Physiography of India
Peninsular Plateau
• Delhi ridge in northwest (extension of Aravalis), Rajmahal hills in east, Gir range in
west and Cardamom hills in south.
• Extension is also seen in the northeast: Meghalaya Plateau, Shillong and Karbi-
Anglong plateau.
Peninsular India is divided into:
• Meghalaya Plateau
• Central Highland & Plateau
• Deccan Plateau
Deccan Plateau
• The Deccan Plateau is bordered by: Western
Ghats (west), Eastern Ghats (east) and Satpura,
Maikal range, and Mahadeo hills (north).
Central Highlands
• Bounded by Aravali range(west); Satpura range
forms the southernmost boundary of Central
Highlands; Eastern extension is formed by the
Rajmahal hills, to the south of which lies
Chotanagpur plateau.
• The Central Highlands are wider in the west but
narrower in the east. The eastward extensions
of this plateau are locally known as the
Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand.
• Satpura range is formed by a series of scarped
plateaus on the south, generally at an elevation
varying between 600-900 m above the mean
sea level.
• The Peninsular plateau’s extension is as far as
Jaisalmer in the west, where it is covered by crescent-shaped sand dunes known as
Barchans and longitudinal sand ridges.
• Vindhyan and Kaimur ranges are the source of the majority of the Yamuna river’s
tributaries. The only significant tributary of the Chambal River that rises in the west
(Aravalli) is the Banas
• Aravalli range is the oldest fold mountains. Sabarmati, Luni and Banas originate
from here.
• Vindhya Range extends from Gujarat to Bihar. It is a block mountain and source of
Chambal, Sindh, Betwa and Ken.
• Malwa Plateau is historically known as
Khandesh.
• Chota Nagpur Plateau has Rajmahal Hills
in North East and Garhjat Hills on the
southern edge.
Northeastern Plateau
• It is an extension of the main
Peninsular plateau.
Northeastward movement of
the Indian plate at the time of
the Himalayan formation led to
development of a huge fault
(Malda gap) between Rajmahal
hills and Meghalaya plateau
that was later filled by river
deposition.
• It includes Meghalaya, Karbi-
Anglong Plateau and North Cachar Hills. Three prominent hill ranges from the west
to the east are the Garo, the Khasi and the Jaintia Hills.
• An extension of this plateau is observed in the Karbi Anglong hills of Assam.
• Meghalaya plateau is rich in mineral resources, including coal, iron ore, sillimanite,
limestone, and uranium. This region receives maximum rainfall from the southwest
monsoon, resulting in a highly eroded surface.
• Cherrapunji (Meghalaya plateau) has bare rocky surface without a permanent
vegetation cover due to heavy rainfall.
Western Ghats
• Western Ghats has various local names: Sahyadri in
Maharashtra, Nilgiri Hills in Karnataka and Tamil
Nadu, and Anaimalai Hills and Cardamom Hills in
Kerala
• Covers 6 states - Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa,
Maharashtra and Gujarat
• Rivers originating in the Western Ghats: Godavari,
Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi etc.
• Peaks: Anamudi (2,695 meters, highest peak of
Peninsular plateau) on Anaimalai Hills; Dodabetta
(2,637 meters) on Nilgiri Hills - Highest peak of Tamil
Nadu and second highest of South India.
Eastern Ghats
• Eastern Ghats consist of discontinuous and low hills
due to erosion by rivers.
• Passes through Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
and parts of Karnataka and Telangana.
• Hill ranges (North to South): Mahendragiri Hills (Odisha;
the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats); Nallamala,
Velikonda & Palkonda (Andhra Pradesh); Javadi Hills,
Shevaroy Hills, Pachamalai Hills & Sirumalai Hills.
• Eastern and Western Ghats converge at the Nilgiri Hills.
Important hills in India
INDIAN DESERT
• Located northwest of the Aravali hills; Also known as
Marusthali; undulating topography with longitudinal
dunes, barchans and sandy plains.
• Rivers in the region are mostly ephemeral, with the Luni
River being the largest in the region.
• Some streams vanish into the sand and exhibit inland
drainage by joining lakes or playas. Lakes and playas
have brackish water, a major source of salt production.
Coastal plains
Western Coastal Plains
• These plains are submerged coastal plains
because of which it is a narrow belt and have
natural conditions favorable for port
development.
• Divisions: Kachchh and Kathiawar coasts
(Gujarat), Konkan coast (Maharashtra), Goan
coast (Karnataka), and Malabar coast (Kerala).
• Important natural ports: Kandla, Mazagaon, JLN
port Navha Sheva, Marmagao, Mangalore,
Cochin, etc.
• Rivers do not form deltas.
• Malabar coast is known for its “Kayals”
(backwaters) used for fishing and tourism.
Eastern Coastal Plains
• These plains are emergent coasts and are broader
than western coastal plains.
• Northern Circar in the northern part and
Coromandel Coast in the southern part
• Well-developed deltas of rivers - Mahanadi,
Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri deltas.
• Lake Chilika (Odisha), along the eastern coast, is the
largest saltwater lake in India lying south of the
Mahanadi delta.
• Odisha’s Hide and Seek Beach: Chandipur beach where sea water
retreats inside the sea from 1km to 5km every day and it again
comes back to the shore slowly during high tide
ISLANDS
Bay of Bengal Islands
• Comprising approximately 572 islands/islets, located
between 6°N-14°N and 92°E -94°E; entire group
divided into the Andaman Islands in the north and the
Nicobar Islands in the south.
• The Andaman sea lies to the east and the Bay of
Bengal to the west.
• These islands are believed to be an elevated portion of submarine mountains, with
some smaller islands being volcanic.
• Mountain peaks - Saddle Peak (North Andaman-highest peak
on the Islands), Mount Diavolo (515 m, Middle Andaman),
Mount Koyob (460 m, South Andaman), and Mount Thuiller
(642 m, Great Nicobar).
• Renamed Islands: Ross Island- Netaji Subhash Chandra
Bose Island; Havelock Island- Swaraj Dweep; Neil Island-
Shaheed Dweep
• These islands experience convectional rainfall and have
equatorial vegetation.
Arabian Sea Islands
• It Includes Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands, located
between 8°N-12°N and 71°E -74°E. Entire group built from
coral deposits, located oi the coast of Kerala.
• Formerly known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindive, they
were renamed Lakshadweep in 1973. Minicoy is the largest
island. Other islands: Amini Island & Cannanore Island
