Master10
Indian Geography Module

Physiographic Divisions & Geomorphology of India

India exhibits a diverse geomorphological architecture classified into five primary physiographic divisions: the Northern Mountains (Himalayas), the Northern Plains, the Peninsular Plateau, the Coastal Plains, and the Islands. The Himalayas, formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates during the Cenozoic era, comprise three parallel structural ranges: the Himadri (Greater Himalayas), the Himachal (Lesser Himalayas), and the Shiwaliks. South of the mountains lie the extensive Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra alluvial plains, subdivided into Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar, and Khadar zones. The stable Peninsular Plateau, composed of ancient Gondwana crystalline rocks, is divided by the Narmada rift valley into the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau, flanked by the Western and Eastern Ghats.

Key Concepts & Examination Highlights

  • Kanchenjunga in Sikkim (8,586 m) is the highest mountain peak located entirely within India's recognized administrative borders.
  • The Bhabar belt is a narrow pebble-studded porous zone along the Shiwalik foothills where streams disappear underground.
  • The Deccan Traps feature thick basaltic lava sheets formed by volcanic eruptions during the late Cretaceous period.
  • Indira Point on Great Nicobar Island (6°45' N) marks the southernmost geographic point of Indian territory.
  • The Great Northern Plains are divided into Bhabar, Terai (marshy and heavily forested zone where streams re-emerge), Bhangar (older, less fertile alluvium containing calcareous nodules called kankar), and Khadar (newer, highly fertile flood-plain alluvium renewed annually).
  • The Western Ghats (Sahyadris) form a continuous escarpment that is higher in elevation than the Eastern Ghats, with Anamudi in Kerala (2,695 m) being the highest peak in Peninsular India.
  • The Eastern Ghats are discontinuous and dissected by major eastward-flowing rivers, with Jindhagada Peak (1,690 m) in Andhra Pradesh being its highest elevation.
  • The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest fold mountain systems in the world, running from Gujarat to Delhi, with Guru Shikhar (1,722 m) on Mount Abu as its highest summit.
  • The Great Himalayan Range (Himadri) has an average elevation of 6,000 meters and contains perennial snowfields and major passes like Zoji La, Shipki La, and Lipulekh.
  • The Ten Degree Channel separates the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, while the Duncan Passage separates South Andaman from Little Andaman.
  • The Meghalaya Plateau (comprising Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills) is a detached extension of the Peninsular block separated by the Malda Fault (Garo-Rajmahal Gap).
  • The Rann of Kutch in Gujarat is a vast seasonal salt marsh formed by tectonic uplift and coastal sedimentation in the Arabian Sea basin.
  • The Great Northern Plains are divided geomorphologically into Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar, and Khadar belts from north to south. Bhabar is a narrow porous belt of unassorted pebbles where streams disappear underground.
  • Khadar represents newer, fertile alluvial deposits renewed annually by floodwaters, whereas Bhangar denotes older, elevated alluvial terraces containing calcareous concretions known as Kankar.
  • The Western Ghats (Sahyadris) form a continuous escarpment with major natural gaps: Thal Ghat connects Mumbai to Nashik, Bhor Ghat connects Mumbai to Pune, and Palghat Gap connects Palakkad to Coimbatore.
  • Karewas are lacustrine deposits of Pleistocene age found in the Kashmir Valley, highly suitable for saffron (Zafran), walnut, and almond cultivation.
  • The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest fold mountain systems in the world, dating back to the Proterozoic Era, with Guru Shikhar on Mount Abu (1,722 m) as its highest peak.
  • The Meghalaya Plateau is a detached part of the Peninsular Indian Shield, separated from the Chota Nagpur Plateau by the Malda Gap (Garo-Rajmahal Gap).
  • The Deccan Traps comprise thick layers of basaltic lava flows erupted during the Late Cretaceous epoch via fissure volcanism.
  • The Southern Hill Complex includes the Nilgiri Hills, Anaimalai Hills, and Palani Hills, where Doddabetta (2,637 m) is the highest peak in the Nilgiris.
  • The Zaskar, Ladakh, and Karakoram ranges constitute the Trans-Himalayas, lying immediately north of the Great Himalayan range.
  • The Great Rann of Kutch is an extensive salt marsh formed by the withdrawal of the sea, characterized by high-salinity mudflats and seasonal inundation.
  • Majuli in Assam is the world's largest inhabited freshwater river island, situated in the Brahmaputra River between the main channel and the Kherkutia Xuti.
  • The Barren Island in the Andaman Sea is the only active volcano in South Asia, having erupted most recently in 2017.
  • The Indira Point on Great Nicobar Island (6°45' N) marks the southernmost point of Indian territory, while Indira Col in Ladakh marks the northernmost point.
  • India spans a total geographical area of 32,87,263 square kilometers, making it the seventh-largest country in the world.
  • The mainland of India extends between latitudes 8 degrees 4 minutes North and 37 degrees 6 minutes North, and longitudes 68 degrees 7 minutes East and 97 degrees 25 minutes East.
  • Indira Col in the Siachen Glacier represents the northernmost point of India, while Indira Point in the Great Nicobar Island is the southernmost point.
  • The standard meridian of India is 82 degrees 30 minutes East longitude, which passes through Mirzapur near Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh and is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT.
  • The Indian mainland is divided into six major physiographic divisions: the Northern Mountains, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Indian Desert, Coastal Plains, and Islands.
  • The Himalayas are young fold mountains formed during the Tertiary period by the collision of the Indo-Australian plate with the Eurasian plate.
  • The Great Himalayas or Himadri have an average elevation of 6,000 meters and contain Mount Kangchenjunga (8,586 meters), the highest peak in India.
  • The Lesser Himalayas or Himachal lie south of the Himadri, featuring famous hill stations such as Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, and Darjeeling.
  • The Shiwalik Range constitutes the southernmost and youngest Himalayan range, composed of unconsolidated sediments with an average elevation of 900 to 1,100 meters.
  • The Main Central Thrust (MCT) separates the Greater Himalayas from the Lesser Himalayas, while the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) separates the Lesser Himalayas from the Shiwaliks.
  • Longitudinal valleys situated between the Lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks are known as Duns in the west (e.g., Dehradun) and Duars in the east.
  • Zoji La pass connects Srinagar to Leh across the Great Himalayan range.
  • Shipki La pass connects Himachal Pradesh with Tibet and serves as the entry point of the Sutlej River into India.
  • Nathu La and Jelep La are prominent mountain passes located in Sikkim connecting India with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
  • Bomdi La, Diphu, and Dihang passes are strategically located in Arunachal Pradesh providing transit to Tibet and Myanmar.
  • The Karakoram Range hosts K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) at 8,611 meters, the second-highest peak on Earth.
  • The Peninsular Plateau is one of the oldest and most stable landmasses of Earth, composed primarily of Archaean granites and gneisses.
  • The Narmada-Tapi rift valley divides the Peninsular Plateau into the Central Highlands in the north and the Deccan Plateau in the south.
  • The Deccan Trap region in the northwestern plateau is characterized by thick basaltic lava sheets formed by volcanic eruptions during the Cretaceous period.
  • The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest fold mountain systems in the world, running roughly southwest to northeast across Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi.
  • Guru Shikhar on Mount Abu is the highest peak of the Aravalli Range with an elevation of 1,722 meters.
  • The Vindhyan Range acts as a natural geographical divider between northern India and the Deccan Plateau.
  • The Satpura Range is a series of seven block mountains lying between the Narmada and Tapi rivers, with Dhupgarh (1,350 meters) near Pachmarhi as its highest peak.
  • The Western Ghats (Sahyadris) form a continuous escarpment extending 1,600 kilometers from the Tapi valley down to Kanyakumari.
  • Anamudi in the Anaimalai Hills of Kerala is the highest peak in South India and the Western Ghats with an elevation of 2,695 meters.
Curriculum & Reference Sources: NCERT Class XI India: Physical Environment, Survey of India, Geological Survey of India (GSI).

Sample Solved Questions & Concept Explanations

8 Verified Concept Questions
Q1.EASY

What is the highest mountain peak situated entirely within India's undisputed territory?

Q2.EASY

Which is the oldest fold mountain range in India?

Q3.EASY

The highest peak in South India and the Western Ghats is what?

Q4.EASY

Which pass connects Srinagar to Leh in Ladakh?

Q5.EASY

The Great Indian Desert, known as the Thar Desert, lies mostly in which Indian state?

Q6.MEDIUM

The Indira Point, the southernmost point of Indian territory, is located on which island?

Q7.MEDIUM

Which channel separates the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands?

Q8.MEDIUM

The Tropic of Cancer (23°30' N) passes through how many Indian states?