PHYSICAL FEATURES OF INDIA

India has Six Physical features:-

➢ The Himalayan Mountains
➢ The Northern Plains
➢ The Peninsular Plateau
➢ The Indian Desert
➢ The Coastal Plains
➢ The Islands

1) THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS:- Features-

• Geologically young and structurally fold mountains stretch over northern borders of India.
• Himalayas represent the loftiest and one of the most rugged mountain barrier of the world.
• They form an arc, covering a distance of about 2,400 km with width varying from 400km in
Kashmir to 150 km in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Altitudinal variation are greater in eastern half than those in western half.
• These mountain ranges runs from west to east direction from Indus to Brahmaputra.
(West to East divisions are also known as Regional Divisions. These divisions have been
demarcated by River valleys):-
❖ Himalayas lying between INDUS RIVER & SATLUJ :- PUNJAB HIMALAYAS ( Also known
as Kashmir Himalayas in the west and Himachal Himalayas in the east).
❖ Himalayas lying between SATLUJ RIVER & KALI RIVER :- KUMAON HIMALAYAS.
❖ Himalayas lying between KALI RIVER & TEESTA RIVER :- NEPAL HIMALAYAS.
❖ Himalayas lying between TEESTA RIVER & DIHANG RIVER :- ASSAM HIMALAYAS.
❖ Beyond DIHANG GORGE, the eastern boundary of Himalayas is known as :-
PURVANCHALS or EASTERN HILLS & MOUNTAINS. These runs through North-eastern
states & are Composed of strong sandstone, which are sedimentary rocks. They
comprise of the PATKAI HILLS, the NAGA HILLS, the MANIPUR HILLS & the MIZO HILLS.
They are covered with dense forests.
➢ Himalayas consist of three parallel ranges in its longitudinal extent:-
a) HIMADRI:- Features
▪ The northern most range is also known as Great or Inner Himalayas.
▪ Most continuous range consisting of loftiest peaks with an average height of 6,000
meters.
▪ Contains all prominent Himalayan peaks
▪ Folds of Great Himalayas are asymmetrical (unequal) in nature.
▪ The core of this part is composed of granite.
▪ Perennially snow bound, and a number of glaciers descend from this range.
b) HIMACHAL:- Features
▪ Lies south of Himadri range, forms the most rugged mountain system known as Lesser
or Himachal Himalayas.
▪ Ranges are mainly composed of highly compressed and altered rocks.
 ▪Altitude varies between 3,700 and 4,500 metres and average width is of 50 km.
▪The Pir Panjal forms the longest and the most important range
▪The Dhaula Dhar and the Mahbharat ranges are prominent ones.
▪This range consist of famous valley of Kashmir, the Kangra and Kullu valley in Himachal
Pradesh.
▪ Well-known for its hill stations.
c) SHIWALIKS:- Features
▪ Outer most range if Himalayas
▪ Extend over a width of 10-50 km and altitude varying between 900 and 1100 metres.
▪ Composed of unconsolidated sediments brought down by rivers from the main
Himalayan ranges located farther North.
▪ These valleys are covered with thick gravel and alluvium.
▪ Longitudinal valley lying between lesser Himalayas and Shiwaliks are known as DUNS-
Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun and Patli Dun.

2) NORTHERN PLAINS:- Features-

• Formed by interplay of three major river systems- The INDUS, The GANGA and The
BRAHMAPUTRA along with their tributaries.
• Plain is formed of Alluvial Soil.
• Spreads over an area of 7 lakh sq. km
• Plain is about 2,400 km long and 240 to 320 km broad, densely populated region.
• Rich soil cover combined with adequate water supply and favourable climate it is agriculturally
a productive part of India.
• DISTRIBUTRIES:- the rivers in their lower course split into numerous channels due to the
deposition of silt.
➢ Three sections of Northern Plains:-
❖ PUNJAB PLAINS:- Western part of Northern plains.
▪ Formed by the Indus and tributaries – the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas
and the Satluj originate in Himalayas.
▪ Larger part of this plain lies in Pakistan.
▪ This section of plains is dominated by ‘Doab'- which is made up of two words
meaning ‘do’ means two and ‘ab’ meaning water.
▪ Similarly, ‘Punjab’ is also made up of two words- ‘Punj’ meaning five and ‘ab’
meaning water.
❖ GANGA PLAINS:- Extend between the Ghaggar and the Teesta rivers.
▪ It spread over the states of NORTH INDIA, HARYANA, DELHI, UTTAR PRADESH,
BIHAR, partly JHARKHAND and WEST BENGAL.
❖ BRAHMAPUTRA PLAINS:- To the East of West Bengal, particularly in ASSAM lies the
BRAHMPAUTRA PLAINS.
➢ Northern Plains have variations in relief features. According to the variations, Northern Plains are
divided into FOUR Regions:-
o Bhabar
o Terai
 o Bhangar
o Khadar

BASIS BHABAR TERAI

1) Location 1) It is a long narrow plain
along the foothills of
Shiwaliks.
2) Width 2) The width of this region is 8-
16 km.
3) Composition 3) It is a pebble studded zone
of porous bed.
4) Appearance 4) Due to the porosity of
rocks, the stream disappears
and flows underground.
5) Suitability 5) It is not suitable for
agriculture.
Two reasons why forests have been cleared in terai region:-
a) To create agricultural land.
b) To settle migrants from Pakistan after partition.
1) it is a broad long zone
lying south of Bhabar plain.
2) It is 20-30 km wide.
3) It is a wet, swampy and
marshy region covered with
thick forest.
4) The Streams and Rivers
re-emerge here creating wet
marshy lands.
5) It is suitable for
agriculture.

BHANGAR
1) It is old alluvium
2) Larger part of Northern Plains
are formed of older alluvium and
lies 30m above the flood level.
3) Higher concentration of Kankar
nodules.
4) It is less fertile and does not
support agricultural activities.
KHADAR
1) It is new alluvium
2) It is renewed every year as it is
found in the lower reaches of river
valleys which are flooded every
year.
3) Lower concentration of kankar
nodules
4) It is very fertile and good for
agriculture.

3) THE PENINSULAR PLATEAU:- Features-

• Peninsular plateau is a tableland composed of old crystalline, igneous nd
metamorphic rocks.
• Formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land, thus making it a
part of oldest landmass.
• It has broad and shallow valleys and rounded hills.
• Distinct feature of Peninsular Plateau is the black soil area known as DECCAN
TRAP. This is of volcanic origin, hence, the rocks are igneous. These rocks have
denued over time and are responsible for the formation of black soil.
 • The Aravali hills lie on the western and north-western margins of the Peninsular
plateau.
• Highly eroded hills and are found as broken hills. Extend from Gujarat to Delhi in a
southwest- northeast direction.

➢ Plateau consist of Two broad divisions:-

❖ CENTRAL HIGHLANDS:-
▪ Part of plateau lying north of the Narmada River, covering major area
of Malwa plateau.
▪ The Vindhyan range is bounded by Satpura range on the south and
the Aravalis in the northwest.
▪ Westward extension gradually merges with sandy and rocky desert of
Rajasthan.
▪ The Rivers which drain this region are:- the Chambal, the Sind, the
Betwa and the Ken from southwest to northeast.
▪ Central Highlands are wider in the west but narrower in the east.
▪ Eastward extension of this plateau is locally known as
BUNDELKHAND and BAGHELKHAND.
▪ Chotanagpur plateau marks the further eastward extension, drained
by the Damodar river.
❖ DECCAN PLATEAU:-
▪ Triangular landmass lying south of the river Narmada.
▪ Satpura range marks the broad base of this plateau in north, while
the Mahadev, the Kaimur hills and the Maikal range form its eastern
extension.
▪ Higher in the west and gently slopes in the east.
▪ Extension of this plateau is also visible in northeast, and is locally
known as MEGHALAYA, KARBI-ANGLONG PLATEAU and NORTH
CACHAR HILLS.
▪ It is separated by fault from Chotanagpur plateau.
▪ Three prominent hill ranges from west to east are:- the GARO, the
KHASI and the JAINTIA HILLS.
▪ The WESTERN GHATS and the EASTERN GHATS mark the western
and the eastern edges of Deccan Plateau respectively.
Difference between Western and Eastern Ghats.
WESTERN GHATS
1) Western Ghats marks the western edge of
Deccan Plateau and are parallel to western
coast.
2) These are continuous chains of mountains
and can be crossed through passes only.
3) Most of the peninsular rivers originate
from Western Ghats.
4) The onset of monsoon is felt in Western
Ghats.
5) The highest peak of Western Ghats is Anai
Mudi(2695m).
EASTERN GHATS
1) Eastern Ghats marks the eastern edge of
Deccan Plateau and are parallel to eastern
coast.
2) These are discontinuous and irregular
chain of mountains and are dissected by
rivers draining into Bay of Bengal.
3) No major river originates from Eastern
Ghats
4) The retreating of Monsson is felt in Eastern
Ghats in the month of October and
November.
5) The highest peak of Eastern Ghats is
Mahendragiri (1510m)

4) THE INDIAN DESERT:- Features-

• Lies towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills.
• Undulating sandy plain covered with sand dunes.
• This region receives very low rainfall below 150mm per year and have arid
climate.
• Rivers ad streams disappears into sand as soon as rainfall stops. Due to this, thus
area don’t have enough water to reach the sea. Luni is the only river which drains
this region.
• Barchans (crescent-shaped dunes) covers larger area and longitudinal dunes are
more prominent in the regions near Indo- Pakistan border.
5) THE COASTAL PLAINS:-Features-
• Coastal Plains are divided in two parts- Western Coastal Plains and Eastern
Coastal Plains.
Western Coastal Plains Eastern Coastal Plains
1) These are divided into three different 1) These plains are divided into two
sections- the northern part is called sections- the northern part is known as
KONKAN COAST(Mumbai- Goa), the central NORTHERN CIRCAR, the southern part is
stretch is called KANNAD PLAINS(Karnataka known as COROMANDEL COAST.
region) and the southern stretch is called
MALABAR COAST( Kerala region)
2) These plains lies between Western Ghats
and Arabian Sea.
3) No deltas are formed in Western Coastal
plains by small rivers.
4) Except for southern coast i.e. Malabar
Coast, the rest of the Western Coastal Plains
are infertile for agricultural purpose.
5) These are very narrow and intersected by
mountain ridges.
6) THE ISLNADS:-Features-
LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS
1) These are located in Arabian sea.
2) There are total 27 islands out of 11 are
inhabited.
3) They are located near Malabar Coast of
south India.
4) Kavaratti is the administrative
headquarters.
5) They are of Coral origin.
2) These plains lies between Eastern Ghats
and Bay of Bengal.
3) Large ad wide deltas are formed by major
rivers draining into Bay of Bengal.
4) Eastern Coastal plains are very fertile due
to Alluvial deposits.
5) These are very broad and levelled
surfaces.
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS
1) These are located in Bay of Bengal.
2) They are total 572 islands out of them 38
are inhabited.
3) They are very far off from the mainland
India.
4) Port Blair is the capital of Andaman &
Nicobar Islands.
4) They are of Volcanic origin.