GEOGRAPHICAL DIVERSITY OF INDIA
India is the seventh-largest country in the world, and a part of Asia.
Along with its neighbours — Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and
Myanmar — it forms the region known as the Indian Subcontinent.
Key Geographical Features:
• The Himalayas:
A massive mountain range in the north, acting as a natural barrier and influencing climate
patterns.
In the summer, the snow on the mountains melts and feeds major rivers, such as the
Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra.
the Himalayas are sometimes called the ‘Water Tower of Asia’.
The Bhagirathi River, a major tributary of the Ganga, originates from Gaumukh (‘Cow’s
Mouth’), in Uttarakhand.
Gangotri Glacier is one of the largest in the Indian Himalayas.
The Himalayas were formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plate
about 50 million years ago.
The word ‘Himalaya’ is a combination of two Sanskrit words — hima, meaning ‘snow’, and
ālaya, meaning ‘abode’ or ‘dwelling’ — thus, ‘abode of snow’.
The Himalayas are broadly categorised into three main ranges:
The Himadri (the Greater Himalayas) are the highest range, home to towering peaks like
Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga.
The Himachal (the Lower Himalayas) lie south of the Greater Himalayas. Popular hill
stations, such as Nainital (Uttarakhand), Darjeeling (West Bengal), Shimla (Himachal
Pradesh), and Mussoorie.
The Shivalik Hills (the Outer Himalayas) form the outermost and lowest range.
The traditional house construction method in the western Himalayan region is known as
‘kath-kuni’ or ‘dhajji dewari’ style of houses.
The cold desert of India
Ladakh is a cold desert where winter temperatures drop below -30 degree celcius.
The region is known for its ancient monasteries and colourful festivals such as Losar and
the Hemis Festival.
• Indo-Gangetic Plains:
Fertile plains formed by the Indus and Ganges river systems, supporting agriculture and
dense populations.
The Northern Plains were formed by the deposition of sediments carried by rivers flowing
from the Himalayas. Specifically, the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra river systems.
A large proportion of India’s population lives in these plains.
Most rivers are named after goddesses — Ganga, Yamuna, Kaveri, etc. The name of
Brahmaputra, however, means ‘the son of Brahma’.
• Thar Desert:
A desert region in the northwest, characterized by arid conditions and unique adaptations.
Sand dunes are formed when the wind shifts and shapes the sand into hill-like formations.
The Thar is a vast arid region. Most of it lies within Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and
Haryana.
Rajasthan is also famous for its ingenious water conservation methods, including taanka or
kunds.
The Aravalli Hills
Its highest peak, Mount Abu, towers at over 1700 m.
It is acting as a natural barrier, preventing the Thar Desert from expanding further
eastward.
• Peninsular Plateau:
A triangular plateau in southern India, with the Western and Eastern Ghats
forming its boundaries.
Peninsula: A peninsula is a piece of land that is surrounded by water on three sides.
Peninsula, surrounded by water on all three sides by the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal,
and the Indian Ocean, it is called a peninsular plateau.
There are west-flowing rivers (Narmada, Tapti) too, which drain into the Arabian Sea.
Rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri flow across the plateau from west to east.
• Coastlines:
Long coastlines along the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, supporting fishing and trade.
The Indian coastline is over 7500 km long.
The West Coast of India
The West Coast of India stretches from Gujarat to Kerala, passing through Maharashtra,
Goa, and Karnataka.
The coastline is shaped by alluvial deposits with the Narmada and Tapti estuaries being
the largest.
The East Coast
The East Coast lies between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal, stretching from the
Ganga delta to Kanyakumari. It has wide plains and major river deltas, including Mahanadi,
Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.
Important water bodies like Chilika Lake and Pulicat Lake.
• Islands:
Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, offering diverse ecosystems.
The Indian Islands refer to the group of islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, the
Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal, which form part of India’s territory. India has two
major island groups — Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea and the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands in the Bay of Bengal.
Lakshadweep islands
Lakshadweep is an archipelago (a group of islands) located in the Arabian Sea, close to the
Malabar coast of Kerala. It is made up of 36 islands made of coral.
Andaman and Nicobar islands
This archipelago comprises more than 500 large and small volcanic islands, divided into
two distinct groups — the Andaman and the Nicobar Islands.
The Delta in West Bengal and the Sundarbans
Sundarbans is located in the delta of the Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries.
. The Sundarbans are home to the Royal Bengal Tiger.
The hills of the Northeast
The hills of Northeast India are collectively known as the Purvanchal Range, also referred
to as the Eastern Himalayas.
• Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills: These hills are located in Meghalaya.
Mawlynnong Village, situated in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, is renowned as the
‘cleanest village in Asia’.
SANJIB BUDHIA
TST SST
OAV BADI
