PHYSICAL FEATURES OF INDIA

Himalayan Mountains

Mountain ranges in northern India running from the Indus to the Brahmaputra, comprising three parallel ranges.

Great Himalayas

The northernmost range of the Himalayas, consisting of the loftiest peaks with an average height of 6,000 metres.

Himachal

The rugged mountain system south of the Great Himalayas, also known as the lesser Himalaya.

Shiwaliks

The outermost range of the Himalayas, composed of unconsolidated sediments.

Duns

Longitudinal valleys located between the lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks; known examples include Dehradun and Kotli Dun.

Punjab Himalaya

The part of the Himalayas located between the Indus and Satluj rivers, known regionally as Kashmir and Himachal Himalaya.

Kumaon Himalayas

The part of the Himalayas lying between the Satluj and Kali rivers.

Brahmaputra Plain

The plain in Assam formed by the Brahmaputra river.

Bhabar

A narrow belt where rivers deposit pebbles after descending from the mountains.

Terai

A wet, swampy, and marshy region created by streams and rivers re-emerging from the Bhabar belt.

Bhangar

The largest part of the northern plain formed of older alluvium, lying above the floodplains and presenting a terrace-like feature.

Kankar

Calcareous deposits found in the Bhangar region.

Khadar

The newer deposits of the floodplains in the northern plains.

Peninsular Plateau

A tableland composed of old crystalline, igneous, and metamorphic rocks, formed due to the breaking of Gondwana land.

Deccan Trap

A distinct black soil area of the Peninsular Plateau.

Western Ghats

A continuous mountain range parallel to the western coast with an average elevation of 900–1600 meters.

Eastern Ghats

A discontinuous mountain range stretching from the Mahanadi Valley to the Nilgiris with an average elevation of 600 meters.

Indian Desert

A sandy plain located on the western margins of the Aravali Hills, characterized by very low rainfall and low vegetation.

Eastern Coastal Plain

A wide stretch of land between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal, includes the Northern Circar and Coromandel Coast.

Western Coastal Plain

A narrow plain between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, consisting of Konkan, Kannad, and Malabar coasts.

Lakshadweep Islands

A group of small coral islands previously known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindive.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Two broad categories of islands in India, with the Andaman in the north and the Nicobar in the south.

Diverse physical features of India

Offer immense possibilities for development in water resources, agriculture, minerals, and coastal activities.