Physiographic Divisions
Geography · भौतिक विभाजन
📋Quick Overview
India is divided into 5 major physiographic divisions based on relief, geology, and physical features: (1) The Himalayan Mountains in the north, (2) The Northern Plains formed by Ganga-Brahmaputra-Indus river systems, (3) The Peninsular Plateau — oldest landmass, (4) The Coastal Plains along the eastern and western coasts, and (5) The Islands — Andaman & Nicobar in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea. Each division has unique physical characteristics that influence climate, soil, vegetation, and human life.
📖1. The Himalayan Mountains
| Range | Other Name | Height | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Himalayas (Himadri) | Great Himalayas | 6,000+ m | Highest, most continuous range. Peaks: Everest (8,849 m), K2, Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat. Always snow-covered. No human settlement. |
| Lesser Himalayas (Himachal) | Middle Himalayas | 3,700–4,500 m | Hill stations: Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Darjeeling. Pir Panjal, Dhaula Dhar, Mahabharat ranges. Major valleys: Kashmir, Kangra, Kullu. |
| Shiwalik (Outer Himalayas) | Sub-Himalayas | 900–1,100 m | Youngest and lowest range. Made of loose sediments. Doons (flat valleys) between Shiwalik and Lesser Himalayas (e.g., Dehradun). |
Trans-Himalayas (Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar ranges) lie NORTH of the Greater Himalayas, partly in India (Ladakh). K2 (8,611 m) is in Karakoram range — 2nd highest peak in the world.
📝2. The Northern Plains
| Zone | Description |
|---|---|
| Bhabar | Narrow belt (8–16 km wide) at the foot of Shiwalik. Made of pebbles and rocks. Rivers disappear underground here. |
| Terai | South of Bhabar. Marshy, swampy, dense forest area. Rivers re-emerge here. Rich in wildlife. |
| Bhangar | Older alluvial plain (above flood level). Contains calcareous deposits called 'Kankar'. Less fertile than Khadar. |
| Khadar | Newer alluvial plain (in floodplain). Fresh silt deposited every year by floods. Most fertile land — ideal for agriculture. |
The Northern Plains are formed by the alluvial deposits of 3 major river systems: Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra. They stretch about 2,400 km from west to east and are among the most fertile and densely populated regions in the world.
📝3. The Peninsular Plateau
| Plateau | Location | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Deccan Plateau | South of Narmada, between Western & Eastern Ghats | Largest plateau in India. Triangular shape. Higher in west, slopes east. Black soil (lava origin — good for cotton). |
| Chota Nagpur Plateau | Jharkhand, parts of Odisha, WB, Chhattisgarh | Richest mineral belt of India. Coal, iron, mica, bauxite. Damodar valley called 'Ruhr of India'. |
| Malwa Plateau | MP, Rajasthan (between Aravalli & Vindhya) | Made of lava (volcanic origin). Chambal river flows through it. Black soil region. |
- •Western Ghats (Sahyadri) — higher, continuous, average 1,200 m. Highest peak: Anamudi (2,695 m, Kerala). Causes heavy rain on western coast.
- •Eastern Ghats — discontinuous, lower, average 600 m. Highest peak: Mahendragiri (1,501 m). Cut by rivers: Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri.
- •Aravalli Range — oldest fold mountain in the world. Guru Shikhar (1,722 m, Mt. Abu, Rajasthan) is its highest peak.
📝4. The Coastal Plains
| Coast | Parts | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Western Coastal Plain | Konkan (Maharashtra-Goa), Karnataka Coast, Malabar Coast (Kerala) | Narrow (50–100 km), between Western Ghats and Arabian Sea. Many lagoons and backwaters (Vembanad Lake, Kerala). Major ports: Mumbai, Goa, Kochi. |
| Eastern Coastal Plain | Coromandel Coast (TN-AP), Northern Circar (AP-Odisha) | Wider (100–200 km), between Eastern Ghats and Bay of Bengal. Deltas of Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi. Chilika Lake (Odisha) = largest lagoon in India. |
📝5. The Islands
📝Important Mountain Passes
| Pass | State | Connects / Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Karakoram Pass | Ladakh | Highest pass in India. Connects Ladakh to Xinjiang (China) |
| Khyber Pass | Pakistan (historically) | Connects Peshawar (Pakistan) to Kabul (Afghanistan). Key invasion route. |
| Bolan Pass | Pakistan (Balochistan) | Connects Quetta to plains of Sindh. Used by Alexander. |
| Rohtang Pass | Himachal Pradesh | Connects Kullu to Lahaul-Spiti. Atal Tunnel built underneath. |
| Nathu La | Sikkim | Connects India to Tibet (China). Indo-China trade route. |
| Shipki La | Himachal Pradesh | Sutlej river enters India through this pass from Tibet |
| Jelep La | Sikkim | Connects Sikkim to Lhasa (Tibet). Teesta river originates near it. |
| Bomdi La | Arunachal Pradesh | Connects Arunachal to Tibet |