⛰️ Physical Features of India
Himalayas, plains, plateau, deserts, and coastal landforms.
⛰️ India's Diverse Landforms
India has an extraordinary variety of landforms — from the highest mountains to deep ocean trenches, from fertile plains to hot deserts. It is divided into 6 major physiographic divisions.
1. The Himalayan Mountains — Young fold mountains. 3 parallel ranges: Himadri (Great Himalayas, avg 6,000m) → Himachal (Lesser Himalayas, 3,700–4,500m) → Shiwaliks (Outer Himalayas, 900–1,100m). From west to east: Punjab → Kumaon → Nepal → Sikkim → Assam Himalayas.
2. The Northern Plains — formed by alluvial deposits of Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra. Most fertile region. 2,400 km long, 240–320 km wide. Divided into: Bhabar → Terai → Bhangar (old alluvium) → Khadar (new alluvium).
3. The Peninsular Plateau — oldest and most stable landmass. Made of ancient crystalline rocks. Two parts: Central Highlands (N of Narmada) and Deccan Plateau (S of Narmada). Black cotton soil (regur) in Deccan.
4. The Indian Desert — Thar Desert (Rajasthan). Arid, sand dunes (barchans). Very low rainfall (<150mm/year).
5. The Coastal Plains — Western Coastal Plains (narrow, 10–25km) and Eastern Coastal Plains (wider, 100–130km, deltas).
6. The Islands — Andaman & Nicobar (Bay of Bengal, 572 islands) and Lakshadweep (Arabian Sea, 36 coral islands).
• Karakoram Pass — highest motorable pass in the world (~5,540m), J&K
• Rohtang Pass — connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti, HP (now Atal Tunnel below it)
• Nathu La — Sikkim-China border, on ancient Silk Route
• Bolan Pass — Pakistan side, historical invasion route
• Khyber Pass — Afghanistan-Pakistan, most famous historical invasion route
Western Coastal Plains: From Rann of Kutch to Kanyakumari. Narrow (10–25km). Divided: Kachchh & Kathiawar (Gujarat), Konkan (Maharashtra+Goa), Malabar Coast (Kerala). No big deltas (rivers short, steep).
Eastern Coastal Plains: Bay of Bengal side. Wider (100–130km). Big river deltas (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri). Divided: Utkal (Odisha), Andhra, Coromandel (TN) coasts.
India's 6 Physiographic Divisions
AnimationEach physical division has shaped the culture, economy, and settlement patterns of India.
Mountain Peaks & Passes Quiz
InteractiveBhangar (old alluvium):
• Older alluvial deposits, above flood level
• Slightly higher ground, away from river channels
• Darker in color, contains kankar (calcium carbonate nodules)
• Less fertile than khadar
• Used for dry crops (wheat, gram)
Khadar (new alluvium):
• Newer deposits, renewed every flood season
• Found in floodplains, close to river channels
• Light in color, very fine-grained
• Most fertile soil in India — high moisture retention
• Used for rice, sugarcane, and various cash crops
Simply: Khadar = fresh, fertile floodplain soil. Bhangar = older, slightly less fertile terrace soil.
1. Young in geological age: Formed ~50 million years ago (Eocene epoch) when the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate. In geological time, this is very recent — compared to the Peninsular Plateau (billions of years old).
2. Still growing: The Indian Plate continues to push northward at ~5cm/year, so the Himalayas are still rising (~5mm/year). Frequent earthquakes confirm this.
3. Formed by folding: The sedimentary rocks of the ancient Tethys Sea were compressed and folded upward when the two plates collided — creating fold mountains.
4. Steep and jagged: Young mountains haven't been worn down by erosion yet, hence steep slopes and sharp peaks. Old mountains like the Aravalli (oldest mountain range in India) are low and rounded due to millions of years of erosion.