Indian Geography

Physical geo of India

Physiography of India

Northern
mountains
Northern plains
Peninsular plateau
Coastal plains

Northern mountain complex

TransHimala
yas
Hi
as ma
la
y
Purvanc
hal

1) Himalayas (Nanga
parbat to Namcha
barwa)
2) Trans-Himalayas
( Karakoram,
Ladakh and
Zaskar)
3) Purvanchal

Northern mountain complex

TransHimala
yas
Hi
as ma
la
y
Purvanc
hal

1) Himalayas (Nanga
parbat to Namcha
barwa)
2) Trans-Himalayas
( Karakoram,
Ladakh and
Zaskar)
3) Purvanchal

 C-C plate
The Himalayas

collision
Fold mt., tertiary
young mt.,
sedimentary
rocks of marine
origin
Not a single
range but series
of chain of
mountains

Phases of formation of Himalayas

Dras-kohistan
islands

Karakoram ranges

Phases of formation of Himalayas

Upliftment of
Great Himalayas

Upliftment of midHim

Phases of formation of Himalayas

Upliftment of
Shiwaliks

Still rising

North south division of Himalayas

1
2
3

1) Great Himalayas
(Himadri)
2) Middle/ lesser
Himalayas
(Himachal)
3) Shiwaliks (Outer
Himalayas)

Great Himalayas
Highest and most
continuous mountain
range of the world
Crystalline rocks
Mount Everest,
Kanchenjunga,
Makalu, Dhaulagiri,
Mansalu, Annapurna
Nanda devi, Kamet,
Gurla Mandhata

Middle Himalayas
1
2
3
4

Mid/lesser-Him
(Himachal)
discontinuities
1) Pir Panjal
2) Dhauladhar
3) Nag tibba
4) Masoorie
5) Kumaon hills
6) Mahabharat (Nepal)

Shiwaliks

Upliftment of
foothills of
Himalayas
Fluvial in origin
alluvial fans, coarse
deposits brought by
Himalayan rivers
Closer to great Him
in Nepal disappear
after river Gandak

Structure of Himalayas
1) Aravalli and Assam hills
strong push.
Middle peninsula
sagged- convex shape of
Himalayas
2) Sharply bent towards
southward - sudden end
Western bend near Nanga
parbat and eastern near
Namcha Barwa
Called syntaxial bend

Structure of Himalayas
Great Himalayas and
Shiwaliks hog-back
structure
Gentle sloping northern
face southern face
steep slope
Northern side rest
against Tibetan plt
Snow accumulation on
southern side

Antecedent
rivers

Dont as a water
divide river cut
across antecedent
rivers
Indus, Satluj,
Brahmaputra, Kosi
Rate of erosion of
rivers are higher
than rate of
upliftment of
Himalayas

Erosion process of rivers

antecedent

Superimposed
rivers

Western and eastern Himalayas

Indian plate first
collide at its northwestern part to
Eurasian plate
Eastern part still not
collided

Western and eastern Himalayas

Indian plate then
rotate clockwise
NW part as hinge
collision of eastern
edge
Both the portion is
now attached to
Eurasian plate

Western and eastern Himalayas

Indian plate again
rotate anti-clockwise
Now NE part as hinge
Western part get
away from the
Eurasian plate
partially
Western portion
moves southward

Western and eastern Himalayas

NW edge released
Western Himalayas
spread out
Western Himalayas
broaden
Thats why, shiwaliks
gets closer to Great
Himalayas in Eastern
part than in western
part

Western and Eastern Himalayas

Wester
n him
Eastern
him

Western Himalayas:
From Indus to Kali
river
Eastern Himalayas:
From Kali river to
Brahmaputra river

Difference between W and E Himalayas

Western Himalayas

Eastern Himalayas

Great Him, Middle

Himalayas
(Dhualadhar,
Pirpanjal, Kumaon,
Massoorie range)

Great Himalayas +
Middle Himalayas :
Nepal Him (Dudwa,
Muree, Churia) NE
Him (Dafla, Miri,
Abor, Mishmi)

Nepal Himalayas Himalayas

Western
him

Eastern
him

Gr
Dhaulag
e
Hi at
iri
m
Annapurn
al
Mansalu
a
Du aya
d
s
hw
a

EverestMakalu

Mure
e
Churia

Kanchenjun
ga

West and East Himalayas

Ka
am ra
ko
r

Pir
pa
nj
al

Mis
h

i
Abor
La
da

Za
sk

Dh
a
ha ulad
r

ar

Miri

kh

Gr
H ea
as ima t
la
y

Dafla

Kanchenjun
ga

Difference between W and E Himalayas

Western Himalayas

Eastern Himalayas

Lower and gradual slope

Peaks= k2, Godwin
Austin, Gasherbrum,
Masherbrum
Located on higher
latitude colder
Dont act as barrier for
north-west monsoon -drier

Higher and steep-sudden

slope
Peaks= Everest, Makalu,
Annapurna, Dhaulagiri
Located on lower latitude
warmer
Active barrier of south
west monsoon winds
-wetter

Q. The alpine vegetation in

western Himalayas is found only
upto a height of 3000m while in
Eastern Himlayas it is found
upto a height of 4000m. The
reason for this variation in same
mountain range is that:
a) Eastern Himalayas are higher
than western Himalayas

Question
UPSC
Prelims
1995

b) Eastern Himalayas are nearer

to equator and sea than
Western Himalayas
c) Eastern Himalayas get more
rainfall than western Himalayas
d) Eastern Himalayan rocks are
more fertile than western
Himalayas
Ans. C)

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2010

East-West division of Himalayas

Kashmir Kumaon
Him- PN
Him
(Indus
(Satluj
-Satluj)
-Kali)

Nepal
him
(Kali Kosi)

Sikkim Assam
Him
Him
(Kosi - (Teesta Teesta) Dihang)

Kashmir-PN Himlayas

Zozila
pass

Pir
pa
nj
al

Ka
am ra
ko
r

La
da

Za
sk

Dh
a
ha ulad
r

ar

kh

Gr
H ea
as ima t
la
y

Karakoram, Ladakh,
Zasakar, Pir panjal,
Dhaula dhar
Zozila pass btwn
Kashmir and Ladakh
Valleys, duns, lakes

Kumaon Himalayas

w
Garh
l

Sh
ks iwali

Gr
e
Him at
al a
ya

aon
m
u
K

West Garhwal
Himalayas
East Kumaon
Himalayas
Nandadevi, Kamet,
Badrinath, Kedarnath,
Gangotri
Source of Ganga,
Yamuna
Nainital and Bhimtal
-lakes

Nepal Himalayas

Ka
riv li
er

Gr
Hi eat
m
al
ay

Du as
dh
wa
Ka
riv rn
er ali

Dhaulag
iri
Annapurn
Mansalu
a
EverestMakalu
Mure
e

Ga
riv ndak
er

Kathman
du valley
Churia

Kanchenjun
ga
Kosi
river

Tallest section of
Himalayas
Great Himalayas
peaks
Dhaulagiri,
Annapurna,
Mansalu,
Everest, Makalu
Kathmandu
valley

Sikkim Himalayas

Kanchenju
nga

Jelep
la
pass

Peak: Kanchenjunga
Teesta originate
near Kanchenjunga
Jelep la pass- trijunction of IndiaChina-Bhutan

Miri
Dafla

Himalayas
Assam Himalayas
narrower
Lesser Himalayas
close to great
Mis
hm
Himalayas
i
Abor
Diphu Peaks: Namcha
pass
Barwa, Kula Kangri
Bengal Duars
Diphu pass- trijunction of IndiaChina-Myanmar

Q. Nanda devi peak forms part

of:
a) Assam Himalayas
b) Kumaon Himlayas
c) Nepal Himalayas
d) Punjab Himalayas
Ans. B)
Nandadevi - Uttarakhand

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2003

Duns formation

lake

river

When river
initially blocked
by rising mt.
it spreads out
form lake

Duns formation

lake

river

Lakes dry out

when river find
weak rocks to cut
across the mt.
Dry lakes = Duns
Between great and
mid-Him
Dehradun btw
Shiwaliks and
masoorie range

Karewas

Flat-topped
terraces of
Kashmir valley
on flanks of Pir
Panjal
made up of clay,
sands from old
deltaic fans
Fertile land

Importance of Himalayas
Prevents cold Siberian wind to enter
into India
No Himalayas No Tibet No rainfallIndia would have been desert
Himalayas split STWJ into 2 branches
winter rain
Source of perennial rivers great
fertile plain

Importance of Himalayas

Forest wealth great Himalayan NP

unique Bio diversity
Minerals coal (Anthracite) at kalakot,
Nickel, Copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver
Most of them cannot be exploited due
to adverse geo conditions

Q. If there were no Himalayan

range, what would have been
the most likely geographical
impact on India?
1. Much of the country would
experience the cold wave
from Siberia
2. Indo-Gangetic plain would be
devoid of such extensive
alluvial soils

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2010

3. The pattern of monsoon

would be different from what it
is at present.
Which among the above is/are
correct?
a) 1 only
b) 1 and 3
c) 2 and 3
d) 1,2,3

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2010

Q. When you travel in Himalayas, you

will see following:
1. Deep gorges
2. U-turn river courses
3. Parallel mountain ranges
4. Steep-gradient causing land-slides
Which of the above can be said to be
evidence for Himalayas being young
fold mountains?

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2012

a)
b)
c)
d)

1 and 2
1,2 and 4
3 and 4
1,2,3 and 4

Ans. D)

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2012

Trans-Himalayas
1
2
3

Immediately north
of Great Himalayas
Most of them lie in
Tibet
1) Karakoram
2) Ladakh
3) Zaskar
4) Kailash
)Avg. elevation
3000m

Ranges and peaks

Karakora Ladakh
m
K2
Rakapoks
hi
Gasherbru
m

Kaila
sh
Kailas
h

Zask
ar
Nang
a
Parba
t

 Karakoram is home
Trans-Himalayas
of the greatest
glaciers of world
outside
polar
Ka
am ra
regions
ko
r
Siachin, Baltoro,
La
da
Biafo, Hisparkh
Za
sk
ar
Glaciers
Watershed btwn
India and
Turkmenistan

Trans-Himalayas

Deosai
mountai
ns
Suru
river

Shyok
river
Lada
kh
rang
e
Indus
river

Deosai mt. part of

ladakh range
Origin of Suru
river (tri.of Indus)
Kailash range is
off-shoot of
Ladakh range
Indus river passes
between Ladakh
and Zaskar range

Purvanchal
Eastern Himalayas
Same orogeny that
of Himalayas
Patkaibum, Naga
hills, Manipuri hills,
Mizo hills
Elevation decrease
from north to south

Purvanchal
Mt.
Patkai
bum
Naga
hills

details
Border between Arunachal Pradesh
and Myanmar
Highest peak mt. sharamati
Form water shed between India and
Myanmar
Manipuri Border between Manipur and Myanmar
hills
Source of R.Manipuri(tri.Chindwin,
Myanmar)
Mizo
Highest peak blue mt.

Purvanchal

Purvanchal
Arakan
yoma
Andaman
and
Nicobar

Extension of
Purvanchal
continues in
Myanmar as
Arakan yome
then Andaman
and Nicobar
Islands

Physiography of India

Northern
mountains
Northern plains
Peninsular plateau
Coastal plains

Northern plains

2
3

Youngest
physiographic
feature in India
Depositional flood
plain created by
Himalayan rivers
1) Indus
2) Ganga-Yamuna
3) Brahmaputra

Northern Plains
One of the largest,
continuous and
extensive plains
Fertile plain- flat
topography
-historically settled
dense population
30% of the worlds
population on 10% of
worlds agro-land

NS division of Northern plains

Bhabhar
Terai
Bangar
Khadar

N-S division of N.Plains

Bhabhar = alluvial
fans of Himalayan
rivers coarse depo
large boulders
High porosity and
permeability
Rivers disappear
Not good for
cultivation

 Terai:
N-S division of N.Plains
Bad drainage
Rivers reappears
swamps, marshy
Naturally sal
forest
Terai of Bengal
and Bihar more
developed

N-S division of N.Plains

Bangar:
old flood plains of
rivers - Dry land
Colcareous
concretion -Kankar

N-S division of N.Plains

Khadar new
flood plains
fresh river
deposition
Slope btw Bangar
and Khadar:
PN- Dhayas, UPKhol, Bengal
Bhils, Bihar
Taal

Flood plain of a
river

Bangar and Khadar

river
Old Flood
Old Flood
plain
New Flood plain
plain

Old
Floo
d
plai
n

New
Floo
d
plai
n

2
1

East-West
Northern Plains
division of plain
1) RJ plains
(Indus)
3
2) PN plains
4
(Indus)
3) Gangetic
plains
4) Assam plains
(Brahmaputra
)

RJ Plains

er
v
Ri
i
n
Lu

Ar
ra ava
ng lli
e

Thar
dese
rt

Ra
Ba ja
ga sth
r an

Gangasa
gar
region

West of Aravalli
North: Gangasagar
region
Extension of PN plains of
Indus
West of Aravalli:
Rajasthan Bagar
Drained by river Luni
Luni merged into Rann of
Kutchh

er
v
Ri
i
n
Lu

r
ra ava
ng ll
e i

Thar
dese
rt

Ra
Ba ja
ga sth
an
Ar

RJ Plains
Rajasthan Bagar:
fluvial grasslands
RJ steppe
Very fertile Rohi
tracts
Western most RJmarusthali/ Thar
desert sand dunes
Dhrians

SW plains: marine
RJ Plains

SW
plains

ra av
n g a ll
e i

Thar
dese
rt

Ra
Ba ja
ga sth
an
Ar r

Gangasa
gar
region

origin
While north
movement- Indian
plates western
margin marine
transgression
marine depo. oil
and gas reserve
salt lakes
Extend to Kutchh

Deserts Tropical
in RJ desert

Off-shore trade
winds + local reason
Aravalli parallel to
SW monsoon no
orographic rain
Soil is fertile but
moisture deficiency
cultivable if
relclaimed

Punjab Plains

i
v
r
R a ive s
R ea r
B ive
R
Satluj
River

Fluvial plains Ravi,

Beas and Sutlej (tri.
Of Indus)
Khadar plains: fertile
but limitations
1) Aridity
2) Basin topography
(bad drainage) salination

Gangetic Plains
1

Divisions:
2

1) Upper Gangetic
plains
2) Middle
Gangetic plains
3) Lower Gangetic
plains

Gangetic Plains
Upper ganga
plains
From Yamuna
to Ghaghara
plains
Rohilkhand
plain
Sandy
deposits

Gangetic Plains
middle ganga
plains
Kosi plain
Called Magadh /
Awadh /Anga
plain
Flood-prone,
shifting of river
course of Kosi

Gangetic Plains
Lower ganga plains
Ganga enters WB
Sundarban delta
Lowland-almost
sea level
Sagar Island
Lothian Is. (N.P)
Bengal tigers

Assam Plains
Brahmaputra

Kailash
mt.

largest river of
India (volume)
Origin Mansarovar
lake- enters as
Dihang in
Arunachal Pradesh
River course
narrow- numerous
stream flow -flood
prone

Assam plains
Manas

Subansiri

ng
a
Dih
it
h
Lo

siri
Kapi Dhan
lli
Nag
a
Gar Kha
Jainti Bar hills
o
si
a
ail
ran
ge

Streams from north

swift flowing form
alluvial fans
1) Manas
2) Subansiri,
)Streams from south
plt. smooth flowing3) Dibang
4) Lohit
5) Dhansiri
6) Kapilli

Geological history of India

Physiographical regions of India
Northern mountains
Northern plains