Physical Features of India: Himalayas, Plains, Plateau, Coast & Islands
Complete notes on India's physiographic divisions — Himalayas, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Coastal Plains, and Islands with rivers, passes, and peaks.
▶ മലയാളത്തിൽ വായിക്കുകComplete notes on India's physiographic divisions — Himalayas, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Coastal Plains, and Islands with rivers, passes, and peaks.
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India’s physical geography is divided into six major physiographic divisions. This is a core topic for Kerala PSC, with questions on mountains, rivers, passes, and plateaus appearing in every exam.
Six Major Physiographic Divisions
| Division | Approximate Area (%) | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Himalayan Mountains | ~10.7% | Young fold mountains, still rising |
| 2. The Northern Plains | ~21.1% | Alluvial plains formed by Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra |
| 3. The Peninsular Plateau | ~27.7% | Ancient, stable tableland |
| 4. The Indian Desert (Thar) | ~6.3% | Sandy arid region in Rajasthan |
| 5. The Coastal Plains | ~6.1% | Narrow strips along east and west coasts |
| 6. The Islands | ~0.3% | Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep |
1. The Himalayan Mountains
Three Parallel Ranges
| Range | Also Called | Altitude | Width | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Himalayas | Himadri | Average 6,000 m+ | ~25 km | Highest peaks; perpetual snow; granitic core |
| Lesser Himalayas | Himachal | 3,700–4,500 m | 60–80 km | Pir Panjal, Dhaula Dhar, Mahabharat ranges |
| Outer Himalayas | Shiwaliks | 900–1,100 m | 10–50 km | Youngest range; composed of loose sediments |
Duns/Doons: Longitudinal valleys between Shiwaliks and Lesser Himalayas (e.g., Dehradun, Patli Dun)
Divisions of Himalayas (West to East)
| Division | Between | States/Regions |
|---|---|---|
| Kashmir/Punjab Himalayas | Indus to Sutlej | J&K, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh |
| Kumaon Himalayas | Sutlej to Kali river | Uttarakhand |
| Nepal Himalayas | Kali to Teesta | Nepal |
| Assam Himalayas | Teesta to Dihang (Brahmaputra) | Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh |
Highest Peaks
| Peak | Height (m) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Everest (Sagarmatha) | 8,849 | Nepal-Tibet border |
| K2 (Godwin-Austen) | 8,611 | PoK (Karakoram range) |
| Kangchenjunga | 8,586 | Sikkim-Nepal border (highest in India as per territory administered) |
| Nanda Devi | 7,816 | Uttarakhand (highest peak entirely within India) |
| Kamet | 7,756 | Uttarakhand |
PSC Note: K2 is in Karakoram range (not Himalayas). Kangchenjunga is the highest peak of the Himalayas in India.
Important Mountain Passes
| Pass | State/UT | Connects | Altitude (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karakoram Pass | Ladakh | India to China (Xinjiang) | ~5,540 m (highest pass in India) |
| Zoji La | J&K | Srinagar to Leh | ~3,528 m |
| Banihal Pass | J&K | Jammu to Srinagar (Jawahar Tunnel) | ~2,832 m |
| Rohtang Pass | Himachal Pradesh | Kullu to Lahaul-Spiti | ~3,978 m |
| Shipki La | Himachal Pradesh | India to Tibet (Sutlej river route) | ~4,600 m |
| Nathula Pass | Sikkim | India to Tibet/China | ~4,310 m |
| Jelep La | Sikkim | India to Tibet | ~4,267 m |
| Bomdi La | Arunachal Pradesh | India to Tibet | ~2,217 m |
| Lipulekh Pass | Uttarakhand | India to Tibet (Kailash Mansarovar route) | ~5,334 m |
| Palghat Gap (Palakkad Gap) | Kerala-Tamil Nadu | Links Malabar Coast to Tamil Nadu | ~140 m |
PSC Favourite: Palghat Gap is the most significant break in the Western Ghats.
Purvanchal (Eastern Hills)
Hills running along India’s northeastern border:
| Hills | State |
|---|---|
| Patkai Hills | Arunachal Pradesh-Myanmar border |
| Naga Hills | Nagaland |
| Manipur Hills | Manipur |
| Mizo Hills (Lushai Hills) | Mizoram |
| Garo, Khasi, Jaintia Hills | Meghalaya |
| Mikir Hills | Assam |
2. The Northern Plains (Indo-Gangetic Plains)
Sub-divisions
| Zone | Description | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Bhabar | Narrow belt at Himalayan foothills | Pebble-strewn; rivers disappear underground |
| Terai | Below Bhabar | Marshy, forested; rivers re-emerge |
| Bhangar | Old alluvium (higher ground) | Contains kankar (limestone nodules) |
| Khadar | New alluvium (lower flood plains) | Renewed annually by floods; very fertile |
Three Major Plain Systems
| Plain | River System | States |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab Plains | Indus and tributaries (Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) | Punjab, Haryana |
| Ganga Plains | Ganga and tributaries | UP, Bihar, West Bengal |
| Brahmaputra Plains | Brahmaputra | Assam |
3. The Peninsular Plateau
Key Features
- One of the oldest landmasses (part of Gondwanaland)
- Broadly divided into: Central Highlands and Deccan Plateau
- Average height: 600–900 m
- Made of old crystalline, igneous, and metamorphic rocks
Important Plateaus and Hills
| Plateau/Hill | Location | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Malwa Plateau | MP, Rajasthan | Lava-formed; Chambal river flows through |
| Chota Nagpur Plateau | Jharkhand | Rich in minerals (coal, iron, mica) |
| Deccan Plateau | Maharashtra, Karnataka, AP, Telangana | Largest plateau; slopes west to east |
| Meghalaya Plateau | Meghalaya | Detached from main peninsular block; Cherrapunji located here |
Western Ghats vs Eastern Ghats
| Feature | Western Ghats (Sahyadri) | Eastern Ghats |
|---|---|---|
| Continuity | Continuous (broken only at Palghat Gap, etc.) | Discontinuous (broken by rivers) |
| Average height | 900–1,600 m | 600 m |
| Highest peak | Anamudi (2,695 m) in Kerala | Mahendragiri (1,501 m) in Odisha |
| Rainfall | Heavy (windward side of SW monsoon) | Moderate |
| Rivers originating | Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri | Many rivers cut through (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna) |
| UNESCO status | UNESCO World Heritage Site (2012) | Not listed |
Important Peaks
| Peak | Height | Range/Location |
|---|---|---|
| Anamudi | 2,695 m | Western Ghats, Kerala (highest peak in South India) |
| Doddabetta | 2,637 m | Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu |
| Guru Shikhar | 1,722 m | Aravalli Range, Rajasthan (highest in Aravalli) |
| Dhupgarh | 1,350 m | Satpura Range, MP (highest in Satpura) |
| Mahendragiri | 1,501 m | Eastern Ghats, Odisha |
4. The Indian Desert (Thar)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Western Rajasthan |
| Area | About 2,00,000 sq km |
| Key river | Luni (only significant river; does not reach the sea) |
| Rainfall | Below 150 mm annually |
| Boundary | Aravalli Range separates it from rest of Rajasthan |
| Feature | Barchans (sand dunes), playas (temporary salt lakes) |
5. Coastal Plains
Western Coastal Plain (North to South)
| Section | Region | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Kutch and Kathiawar | Gujarat | Rann of Kutch (salt marshes) |
| Konkan Coast | Maharashtra, Goa | Narrow; major ports (Mumbai) |
| Karnataka Coast (Canara) | Karnataka | Moderate width |
| Malabar Coast | Kerala | Wide; backwaters (kayals), lagoons |
Eastern Coastal Plain (North to South)
| Section | Region | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Utkal Coast | Odisha | Chilika Lake (largest brackish water lagoon in India) |
| Northern Circars | Andhra Pradesh (north) | Wider than western coast |
| Coromandel Coast | TN, southern AP | Widest section; deltas of Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri |
Key Difference: Eastern coastal plain is wider than western coastal plain because major rivers deposit sediment on the east coast (rivers flow west to east across the Deccan).
6. The Islands
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Bay of Bengal |
| Total islands | 572 (approx.) |
| Separated by | Ten Degree Channel (separates Andaman from Nicobar) |
| Highest point | Saddle Peak (737 m) in North Andaman |
| Only active volcano in India | Barren Island |
| Capital | Port Blair |
Lakshadweep Islands
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Arabian Sea |
| Total islands | 36 (only 10 inhabited) |
| Type | Coral atolls |
| Separated from Maldives by | Eight Degree Channel |
| Separated from Minicoy | Nine Degree Channel (between main Lakshadweep group and Minicoy) |
| Capital | Kavaratti |
Major Rivers of India
| River | Origin | Length in India (approx. km) | Drains into |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ganga | Gangotri glacier (Uttarakhand) | 2,525 | Bay of Bengal |
| Brahmaputra | Angsi glacier near Mansarovar (Tibet) | 916 (in India) | Bay of Bengal |
| Indus | Near Mansarovar, Tibet | 1,114 (in India) | Arabian Sea |
| Godavari | Nashik (Maharashtra) | 1,465 | Bay of Bengal |
| Krishna | Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra) | 1,400 | Bay of Bengal |
| Kaveri (Cauvery) | Talakaveri, Coorg (Karnataka) | 800 | Bay of Bengal |
| Narmada | Amarkantak (MP) | 1,312 | Arabian Sea |
| Tapti (Tapi) | Multai, Betul (MP) | 724 | Arabian Sea |
| Mahanadi | Sihawa, Chhattisgarh | 851 | Bay of Bengal |
Note: Narmada and Tapti are the only two major peninsular rivers flowing westward into the Arabian Sea. They flow through rift valleys.
Frequently Asked PSC Questions
Q: Highest peak in India? A: K2 (8,611 m) — in PoK. If “entirely within India”: Nanda Devi (7,816 m). If “in Indian-administered territory”: Kangchenjunga (8,586 m).
Q: Highest peak in South India? A: Anamudi (2,695 m), Kerala
Q: Only active volcano in India? A: Barren Island (Andaman)
Q: Palghat Gap connects? A: Kerala (Malabar) and Tamil Nadu
Q: Ten Degree Channel separates? A: Andaman Islands from Nicobar Islands
Q: Largest brackish water lagoon in India? A: Chilika Lake, Odisha
Q: Which two peninsular rivers flow westward? A: Narmada and Tapti
Q: Bhabar and Terai are parts of? A: Northern Plains (Himalayan foothills)
Exam Tips
- Memorize passes with their states — very common match-the-following format
- Western Ghats vs Eastern Ghats comparison table is tested frequently
- Rivers flowing into Arabian Sea vs Bay of Bengal is a standard question
- Know the channels: Eight Degree, Nine Degree, Ten Degree — and what they separate
- Anamudi (Kerala) being the highest in South India is always tested in Kerala PSC specifically
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