Devi
Jammu and Kashmir Sonamarg
Patnitop
Pampore
Sanasar
Amarnath
Drass
Kargil
Ladakh
Leh
Hemis
Netarhat
Sati Hills
Jharkhand Ranchi
Parasnath Hills
Khandoli Pahari
Agumbe
Coorg
Kodachadri
Karnataka Chikmagalur
Kemmangudi
Madikeri
Biligiriranga Hills
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Munnar
Wayanad
Vagamon
Idukki
Vythiri
Nilambur
Thenmala
Kerala
Ponmudi
Nelliyampathy
Gavi
Devikulam
Peermede
Pathanamthitta
Kalpetta
Amarkantak
Madhya Pradesh Pachmarhi
Tamiya
Amboli
Panchgani
Chikhaldara (Keechakadara)
Bhandardara
Maharashtra Matheran
Mahabaleshwar
Hemalkasa
Igatpuri
Khandala
Kaina Hill Station

Kangchup Hill
Manipur
Langthabal
Maibam Lokpa
Cherrapunjee
Dawki
Jowai
Meghalaya
Mawlynnong
Mawsynram
Shillong
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Champhai
Hmuifang
Mizoram Lunglei
Mamit
Reiek
Dzukou Valley
Nagaland Kohima
Pfutsero
Banigocha
Daringbadi
Deomali
Taptapani
Odisha
Mahendragiri
Dhenkanal
Olasuni Hills
Lulung
Punjab Dhar Kalan
Mount Abu
Guru Shikhar
Rajasthan Ranakpur
Sajjangarh
Achalgarh
Gangtok
Lachen
Sikkim
Lachung
Pelling
Anamalai
Kolli Hills
Ooty/ Udagamandalam
Tamilnadu
Kodaikanal
Yelagiri
Yercaud
Telangana Ananthagiri Hills
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Tripura Jampui Hills
Almora
Lansdowne
Uttarakhand
Mussoorie
Nainital
Darjeeling
West Bengal
Kalimpong
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Important Hill Stations in India (with few details)
GULMARG :
• A hill station in the Baramulla district of J&K

• 50 km from Srinagar at the elevation of 2690 m
• Hill stations of emperors like Yousuf and Jahangir
• Gulmarg Gondola – Asia’s highest cable car project
SONMARG :
• Situated along the left bank of the Sindh-Nala, a tributary of the Jhelum
• 84 km from Srinagar on the Srinagar-Leh Road, just 10 km from the Zozila Pass
• Pilgrimage to Amarnath via Baltal route proceeds through it
• A popular hill station and tourist place
• Thajwas Glacier is only 2 km away
DALHOUSIE :
• A popular hill station in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh

• Established in 1854 by the British as a summer retreat for its troops and bureaucrats
• Located on the western edge of the Dhauladhar Range
• Repository of ancient Hindu culture, art, temples and handicrafts
DHARMSHALA :
• City that is a popular hill station of Himachal Pradesh is the winter seat of the
state government and also the district headquarters of the Kangra district
• Mcleod Ganj, a village within Dharmshala is the home of the Dalai Lama and the
exiled Tibetan Government
SHIMLA :
• Capital and popular hill station of Himachal Pradesh in the Lesser Himalayas
• Built by the British as their summer capital of India
• Industries- handicrafts, artifacts and woodworks
• Kalka – Shimla Railway – World Heritage Site
• NH- 22 connects it with Kalka and Chandigarh
MUSSOORIE :
• Located 34 km from Dehradun in Uttarakhand

• Known as the Queen of the Hills
• A hill station at the height of 1880m
• The Dalai Lama established the Tibet government here in April 1959 before shifting
to Dharmshala
• Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration is situated here
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ALMORA :
• Lies to the southern side of the Nanda Devi in eastern Uttarakhand

• Important hill station
• Cultural capital of Kumaon where the Gorkhas built a fort in 1790
• It is a contonment town.
• It is the native place of Govind Ballabh Pant, Sumitranandan Pant, Rolland Ross.
NAINITAL :
• Located around the Naini Lake in eastern Uttarakhand

• Built by the British as the summer capital of Uttar Pradesh
• Divided into the upper and the lower parts locally known as Mallital and Tallital
• A famous hill station and tourist place
MT. ABU :
• Only hill station of Rajasthan, located in southern Aravallis

• Famous for the Dilwara Jain Temple
• Located near the Guru Shikhar
• It is referred as ‘an oasis in the desert‘.
• The Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary is established here.
• The Nakki lake and the Achalgarh Fort are located in the vicinity.
• It is the headqurters of the Brahma Kumari International.
PACHMARHI :
• A hill station of central India located in the Satpura Range in the Hoshangabad
district of Madhya Pradesh
• Located near to the Dhupgarh Peak
• Has an army cantonment
• Has Pachmarhi NP near to it which has been declared Biosphere Reserve
DARJEELING :
• Important hill station in the northern part of West Bengal

• Established by the Britishers as a military sanatorium
• Famous for the Darjeeling Tea
• Mahakal Temple on the Observatory Hill is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists
KALIMPONG :
• A hill station of West Bengal, located in the Darjeeling district

• The Indian Army’s Mountain Division is located on the outskirts of the town
• Located on a ridge overlooking the Teesta
• Was a gateway for the trade with Tibet before the Sino-Indian War of 1962
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TURA :
• Located in western Meghalaya in the West Garo Hills, right below the Tura Peak
• Cultural and administrative centre of the Garo tribes
• Tourist places around – Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, Balpakram, Siju Cave
• In 1973, the town was made the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tura
MATHERAN :
• Hill station of Maharashtra on the Western Ghats in the Raigarh district

• Smallest hill station of India
• 90 km from Mumbai and 120 km from Pune
• One of the few places in the world where vehicles are not allowed
• Developed by the British
• Connected by a toy train to the mainline rail route at Neral junction
LONAVALA :
• Hill station in the Pune district (64 km away) on the Western Ghats
• Known for hard candy sweet known as ‘Chikki’
• Comes to life during the monsoon season
• Along with Khandala, forms a twin hill station
MAHABALESHWAR :
• Hill resort and the source of the Krishna River in the Satara district of Maharashtra,
on the Western Ghats
• Situated at a height of 1372m, has historical association with Shivaji
OOTY :
• Beautiful, health promoting hill station in the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu
• Also called as ‘Ootacamund’ or Udhagamandalam
• Headquarters of the Nilgiri district
• Served as the summer capital of the Madras Presidency and other small kingdoms
around it
• British named it ‘Queen of Hill Stations’
KODAIKANAL :
• Important hill station located in the Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu.

• Kodai Lake- an artificial lake is very famous
• Open for tourism throughout the year
• Located in the Dindigul district
• Referred as ‘the Princess of Hill Stations’
• Meadows, grasslands, Eucalyptus and shola forests cover the hill
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MAINPAT :
• It is located in the western Chhatisgarh in the Sarguja district.

• The Tibeten refugees are living here for the last four-five decades.
• It has Dhakpo Monastery.
• There are there waterfall, notably the Fish Fall and the Tiger Points water fall.
NETARHAT :
• It is located in the Latehar district of Jharkhand.

• It is referred as the “Queen of Chhotanagpur”.
• It is famous for its glorious sunries and sunsets during the summer months.
• It has Netarhat Vidyalaya set up in 1954
PALAMPUR :
• It is located in the Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh.

• It is often referred as “the tea capital of northwest India”.
• The town has desired its name from the local word ‘pulum’, meaning lots of water.
• The combination of greenery and water gives Palampur a distinctive look.
PAVAGARH :
• It is located in the Panchmahal district in the eastern Gujarat.

• It is known for famous Mahakali Temple.
• The Champaner- Pavagarh Archeo logical Park was inscripted by UNESCO as a world
Heritage site in 2004.
PATNITOP:
• It is located in the Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir.

• It is located near the Chenab River.
• The name, is derived from ‘Patan da Talab’ meaning ‘Pond of the princes’.
PAMPORE:
• Pampore is one of the few places in the world where saffron, the world’s most
expensive spice, grows.
• Pampore, known as Pampar, or Panpar is a historical town situated on the eastern
side of river Jehlum on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pampore was originally called Padampur.
• Pampore has three lakes as well which have been entitled as wetlands. One of the
lakes is known as Sarbal Lake.
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Minor Hill Stations District State
Along West Siang Arunachal Pradesh
Khonsa Tirap Arunachal Pradesh
Ziro Lower Subansiri Arunachal Pradesh
Haflong North Cachar Hills Assam
Maibong Dima Harao Assam
Saputara Dang Gujarat
Kasauli Solan Himachal Pradesh
Kufri Shimla Himachal Pradesh
Solan Solan Himachal Pradesh
Yusonarg Badgam Jammu & Kashmir
Agumbe Shimoga Karnataka
Madikeri Kodagu Karnataka
Charalkunau Pathanan thitta Kerala
Kapletta Waynad Kerala
Kunily Idukki Kerala
Munnar Idukki Kerala
Nelliampathi Palakkad Kerala
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Minor Hill Stations District State
Peeronade Idukki Kerala
Ponmudi Thiruvanathapuram Kerala
Ranipuram Kasargod Kerala
Sultan Bathery Wayanad Kerala
Vagamon Idukki Kerala
Panchgani Satara Maharashtra
Amboli Sindhudurg Maharashtra
Panhala Kolhapur Maharashtra
Taranonal Nardurbar Maharashtra
Igatpuri Nashik Maharashtra
Karjat Raigarh Maharashtra
Jowai Joyantia Hills Meghalaya
Daringibadi Kandhamal Odisha
Coonoar Nilgiris Tamil Nadu
Yercaud Salem Tamil Nadu
Kalinpong Darjeeling West Bengal
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Religious Places in India
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AMARNATH :
• Situated in the Greater Himalayas in the Anantnag district of J&K

• Amaranth Cave has limestone topography and naturally formed ‘Shivling’
• Known for ‘the Amarnath Yatra’
• Accessible by the Pahalgam and the Baltal (Sonmarg) routes
PAHALGAM :
• A hill resort located in the Anantnag district, at the altitude of about 2130m
• Lies on the banks of Lidder River, a tributary of Jhelum
• Main route to Amarnath passes through it
VAISHNO DEVI :
• Located near Katra town in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir
• One of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Shakti
• Second most visited religious shrine in India after Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
• A rail link from Udhampur to Katra is being built to facilitate pilgrimage
ANANDPUR SAHIB :
• Located in the Rupnagar district of Punjab

• Known as “the Holy City of Bliss”
• One of the most sacred places of Sikhs
• Located on the bank of the Satluj near the Govind Sagar
• Founded in 1665 by 9th Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur
GURUDWARA BANGLA SAHIB:
• Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is one of the most prominent Sikh gurdwara, or Sikh house
of worship, in Delhi, and is known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru
Har Krishan, as well as the holy river inside its complex, known as the “Sarovar.”
• It was first built as a small shrine by Sikh General Sardar Baghel Singh in 1783, on the
bungalow donated by king Raja Jai Singh of Amer, who supervised the construction
of nine Sikh shrines in Delhi in the same year, during the reign of Mughal
Emperor, Shah Alam II.
• It is situated near Connaught Place, New Delhi on Baba Kharak Singh Marg and it is
instantly recognisable by its golden dome and tall flagpole, Nishan Sahib.
JAMA MASJID
• The Masjid-i Jehan-Numa, commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is one of
the largest mosques in India.
• It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1650 and 1656 and
inaugurated by its first Imam, Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari.
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• Situated in the Mughal capital of Shahjahanabad (today Old Delhi), it served as the
imperial mosque of the Mughal emperors until the demise of the empire in 1857.
• The Jama Masjid was regarded as a symbolic node of Islamic power across India, well
into the colonial era. It was also a site of political significance during several key
periods of British rule.
• It remains in active use and is one of Delhi’s most iconic sites, closely identified with
the ethos of Old Delhi.
HAR KI PAURI:
• Har Ki Pauri is a famous ghat on the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar in the Indian
state of Uttarakhand.
• This revered place is the major landmark of the holy city of Haridwar. Literally, “Har”
means “God”, “Ki” means “of”, and “Pauri” means “steps”.
• Lord Vishnu is believed to have visited the Brahmakund in Har Ki Pauri in
the Vedic times.
YAMUNOTRI:
• Source of the Yamuna River in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand

• The seat of the Goddess Yamuna (Temple)
• It is one of the four sites in India’s Chhota Char Dham pilgrimage, the others being
Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath
• The Temple of Goddess Yamuna was built by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal
GANGOTRI:
• Source of the Ganga , lying in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand

• Has Gangotri National Park
• Hindu pilgrimage town, one of the four Chhota Char Dhams
• Has a temple of the Goddess Gangotri which was built by the Nepalese General,
Amar Singh Thapa in early 18th century
BADRINATH :
• Situated in the Gangotri Mountain Range in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand

• Located in the Greater Himalayas is an important pilgrimage centre of Hindus
• It is the ‘Abode of Lord Vishnu’
• Opened from May to October
• One of the Char Dhams of Hindus
KEDARNATH :
• Located in the Greater Himalayas to the west of Badrinath and south of Gangotri in
the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand
• Has twelfth century temple of Shiva
• There is a musk dear sanctuary in the region
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HARIDWAR :
• Located at the foot hills of the Shivaliks on the bank of the Ganga in Uttarakhand
• The Ganga debauches into the plains here
• Kumbh Fair is held after every twelve years
• Sacred city and pilgrimage site for Hindus
RISHIKESH :
• Important Hindu pilgrimage place, located very near to Haridwar (just north of it) in
Uttarakhand , on the Ganga River
• Located in the Dehradun district
• Known as the gateway to the Himalayas
• According to legends Lord Rama did penance here after killing Ravana
• Sometimes nicknamed as ‘the World Capital of Yoga’ has numerous Yoga centres
SOMNATH :
• Located along the southern coast of the Kathiawar Peninsula between Veraval and
Kodinar
• Temple is dedicated to Shiva, and was one of the richest, that is why looted and
destroyed by the Muslim rulers
• It is the most sacred of the twelve Jyotirlingas shrines of the God Shiva
KUSHINAGAR :
• Located in the northeastern part of Uttar Pradesh near the border with Nepal and
Bihar
• Important Budhist pilgrimage where Gautam Buddha died
• At the time of Buddha, it was the capital of the Mallas
• Mahaparinirvana Stupa is built on the place of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana
AYODHYA :
• Old capital of Awadh located in the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh, on the bank of
the Sarju River
• Known as the birth place of the Lord Rama
• Babri Masjid demolished by Hindus claiming it to be the site of the Ram Janma
bhoomi
NALANDA :
• Old educational and cultural city located a few kms away to the southwest of Bihar
Sharif
• Ruins of the old Nalanda University
• Has the Nalanda Open University
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• In 2006, Singapore , China, India, Japan and other nations announced a proposed
plan to restore and revive the Nalanda International University
GAYA :
• Historical and cultural centre, located in the southern part of Bihar, 100 km south of
Patna on the bank of the Falgu River
• Sanctified by both Hindus and Budhists
• Most popular temple – Vishnupad Temple
• At Brahmayoni Hills- Buddha preached his First Sermon
• Shrine of Hazrat Makhdoom Syed Shah Durwesh
• Will host the second Officers Training Academy(OTA). The first OTA is in Chennai
BODH GAYA :
• Famous religious and historical town in Bihar to the south of Gaya, near the border
with Jharkhand
• Place of the attainment of enlightenment by Buddha
• Mahabodhi Temple Complex –World Heritage Site
RAJGIR :
• Old historical town, located between Nalanda and Gaya, in the Nalanda district
• The first capital of the kingdom of Magadha
• Jarasandha belonged to this place in the Mahabharata
• Has been developed into a health and winter resort due to its warm water ponds
SHANTI NIKETAN :
• A small town in Birbhum district of West Bengal

• Vishwa Bharati University was established by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921
• Shanti Niketan was named by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, Rabindranath
Tagore’s father
• Indira Gandhi, Satyajit Ray, Amartya Sen studied here
TAWANG :
• Located in the western part of Arunachal Pradesh

• Famous for the Tawang Monastery , founded in accordance to the wishes of the 5th
Dalai Lama, agwang Lobsang Gyatso
• It is the largest monastery in India as well as outside Lhasa
PARASURAM KUND :
• Located 13 miles north – east of Tezu, is the district headquarters of Lohit district of
Arunachal Pradesh
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• Large number of pilgrims visit every year during Parasuram Mela held in the month
of January
• Believed that in the kund (lake) Parashuram washed away all his sins
PALITANA :
• Located 50km southwest of Bhavnagar city, is a major pilgrimage centre for Jains
• Is the place where millions of Jain sadhus and munis got salvation
• Palitana temples (1300) are considered to be the most sacred pilgrimage place of
Jains
• Main temple is dedicated to 1st thirthankar Lord Adinath (Rishabhdeva)
UJJAIN :
• Located on the Malwa Plateau on the bank of Sipra River

• It was an important centre of learning and the capital of Avanti
• Important pilgrimage centre Mahakaleshwar Temples.
• Junction of five railways and NH-3 passes
• Cotton textiles, soyabean processing
SANCHI :
• Historical place located in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, to the northeast of
Bhopal
• A stupa here dates back to the 3rd century BC, Largest stupa in India
• A World Heritage Site
• Located on the bank of the Betwa
KHAJURAHO :
• Located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh in the northern part of the
state in the Bundelkhand
• Famous for its numerous temples with excellent architecture with sexual appeals
built by the Chandela rulers in the 10th and 11th centuries, from the sandstones of
Panna
MANDU :
• Located in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh near the NH-3 had been centre of
many Hindu and Muslim rulers
• Famous for the last Sultan of Malwa, Baj Bahadur and his wife Rupmati
• Attractionas – Rupmati Palace, Mandu Fort, Jahaz Mahal, Hindola Mahal, Asharfi
Mahal etc.
KONARK :
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• Located on the coast of Bay of Bengal in the centre of the Mahanadi Delta
• Famous for the magnificent thirteenth century Sun Temple – World Heritage Site
• Some of the temples are adorned with erotic sculptures
PURI :
• Located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal in the southwestern part of the Mahanadi
Delta.
• Famous for the Jagannath Temple, where the Rathyatra is held every year
AJANTA :
• Located in the Ajanta Range of Maharashtra

• Has a series of 29 caves containing Buddhist frescoes and sculpture from the first
century BC to 7th century AD
• Caves are cut on the gorge of the Waghore River, a tributary of Godavari
ELLORA :
• Located in the southwestern part of the Ajanta Range in Maharashtra near

Aurangabad
• Famous for the rock caves and paintings of the ancient period
NANDED :
• Located between the Penganga and the Godavari rivers in Maharashtra

• Sikh pilgrimage – Gurudwara built to commemorate the assassination of the tenth
Guru, Guru Gobind Singh in 1708
• Industries- cotton textile, leather
SHIRDI :
• Located in the Ahmadnagar District of Maharashtra

• Best known as the late 19th century home of the popular guru Shirdi Sai Baba
• Shani Shingnapur, a holy place located near Shirdi, is famous for temple of Lord
Shani
HAJI ALI DARGAH:
• The Haji Ali Dargah is a mosque and dargah or the monument of Pir Haji Ali Shah
Bukhari located on an islet off the coast of Worli in southern Mumbai.
• An exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Architecture, associated with legends about
doomed lovers, the dargah contains the tomb of Haji Ali Shah Bukhari.
• Bukhari was a Sufi saint and a wealthy merchant from Uzbekistan.
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• Near the heart of the city proper, the dargah is one of the most recognisable
landmarks of Mumbai.
BASILICA OF BOM JESUS:
• The Basilica of Bom Jesus is a Roman Catholic basilica located in Goa, India, and is
part of the Churches and convents of Goa UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The basilica is located in Old Goa, the former capital of Portuguese India, and holds
the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier.
BADAMI :
• Formerly known as Vatapi, is located in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka

• It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD
• Famous for rock cut and other structural temples
HAMPI :
• Located within the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara
Empire
• Has Virupaksha Temple and several other monuments
• The ruins are a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site, listed as the Group of Monuments at
Hampi
• Located on the bank of the Tungabhadra near the Tungabhadra Dam
HALEBIDU :
• Located in the Hassan district of Karnataka

• Earlier called as Dwarasamudra, was the regal capital of the Hoysala Empire in the
12th century
• Known for the Hoyasalewara and Kedareswara temples. The former temple is now
beingproposed for the World Heritage Site
AIHOLE :
• A temple complex in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka

• Located east of Pattadakkal, along the Malprabha River
• Very popular tourist spot of north Karnataka
• Has the potential to become a World Heritage Site
• Known for the Aihole Inscription
TIRUPATI :
• Situated in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh near the border with Tamil Nadu
• Has Tirumala Hill Temple
• The temple of Venkateshwaram attracts thousands of pilgrims
• Most visited religious shrine of India
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KANCHIPURAM :
• Located to the southwest of Chennai, is also called as ‘the Varanasi of the South’
• Located on the bank of the Palar River
• Founded in the third century BC
• ‘Sarees’ made here are well known.
MAMALLAPURAM :
• Also known as Mahabalipuram, is located to the south of Chennai.

• Ancient port, famous for its monuments of the Pallav dynasty (6-9 centuries AD).
• Rock – cut temples at the sea coast
• A World Heritage Site.
RAMESWARAM :
• Located on the central part of the Pamban Island

• Has ancient Lingam and sixteenth and seventeenth century Shiva and Vishnu
temples
• One of the four dhams of Hindus, the others being Badrinath, Dwarka and Puri
MADURAI :
• A million plus city located on the bank of the Vaigai River

• It was the capital of the Pandya Kingdom
• Known for the Minakshi Temple
• Oldest continuously inhabited city in the Indian Peninsula
• Known as ‘the City of Temples’ and ‘the Cultural Capital of Tamil Nadu’
SHRAVANABELAGOLA :
• Located in the Hassan district of Karnataka

• Known for the statue of Gomteshwara or Bahubali, is one of the most important Jain
pilgrimage centres
• The last shrutakevali, Bhadrabahu Swami and Chandragupta Maurya meditated here
FATEHPUR SIKRI :
• A medieval city , 35 km west of Agra in Uttar Pradesh

• Built by Akbar in honour of Salim Chisti
• Has the Buland Darwaja, largest gate in India
AJMER :
• Situated along the Ana- Sagar artificial take, created by the damming of the Luni
River in the twelfth century
• Known for the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti
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• NH-8 and a railway pass through it
• Pushkar Lake is located nearby it where the Pushkar Fair is organised
RAJIM :
• It is located at the confluence of the Mahanadi, Pairi and Sondur rivers, called Triveni
Sangam.
• It is known as ‘the Pryag of Chhattisgarh’
• It has many temples of them famous are Sri Rajiv Lochan Mandir (Lord Vishnu) and
Kuleshvara Mahadeva Mandir.
• The annual Rajiv Mela is promoted as ‘the Panchava Kumbha Mela’.
MAIHAR :
• It is a municipality in the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh.

• It is known for the temple of revered mother goddess Sharda situated on Trikuta hill.
• The town was formerly the capital of the princely state of Maihar.
• It is believed that Alha and Udal are associated with this place.
• People believe that Alha performs puja daily at 4 am, even today.
MEHANDIPUR BALAJI :
• It is located in the Dousa district of Rajasthan.

• The temple is located 3 km towards the right on the Jaipur- Agra national highway.
• The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman.
• It is believed that the divine power cures any persons possessed by evil spirit.
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World Heritage Sites in India
• A World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by UNESCO for its special cultural or
physical significance. The list of World Heritage Sites is maintained by the
international ‘World Heritage Programme’, administered by the UNESCO World
Heritage Committee.
• The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is composed of 21 UNESCO member
states, elected by the General Assembly.
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
seeks to encourage the identification, protection, and preservation of cultural and
natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to
humanity.
• This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the
Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.
• As of June 2022, India has 40 world heritage sites that include 32 Cultural
properties, 7 Natural properties, and 1 mixed site.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• It was founded in 1945 to develop the “intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind”
as a means of building lasting peace.
• It is located in Paris, France.
How is a World Heritage Site selected?
• The first step towards the listing is the nomination of a site by the respective
government of a country.
• The site should have an Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) for World Heritage
nomination.
• To determine the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) for World Heritage
nomination, there are ten enlisted criteria.
• The proposed nomination must satisfy at least one of these ten criteria.
• The Nomination File is then evaluated by the International Council on Monuments
and Sites and the World Conservation Union.
• These bodies then make their recommendations to the World Heritage Committee.
• The Committee meets once per year to determine whether or not to inscribe each
nominated property on the World Heritage List and sometimes defers the decision to
request more information from the country which nominated the site.
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10 criteria for determining Outstanding Universal Value (OUV)
(i) to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within

(ii) a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology,
monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;
to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a

(iii)
civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or

(iv) technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in
human history;
to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or

sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with
(v)
the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of
irreversible change;
to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or

with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
(vi)
(The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in
conjunction with other criteria.
to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty

(vii)
and aesthetic importance;
to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth’s history,

(viii) including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the
development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;
to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and

(ix) biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater,
coastal, and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;
(x) to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ
conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened
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species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or
conservation.
List of UNESCO Natural World Heritage sites in India

Year of
Natural World Heritage Site State
Notification
Kaziranga National Park Assam 1985
Keoladeo Ghana National Park Rajasthan 1985
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Assam 1985
Nanda Devi National Park and

Uttarakhand 1988
Valley of Flowers
Sundarbans National Park West Bengal 1987
Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil

Western Ghats 2012
Nadu and, Kerala
Great Himalayan National Park Himachal Pradesh 2014
List of UNESCO Cultural World Heritage sites in India

Year of
Cultural World Heritage Site State
Notification
Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple Telangana 2021
Dholavira: a Harappan City Gujarat 2021
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding

Chandigarh 2016
Contribution to the Modern Movement
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Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai Maharashtra 2018
Historic City of Ahmedabad Gujarat 2017
Jaipur City Rajasthan 2020
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda

Bihar 2016
University)
Rani-Ki-Vav Gujarat 2014
Hill Forts of Rajasthan Rajasthan 2013
The Jantar Mantar Rajasthan 2010
Red Fort Complex Delhi 2007
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park Gujarat 2004
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Maharashtra 2004
Madhya
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka 2003
Pradesh
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya Bihar 2002
Mountain Railways of India Tamil Nadu 1999
Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi Delhi 1993
Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi Delhi 1993
Madhya
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi 1989
Pradesh
Elephanta Caves Maharashtra 1987
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Great Living Chola Temples Tamil Nadu 1987
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal Karnataka 1987
Churches and Convents of Goa Goa 1986
Fatehpur Sikri Uttar Pradesh 1986
Group of Monuments at Hampi Karnataka 1986
Madhya
Khajuraho Group of Monuments 1986
Pradesh
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram Tamil Nadu 1984
Sun Temple, Konarak Orissa 1984
Agra Fort Uttar Pradesh 1983
Ajanta Caves Maharashtra 1983
Ellora Caves Maharashtra 1983
Taj Mahal Uttar Pradesh 1983
UNESCO Mixed World Heritage Sites

A mixed site comprises components of both natural and cultural importance:
Mixed World Heritage Site State Year of Notification
Khangchendzonga National Park Sikkim 2016
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Agra Fort (1983)
• 16th-century Mughal monument

• Fortress of red sandstone
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• It comprises the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience
halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas
Ajanta Caves (1983)
• Location: Ajanta is a series of rock-cut caves in the Sahyadri ranges (Western

Ghats) on the Waghora river near Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
• Number of Caves: There are a total of 29 caves (all Buddhist) of which 25 were used
as Viharas or residential caves while 4 were used as Chaitya or prayer halls.
• Time of Development
• The caves were developed in the period between 200 B.C. to 650 A.D.
• The Ajanta caves were inscribed by the Buddhist monks, under the patronage
of the Vakataka kings – Harishena being a prominent one.
• Reference of the Ajanta caves can be found in the travel accounts of Chinese
Buddhist travellers Fa Hien (during the reign of Chandragupta II; 380- 415 CE)
and Hieun Tsang (during the reign of emperor Harshavardhana; 606 – 647 CE). .
• Painting
• The figures in these caves were done using fresco painting.
• The outlines of the paintings were done in red colour. One of the striking
features is the absence of blue colour in the paintings.
• The paintings are generally themed around Buddhism – the life of Buddha
and Jataka stories.
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar (2016)
• Remains of a monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3rd century BCE to
the 13th century CE.
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• Includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential and educational buildings) and
important artworks in stucco, stone and metal.
• Considered to be the most ancient university of the Indian Subcontinent.
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)
• It is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence and was a major Buddhist centre in
India until the 12th century A.D.
• Consists of monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries) all in different states
of conservation most of which date back to the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C.
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004)
• Prehistoric (chalcolithic) sites, a hill fortress of early Hindu capital, and remains of the
16th-century capital of the state of Gujarat.
• Also includes, among other vestiges, fortifications, palaces, religious buildings,
residential precincts, agricultural structures and water installations, from the 8th to
14th centuries.
• The Kalikamata Temple on top of Pavagadh Hill is considered to be an important
shrine, attracting large numbers of pilgrims throughout the year.
• The site is the only complete and unchanged Islamic pre-Mughal city.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)
• Example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India blended with themes

deriving from Indian traditional architecture.
• The building, designed by the British architect F. W. Stevens, became the symbol of
Bombay as the ‘Gothic City’ and the major international mercantile port of India. The
terminal was built over 10 years, starting in 1878, according to a High Victorian Gothic
design based on late medieval Italian models.
• Its remarkable stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and eccentric ground plan are
close to traditional Indian palace architecture.
Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)
• The churches and convents of Goa, particularly the Basilica of Bom Jesus indicate
commencement of evangelization in Asia.
• The Basilica of Bom Jesus also houses the sacred tomb of St. Francis Xavier.
• These monuments are well known for spreading- Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque
art in major parts of Asia.
Elephanta Caves (1987)
• Located at Elephanta island or island of Gharapuri(literally- ‘City of Caves’) in the Sea

of Oman, close to Mumbai.
• Contains a collection of rock art connected to the Shaivite cult.
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• It is a vital symbol of the greatness of Indian art, especially the huge high reliefs in the
main cave.
• They were constructed around the mid-5th to 6th centuries AD.
Ellora Caves
• Location: It is located nearly 100 Kms away from Ajanta caves in the Sahyadri range
of Maharashtra.
• Number of Caves: It is a group of 34 caves – 17 Brahmanical, 12 Buddhist, and 5 Jain.
• Time of Development
• These set of caves were developed during the period between the 5th and
11th centuries A.D. (newer as compared to Ajanta Caves) by various guilds from
Vidarbha, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
• That is why the caves reflect a natural diversity in terms of theme and
architectural styles.
• The Ellora complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.
• The most remarkable of the cave temples is Kailasa (Kailasanatha; cave 16), named
for the mountain in the Kailasa Range of the Himalayas where the Hindu god Shiva
resides.
Fatehpur Sikri (1986)
• Built during the second half of the 16th century by Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri or
‘The City of Victory,’ also served as the capital of the Mughal empire for a short time
period.
• It contains an array of monuments and temples, including one of the largest
mosques in India- the Jama Masjid.
Great Living Chola Temples (1987, 2004)
• Built by kings of the Chola empire, these temples manifest the precision and
perfection of the Cholas in architecture, sculpture, painting, and bronze casting.
• This site includes three 11th and 12th– century temples: Brihadisvara Temple at
Thanjavur, Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram, and Airavatesvara
Temple at Darasuram.
• The Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram built by Rajendra the First in 1035 and the
Airavatesvara Temple built by Rajaraja the Second, feature vimana (sanctum tower)
of 53m and 24m respectively.
• Brihadisvara and Airavatesvara temple
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Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)
• This site was the last capital of the kingdom of Vijaynagar.

• These Dravidian temples and palaces were built by rulers of Vijaynagar between the
14th and 16th centuries.
• In 1565, the city was captured by Deccan Muslim Confederacy and pillaged for a
period of 6 months, before being abandoned.
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Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)
• This group of monuments was founded by Pallava kings in the 7th and 8th centuries
along the Coromandel coast of Bay of Bengal.
• These temples boast of intricate and unique architectural styles in the form of- rathas
(temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries) and giant open-air
reliefs such as- ‘Descent of the Ganges.’
• It also encloses the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures dedicated to the
glory of Shiva.
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)
• Pattadakal in Karnataka showcases a unique blend of architectural forms from

northern and southern India, achieved under the Chalukya dynasty during the 7th and
8th centuries.
• It comprises nine Hindu temples as well as a Jain sanctuary including the Temple of
Virupaksha, a masterpiece built in c.740 by Queen Lokamahadevi to commemorate
her husband’s victory.
Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013)
• This site includes six majestic forts situated in Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Sawai
Madhopur, Jaisalmer, Jaipur and Jhalawar, all situated in the state of Rajasthan.
• The magnificent and stalwart exterior of the forts manifests the lifestyle and nature
of the Rajput rule over this land from 8th to 18th centuries.
• These fortifications enclose urban centres, palaces, trading centres and temples,
where various forms of art and culture flourished.
• Some of the urban centres, as well as most of the temples and other sacred places,
have survived as the forts used natural resources such as- hills, deserts, forests etc for
protection.
Historic City of Ahmedabad (2017)
• Located on the eastern bank of Sabarmati river, this city was founded by Sultan
Ahmad Shah in the 15th century. It also served as the capital of the state of Gujarat for
centuries.
• This city is a testimony to the harmonious existence of diverse religions on this land,
exhibited by its architecture which includes the famous Bhadra citadel accompanied
by various mosques, tombs as well as numerous Hindu and Jain temples.
• The urban fabric consists of densely- packed traditional houses (pols) in gated
traditional streets (puras).
Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi (1993)
• Built-in 1570, it has long-standing cultural significance because it was the first
garden-tomb to be constructed in India.
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• This tomb was the inspiration behind several architectural innovations including the
Taj Mahal.
Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019)
• It was founded in 1727 AD by the then Kachwaha Rajput ruler of Amber, Sawai Jai
Singh II. It also serves as the capital city of the state of Rajasthan.
• The city was established on the plains and built according to a grid plan interpreted
in the light of Vedic architecture.
• The city’s urban planning shows an exchange of ideas from ancient Hindu and
modern Mughal as well as Western cultures.
• Designed to be a commercial capital, the city has maintained its local commercial,
artisanal and cooperative traditions to this day.
• The iconic monuments in the city include the Govind Dev temple, City Palace,
Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal etc.
• Jaipur has become the second city of the country after Ahmedabad to get the
recognition of the World Heritage Site.
Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)
• These temples were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached at its
pinnacle between 950 and 1050.
• Only 20 temples remain, belonging to two different religions namely-Hinduism and
Jainism, including the famous Temple of Kandariya decorated with intricately and
beautifully carved sculptures.
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)
• This temple was earlier built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C.However, the
present structure dates back to the 5th or 6th centuries.
• It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick and considered to be
one of the four sacred sites associated with the life of Gautama Buddha.
Mountain Railways of India (1999, 2005, 2008)
• This site includes three railways:

• Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
• Nilgiri Mountain Railway: This line, started in 1891 and completed till 1908, is a 46-km
long meter-gauge single-track railway in Tamil Nadu.
• Kalka Shimla Railway
Qutub Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)
• Qutub Minar was built in red sandstone in the early 13th century, in Delhi.
• It is 72.5 m high, with diameters of 14.32 m and 2.75 m at its base and peak
respectively.
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• The tower is surrounded by various aesthetically-pleasing treasures, for instance- the
Alai Darwaza built-in 1311 as well as two mosques including the Quwwatu’l-Islam, the
oldest mosque in northern India.
Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (2014)
• Situated on the banks of Saraswati river, this stepwell was built as a memorial to a
king.
• Stepwells are considered to be easily accessible underground water resources and
storage systems, which have been constructed in the Indian subcontinent since the
3rd millennium B.C.
• This stepwell flaunts the Maru-Gurjara architectural style, designed in the form of an
inverted temple to emphasize the sanctity of water and is endowed with more than
thousand sculptures depicting a combination of religious, mythological and secular
imagery.
Red Fort Complex (2007)
• This was built as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad, the capital of Mughal Emperor
Shah Jahan and is named after its immense walls of red sandstone.
• The Red Fort Complex in entirety, includes the Red Fort as well as Salimgarh fort
built-in 1546 by Islam Shah Suri.
• Red Fort is a reflection of the acme of Mughal architectural innovation and
craftsmanship. The planning of the palace is based on Islamic prototypes, but each
structure mirrors architectural elements derived from a combination of Persian,
Timurid and Hindu traditions.
• The row of pavilions are connected by a continuous water channel known as Nahr-i-
Behisht (Stream of Paradise).
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)
• These shelters are located within the foothills of Vindhya range, on the southern
edge of the central Indian plateau.
• Unearthed in the form of five clusters of natural rock shelters exhibiting paintings
that date back to the Mesolithic, and other periods succeeding it.
• The cultural traditions of the inhabitants in surrounding areas are very similar to
those displayed in the paintings.
Sun Temple, Konarak (1984)
• Konark Sun Temple, located in East Odisha near the sacred city of Puri.
• Built-in 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I (AD 1238-1264). Its scale, refinement,
and conception represent the strength and stability of the Ganga Empire as well as
the value systems of the historic milieu.
• The temple is designed in the shape of a colossal chariot. It is dedicated to the Sun
God. In this sense, it is directly and materially linked to Brahmanism and tantric
belief systems.
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• The Konark temple is widely known not only for its architectural grandeur but also
for the intricacy and profusion of sculptural work.
• It marks the highest point of achievement of Kalinga architecture depicting the
grace, the joy, and the rhythm of life all its wondrous variety.
• There are two rows of 12 wheels on each side of the Konark sun temple. Some say the
wheels represent the 24 hours in a day and others say the 12 months.
• The seven horses are said to symbolize the seven days of the week.
• Sailors once called this Sun Temple of Konark, the Black Pagoda because it was
supposed to draw ships into the shore and cause shipwrecks.
• Konârak is the invaluable link in the history of the diffusion of the cult of Surya, which
originating in Kashmir during the 8th century, finally reached the shores of Eastern
India.
Taj Mahal (1983)
• The Taj Mahal (Agra) is a mausoleum of white marble built by the Mughal emperor,
Shahjahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It stands on the banks of the river
Yamuna.
• The construction of the Taj Mahal was completed within a period of 17 years
from 1631 to 1648 AD.
• The Taj Mahal was declared a centrally protected monument of national
importance in December 1920.
• Considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, it was inscribed on the list
of World Heritage Sites in 1983.
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• It is famous for its unique layout, perfection in symmetry and inlay work.
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (2016)
• This transnational serial property includes 17 sites spread across 7 countries stands as
a testimony of a new form of architectural expression weaved with modern
traditions.
• These sites, in totality, propagate ideals of the Modern movement and are also
considered as a significant response to fundamental issues of architecture and
society in the 20th century.
• Complexe du Capitole, Chandigarh, The Museum of Western Art in Tokyo (Japan), the
House of Dr Curutchet in La Plata (Argentina), Unité d’habitation in Marseille (France)
etc, are some of the well-known sites included in this property.
The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)
• Built in the early 18th century, Jantar Mantar is designed to observe astronomical
positions with the naked eye. A set of 20 main instruments are installed in this site to
make accurate observations.
• It is a manifestation of astronomical skills and knowledge, dating back to the Mughal
times.
Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018)
• This site includes a collection of public buildings designed in Victorian Neo-Gothic

style in the 19th century and Art Deco style in the 20th century.
• Both the styles are intermingled with Indian architectural elements. For instance-
The buildings designed in Victorian Neo-Gothic styles are endowed with balconies
and verandas. Similarly, the Indo- Deco is a term used to describe the style emerged
after adding Indian elements to Art Deco imagery and architecture.
Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple (2021)
• The Hindu temple was constructed in the first half of the 13th century under
the Kakatiya dynasty.
• It is decorated with stone carvings and sculptures in granite and dolerite that depict
regional dance customs.
• In line with Hindu practices, the temple is constructed in a way that it blends
harmonically with the environment.
• The structure has decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and dolerite with a
distinctive and pyramidal Vimana made of lightweight porous bricks, so-
called ‘floating bricks’, which reduced the weight of the roof structures.
Dholavira: a Harappan City (2021)
• Dholavira was one of the centres of the Harappan Civilisation from the 3rd to mid-
2nd millennium BCE, in the Bronze Age.
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• Discovered by archaeologist Jagat Pati Joshi in 1968, Dholavira gets its name from
the village in Kutch district of Gujarat.
• In ancient India, it has remained a commercial and manufacturing hub for about
1,500 years till its decline by 1500 BC.
• The city had trade connections with other cities in the region and as far
as Mesopotamia. The site was rediscovered in 1968.
• It was Indus Valley Civilization’s fifth-largest metropolis after Mohen-jo-Daro,
Ganweriwala, Harappa and Rakhigarhi.
Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (2014)
• Located in western part of Himalayan mountains in the state of Himachal Pradesh,

this Park is well known for its high alpine peaks, alpine meadows and riverine forests.
• It also encloses glacial and snow meltwater sources of several rivers as well as the
catchment area.
• It is a biodiversity hotspot with 25 types of forests inhabited by myriads of faunal
species, several of which are threatened.
Kaziranga National Park (1985)
• Location: It is located in the State of Assam and covers 42,996 ha. It is the single
largest undisturbed and representative area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain.
• Legal Status
• It was declared as a National Park in 1974.
• It has been declared a tiger reserve since 2007. It has a total tiger reserve area
of 1,030 sq km with a core area of 430 sq. km.
• International Status
• It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
• It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
• Important Species Found
• It is the home of the world’s most one-horned rhinos.
• Much of the focus of conservation efforts in Kaziranga is focused on the ‘big
four’ species— rhino, elephant, Royal Bengal tiger, and Asiatic water buffalo.
• The 2018 census had yielded 2,413 rhinos and approximately 1,100 elephants.
• As per the figures of tiger census conducted in 2014, Kaziranga had an
estimated 103 tigers, the third-highest population in India after Jim Corbett
National Park (215) in Uttarakhand and Bandipur National Park (120) in
Karnataka.
• Kaziranga is also home to 9 of the 14 species of primates found in the Indian
subcontinent.
• Rivers and Highways
• The National Highway 37 passes through the park area.
• The park also has more than 250 seasonal water bodies, besides the Diphlu
River running through it.
Keoladeo National Park (1985)
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• This wetland is located in the state of Rajasthan and served as a duck shooting
reserve till the end of 19th century. However, soon enough the hunting ceased and the
area was declared a national park in 1982.
• This National Park is home to 375 bird species and various other life forms. It also
serves as a wintering ground to Palaearctic migratory waterfowl, critically
endangered Siberian Crane as well as to globally threatened- Greater Spotted Eagle
and Imperial Eagle.
• It is acclaimed for its resident population of non-migratory breeding birds.
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)
• Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a biodiversity hotspot located in Assam. It is a part of

Manas Tiger Reserve and sprawls alongside Manas river.
• A range of forested hills, alluvial grasslands and tropical evergreen forests are
responsible for the breathtaking beauty and serene environment of the site.
• It also provides a habitable environment to a range of endangered species such as-
tiger, greater one-horned rhino, swamp deer, pygmy hog and Bengal florican.
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005)
• Both of these National Parks are exceptionally beautiful high-altitude West

Himalayan landscapes and fall within the boundaries of the state of Uttarakhand.
• Nanda Devi National Park boasts rugged and high-mountain wilderness and is
dominated by India’s second-highest mountain-the peak of Nanda Devi. The Valley
of Flowers, in contrast, flaunts aesthetically pleasing meadows of alpine flowers.
• Numerous kinds of floral and faunal species reside in these parks, along with a
significant population of globally threatened species including- Snow leopard,
Himalayan Musk Deer etc.
Sundarban National Park (1987)
• The Sundarbans mangrove forest, one of the largest such forests in the world, lies
across India and Bangladesh on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna
rivers on the Bay of Bengal.
• It is adjacent to the border of India’s Sundarbans World Heritage site inscribed in
1987.
• The site is intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats, and small
islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests, and presents an excellent example of
ongoing ecological processes.
• The area is known for its wide range of fauna, including 260 bird species, the Bengal
tiger, and other threatened species such as the estuarine crocodile and the Indian
python.
• It is home to many rare and globally threatened wildlife species such as the
estuarine crocodile, Royal Bengal Tiger, Water monitor lizard, Gangetic
dolphin, and olive ridley turtles.
Western Ghats (2012)

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• Western Ghats consist of a chain of mountains running parallel to India’s Western
Coast and passing from the states of Kerala, Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu
and Karnataka.
• They cover an immense area in a 1600 km long stretch and are interrupted only once
by a 30km Palghat gap at around 11 degrees North.
• They also influence the Indian monsoon weather patterns that mediate the warm
tropical climate of the region and act as a barrier to rain-laden monsoon winds that
sweep in from the south-west.
• Western Ghats are also home to tropical evergreen forests, as well as to 325 globally
threatened species.
Khangchendzonga National Park (2016)
• Located in Sikkim, this National Park is dominated by the world’s third-highest peak,
Mount Khangchendzonga.
• The Park comprises steep-sided valleys, snow-
• clad mountains and various lakes and glaciers including the 26km long Zemu
glacier, located around the base of Mount Khangchendzonga.
• It covers almost 25% of the state of Sikkim and ensures a habitable environment for
various endemic as well as threatened, plant and animal species.
• Cultural Significance of Khangchendzonga National Park
• KNP is home to a sacred site of one of the world’s leading religious traditions.
The notion of beyul or hidden sacred land, which extends to all of Sikkim, but
has its heart in the territory of Khangchendzonga National Park, is important in
Tibetan Buddhism, not only intrinsic to Sikkim but in the neighboring
countries and beyond.
• The multi-layered sacred landscape of Khangchendzonga and the cultural and
religious relevance of the hidden land (beyul in Tibetan Buddhism and Mayel
Lyang, in Lepcha tradition) is specific to Sikkim and is a unique example of co-
existence and exchange between different religious traditions and people.
• The indigenous religious and cultural practices of the Lepcha with regard to
the ecology and the specific properties of local plants stands as an example of
traditional knowledge and environmental preservation.
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List of volcanoes in India
Volcanoes are no less than like nature’s beast. They are dangerous and life-threatening.
Most of the volcanic eruptions are more powerful than nuclear explosions in nature.
Volcanoes are of different types and their different nature defines them differently.
India has the only active volcano in Andaman and Nicobar Island which was dormant for
over 150 years has once again started spewing ash since 1991 according to the researchers
at the Goa-based National Institute of Oceanography (NIO).
List of all Volcanoes in India

Andaman
Barren Island Active since 2017 Stratovolcano, Active
Islands
Andaman Stratovolcano, Semi-

Narcondam 1681
Islands Dormant
Deccan 25 Ma BP (million years before

Central India Unknown
Plateau present)
Baratang Andaman
Active since 2003 Stratovolcano, Active
Island Islands
Dhinodhar 500 Ma BP (million years

Gujarat Fully Extinct
Hills before present)
750 Ma BP (million years before

Dhosi Hill Haryana Extinct
present)

Tosham Hills Haryana Fully Extinct
present)

Loktak Lake Manipur Unknown
present)
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Barren Island
• Barren Island is an island located in the Andaman Sea, dominated by Barren

Volcano, the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia, and the only active volcano
along a chain of volcanoes from Sumatra to Myanmar.
• The first recorded eruption of the volcano dates back to 1787. Since then, the
volcano has erupted multiple times.
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Narcondam
• Narcondam is a small volcanic island located in the Andaman Sea.

• The island’s peak rises to 710 m above mean sea level, and it is formed of andesite. It
is part of the Andaman Islands, the main body of which lie approximately 124 km
(77 mi) to the west.
• The name Narcondam could have been derived from the Tamil word naraka-
kundam, meaning “a pit of Hell”.
Deccan Traps
• The Deccan Trapsare a large igneous province located on the Deccan Plateau of
west-central India (17°–24°N, 73°–74°E) and are one of the largest volcanic features
on Earth.
• The term “trap” has been used in geology since 1785–1795 for such rock formations.
• It is derived from the Scandinavian word for stairs (“trappa”) and refers to the step-
like hills forming the landscape of the region.
Baratang
• Baratang Island is an island of the Andaman Islands.

• It belongs to the North and Middle Andaman administrative district, part of
the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Ranchiwalas Island is another name for Baratang Island.
• Baratang contains the only known examples of mud volcanoes in India. These mud
volcanoes have erupted sporadically, with recent eruptions in 2005 believed to have
been associated with the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
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Dhinodhar Hills
• Dinodhar Hills are located near Nani Aral village, in Nakhatrana Taluka, Kutch
District, Gujarat, in India.
• Dhinodhar hills of Kutch is one of the top and most famous trekking spots in India.
• Dinodhar Hill is a tourist and pilgrimage spot.
• Dinodhar Hill, an inactive volcano rising to an elevation of 386 meters.
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Dhosi Hill
• Dhosi Hill is an extinct volcano, standing alone in the North-West end of the Aravali
mountain range with height varying from about 345 to 470 meters from the
surrounding land.
• It is part of Aravalli Mountain Range, that belongs to the Precambrian Malani
igneous suite of rocks Dhosi Hill is located on the borders of the Haryana and
Rajasthan.
• The Haryana portion lies in Mahendragarh district to the south, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi)
from Narnaul on Singhana Road; the Rajasthan portion lies in Jhunjhunu district to
the north.
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Tosham Hills
• The Tosham hills are located in the Northwest spur of the Alwar region in
Haryana and stand at an average elevation of 207 meters.
• The rocks exposed in and around Tosham hills are part of subsurface north western
spur of Alwar group of Delhi supergroup of Aravalli Mountain Range, belong to
the Precambrian Malani igneous suite of rocks.
• The main Tusham hill is the second largest hill in the range. It has ancient rock
inscriptions and rock paintings, paelo eroded rocky glacial channels and water
cascades, and small hilltop lakes.
• It is one of the major biodiversity sites in Haryana.
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Tosham Hill (map of Haryana)
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Important Cities of India
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Ranipet :
• Located in Tamil Nadu near Vellore

• Modest beginning of chemical fertilizer industry in India began here in 1906, when a superphosphate
factory was set up here
• Victim of serious groundwater pollution
Sindri :
• Located in the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand

• Known for a large chemical fertilizer plant set up by the Fertilizers Corporation of India (FCI) in 1951
• It also has a cement plant
• First fertilizer plant in India to produce Ammonium Sulphate, Urea and Ammonium Nitrate Sulphate
Aonla :
• Located near Bareilly in the Rohilkhand Division of UP

• Known for the production of chemical fertilizers from gas
• Gas pipeline laid from Ankaleshwar to Aonla
Kalol :
• Located in the Panchmahal district of Gujarat

• Known for oilfields and fertilizers plant based on gas
• Kalol and Halol are parts of a SEZ
Bijapur :
• Located in the northwestern part of Karnataka, is a historical and industrial city

• Gol Gumbaz: world’s second largest dome unsupported by pillars
• Industry- sugar, textiles, cement
• Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of Mohammad Adil Shah
Jagdishpur :
• Located in the Sultanpur district of UP

• Industries –Gas-based fertilizers, BHEL, paper
• HBJ pipeline provides it the gas
• There is a plan to connect it with Haldia through a gas pipeline
Dalmiapuram :
• Located in the Tiruchirapalli district of Tamilnadu, 40 km away from Trichy

• Hometown of the renowned Dalmia Cements
• The region is rich in limestone deposits
Kanti :
• Industrial city of eastern MP
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• Cement factory, ordanance factory
• Located on the bank of the Katni River
• One of the largest railway junctions in India
• Famous for its abundance in lime and bauxite
• Has the largest Rail Yard and biggest Diesel Loco Shed in India
Churk :
• Located in the Sonbhadra district of UP

• Owing to its limestone hills a cement factory was established here in 1956
Dalmianagar :
• One of the oldest and biggest industrial towns in India, located on the bank of the Son River in the
Rohtas district of southwestern Bihar
• City was founded by Ramkrishna Dalmia, the founder of the Dalmia group
Japla :
• Industrial town of Jharkhand in the Palamau district, near the border with Bihar
• Known for the production of cement
• Factory is located at Deori
Shahabad :
• A town in the Gulbarga district in Karnataka

• Known for the Shahabad Stones
• Cement companies- Alstom Projects India Ltd. and Jaypee Cements
Chaibasa :
• Located in the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand near the Orissa border
• Known for the cement industry
• India’s first entirely indigenous cement plant was established in 1947 here itself operated by the ACC
Jamul :
• Industrial town located near Bhilai in the Durg district of Chhattisgarh

• Most important cement plant of the state
• Established in 1965
• Operated by the ACC
Siju :
• Located in Meghalaya
• Famous for the Siju Caves
• Also has a cement plant
Firizabad :
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• Industrial city of UP
• Known for its glass factories and bangle making
• Founded by Firoz Shah Tughlug
• During ancient periods, invaders brought many glass articles in India
Mirzapur :
• Industrial city of UP in its southeastern part, just south of Varanasi

• Located on the right bank of the Ganga
• Known for carpets, blankets, brassware, pottery
• Located on the Delhi- Kolkata rail line
Moradabad :
• Industrial city of UP located in the Rohilkhand Division west of Rampur

• Founded in 1625 by Rustam Khan, a Mughal general
• Known for its inlaid brass work and electro-plated non-silver cutlery
• Because of brass industries, it is known as Peetalnagri (Brass City)
Bhadohi :
• Small industrial town of UP, located west of Varanasi

• Headquarters of a new district
• Known for ‘Carpet-making’
• Other industries : sari-making, agro-based industries
Khurja :
• Industrial town of western Uttar Pradesh, located south of Bulandshahr

• Known for ceramic industry and pottery
• Known as the Ceramic City
• Lot of air pollution due to coal based Chimneys
Sivakashi :
• Located in the Virudhnagar district of Tamilnadu

• Capital of India’s firecracker industry
• Also known for printing and match making
• Ill- famous for employing children
Ahmadnagar :
• Industrial city of Maharashtra located on the bank of the Sina River, a tributary of the Godawari
• Industries- sugar, cotton, textile
• Largest sugar producing centre of Maharashtra
Sakarwadi :
• Industrial city of Maharashtra located north of Ahmadnagar
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• Sugar producing plant
• Located in the Satara district
• Mr. Apte from Pune established first private sugar factory of Maharashtra in the 1930s here
Rawalgaon :
• Industrial town of Maharashtra near Nasik

• Known for the sugar industry
Chandaonagar :
• Industrial city of Maharashtra to the north of Ahmadnagar, known for the sugar industry
Mandya :
• Industrial city of southern Karnataka located between Mysore and Bengaluru

• Industries- sugar, silk, match, fertilizers
• Hoysala and Somnathpura temples are great attractions
• The Mysore Sugar Factory is located at the city
Sakkarnagar :
• Industrial city of the Telangana Plateau near Nizamabad, known for the sugar industry as the name
suggests
• Nizam Sugar Factory- Once it was one of the largest sugar factories in Asia
Modinagar :
• Industrial city of western UP just 30 km away from Delhi

• Industries: sugar, textiles, petrochemicals
• Located in the Ghaziabad district
• Best known as the home of Modi Mills
Ankapalli :
• Industrial city of Andhra Pradesh, located near Vishakhapatnam known for the sugar industry
• Located on the bank of River Sarada
• Largest source of jaggery in southern India and the second largest in India
Solapur :
• Industrial and historical city of southern Maharashtra

• Seat of Chalukya and Yadava dynasties
• Known for bedsheets
Kolhapur :
• Industrial city of southern Maharashtra, on the bank of the Panchganga

• Was a centre of Buddhism
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• Industries- cotton textiles, leather goods, chemicals
• Location of the Temple of Mahalakshmi
• Was a princely state
Satara :
• Industrial and historical city of southern Maharashtra

• Industries- cotton textile, sugar, scooter
• Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are located near the city
• Shivaji Sagar and Koyna Dam are few km west of it
Vadodra :
• Located between the Mahi and the Narmada rivers

• Old capital of Maratha Gaekwar family
• Jawaharnagar Refinery produces feed- stock for pharmaceuticals
• A million plus city
Surat :
• A million plus city and industrial and historical city of Gujarat located on the bank of the Tapi River
• Has old tradition of trading through its port
• Known for diamond – cutting and jewellery
Rajkot :
• The main city of Saurashtra in the centre of the Kathiawar Peninsula

• Industries –sugar, textile, pharmaceuticals
• Located on the banks of the Aji and Niari rivers
• Was the capital of the then Surashtra State
Indore :
• Largest city in MP located in the Malwa Plateau

• Known as ‘Mini Bombay’
• Old capital of Holker Maratha family
• Industries: Cotton textile, soya, pharmaceuticals
• Located on the bank of the Sipra River
Dewas :
• Important industrial city of MP, located between Indore and Ujjain

• Industries-Cotton textile, soya processing
• Seat of two princely states during the British Raj
• Known for the Bank Note Press
Hoshangabad :
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• Important industrial town of MP, located on the southern bank of the Narmada to the south of Bhopal
• Industries- Paper, pulp, textiles
• Earlier called as Narmadapur
• Known for the Security Papers Mill
• Famous for beautiful Sethani Ghat along the banks of the Narmada
Jabalpur :
• Important industrial city of eastern Madhya Pradesh, located on the bank of the Narmada
• A million plus city, seat of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh
• Mainly known for defence related industries
• Headquarters of the West Central Railway
Satna :
• Important industrial city of eastern Madhya Pradesh

• Known for cement industry
• A border city touching Uttar Predesh
• Asia’s biggest cement factory known as ‘Prism Cement’ is in Satna
Coimbatore :
• Important industrial city of Tamilnadu located in the Palghat region on the bank of the Noyil River
• Known as ‘the Manchester of South India’
• Has the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology
Titagarh :
• Important industrial city of West Bengal on bank of the Hoogly River

• Known for jute and paper industries
• Has 9 mills of jute
Budge Budge:
• Industrial city of West Bengal on the bank of the Hoogly River near Haldia
• Known for jute textile industry and paper and pulp
• Has 8 mills of jute
Risra :
• Industrial town in the Hoogly Valley of West Bengal, near Titagarh

• Modern jute industry started here in 1855
• Petrochemical industry
Serampore :
• Industrial town of West Bengal on the bank of the Hoogly River, near Titagarh
• Known for jute industry
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Kakinara:
• Industrial town of West Bengal on the bank of the Hoogly River, near Titagarh
• Known for jute textile and paper industries
Naihati :
• Industrial town of West Bengal on the bank of the Hoogly River

• Known for jute textile and paper industries
Cuttack :
• Important industrial city of Odisha located at the apex of the Mahanadi Delta
• Industries – jute textile, sugar, handicrafts
• Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI)
• The former capital and the commercial capital of Odisha
• Has famous Katak Chandi Temple
Tumkur:
• Industrial town of Karnataka, located northeast of Bengaluru

• Industries- silk, cotton and woolen textiles
Belgaum :
• Important industrial and historical city located in northwestern Karnataka near the border with
Maharashtra
• Industries- cotton and woolen textiles,
Kodagu :
• Important commercial and historical city of southern Karnataka

• Known for trade of coffee, cardamom
• Largest coffee producing region of India
• Tourists are attracted to this former princely state of Coorg and pilgrims come here to bathe in the
Hemavati River
Murshidabad :
• Important industrial and historical city of West Bengal located along the border of Bangladesh
• Once it was made capital of Bengal by its Nawab, has a palace of the Nawab
• Industries: Cotton, woolen and silk textiles
Anantnag :
• Situated along the bank of the Liddar River

• Second largest city of the Kashmir Valley
• Industries: silk, carpet, gabbas
• Sulphur springs are known for medical value
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• Route to Amarnath passes through it
Baramula :
• City of Kashmir Valley, situated on the bank of the Jhelum River near the LoC
• Third largest city of Kashmir Valley after Srinagar and Anantnag
• Industries: woolen, silk, gabba, namada
Udhampur :
• City of Jammu and Kashmir just north of Jammu city

• Headquarters of the Indian Army’s Northern Command
• Also has the Forward Base Support Unit (FBSU)of the Indian Air Force
Dhariwal :
• Industrial city of Punjab near Amritsar, in the Gurdaspur district

• Largest centre of woolen textile in the state
• Main station on the Amritsar- Pathankot rail line
• Gurudwara Burj Sahib is just 1 km away from the station
Ludhiana :
• Important industrial city of central Punjab

• Industries – Cotton, woolen and silk textiles and hosiery
• Largest centre of hosiery manufacturing in India
Rajahmundry :
• Main city of the East Godawari district of Andhra Pradesh

• Central Tobacco Research Institute is located
• A collection centre of rice and salt
Bellary :
• Historical and industrial city of Karnataka near border with Andhra Pradesh & Telangana
• Bellary region has good reserve of iron ore
• Has a sixteenth century fort
• Industries – sugar, textiles
Hassan :
• Important city of Karnataka

• It has the Master Central facility (MCF) of ISRO
• Belur, Halebidu and Shravanbelagola are located in the vicinity
Anjar :
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• Important town of the Kachchh region of Gujarat, near Kandla
• Capital of Kachchh thrice in the past
• Badly affected the earthquake of 2001, in which the the old fortified town was shattered
Lavasa :
• Located near Pune, is the first hill station of independent India

• The river has been dammed to create scenic lake
• Built principally for tourism, hospitality and leisure
• Only pollution – free industries will be allowed
Munabao :
• A village in the Barmer district bordering Pakistan

• Thar Express runs through it and connects Khokrapar town in Pakistan
• Reopened in February 2006
Avadi :
• Located in Thiruvallur district of Tamilnadu

• Avadi is an acronym for ‘Armoured Vehicles and Ammunition Depot of India’
• About 23 km northwest of Chennai
• Has divisions of IAF, Indian Army, CRPF, Navy etc.
• T-72 tanks are produced
Alwar :
• Located in the northeastern part of Rajasthan between Delhi and Jaipur

• Comes under the NCR of Delhi
• Known for the Sariska NP and Tiger Reserve
• Kho- Dariba copper mines are located nearby it
Gorakhpur :
• Located on the bank of the Rapti River, is an important city of northeastern Uttar Pradesh
• Headquarters of the North- Eastern Railway Zone
• Industries- fertilizers, sugar, printing press
Hubli :
• Important industrial city of western Karnataka located between Dharwad and Gadag
• Headquarters of the South- Western Railway
• Industries- cotton and woolen textiles
• Twin city of Dharwad- Together they form the second largest urban agglomeration of Karnataka
Secunderabad :
• Twin city of Hyderabad, just north of Hyderabad

• Established by the British as their cantonment on the outskirt of Hyderabad
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• Headquarters of the South- Central Railway Zone
Bilaspur :
• Second most important city of Chhattisgarh located on the Mumbai-Kolkata railway line
• Headquarters of the South- East Central Railway Zone and the seat of the High Court
of Chhattisgarh
Udaipur :
• Located on the NH-8 (old numbering) and Delhi -Mumbai rail line is the most important city of southern
Rajasthan
• Old capital of a princely state
• Known for palaces, lakes and luxury hotels
• Industries- Zinc smelting, fertilizers, cement, marble
Pokhran :
• Located in the Thar Desert on the NH-11 between Phalodi and Jaisalmer
• Nuclear testing site of 1974 and 1998, conducted by India
• Pokhran means ‘the place of five mirages’
• Located between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer
Ganganagar :
• Northernmost city of Rajasthan located near the border with Pakistan and Punjab, on the NH-11
• Known as ‘the Granary of Rajasthan’
• Main industries- cotton textile, sugar
• Benefited by the Indira Gandhi Canal
Dimapur :
• Main commercial hub of Nagaland

• A gateway to Nagaland and Manipur
• Important military centre
• Only city of Nagaland which is connected by both rail and air
Pinjore :
• A unit of HMT is located here

• Tractor production
• Breeding centre of vultures
• Located in the Panchkula district of Haryana
• Yadvindra Gardens are great attraction
Mawsynram :
• Located in the Khasi Hills, 22 km west of Cherrapunji

• Receives highest average rainfall in the world due to its funnel shaped topography
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• Inhabited by the Khasi tribes
• The region is ecologically degraded bue to of shifting cultivation
Cherrapunji :
• Located in the southern part of the Khasi Hills in Meghalaya

• Receives one of the highest rainfalls in the world
• Inhabited by the Khasi tribes and shifting cultivation has degraded the ecology
Kargil :
• Located near the LoC

• Kargil district is the only Muslim majority district of the Ladakh region
• Known for the Kargil War, 1999
Dras :
• Border town located in the Kargil district

• Often called as ‘the gateway to Ladakh’
• The coldest inhabited place in India
• Has the Dras War Memorial
Mandsaur :
• Located in western MP near the border with Rajasthan to the southwest of the Gandhi Sagar
• Largest amount of opium production in India
• Tourist places: Pashupatinath Temple, Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, Mandsaur Fort
Anand :
• Important industrial city of Gujarat located between Vadodara and Ahmedabad on the NH-8
• Birth place of the White Revolution in India
• Known for the Anand Milk Union Ltd. (AMUL )
Leh :
• Largest city of the Ladakh region located on the bank of the Indus River
• Represents a typical culture of Ladakh and Buddhists
• Has so many Buddhist monasteries
• Attracts large number of tourists
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Amarnath Caves :
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• Located on the Greater Himalayas in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir
• The cave has limestone topography and a natural Shivling is formed
• Accessible by the Pahalgam and Baltal (Sonmarg) routes
• Thousands of pilgrims visit to have a Darshan of the Shivling
Bhatinda :
• Important industrial city of southwestern Punjab, located in the Malwa region

• Named after the Bhati Rajput kings
• Attractions : Two thermal power plants, a fertilizer plant, a large oil refinery, the Qila Mubarak Fort
Nangal :
• Small city of Punjab located on the bank of the Satluj, downstream of the Bhakra Dam
• The Nangal Dam and an HEP plant are located
• Has a nitrogenous fertilizer plant
Nasik :
• A million plus city of northwestern Maharashtra

• Maha Kumbh Mela
• Indian Army School of Artillery
• Printing and Security Press
Diamond Harbour :
• Located on the bank of the Hoogly River in the South 24 Parganas district
• It was a stronghold of Portuguese pirates
• A minor port, to which the West Bengal is considering to upgrade and expand
• A popular tourist destination
Asansol :
• Second million plus city of WB located along the Damodar River

• Raniganj, Kulti, Burnpur , Durgapur, Chitranjan and Jayaknagar, all lies in its vicinity
• An important industrial centre
• Also known as an important educational and Bengali cultural centre
Malegaon :
• Located in the Nashik district of Maharashtra at the confluence of the Girna and Mausam rivers
• A major textile producing centre
• Shot into news because of a serial bomb blasts that took place on 8 September 2006
Itarsi :
• Located to the south of Hoshangabad in MP

• One of the star railway junctions of India
• Geographical centre of the country
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• Tawa Dam and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary are located in the vicinity
• Economic acticities: Ordanance factory, soya oil mills, plywood
Guntur :
• Important industrial city of AP, located at the head of the Krishna Delta, just south of Vijaywada
• Located on NH-16 and the Chennai-Kolkata main rail line
• Known for sugar, cement and leather goods
• Largest market (mandi ) of chilly in Asia
Vijaywada :
• It lies on the banks of Krishna river surrounded by the hills of Eastern Ghats known as Indrakeeladri
Hills.
• A million plus city –Second largest city of Andhra Pradesh after Vishakhapatnam
• Often referred as ‘the Business Capital of Andhra Pradesh’
• Industries :Automobile body building, garment
Jalandhar :
• Third largest city of Punjab after Amritsar and Ludhiana, located on the NH-1 midway between
Ludhiana and Amritsar
• Has big cantonment and military air base
• Known for sport goods, musical and surgical equipments
Meerut :
• A million plus city of western UP, to the northeast of Delhi

• History – Start of 1857 Freedom Struggle, Meerut Conspiracy
• Located on the Delhi- Saharanpur rail line
• Known for sports goods
Jamnagar :
• Important industrial city of Gujarat near the Gulf of Kachchh

• Industries – Oil refinery, petrochemicals, textiles
• Jamnagar Refinery of the Reliance Industries is the largest refinery of India
Koyali :
• Located near Baroda (Vadodara) in Gujarat

• Largest public sector refinery of India, operated by the IOC
• Most efficient oil refinery of IOCL
• Present day capacity is 13.70 MMTPA
Bina :
• Important industrial town of MP near Sagar, located at the right side of the Betwa River
• Important railway junction of central India
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• An oil refinery is being developed
Mathura :
• Important historical, religious and industrial city of western UP, located on the bank of the Yamuna.
• Reputed as the birth place of the Lord Krishna, Vrindavan just north of it
• Has an oil refinery
Kanpur :
• Largest city of UP located on the bank of Ganga.

• Known as ‘the Manchaster of North India’
• Industries- cotton, woollen textiles, leather, sugar
Kharagpur :
• Located near Medinipur in West Bengal.

• Known for its IIT
• Largest railway platform in India
• Chennai-Kolkata and Kolkata- Mumbai main rail lines pass through it
Latur :
• Important city of Maharashtra, located on the Balaghat Range, on the bank of the Manjira River
• Suffered the earthquake of 1993
• Industries- sugar, cotton textiles
Lothal :
• Ancient city of the Indus Valley Civilization, located in the Kheda district of Gujarat near the Gulf of
Khambhat
• It was a port city and a trading centre
• Famous tourist destination
Ropar :
• Also known as Rupnagar

• Located in eastern Punjab on the bank of the Satluj
• Ancient city during the Harappan Civilization
• Nangal city and dam are located near to it
Madhubani :
• Located in the northern Bihar near the Nepal border, west of the Kosi River
• Known for the famous Madhubani Paintings
• It is the cultural heart of Mithilanchal, being the birth place of many literary people and home to
Madhubani Paintings.
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Nizamabad :
• Important industrial and historical city of northern AP.

• Industries- sugar, paper, cotton textile
• Nizam Sagar is located in the vicinity
Nagpur :
• Winter session of Maharashtra Legislature

• Most important city of the Vidarbh region of Maharashtra, located north of the Nag River, a tributary of
the Wainganga where the NH-6 and the NH-7 intersect each other
• Site of the NEERI
• Known for Nagpur oranges and bananas
Pampore :
• situated on the eastern side of river Jehlum on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway

• Known for saffron, almond, walnut and apricot
• Has a solar energy centre
Raichur :
• Important industrial and historical city of Karnataka located between the Krishna and the Tungabhadra
rivers
• Famous for the wars during the time of the Vijaynagar Empire in the Raichur Doab
Ranchi :
• Capital and industrial city of Jharkhand, located on the bank of the Subarnarekha River
• HMT and other heavy engineering industries
• A million plus city according to the census -2011
• Known for the hospital of mentally disturbed people
• Often called as the Manchester of the East
• Referred as the ‘City of Waterfalls’ – Dasham, Hundru, Jonha, Hirni, Panchghat falls are near to it.
Dhanbad :
• Industrial city of Jharkhand, located between the Barakar and the Damodar
• Industries : Iron and steel, fertilizers, cement, heavy engineering goods
• Coal mining centre and zinc smelter
• Jharia coal mines lie very close to it
• Sites of Indian School of Mines and Central Fuel Research Institute
Aligarh :
• Important industrial, historical and educational city of western UP in the Ganga- Yamuna Doab
• Known for the Aligarh Muslim University
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• Famous traditionally for lock – making and printing
Silchar :
• Important city of southern Assam located in the Surma Valley

• The region is agriculturally productive and has tea plantations
• Headquarters of the Cachar district
• About 90% resident are Sylhetis
• Trading and processing of tea, rice and other agricultural products
Solan :
• Important city of southern HP, located between Kalka and Shimla

• Kalka- Shimla Railway passes through it
• Has diversified industries
• Known as ‘the mushroom city of India’
• Also known for brewery – Mohan Meakin Brewery (India’s oldest brewery)
Dehradun :
• Capital of Uttarakhand located in the southwestern part of the state

• An academic and learning centre
• Institutions : Forest Research Institute, ONGC, Indian Petroleum Research Institute, Wadia Instiute of
Himalayan Geology
• Also has Indian Military Academy and the Doon School
Surendranagar :
• Industrial city of Gujarat, located between Ahmedabad and Rajkot, west of the Nal Sarovar Bird
Sanctuary
• Called as the Gateway to Saurashtra
• Industries – cotton textiles, groundnut processing
Uttarkashi :
• City of northwestern Uttarakhand, located on the bank of the Bhagirathi River

• Routes to Gangotri and Yamunotri pass through it
• Had suffered a major earthquake
• Located on the Great Himalayas
Junagarh :
• Important industrial and historical city of southern Saurashtra

• Gir NP lies in the vicinity
• Located at the foot of the Girnar Hills
• Earlier it was a princely state
• Favourite place for tourists
Kasauli :
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• Located in the Solan district of HP
• A small cantonment town
• Home of the Kasauli Brewery – the highest brewery and distillery in the world
• Established in 1842 as a hill station by the British
• Has Central Institute for Medical Research (CIMR)
Saharanpur :
• Important industrial and religious city of northwestern UP

• Founded in 1340 and named after Sufi Saint Shah Haroon Chisti
• Industries – paper, sugar
• Has Institute of Paper Technology, Sericulture Research and Fruit Research Institute and Aviation
Training Centre
Baraily :
• Important city of UP located between Delhi and Lucknow in the Rohilkhand

• Founded in 1537 by the Mughal governor Makrand Ray, later became capital of Rohillas
• Involved in the 1857 uprisings
• Industries- sugar, gas- based fertilizer
Rae Baraeli :
• Important industrial and historical city of UP, in the Ganga- Gomati Doab
• Situated on the bank of the Sai River
• Has many architectural features
• Nearby town Lalganj will host a new Railway Coach Factory
Naini :
• A satellite town of Allahabad

• Has the Naini Jail – Nehru was jailed here
• Located on the bank of the Yamuna
• Has many educational institutions and some important companies
Ratlam :
• Important industrial town and railway junction on the Delhi-Mumbai railway line
• Has a railway workshop
• Located few kms south of the Tropic of Cancer
Jorhat :
• Important city of the Upper Assam Valley, located south of the Majuli Island
• The last capital of the Ahom Kingdom
• Known as ‘the Cultural Capital of Assam’
• Has been the principal place of pilgrimage of Vaishnovites
Tinsukia :
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• Important city of the Upper Assam Valley, northwest of Digboi
• The region is rich in oil and coal
• There is an oil refinery
Kangra :
• Located on the Dhauladhar Range in HP, north of the Pong Reservoir

• Has a number of temples visited by large number of devotees
Gwalior :
• Most impotant northern city of MP.

• Old capital of the Sindhiyas
• Has the Gwalior Fort, Tomb of Tansen, Saas Bahu Temple etc
Bikaner :
• Important industrial and historical city of the northern Thar Desert, located on the NH-15, and the NH-
11 terminates here
• Named after the founder of the city, Rao Bika, a Rajput chief,
• Has Rjasthan Agricultural University
• Wool collecting and camel breeding centre
Jodhpur :
• Second largest city of Rajasthan, is a famous historical city on the Thar Desert
• Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) is located here
• Seat of a princely state with same name and the capital of the Marwar
• Tourism for forts, palaces and temples
• Known as the Sun City as well as the Blue City
• A million plus city according to the census -2011
Jaisalmer :
• Important historical city in the western Rajasthan, located on the NH-15

• Desert National Park is situated in the vicinity
• Nicknamed as ‘the Golden City’
• Tourism is the major industry
Mysore :
• Most important city of southern Karnataka

• Second largest city of the state
• It was the capital and princely state till 1917
• Industries : Silk, sandalwood crafts
• Tourist attractions: Royal Palaces, Giant Nandi, Krishnaraj Sagar Dam, Brindaban Gardens
• Famous for the Dussehra Festival
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Belur :
• Located on the right bank of the Hugli River, about 20 km to the north of Haora, in WB
• An important suburb of Kolkata
• Well known for the Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission
Thanjavur :
• Important city in the Kaveri Delta in TN

• Brihadeswara Temple
• Known for the craft industries
• Dates back to the Sangam Age
• Rose into prominence during the Later Cholas
• Great Living Chola Temples – World Heritage Site
Yercaud :
• A hill station near Salem in TN, on the Shevroy Hills

• Tourism, agriculture (coffee)
• Sandalwood, teak and silver oak are abundant
• Summer Festival is held in May annually and is a cantonment town
Ranikhet :
• A hill station and cantonment town west of Almora in Uttarakhand

• Home of the Kumaon Regiment and Naga Regiment
• The British established here in 1869, the headquarters of the Kumaon Regiment
Rajauri :
• Border city of J&K near the LoC

• Industry – silk
• Strategically located
• Part of Kambojas during the Mahabharata time
Poonch :
• Important border city along the LoC

• Part of Kambojas during the Mahabharata time
• Pir Panjal separates the Poonch Valley from the Kashmir Valley
• The Mughal Road connects it with the Kashmir Valley
Akhnoor :
• Important border city along the LoC in the Jammu district

• Located at the foot hills of the Himalayas
• On the bank of the Chenab
• Has caves, which were believed to be place of hiding for the Pandavas
• Related story with cleaning of eye of Janhgir
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Kupwara :
• Important border city along the LoC

• Tourist place – Lolab Valley, Sogam
• Sogam is known for meadows, mountains, gushing waters and fresh air
Uri :
• Important border city along the LoC, located on the bank of the Jhelum, in the Baramulla district of J&K
• Suffered the Earthquake of 2005
Gulbarga :
• Formerly part of Hyderabad state

• Founded by the Bahmani Sultans in the 14th century as their capital
• The Sharana Basaveshwara Temple is a major attraction to both Hindu and Muslim devotees
Jayak Nagar :
• An industrial city of West Bengal located in the vicinity of Kolkata

• Aluminium Corporation of India Ltd was formed here in 1937 which accelerated the growth of
aluminium industry in India
Amritsar :
• A million plus city of Punjab located at the Pakistan border

• Founded in 1577 by Ram Das, the fourth Guru of Sikhs
• Golden Temple
• Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, 1919
Bhuj :
• Most important city of the Kachchh region

• Earthquakes – 1819- Allah Bund formed
• and in 2001- 30,000 people died
• Established by Rao Hamirji in 1510
• Capital of an old princely state
Pune :
• A million plus city of Maharashtra located on the eastern side of the Sahyadris
• Shivaji’s home and Maratha capital in 1750
• Industries- Cotton textiles, automobiles
• Hub of research and educational institutions
• Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
Pushkar :
• Located at 14 km northwest of Ajmer
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• One of the five sacred dhams of Hindus
• Often called as the Tirth Raj
• Lies on the shore of the Pushkar Lake
• Home of many temples
• Known for the Pushkar Fair
Trichy :
• Important city of TN located at the start of the Kaveri Delta

• Chola fortified town in the second century and known to Greek geographer Ptolemy
Itanagar :
• Capital of Arunachal Pradesh

• Has a fourteenth century fort, a Buddhist temple and Arunachal University
Dispur :
• Capital of Assam, located 5 km to the south of Guwahati

• University of Guwahati
• Industries: paper, tea, coal marketing
Kohima :
• Capital and historical city of Nagaland

• Inhabited mainly by the Angami tribes
• NH-2 connects it with Dimapur and Imphal
• Burial place of the British soldiers died in the World War –II
Aizawl :
• Capital and primate city of Mizoram, located on the Mizo Hills

• Known for the Lushai Culture
• Dampa WLS is located in the vicinity
Agratala :
• Capital of Tripura located near the Bangladesh border on the Haroa River, a tributary of the Meghna
• Industries: Rice processing, tea
• The Jagannath Temple has a shape of four storeyed shikhara
Gangtok :
• Capital and the largest city of Sikkim

• Located on the Siwalik Hills
• Centre of Buddhist culture
• Centre of Sikkim’s tourism industry
• Has the Enchey Monastery built in 1840
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Port Blair :
• Capital and the largest city of Andaman and Nicobar located in the southeastern part of the South
Andaman Island
• Base of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard
• Has the famous Cellular Jail
Kavaratti :
• Capital of Lakshadweep on the Kavaratti Island

• A favourite tourist place
• India’s first low temperature desalination plant (LLTD) was opened here in May 2005
• Has an OTEC plant
Silvassa :
• Capital of Dadra and Nagar Haveli

• Has a number of factories and industries
• Home of the Warli Culture
• Naturally a beautiful place
Panaji :
• Capital of Goa, located on the bank of the Mandovi River on the Tiswadi Island
• NIO is located here
• Panaji means “land that never floods”
Gandhinagar :
• Located on the bank of the Sabarmati, north of Ahmedabad

• Capital of Gujarat
• Home to MNCs, thermal power plant, the Akshardham Temple
• Planned by H.K. Mewada and Prakash Apte
Bhubaneswar :
• Located on the Mahanadi Delta,

• The capital and a religious city of Odisha
• Famous for the temple architectures
• Dates back to the third century BC, when it was the capital of the Kalinga Empire
• Has University of Agriculture and Technology , Utkal University , Tribal Research Institute
Raipur :
• Capital and the largest city of Chhattisgarh located on the bank of the Kharun River, a tributary of the
Mahanadi
• Founded in the fourteenth century by Rai Brahma Deo of the Ratanpur Dynasty
• Located on the NH-6 and Mumbai-Kolkata main rail line
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Jammu :
• Largest city in the Jammu region and the winter capital of the state
• Known as ‘the City of Temples’
• Vaishno Devi is located in the vicinity
Srinagar :
• Largest city and capital of J&K

• Located on the bank of the Jhelum
• Largest city in India without a Hindu majority
• Famous for lakes, house boats, handicrafts, gardens,dry fruits etc
Diu :
• Located on the Diu Island’s eastern edge

• Site of the Battle of Diu in 1509
• Known for fortresses and Portuguese Cathedral
• Tourist destination
Also read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_industrial_cities_in_India
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Hydroelectric Power Plants in India
India is 5th globally for installed hydroelectric power capacity. As of 31 March 2020,
India’s installed utility-scale hydroelectric capacity was 46,000 MW or 12.3% of its total
utility power generation capacity. Additional smaller hydroelectric power units with a
total capacity of 4,683 MW (1.3% of its total utility power generation capacity) have been
installed.
The end of the 19th century saw the development of power in India. In 1897, electricity was
commissioned in Darjeeling and in 1902, a Hydro Power station at Sivasamudram in
Karnataka was commissioned.
• The Koyna Hydroelectric Project is the largest completed hydroelectric power plant
in India. It has a power capacity of 1960 MW.
• The first hydroelectric power station was the Shivanasamudra hydroelectric power
station.
• Tehri Hydro Electric Power plant is the highest hydroelectric power project in the
country, also Tehri Dam is the tallest one in India. Now, NTPC has taken over the
project (Since 2019).
• Srisailam Hydro Power Plant is the third largest working project in India.
• Nathpa Jhakri Hydroelectric Power Plant is the biggest underground hydroelectric
power project in the country.
• Sardar Sarovar Dam is the world’s second-largest concrete dam.
Hydropower projects are classified as large and small hydro projects based on their sizes.
Different countries have different size criteria to classify small hydropower project
capacity ranging from 10MW to 50 MW.
In India, hydropower plants of 25MW or below capacity are classified as small hydro,
which have further been classified into micro (100kW or below), mini (101kW-2MW), and
small hydro (2-25MW) segments.
Hydro Power was being looked after by the Ministry of Power prior to 1989 mainly with
the help of State Electricity Boards. In 1989, plant capacity up to 3MW and below was
transferred to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), and as such 63 MW
aggregate installed capacity of 3MW and below hydro projects came within the jurisdiction
of MNRE.
Many initiatives were taken by the Ministry since then for the promotion of small hydro
which included implementation of a UNDP-GEF assisted Technical Assistance project
entitled “Optimizing Development of Small Hydro Resources in Hilly Regions of
India” and India-Renewable Resources Development Project with IDA credit line having
interalia small hydro development component with a target of 100MW canal-based small
hydro power projects through private sector participation.
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Subsequently, plant capacity up to 25MW and below was entrusted with the MNRE in
November 1999.
The estimated potential of 21135.37 MW from 7135 sites for power generation in the
country from small/mini hydel projects is assessed by the Alternate Hydro Energy Centre
(AHEC) of IIT Roorkee in its Small Hydro Database of July 2016.
The hilly States of India mainly Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir
and Uttarakhand, and constitute around half of this potential. Other potential States are
Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Kerala.
Small Hydro Energy
List of Hydroelectric Power Plants in India

States River Hydroelectric Power Plant
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Nagarjunasagar Hydro Electric Power
Andhra Pradesh Krishna
plant
Andhra Pradesh Krishna Srisailam Hydro Electric Power plant
Andhra Pradesh, Orissa Machkund Machkund Hydro Electric Power plant
Sardar Sarovar Hydro Electric Power

Gujarat Narmada
plant
Himachal Pradesh Baira Baira-Siul Hydroelectric Power plant
Bhakra Nangal Hydroelectric Power

Himachal Pradesh Sutlej
plant
Himachal Pradesh Beas Dehar Hydroelectric Power plant
Nathpa Jhakri Hydroelectric Power

Himachal Pradesh Sutlej
plant
Jammu and Kashmir Chenab Salal Hydro Electric Power plant
Jammu and Kashmir Jhelum Uri Hydro Electric Power plant
Subarnarekha Hydroelectric Power

Jharkhand Subarnarekha
plant
Karnataka Kalinadi Kalinadi Hydro Electric Power plant
Karnataka Sharavathi Sharavathi Hydroelectric Power plant
Shivanasamudra Hydroelectric Power

Karnataka Kaveri
plant
Kerala Periyar Idukki Hydro Electric Power plant
Madhya Pradesh Sone Bansagar Hydroelectric Power plant
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Madhya Pradesh Narmada Indira Sagar Hydro Electric Power plant
Madhya Pradesh, Uttar

Rihand Rihand Hydroelectric Power plant
Pradesh
Maharashtra Koyna Koyna Hydroelectric Power plant
Manipur Leimtak Loktak Hydro Electric Power plant
Odisha Sileru Balimela Hydro Electric Power plant
Odisha Mahanadi Hirakud Hydro Electric Power plant
Sikkim Rangit Rangit Hydroelectric Power plant
Sikkim Teesta Teesta Hydro Electric Power plant
Uttarakhand Bhagirathi Tehri Hydro Electric Power plant
Himachal Pradesh Baspa Baspa-II Hydro Electric Power plant
Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Electric Power

Himachal Pradesh Satluj
Plant
Himachal Pradesh Beas Pandoh Dam
Himachal Pradesh Ravi Chamera-I
Himachal Pradesh Ravi Chamera-II
Himachal Pradesh Beas Pong
Jammu and Kashmir Chenab Dulhasti
Uttar Pradesh Rihand/Renuka Obra Hydroelectric Power Plant
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Baira Siul Power Station
• Baira Siul Power Station is a major step towards harnessing the hydroelectric
potential in Himachal Pradesh.
• It envisages utilization of the combined inflow of three tributaries of the Ravi river,
namely Baira, Siul and Bhaledh for generation of power on a run-of-the-river basis.
• The installed capacity is 180 MW (3 x 60 MW). The annual designed energy from the
project is 779.28 MU’s in a 90% dependable year with 95% availability of installed
capacity.
• The project headquarter is at Surangani.
Machkund Hydro Electric Power plant
• Machkund Hydroelectric Project is located in the Machkund Dam of Koraput district

in Odisha.
• The first unit of the power project is commissioned in 1959 and the total installed
capacity of the power plant is 120 MWe. The hydroelectric project status of the power
plant is Operational.
• Jalaput Dam
• The Jalaput Dam is a hydroelectric dam built on the Machkund River, a
tributary of the Godavari River.
Balimela Hydro Electric Power plant
• Balimela Hydroelectric Project is erected in the Sileru River (a tributary of the

Godavari river) of Balimela Town in the Malkangiri District of Odisha.
• Balimela Dam is in Malkangiri District, which is 35 kms, from the east of Malkangiri.
• Balimela Dam is a joint project of the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh
Governments and the inflow into Balimela Reservoir is shared between the two
States on a 50:50 basis.
Rangit Hydroelectric Power plant
• Rangit Power Station is located in the State of Sikkim having an Installed Capacity
of 60 MW (3×20 MW).
• It uses the water of river Rangit for the generation of Power.
• It is a run-of-the-river power project.
• The beneficiary states of this power station are Sikkim, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar,
Jharkhand, and Damodar Valley Corporation.
Obra Hydroelectric Power Plant
• Obra Hydroelectric Power Plant is erected in the Obra village of Sonbhadra district
in Uttar Pradesh.
• The water source for the generation of power in the plant is Rihand/Renuka River.
• Dam: Obra Dam
• Location of Dam: upstream of confluence of Rihand/Renuka river with Son river
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• The power plant is owned by the Uttar Pradesh State Government and the operator
of the plant is Uttar Pradesh Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited. The Beneficiary States of the
power project are Uttar Pradesh and its nearby states.
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Thermal Power Plants in India
• Thermal power plants contribute the largest proportion of electricity into the
national power grid of India.
• As the name suggests, thermal power plants generate electricity by using heat
from a fuel source. The heat usually generates steam in a boiler which is then used
to run a steam turbine connected to a generator. They are classified according to
the heat source as follows:
• Coal-Fired
• Gas
• Diesel or Liquid fuel
• Geothermal
• Biomass
• Waste Material
• India mainly uses three types of thermal power plants which are listed below along
with their installed capacity as of January 2021:
• Coal: 206404.50 MW
• Gas: 24956.51 MW
• Liquid Fuel(Diesel): 509.71 MW
• The total capacity of thermal power plants as on January 31, 2021, all across India
is 231870.72 MW.
• The electricity generated by these plants adds up to 71% of the total power
generation in the country.
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Installed GENERATION CAPACITY(FUELWISE) As on 31.08.2021
INSTALLED GENERATION % of SHARE IN

CATAGORY
CAPACITY(MW) Total
Fossil Fuel 2,34,858 60.9%
Coal 2,02,805 52.6%
Lignite 6,620 1.7%
Gas 24,924 6.5%
Diesel 510 0.1%
Total Fossil Fuel 2,34,258 60.4%
Non-Fossil Fuel
RES (Incl. Hydro) 1,47,096 37.9%
Hydro 46,412 12.0 %
Wind, Solar & Other RE 1,00,683 25.9 %
Nuclear 6,780 1.7%
Total Non-Fossil Fuel 1,53,876 39.6%
Total Installed Capacity(Fossil Fuel &

3,88,134 100%
Non-Fossil Fuel)
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List of Thermal Power Plants in India
Thermal Power Plant Location State
Amarkantak TPS Chachai Madhya Pradesh
Anpara TPS Anpara Uttar Pradesh
Anta Thermal Power Station Anta Rajasthan
Arasmeta CPP (private) Janjgir Chattisgarh
Auraiya Thermal Power Station Dibiyapur Uttar Pradesh
Badarpur TPP Badarpur NCT Delhi
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Bakreswar TPS Suri West Bengal
Barauni TPP Barauni Bihar
Barsingsar LignitPower Plant e Barsingsar Rajasthan
Bellary TPP Kudatini Karnataka
Bhusawal TPS Deepnagar Maharastra
Bokarao Thermal Power Station ‘B’ Bokaro Jharkhand
Chandrapur STPS Chandrapur Maharastra
Chandrapura Thermal Power Station Chandrapura Jharkhand
Chhabra STPP Mothipura Rajasthan
Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram TPP Yamunanagar Haryana
Dr Narla Tatarao TPS Ibrahimpatnam Telangana
Dr Shyama Prakash Mukharjee TPP — Chattisgarh
Durgapur Thermal Power Station Durgapur West Bengal
Durgapur TPP Durgapur West Bengal
Ennore TPS Ennore Tamilnadu
Farakka STPS Nagarun West Bengal
Faridabad Thermal Power Plant Mujedi Haryana
Feroz Gandhi Unchahar TPP Unchahar Uttar Pradesh
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Gandhinagar TPS Gandhinagar Gujarat
Giral Lignite TPS Thumbli Rajasthan
Guru Gobind SSTP Ghanauli Punjab
Guru Hargobind TP Lehra Mohabbat Punjab
Guru Nanak dev TP Bathinda Punjab
Harduaganj TPS Harduaganj Uttar Pradesh
IB Thermal PP Banharpali Orissa
Indraprashta PS Delhi NCT Delhi
Jhanor-Gandhar TPS Urjanagar Gujarat
Jindal Megha PP (private) Tamnar Chattisgarh
JSW Vijanagar PP-II (private) Vijaynagar Karnataka
Kahalgaon STPS Kahalgaon Bihar
Kakatiya TPS Chelpur Telangana
Kaparkheda TPS Kaparkheda Maharastra
Kawas TPS Adityanagar Gujarat
Kolaghat TPS Mecheda West Bengal
Koradi TPS Koradi Maharastra
Korba STPP Jamani Palli Chattisgarh
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STPS Kota Rajasthan
Kothagudem TPS Paloncha Telangana
Kothagudem V stage TPS Paloncha Telangana
Kutch Lignite TPS Panandhro Gujarat
Lanco Amarkantak TPP (private) Pathadi Chattisgarh
Lanco Udupi TPP (private) Nandikoor Karnataka
Mejia Thermal Power Station Durlavpur West Bengal
Mettur TPS Metturdam Tamilnadu
Muzaffarpur TPP Kanti Bihar
Nashik TPS Nashik Maharastra
National Capital TPP Vidyutnagar Uttar Pradesh
Neyveli TPS 1 Neyveli Tamilnadu
Neyveli TPS 2 Neyveli Tamilnadu
North Chennai TPS Athipattu Tamilnadu
Obra TPS Obra Uttar Pradesh
Panipat TPP 1 Assan Haryana
Panipat TPP 2 Assan Haryana
Panki TPS Panki Uttar Pradesh
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Paras TPS Vidyutnagar Maharastra
Pariccha TPS Pariccha Uttar Pradesh
Parli TPS Parli-Vaijnath Maharastra
Raichur Super TPS Raichur Karnataka
Rajghat PS Delhi NCT Delhi
Rajiv Gandhi CCPP Kayamkulam Kerala
Rajwest Lignite Power Plant (private) — Rajasthan
Ramagundam B TPS Ramagundam Telangana
Ramagundam STPS Jyothi Nagar Telangana
Rayalaseema TPS Cuddapah Telangana
Rihand TPP Rihand Nagar Uttar Pradesh
Rosa TPP (private) Rosa Uttar Pradesh
Sabarmati TPS (Private) Ahamadabad Gujarat
Sagardighi TPS Manigram West Bengal
Sanjay Gandhi TPS Birsinghpur Madhya Pradesh
Santaldih TPS — West Bengal
Satpura TPS Sarni Madhya Pradesh
Sikka TPS Jamnagar Gujarat
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Simhadri STPS Simhadri Andhra Pradesh
Singrauli Super Thermal Power Station Shaktinagar Uttar Pradesh
Sipat TPP Sipat Chattisgarh
Surat Lignite TPS Nani Naroli Gujarat
Suratgarh STPS Suratgarh Rajasthan
Talcher STPS Kaniha Orissa
Talcher TPP Talcher Orissa
Tanda TPP Vidyutnagar Uttar Pradesh
Tuticorin TPS Tuticorin Tamilnadu
Ukai TPS Ukai dam Gujarat
Vindhyachal STPS Vidhya Nagar Madhya Pradesh
VS Lignite Power Plant (private) Gurha Rajasthan
Wanakbori TPS Wanakbori Gujarat
* TPS – Thermal Power Station

* STPS – Super Thermal Power Station
* TPP – Thermal Power Plant
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URAN:
• Uran is part of the Navi Mumbai, lying in the Raigarh district near Panvel
• Uran Electric Project is Asia’s first power plant that runs on gas
• A SEZ has been developed here
DABHOL:
• Located at Anjanwel, Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra

• The plant was built by the Dabhol Power Company
• Due to political controversy its operation has been interrupted on several occasions.
TROMBAY:
• Located on the Trombay Island, to the southeast of the Salsette Island

• BARC is located here.
KAWAS:
• Gas-based 645 MW power plant, located in the Surat district of Gujarat

• Started power generation in 1992
• Uses gas from South Bassein Gas Field and water from Hazira Branch Canal
• Beneficiaries –Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa.
SIKKA:
• 2 units of 120 MW each

• Located near Jamnagar
• Coal-based power station
UTRAN:
• Gas-based power station located on the bank of Tapi River near Surat
• India’s first 370 MW gas–based combined cycle power station
DHUVARAN:
• 534 MW (Oil and Gas)

• The first power plant of Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB)
• Located near Khambhat in the Anand district
• All the units are built by the General Electric of the USA.
RAMAGUNDAM:
• NTPC power plant -2600 MW

• An industrial town in the Karimnagar district of Telangana in the northern part of the
state between the Godavari and the Maher rivers
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• Known as ‘the City of Energy’
• Currently the largest power station of S. India
• First ISO 14004 certified super thermal power plants in India.
KOTHAGUNDAM:
• Located to the east of Singareni in the Khammam district of Telangana

• Thermal power plant – 1680 MW
• Producer of low quality coal used for the thermal power generation
• Known as the Coal Town of S. India.
BHADRACHALAM:
• Located on the bank of the Godavari in the Khammam district of AP

• Bhadrachalam Temple devoted to the Lord Rama is a famous Hindu pilgrimage site.
KOLAGHAT:
• 1260 MW installed capacity

• Located on the bank of the Rupnarayan River in Midnapore East district of West
Bengal
• Has the largest state sector power plant of West Bengal.
BAKRESHWAR:
• Thermal power plant located in the Birbhum district of WB, on the bank of the
Bakreshwar River
• Installed Capacity – 1050 MW
GAURIPUR:
• 413 MW
• Located on the bank of the Brahmaputra River in the Dhubri district, in western
Assam.
NEYVELI:
• 2300 MW
• Located in the Cuddalore district of Tamilnadu, west of Puducherry
• Uses the locally mined lignite coals for power generation
• Managed by the Neyveli Lignite Corporation
OBRA:
• Located in the Sonbhadra district in the southern UP, on the bank of the Son River
• The coal-powered thermal power station has 13 units with the total capacity of 1550
MW
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HARDUAGANJ:
• Located in the Aligarh district in western Uttar Pradesh

• Coal based power plant has 7 units and the total capacity of 665 MW
• The place is also known as Kasimpur Power House
UNCHAHAR:
• Owned and operated by NTPC, is located in the Rae Bareli district of Uttar Pradesh
• Coal is supplied from the Jharia and North Karanpura coal fields
• Produces about 1050 MW of power from its 4 units of 210 MW each.
TUNDLA:
• Located in southwestern Uttar Pradesh in the Firozabad district, 24km away from
Agra
• Important town of the British period
• Bollywood actor Raj Babbar belongs to this place.
SINGRAULI:
• Largest coalfield of Madhya Pradesh in the eastern part of the state

• Thermal power plant of NTPC – 2000 MW
• The power palnt is located in the Singrauli district of UP.
SATPURA:
• 1142 MW
• Located at Sarni in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh
• One of the largest power plants of MP
• Satpura Dam is built specifically for the power plant
AMARKANTAK:
• Located near the border of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

• Source of the Narmada, Son, and tributary of Mahanadi
• Forms radial drainage pattern
• Famous tourist and pilgrimage center
• Has a thermal power plant (450 MW) nearby it
KORBA:
• Located on the bank of the Hasdo River in Chhattisgarh

• Coal producing region
• Aluminium plant (BALCO)
• Thermal power generation
• NTPC Plant – 2600 MW
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FARIDABAD:
• A million plus city of Haryana, a suburb of Delhi to its southeast

• An industrial city and container depot
• Gas based thermal power plant – 430 MW
PANIPAT:
• Located between Karnal (N) and Sonipat on the NH-1(old numbering)

• Site of the historical battles (3 famous wars)
• Thermal power plant – 440 MW + 920 MW
BADARPUR:
• Located in the southern part of Delhi near the city of Faridabad (Haryana )
KOTA:
• Located in the valley of the Chambal

• Named after Koteah Clan of the Bhils
• Kota Barrage and Rawatbhata are very close to it
• Located on the NH-12
• Famous for Kota stones (marbles )
PALANA:
• Located in Rajasthan
• Palana is known for lignite mines near Bikaner, which will be used in the plant
• The installed capacity – 120 MW (2X60 MW)
ANTA:
• Located to the north of Kota

• Important solar energy producing centre
• Thermal power plant -413 MW
• It is a gas based power plant.
SAWAI MADHOPUR:
• Located in the eastern part of Rajasthan, close to the confluence of the Banas and
the Chambal
• Ranthambore National Park in the vicinity
• Thermal power plant is also located
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NAMRUP:
• Located in the the Dibrugarh district , in the extreme northeastern part of Assam
• First place in India where a heavy natural gas based fertilizer factory was established
• Thermal power plant – 111.5 MW
• Has substantial coal mining activities
• Petro-chemical industry
• Surrounded by large tea – gardens
BONGAIGAON:
• Located in the western part of Assam.

• Has a petroleum refinery receiving oil from Digboi
• A thermal power plant -120 MW
BARAUNI:
• Located along the left bank of the Ganga in the Begusarai district of Bihar
• Important industrial town – Oil refinery, fertilizers, thermal power
• Themal power capacity – 255 MW
• Linked by a pipeline to the oilfields of Assam.
KAHALGAON:
• NTPC thermal power plant – 1840 MW

• Located in the Bhagalpur district, on the banks of the Ganga
• The final capacity will be 2340 MW.
CHHABRA:
• It is located in the Baran district of Rajasthan.

• It is a cool-fired power plant.
• The planned capacity of the power plant will be 2650 MW at the end of the 12th Five
Year Plan.
SURATGARH:
• It is located in the Ganganagar district of Rajasthan.

• It is the first super thermal power station of the state.
• It has 6 units of 250 MW each.
GIRAL:
• It is located in the Barmer district of Rajasthan.

• It is a lignite-based power plant and it has 2 lignite-fired turbines.
• It total installed capacity is 250 MW.
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PARICHHA:
• It is located in the Jhansi district at of Uttar Pradesh.

• It gets coal from Jharkhand.
• It has five units and its total installed capacity is 890 MW.
• The sixth unit is in progress.
ROSA:
• It is located in the Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

• It is a private power plant, owned by a subsidiary company of Reliance Power.
• It is a coal-based power plant and its total installed capacity is 1200MW.
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Nuclear Power Plants in India
Nuclear energy is an important component of the country’s energy mix and is being
pursued along with other sources of energy in an optimal manner. It is a clean,
environment-friendly baseload source of power available 24X7. It also has huge potential
which can ensure the long-term energy security of the country in a sustainable manner.
Nuclear Power is the fifth-largest source of generating electricity in India after coal, gas,
wind power, and hydroelectricity.
As of 2021, there are 22 reactors with an installed capacity of 6780 MWe operating above
80% plant load factor in the country. Among these eighteen reactors are Pressurised
Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and four are Light Water Reactors (LWRs).
The nuclear energy program in India was launched around the time of independence
under the leadership of Homi J. Bhabha.
Asia’s first nuclear reactor is the Apsara Research Reactor situated in Mumbai. The
domestic uranium reserve in India is small and the country is dependent on uranium
imports from other countries to provide fuel to its nuclear power industry. Since the 1990s,
Russia has been a major supplier of nuclear fuel to India.
Nuclear Power Plants in India – Operational

Name of Nuclear Power Station Location Operator Capacity
Kakrapar Atomic Power Station – 1993 Gujarat NPCIL 440
(Kalpakkam) Madras Atomic Power Station – 1984 Tamil Nadu NPCIL 440
Narora Atomic Power Station- 1991 Uttar Pradesh NPCIL 440
Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant -2000 Karnataka NPCIL 880
Rajasthan Atomic Power Station – 1973 Rajasthan NPCIL 1,180
Tarapur Atomic Power Station – 1969 Maharashtra NPCIL 1,400
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant – 2013 Tamil Nadu NPCIL 2,000
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Nuclear Power Plants in India – Under Construction
Name of Nuclear Power Station Location Operator Capacity
Madras (Kalpakkam) Tamil Nadu BHAVINI 500
Rajasthan Unit 7 and 8 Rajasthan NPCIL 1,400
Kakrapar Unit 3 and 4 Gujarat NPCIL 1,400
Kudankulam Unit 3 and 4 Tamil Nadu NPCIL 2,000
Nuclear Power Plants in India – Planned (Future projects)

Name of Nuclear Power Station Location Capacity
Tarapur Maharashtra 300
Madras Tamil Nadu 1,200
Kaiga Karnataka 1,400
Chutka Madhya Pradesh 1,400
Gorakhpur Haryana 2,800
Bhimpur Madhya Pradesh 2,800
Mahi Banswara Rajasthan 2,800
Haripur West Bengal 4,000
Mithi Virdi (Viradi) Gujarat 6,000
Kovvada Andhra Pradesh 6,600
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Jaitapur Maharashtra 9,900
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KALPAKKAM:
• Located 80 km south of Chennai on the Coromandel Coast

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• Known for MAPS and IGCAR
• India’s first fully indigenously constructed nuclear power station
• Has two indigenously built CANDU type PHWRs called MAPS-1 and MAPS-2
KAIGA:
• Nuclear power station located in the Uttar Kannada district in Karnataka

• Has four units with one still under construction
• All of the four are small-sized CANDU plants of 220 MW.
KAKRAPARA:
• Located near Surat on the bank of the Tapi in Gujarat

• It consists of two 220 MW PHWRs
• There is also a plant for producing heavy water in the area
• In January 2003 the CANDU Owners Group (COG) distinguished KAPS-1 as the
worldwide best PHWR of its class.
RAWATBHATA:
• Located on the bank of the Chambal River about 65 km from Kota, just 3 km from
the Rana Pratap Sagar
• RAPS is India’s first pressurized water reactor of the CANDU type
• Installed capacity of 6 reactors – 1190 MW.
TARAPUR:
• Located in Maharashtra to the north of Mumbai

• First nuclear reactor of India
• With a total capacity of 1400 MW Tarapur is the largest nuclear power station in the
country
• First reactors were BWR which were the first of their kind in Asia.
NARORA:
• Located in the Bulandshahar district of Uttar Pradesh on the bank of the Ganga
• Its twin reactors are Indianised version of the Canadian CANDU type which operate
on natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as the moderator cum primary coolant.
KUDANKULAM:
• Located in the Tirunelveli district of TN

• Under construction with the Russian assistance
• Two 1000 MW reactors of the VVER- 1000 model are being constructed
• Both are water-cooled water-moderated power reactors
• When completed they will become the largest nuclear power generation complex of
India
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CHHAVAMITHI VIRDI:
• A proposed new nuclear site to be located in Gujarat near Alang Port

• It will be established with the help of the USA.
KOVVADA:
• Proposed 2000 MW nuclear plant in Ranasthalam Mandal in the Srikakulam district

of AP
• It will be established with assistance from the USA
• The Ministry of Environment and Forest has refused to give it the environmental
clearance.
HARIPUR:
• A coastal village of East Medinipur district of West Bengal

• It will be established with the Russian assistance
• Proposed Capacity – 10,000 MW
• People are protesting against the reactor.
JAITAPUR:
• Located in Maharashtra
• It is proposed to construct 6 European Pressurized Reactors designed and developed
by Areva of France
• Each reactor will be of 1650 MW totaling 9900 MW
• Controversial as it comes under the Zone- V (earthquake)
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Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPP)
Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPP) are a series of ambitious power stations planned by
the Government of India. This would entail the creation of an additional capacity of at
least 100,000 MW by 2022. Ultra Mega Power Projects, each with a capacity of 4000 MW or
above, are being developed with the aim of bridging this gap.
The UMPPs are seen as an expansion of the MPP (Mega Power Projects) projects that the
Government of India undertook in the 1990s, but met with limited success.
UMPPs are very large-sized projects, approximately 4000 MW each involving an

estimated investment of about $ 4 billion.
The UMPPS in India is coal based and are to be developed on tariff based competitive
bidding route using Super Critical Technology on build, own, and operate (BOT)
The power generated by UMPPs is to be sold to States and SEBs.
The Ultra Mega Power Projects would use Super Critical Technology with a view to
achieve higher levels of fuel efficiency, which results in fuel-saving and lower greenhouse
gas emissions. There has been flexibility provided in unit size subject to the adoption of
specified minimum Supercritical parameters.
Each UMPP would be an integrated power project with dedicated captive coal blocks for
pithead projects. However, the Coastal projects would be using imported coal.
List of UMPPs
Name of UMPP State
Bhedabahal Ultra Mega Power Project Odisha
Cheyyur Ultra Mega Power Project Tamil Nadu
Etah Ultra Mega Power Project Uttar Pradesh
Ghogarpalli Ultra Mega Power Project Odisha
Girye Ultra Mega Power Project Maharashtra
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Name of UMPP State
Kakwara Ultra Mega Power Project Bihar
Krishnapatnam Ultra Mega Power Project Andhra Pradesh
Mundra Ultra Mega Power Project Gujarat
Nayunipalli Ultra Mega Power Project Andhra Pradesh
Sakhigopal Ultra Mega Power Project Odisha
Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project Madhya Pradesh
Surguja Ultra Mega Power Project Chhattisgarh
Tadri Ultra Mega Power Project Karnataka
Tilaiya Ultra Mega Power Project Jharkhand
Mundra
• Located on the coast of the Gulf of Kachchh in the Kachchh region

• Obtained by the Tata Power in a bid
• Imported coal, especially from Australia will be utilized in this coast – based UMPP.
Sasan
• Pithead based UMPP located in eastern Madhya Pradesh

• Given to the Reliance Power.
Surguja
• A pithead based UMPP to be located in the Sarguja district in northern Chhattisgarh

• The Ministry of Environment and Forests has refused to give environmental clearance
for the proposed Hasdeo coal block, which was awarded to it.
Girye
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• A proposed site of a UMPP in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, the southern
most district of the state
• It will be a coastal-based project with mandatory imported coal.
Tadri
• A coastal–based UMPP to be located in Karwar district of Karnataka

• Imported coal and sea water will be used.
Cheyyur
• A coastal–based UMPP located 100km south of Chennai in Tamilnadu

• Imported coal will be used
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Indian Geography Mapping

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Indian

New Moore island

• New Moore, also known as “Purbasha” and “South Talpatty Island”.

• Also known as Gangasagar or Sagardwip.

Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island)

• India’s easternmost Island is a small volcanic island located in the

Middle Andaman Island

• The largest island of India

South Andaman Island

• Between South Andaman and Little Andaman

• Fourth largest of the Andaman Group.

• Interview Island is an island of the Andaman Islands.

• Northernmost of the Nicobar Islands

• Kamorta Island is an island in the Nicobar Islands chain.

• Refers both to a single island and to the group of adjoining islands

• Part of the Nicobar Island

• Part of the Nicobar Islands

Great Nicobar Island

• Largest island of the Nicobar group

• Also known as Rameswaram Island

• Also known as Ram’s Bridge or Rama Setu

Van Tivu Island

• located in the state of Tamil Nadu.

• Dharmadam Island (Green Island) is a small 2-hectare private

• 8 km. west of Kaduthuruthy town in the district of Kottayam, Kerala.

• Kuruvadweep or Kuruva Island is a 950-acre (3.8 km2) protected river delta.

• Munroe Island or Mundrothuruthu is an inland island group located at

• A small island located in Ernakulam district of Kerala

• An island village in Alappuzha district of Kerala

• One of the smallest islands that make up the city of Kochi.

• Valiyaparamba is a coastal island in Hosdurg taluk, Kasaragod district, Kerala.

• Venduruthy is a small island in Kochi. It is now a part of the greater Willingdon

• Named after Lord Willingdon, the erstwhile governor of Punjab

• An island formed by river Kaveri in the district of Kodagu

St. Mary’s Island

• Known as Salt Island

• Island off the coast of South Goa district

• A riverine island located in the St. Inez Creek in Panaji, Goa

• Chorão, also known as Choddnnem or Chodan, is an island along the Mandovi

Tiswadi (Ilhas de Goa)

• An island on the river Mandovi in Goa

• Salsette Island is an island in Konkan division of the state of Maharashtra on India’s

Seven Islands of Bombay

• Oyster Rock is an island in the Mumbai Harbour.

• Andrott Island, also known as Androth Island, is a small inhabited island in

• Kadmat Island, also known as Cardamom Island, is a coral island belonging to

• Kalpeni is an inhabited Atoll in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.

• Only two islands in this atoll – Minicoy and Viringili

• Minicoy, locally known as Maliku, is an island in Lakshadweep.

• An island located 150 km south of Kolkata in the Sundarban Delta complex.

• Henry Island is an island near Bakkhali in South 24 Parganas of West Bengal.

• Nayachar is a newly emerged island with mangrove ecosystem in the middle

• Pirotan Island (also known as Pirotan) is an island in the Marine National

• An island off the coast of Orissa, near the Wheeler Island

• Parikud is an island within Chilika lake.

• An island at the mouth of the Narmada River in the Gulf of Khambhat

• An island in the Gulf of Khambhat