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Indian Geography

Physical geo of India

Geological history of
India
Physiography of India
Indian weather: seasons
Climatic regions of India
Soils of India

Geological history of India

Pre-Cambrian
era
India part of
Gondwana land

Pre-Cambrian era

Indian Peninsular
plate =Oldest
crustal block of India
Collision between 3
proto continents
1) Aravalli
2) Dharwad
3) Singhbhum

Pre-Cambrian era
3 lineaments
1) Narmada
2) Son
3) Godawari
Remmenants:
Aravalli R, Dharwad
plt, Singhbhum plt

Pre-Cambrian era
Geosynclines at
margins of Protocontinents:
1) Aravalli
2) Vindhyan
3) Satpura
4) Eastern Ghats
5) Bijawal

Gondwana times
Reactivation of
Narmada SonGodawari lineament
Rifting of Mahanadi
and Damodar valley
Submergence of
forest-Development
of coalfields

Gondwana times

Faulting along
western edge
of peninsular
plateau

Mesozoic time

150 ml yrs ago


Indian plate
broke from
Gondwana land
Started
northward
journey
15 ml yrs ago
India broke from
Madagascar

Late Cretaceous
India move over
Reunion Islands
Hotspot volcanism
Deccan lava plateau
Narrowing of Tethys
sea

Tertiary time
Collision
between Indian
plate and
Eurasian plate
Upliftment of
Himalayas

Tertiary The
Timejerk activation
of crack created at
western margin of
peninsula
Breaking of western
part subsidence
peninsula raised at
western side
Western ghats =
horst

Tertiary time
1
2
3

3 phases of
formation of
Himalayas:
1) Great Himalayas
(Oligo-Eocene)
2) Mid-Himalayas
(Miocene)
3) Outer-Himalayas
(Pleistocene)

Tertiary time
Late
Pleistocene
formation
of Northern
plains
Sediments
from
Himalayan
rivers

Physiography of India
1

4 types of
physiographic
features:
1) Northern
mountains
2) Northern plains
3) Indian peninsular
plateau
4) Coastal India

Physiography of India

Northern
mountains
Northern plains
Peninsular plateau
Coastal plains

Northern mountain complex


2

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
Nanga Parbat and
Namcha barwa edge
of peninsular plate

Western and eastern Himalayas


Then rotate
clockwise NW part
as hinge collision of
eastern edge
Again rotate anticlockwise NE as
hinge

Western and eastern Himalayas


NW edge released
Western Himalayas
spread out-broaden
Thats why,
shiwaliks gets
closer to Great
Himalayas in Nepal

Difference between W and E Himalayas


Western Himalayas

Eastern Himalayas

From Indus to Kali


river
Great Him,
Dhualadhar, Pirpanjal,
Kumaon, Massoorie
range
Lower and gradual
slope

Kali river to
Bramhaputra
Nepal Him (Dudwa,
Muree, Churia) NE Him
(Dafla, Miri, Abor,
Mishmi)
Higher and steepsudden slope

Difference between W and E Himalayas


Western Himalayas

Eastern Himalayas

Peaks= k2, Godwin


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

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)

East-West division of Himalayas


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

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

East-West division of Himalayas


Nepal Himalayas
Tallest section of
Himalayas
Great Himalayas
peaks (W>E)Dhaulagiri,
Annapurna,
Mansalu, Everest,
Makalu
Kathmandu valley

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

East-West division of Himalayas


Assam Himalayas

Assam Himalayas

Himalayas narrower
Lesser Himalayas
Diphu pass- triclose to great
junction
of
IndiaHimalayas
China-Myanmar
Peaks: Namcha
Barwa, Kula Kangri
Bengal Duars

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
When river initially
blocked by rising mt., it
spreads out form lake
Lakes dry out when river
find weak rocks to cut
across the mt.
Dry lakes = Duns
Between great and midHim
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,
Nickle, 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

Trans-Himalayas
Karakoram is
home of the
greatest glaciers
of world outside
polar regions
Watershed btwn
India and
Turkmenistan
Kashmir lie
between Zaskar
and Pir Panjal

Trans-Himalayas

Lada
kh
rang
e

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
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

Northern Plains
NS division of
Northern plains
a) Bhabhar
b) Terai
c) Bangar
d) 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

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
1

Thar
desert

Araval
li
range

West of Aravalli
North: Gangasagar (1)
region
Extension of PN plains of
Indus
West of Aravalli:
Rajasthan Bagar (2)
Drained by river Luni
Luni merged into Rann of
Kutchh

SW plains: marine
RJ Plains
1

Araval
li
range

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

RJ Plains

Thar
desert

2
Araval
li
range

Rajasthan Bagar (2):


fluvial grasslands
RJ steppe
Very fertile Rohi
tracts
Western most RJmarusthali/ Thar
desert (4) sand
dunes Dhrians

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
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
Streams from north
swift flowing form
alluvial fans
Manas, Subansiri,
Streams from south
plt. smooth
flowing- Dibang,
Lohit, Dhansiri,
Kapilli

Physiography of India

Northern
mountains
Northern plains
Peninsular plateau
Coastal plains

Indian peninsular
plateau
1) N-C
highlands
Pre-Cambrian old
region
8 divisions:

2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

S-C highlands
Eastern plateau
North Deccan
South Deccan
Western Ghats
Eastern Ghats
Meghalaya
uplands

N-C highlands

2
3
1

1) Aravalli
2) Mahabharat
Uplands
3) Madhya Bharat
Pathar
4) Bundelkhand

Aravalli range
One of the oldest mt
range
Sedimentary,
metamorphosed rocks
marble, quartzite
From Palanpur to
Delhi ridge
Source of Sabarmati,
Luni and Banas (tri.
Chmbal)

Bundelkhand
Granite, gneissic
rocks
Drought-prone low
agro-productivity
Jhansi, Gwalior,
Hamirpur

S-C highlands

2
1

1) Vindhyan range
2) Malawa plateau
3) Narmada valley

Vindhyan range

From GJ to Bihar
Rifting- southern
slope steeper

Vindhyan range
Source of many

Vindhyan
range

north flowing
rivers
Chmabal,
Sindh, Betwa
and Ken
(tributaries of
Yamuna)
Water divide of
central India

Malawa plateau
Located btwn Arvalli
and Vindhyan range
Semi arid region
Faulty agropractice- high soil
erosion gully
erosion- Chambal
badlands
Historically known
as Khandesh

Eastern plateau
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

Baghelkhand
Garhjat hills,
Rajmahal hills,
3
Mahanadi1 basin,
2
6
4
Dandkarnya
5
Chotanagpur
plateau

Chhota Nagpur plateau


Craton of Singhbhum
metallic mineral rich
Rifting along Damodar
valley 2 parts
N. Hazaribaug Plateau
S. Ranchi plateau
Damodar and Mahanadi
Rifting coal formation
Unique coal + iron
combination

Chhota Nagpur plateau


Rajmahal hills NE
edge of Chhota
Nagpur plt.
Garhjat hills
southern edge of
Chhotanagpur plt

Chhota Nagpur plateau


Radial drainage
Damodar
Barakar
Subarnrekha
North koel, (tri. Of
Son),
South koel rivers
(tri. Of Brahmani)

Meghalaya Plateau
3 parts of plateau
Garo-Khasi-Jaintia
Garo (Nokrek), Khasi
(Shillong)
Mikir, Regma, Barail
ranges
Kapilli river separates
mikir, Regma & Barail
from Meghalaya plateau

Meghalaya Plateau

Rajmahal
hills

Extension of
Peninsular block
Separated from
Chhotanagpur
plateau
Down warping along
Rajmahal garo hills
= malda gap

Meghalaya Plateau
Hills are not very high
Not effective in
blocking the rain
bearing winds reach
till Arunachal Pradesh
But pass with funnel
effect heavy rainfall
in Meghalaya
But inadequate storage
water shortage

Deccan traps
India pass over
Reunion hot spot
Basaltic lava flow
Layer over layer of
lava formation
Look like steps
traps

North Deccan

1
2

Satpura range
(Rajpipla, Gawilgarh,
Mahaev, Maikal,
Amarkantak plt.)
Maharastra plateau

Satpura range

fold mt. of Archaenean


then faulting
1) Rajpipla (GJ)
2) Gawilgarh (MH)
3) Mahadeo (MP),
4) Maikal (Chh)
)Highest peak
Dhupgarh (Mahadeo)

Satpura Range
Amarkantak
plateau- east of
Maikal range
4
3
Source
2 of Narmada
1
and Son (tri.
Of
Amarkanta
Betul
k plateau
Ganga)
plate
au
Betul plateau
south of Mahado
hills
source of river Tapi,

MH plateau
satma
la
Balagh
at
Harishchan

Ajant
a

MH plateau

dra
Telangana
plt

Shield crystalline
rocks
Overland by lava
flow
Northern portionVidarbha region
In south merge with
KN plateau and in
east with Telangana
plateau

South Deccan

1) KN -Dharwad plt
One of the oldest
physiographical
region
2) Telangana plateau

KN plateau

Maida
n
Malnad

plai
n

Baba
budan
hills

Banglore
plateau

Baba budan hills,


Maidan and Malnad
Malnad = forested
Maidan = arid
Highest peak of
Baba Budan =
Mulangiri
Malnad and Baba
budan hills coffee
cultivation

Dharwad plateau
The most oldest
sedimentary rocks of
India
Ancient Dharwad
craton (shield)
metallic mineral rich
region
Shimoga, Tamkut and
Chitradurg, Chikmaglur
of KN mineral rich

Dharwad plateau
Iron and limestone
Bellary (KN) and
upto Ratnagiri (MH)
Fe ore
Kemangundi and
Kudremukh mines
(near Chikmaglur)

Western Ghats
Ajanta Satpura
Balaghat
Harishchandra
Highest peak: Anaimudi
Passes:
Thalghat Btwn
Mumbai-Nashik
Bhor ghat btwn
Mumbai -Pune

Telangana plateau

Godavar
i river
Krishna
river
Penneru
river
Benglore
plateau

Arachaean gneisses
Avg. elevation 500600m
Southern portion
higher than northern
part
North Satmala hills
South Sheshachalam
hills, Rayanseema plt
Drained by Godavari,
Krishna and Penneru

Western Ghats
More rainfall in KN
Steeper in MH,
lower and broader
in KN
KR isolated hills
rain bearing
wind pass
between gaps

Western Ghats
KN:
Gentle slope= Air
parcel can retain energy
and speed for a long
time, allowing cloud
droplets to grow and
precipitate as rainfall.
In Karnataka, mountains
are continuous. No
gaps= Clouds cant
easily escape to leeward
side.

Western Ghats
Western GhatsUNESCO world heritage
site (evergreen to
thorn)
KN-TN-KR region:
SHOLA forest
biosphere reserve
unique BD above
2000m
Stunted tropical
montane forest

Western Ghats
KN-KR-TN region:
Bandipur-WaynadMudumalai NP
TN tea-coffee
KN rubber,
coastal cashew
plantation
KR- spices

Eastern Ghats

1
3

4
5

1) Northern circas
2) Nallamalla
3) Palkonda
4) Javadi
5) Shevroy
)Highest peak:
Armakonda

Laterite soils
Eastern Ghats
Bauxite deposits:

`
1
1
2

3
4

1)
2)
3)
4)

Malaygiri
Niyamgiri
Baflai mali
Panchpat mali

)POSCO plant,
Niyamgiri

Southern hill complex

1
3
2
4

South of Western
Ghats but
geologically not part
of Western Ghats or
Eastern Ghats
1) Nilgiri,
2) Anamalai
3) Palani
4) Kardamom hills

Southern complex
Pal ghat gap
btwn Nilgir and
Javadi
Hill stations:
Nilgiri Ooty
Annamalai
Munnar
Palani hills Kodaikanal

Q. Which one of the following is


correct sequence of hills
starting from north to south?
a) Nallamalla Nilgiri Javadi
Anamalai hills
b) Anamalai Javadi NilgiriNallamalla hills
c) Nallamalla Javadi NilgiriAnamalai hills

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2005

d) Anamalai Nilgiri javadiNallamalai


Ans. C)
Nallamalla Javadi Nilgiri
Anamalai

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2005

Q. Which of the following hills


are found where Western Ghats
and Eastern Ghats meet?
a) Anamalai hills
b) Cardamom hills
c) Nilgiri hills
d) Shevroy hills

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2008

Physical map of Southern India


Ans. C)
Nilgiri hills

Q. Which of the following is not


correct?
a) Western Ghats are relatively lower
in their northern region
b) The Anaimudi is highest peak in
western Ghats
c) Tapi river lie south of Satpura
d) The Narmada and Tapi river valley
are said to be old rift valleys
Ans. A)

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2005

Importance of Peninsular plateau

Peninsular plateau oldest and most


stable region
Rich in minerals iron, limestone,
bauxite
98% of Gondwana coal
Plantation agriculture in hilly areas:
tea, coffee, rubber, spices, cashews

Physiography of India

Northern
mountains
Northern plains
Peninsular plateau
Coastal plains

Coastal plains

From Rann of Kutch


to Sundarban
1) Western coastal
plain
2) Eastern coastal
plain

Western coastal plain


Narrower than
Eastern coastal
plain
Steeper fast flowing
rivers
Estuaries
Port development

Western coastal plain


Narmada, Mahi and
Sabarmati flow into
Gulf of Khambhat
Gir radial drainage
Islands: Alia bet,
Pirotan island, Diu
Baidar, Kora,
Kurumbhar Is in g.
of Kutchh

Western coastal plain

kochi
Vembnad
lake

Periyar
river

Annamala
i hills

KR coast:
Vembnad lake
Periyar river merge
near Vembnad lake
Inner side
Ernakulam and
outward side - Kochi

Eastern coastal plain


Broader
Large rivers
extensive delta
formation
Mahanadi delta
Godavari delta
Krishna delta
Kaveri deltas

Eastern Plain

Wheel
er Is.

Chilka lake
Rushikulya
river

Odisha coast:
Wheeler Is.
missile testing
Chilka lake
(biggest)
Olive ridley
turtles Ganjam
coast- (nr. Mouth
of Rushikulya
river)

Eastern plains

Koller
u lake
Pulicur lake
+Shrihariko
ta Island

Andhra coast:
Pulicut lake split
bar Shriharikota Is.
(ISRO)
Kolleru lake deltaic
lake (Goadavari and
Krishna rivers)

Eastern Plain
TN coast:
Winter rainfall
Rameshwaram
Pamban Island last
point
Dhanushkondi
Palk bay biosphere
reserve
Ramsetu issue

Physiography of India

Northern
mountains
Northern plains
Peninsular plateau
Coastal plains

Geological history of India


Physiographical regions of India
Northern mountains
Northern plains
Peninsular plateau
Coastal plains

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