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GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA:
AN INTRODUCTION
Physical Geography of India
Extent and Frontiers
India is a very large country. It lies totally in the northern hemisphere, more precisely in the south-central region of the Asian continent. The mainland of India stretches across a large portion of the earth between latitudes 8°4’N and 37°6’N and longitudes 68°7’E and 97°25’E. India, the seventh-largest nation in the world, is separated from the rest of Asia by mountains and the sea, giving it a unique g e o g r a p h i c a l identity. The whole length of the mainland’s coastline, including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep, is 7,516.6 km and India’s land border is around 15, km long. The young fold mountains in the northwest, north and northeast encircle India. It begins to taper and extend south of roughly 22° north latitude, dividing the Indian Ocean into the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east. The mainland’s latitudinal and longitudinal extent is around 30°. Despite this, it appears that the east-west extent is less than the north-south extent. There is a two-hour time difference between Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh. As a result, time is accepted as the standard time for the entire nation along the Standard Meridian of India (82°30’E), which passes through Mirzapur (in Uttar Pradesh ). As one travels from the south to the north, the latitudinal extent affects the length of day and night.
Gujarat (Jasdan), Rajasthan (Kalinjarh), Madhya Pradesh (Shajapur), Chhattisgarh (Sonhat), Jharkhand (Lohardaga), West Bengal (Krishnanagar), Tripura (Udaipur) and Mizoram are the eight Indian states through which the Tropic of Cancer travels (Champhai). Size and Extent East-West Extent of Main Land India (Including Pak occupied Kashmir-POK): 68°7' east to 97°25' east longitude. South-North Extent of Main Land India: 8°4' north to 37°6' north latitude. Locational Extent: 8°4' N to 37°6' N latitude and 68°7' E to 97°25' E east longitude.
Border with China
Next only to its border with Bangladesh, this is India’s second-longest border. The Indian border with China is touched by five Indian states: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The Sino-Indian border is typically broken down into three sections: I the Western sector; (ii) the Middle sector; and (iii) the Eastern sector. The Western Sector: separates China’s Sinkiang (Xinjiang) province to the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. The British attitude toward the state of Jammu and Kashmir is responsible for the western sector boundaries. The Aksai Chin district, Changmo valley, Pangong Tso and Sponggar Tso regions of northeastern Ladakh are all claimed by China, along with a strip that extends the full length of eastern Ladakh and is estimated to be about 5,000 square kilometres. The Huza-Gilgit region of North Kashmir is also claimed by China (ceded to it in 1963 by Pakistan).
The Middle Sector
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand touch this border. The Eastern Sector: The 1,140 km long border between India and China begins at the easternmost point of Bhutan and ends at the intersection of India, Tibet and Myanmar close to Diphu Pass (Talu Pass). In honour of Sir Henry Mc Mahon, then- foreign secretary of British India, who negotiated the border agreement between Great Britain and Tibet at the Shimla Accord in 1913–1914, this line is commonly referred to as the Mc Mahon Line.
The India-Nepal Boundary
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim are the five Indian states that border Nepal. Between India and Nepal, there is free movement of people and products across the porous border. The majority of the Indo-Nepalese boundary follows roughly east-west along the foothills of the Shiwalik Range.
India-Bhutan Boundary
Quite peaceful border and there is no boundary dispute between the two countries.
India-Bangladesh Border
The longest border is that between India and Bangladesh, stretching 4,096 kilometres. The Radcliffe Award, which divided the former province of Bengal into two parts, was used to determine this boundary.
India-Myanmar Boundary
This boundary roughly follows the watershed between the Brahmaputra and Irrawaddy. It travels through densely forested areas, passing through Mizo Hills, Manipur and Nagaland on the Indian side and Chin Hills, Naga Hills and Kachin State on the Myanmar side.
India-Sri Lanka Boundary
The Palk Strait, a confined area of shallow water, separates India from Sri Lanka. Talaimanar on the Jaffna peninsula in Sri Lanka is only 32 kilometres from Dhanushkodi on the Tamil Nadu coast of India. Adam’s Bridge is made up of a number of islets that connects these two places.
The Indo-Pakistan Boundary
The country was divided in 1947 as a consequence of the Radcliffe award, whose chairman was Sir Cyril Radcliffe. This resulted in the Indo-Pakistan boundary. The two most contentious areas are Sir Creek and Jammu and Kashmir.
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The oldest rocks in the earth’s crust are referred to as “Archaean,” a word used by J.D. Dana in 1782. There are two systems of rocks in the Archaean group. (a) Achaean System: Granites and Gneisses. (b) Dharwar System: First Sedimentary Rocks.
Dharwar System
From 4 billion to 1 billion years ago, the Earth was formed. Elevated metamorphic sedimentary rock system. [developed as a result of the metamorphism of Archaean gneisses and schists] They are the first rocks that undergo metamorphism. Found in great quantity in the Karnataka district of Dharwar. Because they contain valuable minerals like high-grade iron ore, manganese, copper, lead, gold, etc., these rocks are the most significant economically.
Purana Rock System
The Purana rock system is the collective name for the Cuddapah and Vindhyan rock systems. They were created by the erosion and deposition of rocks from the Archean and Dharwar formations, which is thought to have occurred between 140 and 600 million years ago. Most of them are sedimentary in origin.
Cuddapah System
Due to the extensive development of rock outcrops from the Cudappah district in Andhra Pradesh. They developed as a result of the deposition of sedimentary rocks like sandstone, limestone, etc. and clay in synclinal folds (between two mountain ranges). In Andhra Pradesh’s Cuddapah district, outcrops can be best seen. Iron, manganese, copper, cobalt, nickel and other metal ores can be found in these rocks. They have significant limestone reserves of cement-grade.
Vindhyan System (1300-600 million
years)
The enormous Vindhyan mountains are where this system gets its name. The system consists of ancient sedimentary rocks that are 4000 metres thick and are superimposed on the Archaean base. Mainly unfossiliferous rocks and the Deccan trap covers much of this region. Panna and Golconda diamonds were mined from diamond-bearing regions in the Vindhayan system. It lacks metalliferous minerals but produces a lot of hard stones, decorative stones, limestone, pure glass manufacturing sand, etc.
Dravidian Rock System (Palaeozoic)
In India, the Paleozoic rock formation, which dates back 600 to 300 million years, is known as the Dravidian systems. Due to the world’s high-quality coal formation, it is also known as the Carboniferous rocks system. There are very few of these rocks on the Peninsular Shield and the majority of them are in the extra-Peninsular Himalayan and Gangetic regions (Umaria in Rewa). Dravidian rocks are primarily found in the areas of PirPanjal, Handwara, Lider Valley, Annatnag in Kashmir, Spiti, Kangra and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh and Gharwal and Kumayun in Uttarakhand. The Dravidian rocks mostly consist of talc, dolomite, marble, quartzites, slates, clays, sandstones and clays.
Carboniferous rocks (350 million years)
Limestone, shale and quartzite dominate the 350 million year old Carboniferous rocks. Upper Carboniferous limestones are the main component of Mount Everest. In the Carboniferous era, coal first began to develop. In geology, carboniferous refers to a coal- bearing period. [The majority of coal found in India is not from the Carboniferous
period; excellent coal from the Great Lakes Region-USA, U.K. and Ruhr region is from the Carboniferous period]
Aryan Rock System
The Aryan Group, which marks the start of the Upper Carboniferous period, has arrived at the start of the final, longest and most dramatic age, spanning from the Upper Carboniferous to the Holocene epoch. Gondwana System: The Gonds, Telangana’s and Andhra Pradesh’s most primitive people, are where the Gondwana System gets its name. They are deposits that have been deposited on the surface of old plateaus in synclinal troughs. The laden troughs subsided as the sediments built up. Terrestrial plants and animals flourished in these troughs as fresh water and silt gathered there. Since the Permian epoch, this has occurred (250 million years ago)
Tertiary System
About 60 to 7 million years ago, during the Eocene to Pliocene. characterised by the final disintegration of the former Gondwanan continent and the elevation of the Tethys geosynclines or Himalayas. The Himalayas were created and India’s current shape took shape during the tertiary, making it the most important epoch in terms of geology. The Bengal and Ganges delta, the East coast and the Andaman Islands are all totally covered by the Tertiary Succession. The Salt Range, Potwar Plateau, outer Himalayan regions of Jammu and Punjab, Assam, Sind and Baluchistan are other places where they can be found. The Karewas of Kashmir, the Bhangra, the Khadar of the Gangetic plains and others are significant rock systems.
Physiographic division of India
Structure, process and developmental stage all contribute to an area’s physiography. The physical attributes of India’s geography are incredibly diverse. A huge area of rough topography can be found in the north, which is made up of a number of mountain ranges with a variety of peak shapes, lovely valleys and deep gorges. The southern portion of Earth is a stable tableland with deeply carved plateaus, bare rocks and extensive scarp systems. The enormous north Indian plain lies between these two. Based on these macro variations, India can be divided into the following physiographic divisions: The Northern and North- Eastern Mountains. The Northern Plain. The Peninsular Plateau. The Indian Desert. The Coastal Plains. The Islands.
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Essentially parallel to both ranges. Other names for it include Lower Himalaya and Himachal. The 60–80 km wide and 2400 km long lower Himalayan ranges are situated. There are elevations ranging from 3,500 to 4,500 m above sea level. Over 5,050 metres above sea level, several summits are blanketed in snow the entire year. The lower Himalayas are divided into southern slopes that are steep and bare (steep slopes prevent soil formation) and northern slopes that are gentler and covered in forest. The Nag Tibba and Mussoorie hills in Uttarakhand serve as a physical reminder of the Middle Himalayas. East of the Kosi River, the Sapt Kosi, Sikkim, Bhutan, Miri, Abor and Mishmi hills represent the lower Himalayas. The Middle Himalayan ranges are more friendly to human contact. Majority of the Himalayan hill resorts like Shimla, Mussoorie, Ranikhet, Nainital, Almora and Darjeeling, etc. are located here.
The Great Himalaya
Also known as Himadri, the Central Himalaya, or the Inner Himalaya. Averaging roughly 25 kilometres in width and 6,100 m above sea level in elevation. Granites and gneisses in the centre are what make up the majority of the structure, which is then covered with metamorphosed limestone sediments. The “Rock System” The hog back topography—a long, steep hill or mountain ridge—is created by the asymmetrical folds in this range, which have a high south slope and a mild north slope. Like the other two, this mountain arc convexes to the south. Abruptly comes to an end as the syntax bends. One is in the Namcha Barwa in the north-east and the other is in the north- Nanga west’s Parbat. Passes in the Greater Himalayas State Passes of Greater Himalayas Jammu and Kashmir
- Burzil Pass
- Zoji La [La means pass] Himachal Pradesh
- Bara Lacha La
- Shipki La [The Hindustan-
- Tibet Road connecting Shimla with Gartok in Western Tibet] Uttarakhand
- Thaga La
- Niti Pass
- Lipu Lekh Sikkim
- Nathu La
- Jelep La [important trade route connecting Kalimpong (near Darjeeling) with Lhasa in Tibet, passes through Jelep La (4,386 m)]
Important Passes of India
The Trans Himalayas
North of the Great Himalayan range are the Himalayan ranges. Because the majority of it is in Tibet, it is also known as the Tibetan Himalaya. The primary ranges are the Zaskar, Ladakh, Kailas and Karakoram. It extends in an east-west direction for around 1,000 kilometres. 3000 metres above mean sea level is the average elevation. This region’s typical breadth ranges from 40 km at the edges to around 225 km in the middle. In the Zaskar Range, the Nanga Parbat ( m) is a significant range. The Ladakh Range is located parallel to and north of the Zaskar Range. Just a few of the
peaks in this range reach heights of more than 6000 metres. The Kailas Range (Gangdise in Chinese) in western Tibet is an offshoot of the Ladakh Range. The highest peak is Mount Kailas (6714 m). River Indus originates from the northern slopes of the Kailas range. The northern most range of the Trans- Himalayan Ranges in India is the Great Karakoram Range also known as the Krishnagiri range. Karakoram Range extends eastwards from the Pamir for about 800 km. It is a range with lofty peaks [elevation 5,500 m and above]. It is the abode of some of the greatest glaciers of the world outside the polar regions. Some of the peaks are more than 8, metre above sea level. K2 (8,611 m) [Godwin Austen or Qogir] is the second highest peak in the world and the highest peak in the Indian Union. The Ladakh Plateau lies to the north-east of the Karakoram Range. It has been dissected into a number of plains and mountains [Soda Plains, Aksai Chin, Lingzi Tang, Depsang Plains and Chang Chenmo]
Purvanchal or Eastern Hills
The Himalayas’ southern extension, known as the Eastern Hills or The Purvanchal, runs along India’s northeastern border. The Purvanchal is a group of relatively low hills that are formed when the Himalayas abruptly curve southward near the Dihang canyon. To the west, the Purvanchal Hills are convex. They stretch from Arunachal Pradesh in the north to Mizoram in the south along the border between India and Myanmar.
Hill stations are famous because of their climate and colonial heritage. This region has 200cm of rainfall and its more vegetated than the Kashmir Himalayas but prone to Seismicity and landslides because the rocks are fractured and fragile especially the lesser Himalayas is composed of loose rocks like shale, limestone and conglomerates.
Central/ Nepal Himalayas
Situated between the rivers Tista and Kali, which run west to east. It measures 800 kilometres. Here are some of the most well-known mountains in the world, including Mt. Everest (Sagarmatha), Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Annapurna, Gosainthan and Dhaulagiri. These mountains feature an orthoclinal layout and the Katmandu valley is well- known. In this area, the Lesser Himalaya is referred to as Mahabharat Lekh. Rivers like the Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, etc. cut through the mountain. Kathmandu and Pokhra lacustrine valleys lie between the Great and the Lesser Himalayas (previously, they were lakes). Beyond Narayani, the Shiwalik range is essentially nonexistent and very close to the lesser Himalaya to the east.
Assam/ Eastern Himalayas
It is situated between the Tista River in the west and the Brahmaputra River (Dihang Gorges) in the east and it is 750 km long. The majority of the Eastern Himalayas are located in Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh. Shiwalik Mountains and the Greater Himalayas are intertwined in numerous places. Rainfall totals over 200 cm and thin longitudinal troughs are typical. Fluvial erosion is clearly dominant in the Assam Himalayas as a result of abundant rainfall. However, due to its proximity to the tropics and deep jungle, ice caps and glaciers were not discovered. Since rocks are easily broken, earthquakes occur frequently. Tribes live there. Range names are equivalent to tribal names. Several raging rivers cut across these mountains. This area is heavily dissected.
Purvanchal
Although structurally distinct from the main Himalayan mountains, it is regarded to be a component of the Himalayas geologically. The Brahmaputra valley is located north of the Purvanchal Range. Its Naga Hills contain Saramati, the highest mountain in the world. The only floating national park in the world is located at Loktak Lake in the Manipur Hills. National Park of Keibul-Lamjao. The highest point in the Mizo Hills, formerly known as the Lushai Hills, is Blue Mountain. These mountains are a product of the Arakan Yoma orogen. They contain shale, mudstone, sandstone and quartzite, among other loose and broken sedimentary rocks. The Himalayas’ most shattered portion is this region. It is susceptible to earthquakes and landslides because of the Naga fault line. Densely forested, 150-200 cm of rain falls annually, however due to changing farming ecology is at stake.
Significance of the Himalayas
1. Influence on Indian Climate: They prevent rain from falling in the North-Eastern Hills and the entire Ganga Plains because to their interception of the summer monsoons that originate from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. To the north-west of India (Punjab, Haryana, etc.), they direct the monsoon winds. But because of Western Disturbances that originate in the Mediterranean regions, these areas get the most of the rainfall. From the chilly continental air masses of central Asia, they shield the northern plains. Sub-tropical Jet stream movement in the area is influenced by the Himalayas. In order to bring the monsoon to India, they split the jet stream, which is very crucial. India would have been entirely a desert with very harsh winters if there had been no Himalayas. 2. Defense: The Himalayas act as a natural barrier for defence. But the 1962 Chinese invasion of India decreased the Himalayas’ importance as a line of defence. 3. Source of Rivers: In India, approximately half a billion people depend on the rivers that flow from the Himalayas. [This will be covered in further detail in the drainage system] All of the rivers are dependable year- round water sources. 4. Fertile Soil: The swift flowing rivers from Himalayas bring enormous amount of silt (alluvium) which constantly enrich the Ganaga and Bramhaputra plains. 5. Hydroelectricity: The Himalayan region offers a number of natural sites with excellent hydroelectric power generation potential because of its topography and swift-moving perennial rivers. There are already several hydroelectric power facilities in existence. But doing all of this has a high environmental cost. 6. Mineral Resources in Himalayas: Potential coal and oil reserves can be found in geosynclinical deposits found in tertiary rocks. Kashmir is home to coal. Some locations in the Himalayas have deposits of copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, limestone, semi-precious stones and precious stones. However, in order to fully utilise these resources, cutting-edge technologies are still needed.
Northern Plain
In India, the northern plains are the most recent physiographic feature. The Himalayan Frontal Fault divides them from the Shivaliks, which are to their south (HFF). The border is a wavy, erroneous line that runs along Peninsular India’s northern frontier. The hills of Purvanchal surround the plains on their eastern side.
Northern Plain
Alluvial deposits brought by rivers with origins in the Himalayan and Peninsular regions resulted in the formation of the great plains. From east to west, these plains cover a distance of about 3,200 km. Despite having relief features that span hundreds of kilometers, the Great Plains are remarkably uniform. Bluffs, levees, ravines and khols are used to break up the monotony.
Bhabar plains
Bhabar is a short region at the slope’s break that runs parallel to the Shiwalik foothills for 8 to 10 km. Because of this, the streams and rivers that originate in the mountains often disappear in this area and leave behind heavy materials made of rocks and boulders. Only enormous trees with deep roots are present in the area, which is unsuitable for cultivation. There are building materials available, including large boulders. Recently, footloose businesses have received encouragement.
Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta
The world’s largest delta is located here. In the delta region, the Ganga river splits into multiple waterways. Here, the ground slopes by only 2 cm per mile. The area is below mean sea level in two-thirds of it. [Highly susceptible to changes in sea level] Estuaries, mud flats, mangrove swamps, sandbanks, islands and forelands are abundant on the seaward face of the delta. Tidal woods cover a substantial portion of the coastal delta. Due to the Sundri tree’s dominance in this area, these are known as the Sunderbans.
Significance of the Plain
Half of all Indians live on this one-fourth of the nation’s land. Flat terrain, perennial rivers that move slowly, fertile alluvial soils and a good climate encourage intensive agricultural activities. Punjab, Haryana and the western portion of Uttar Pradesh are now known as the “granary of India” because to the significant usage of irrigation (Prairies are called the granaries of the world). A dense network of highways and trains connects the whole plain, with the exception of the Thar Desert and this has sparked extensive urbanisation and industrialization. Cultural tourism: Hindus hold many sacred sites along the banks of rivers like the Ganga and the Yamuna in high regard. The Mahavira and Buddha religions as well as the Bhakti and Sufi movements thrived in this region.
Indian Peninsular Plateau
Indian Peninsular Plateau (Deccan
Plateau)
A plateau is a high expanse of land with a flat top. In the absence of a neighbouring plateau, plateaus frequently exist alone. A plateau is a flat, high landform that rises abruptly above its surroundings on at least one side, according to National Geographic.
Features of the Peninsular Plateau
Roughly triangular in shape, with the southern boundary of the vast plain of North India serving as its foundation. The triangular plateau’s highest point is at Kanniyakumari. It has a total size of around 16 lakh square kilometres (India as a whole is 32 lakh sq km). The plateau rises between 600 and 900 metres above sea level on average (varies from region to region).
The majority of peninsular rivers run from west to east, which suggests that it is the general slope. The rift that forms in the Narmada-Tapti River, which runs from east to west, is an exception. One of the oldest landforms on the planet is the Peninsular Plateau. It is a very stable block made primarily of gneisses and schists from the Archaean era. Since its formation, it has been a shield that has remained stable and undergone few structural modifications. The Peninsular block has been on land for many hundred million years and has only occasionally been submerged by the water. The Peninsular Plateau is made up of a number of smaller plateaus, hill ranges, river basins and valleys.
Marwar Plateau or Mewar Plateau
It is located in eastern Rajasthan. Marwar plateau is to the east of Aravalis and Marwar plain is to the west. It dips down eastward and has an average elevation of 250–500 m above sea level. Sandstone, shales and limestones from the Vindhayan era make up its composition. The Banas River and its tributaries, the Berach and Khari rivers, rise in the Aravali Range and flow northwest into the Chambal river. The plateau top resembles a rolling plain due to these rives’ erosional activity.
Central Highland
Madhya Bharat Pathar and Madhya Bharat Plateau are other names for this area. The Marwar or Mewar Upland is to the east of it. The Chambal river’s basin, which flows through a rift valley, makes up the majority of the plateau. Its principal tributaries include the Banas, which flows through the Mewar plateau, the Parwan, which flows from Madhya Pradesh and the Kali Sindh, which originates in Rana Pratap Sagar. Sandstone makes up the rounded hills of the plateau’s rolling terrain. Here are dense forests. The Chambal River’s ravines, often known as its badlands, are to the north.
The general horizontality of the strata demonstrates that there haven’t been any significant disturbances in this region.
Chotanagpur Plateau
The northern projection of the Indian Peninsula is represented by the Chotanagpur plateau. Mostly in Jharkhand, the northernmost region of Chhatisgarh and West Bengal’s Purulia district. North-west of the plateau, the Son river feeds into the Ganga. The plateau is 700 metres above sea level on average. The majority of the rocks on this plateau are from Gondwana. The plateau has a radial drainage pattern because it is drained by various rivers and streams that flow in different directions. Discharge Pattern. Numerous drainage basins have formed along rivers such the Damodar, Subarnrekaha, North, South and Barkar. In a rift valley running from west to east across the centre of this area is the Damodar river. The Hazaribagh plateau, which is located north of the Damodar river, has an average elevation of 600 metres above mean sea level. Isolated hills dot this plateau. Due to extensive erosion, it resembles a peneplain. South of the Damodar Valley, on the Ranchi Plateau, the elevation is roughly 600 metres above mean sea level. Where Ranchi (661 m) is located, the terrain is mostly rolling. Monadnocks, an isolated hill or ridge of erosion-resistant rock towering above a peneplain, encroach on it in some locations. Conical hills include, for instance, Ayers Rock in Australia. The Rajmahal Hills, which define the Chotanagpur Plateau’s northeastern border, are primarily made of basalt and are covered in basaltic lava flows.
Meghalaya Plateau
Beyond the Rajmahal hills, to the east, the peninsular plateau stretches to Meghalaya or the Shillong plateau. This plateau is separated from the main block by the Garo-Rajmahal Gap. Down-faulting created this gap (normal fault: a block of earth slides downwards). Later, sediments left behind by the Ganga and Brahmaputa filled it. Archaean quartzites, shales and schists formed the plateau. The plateau dips southward toward the Surma and Meghna rivers and northward toward the Brahmaputra valley. Its western border roughly corresponds with the border with Bangladesh. The Khasi-Jaintia Hills (1,500 m), the Mikir Hills (900 m) and the Garo Hills (900 m) are the names of the western, middle and eastern portions of the plateau, respectively (700 m). Shillong (1,961 metres) is the highest point of the plateau.
Deccan Plateau
About five lakh square kilometres make up its area. The Satpura and Vindhya in the north-west, the Mahadev and Maikal in the north, the Western Ghats in the west and the Eastern Ghats in the east define its triangle shape. It has a 600 m average elevation. The elevation varies from 500 m in the north to 1000 m in the south. The flow of its principal rivers serves as a good indicator of its general slope, which runs from west to east. This plateau has been separated into several smaller plateaus by rivers.
Maharashtra Plateau
It makes up the Deccan Plateau’s northern portion. The majority of the Deccan Traps are located in this area, which is largely underlain by basaltic rocks with volcanic origins.
Weathering has given the land the appearance of a rolling plain. The horizontal lava sheets have produced characteristic Deccan Trap topography (step-like topography). Godavari, Bhima and Krishna’s wide and shallow valleys are bounded on opposing sides by flat-topped, steep-sided hills and mountains. Regur, a black cotton soil, blankets the entire area.
Karnataka Plateau
The Mysore plateau is another name for the Karnataka Plateau. Resides south of the plateau of Maharashtra. An average elevation of 600–900 metres gives the area the appearance of an undulating plateau. The Western Ghats run parallel to or across the general trend of the hills. The tallest peak, Mulangiri in the Baba Budan Hills of the Chikmaglur district, is 1913 metres high. Malnad and Maidan are the names of the two sections that make up the plateau. Kannada for “the Malnad” is “high country.” Deep valleys covered with thick trees cut through it. On the other hand, the Maidan is made up of a rolling plain and small granite hills. In the south, where the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats meet, the plateau narrows and combines with the Niligiri.
Telangana plateau
Archaean gneisses make up much of the Telangana plateau. It has a 500–600 m elevation on average. In comparison to its northern twin, the southern section is higher. Three river systems—the Godavari, the Krishna and the Penneru—drain the area. Ghats and the Peneplains separate the entire plateau (a vast featureless, undulating plain which the last stage of deposition process).
Hill Ranges of the Peninsular Plateau
In the peninsular region, relict-type hills predominate (residual hills). They are the remains of hills and horsts that were formed millions of years ago (horst: uplifted block; graben: subsided block). These hill ranges and various river valleys divide the Peninsular region’s plateaus from one another.
Aravali Range
They are arranged from northeast to southwest. They travel roughly 800 kilometres between Delhi and Gujarat’s Palanpur. They are the oldest mountain range in India and one of the world’s oldest (very old) fold mountains. Mountains in folds and mountains in blocks. Its summits were feeding glaciers after its formation in the Archaean Era (more than 100 million years ago) and several of them were likely higher than the Himalayas of today. They are now remnants of the world’s oldest mountain, which was formed as a result of folding, after suffering severe weathering and erosion for millions of years. They proceed up to Hariddwar, which is hidden by the Ganga Plains’ alluvium. The range is noticeable in Rajasthan (a continuous range that climbs to 900 m south of Ajmer), but it is less noticeable in Haryana and Delhi (characterized by a chain of detached and discontinuous ridges beyond Ajmer). Some geographers claim that one branch of the Aravalis continues through the Gulf of Khambhat to the Lakshadweep Archipelago and the other branch into the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. With only a few hills rising beyond 1, metres, its average elevation is only 400– 600 metres. The range climbs to about 1,000 m at the south-westernmost point. The valley of the Banas here divides Mt. Abu (1,158 m), a minor mountainous block, from the main range.
