Physical Geography of India
The Himalayas
The Himalayas are young fold mountains that run in three parallel ranges from west to east. Think of them as three steps rising as you go from the plains towards Tibet.
- Greater Himalayas (Himadri): the highest range, with permanent snow and the tallest peaks.
- Lesser Himalayas (Himachal): the middle range, home to famous hill stations.
- Outer Himalayas (Shiwaliks): the youngest and lowest range, closest to the plains.
The Peninsular Plateau & the Two Ghats
The Peninsular Plateau is India's oldest and most stable landmass, made of hard igneous and metamorphic rock. It is broadly split into three blocks: the Central Highlands (north of the Narmada — includes the Aravalli, Malwa Plateau, Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand uplands), the Deccan Plateau (the large triangular block south of the Narmada, between the two Ghats), and the North-Eastern Plateau (Meghalaya/Karbi Anglong, separated from the main plateau by the Malda Gap/Rajmahal hills).
| Feature | Western Ghats | Eastern Ghats |
|---|---|---|
| Continuity | Continuous range | Discontinuous — broken by rivers (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri) |
| Height | Generally higher | Generally lower |
| Highest peak | Anaimudi — also the highest peak of the entire Peninsular Plateau | Mahendragiri |
| Effect on rivers | Source of west-flowing rivers (short, swift); a barrier most east-flowing peninsular rivers must cross first | Peninsular rivers pass through gaps to reach the Bay of Bengal |
| Recognition | A UNESCO World Heritage Site (biodiversity hotspot) | Not a UNESCO site |
The River Systems
India's rivers fall into two great families. Himalayan rivers are fed by snow, so they flow all year (perennial). Peninsular rivers are fed mainly by rain, so they shrink in the dry season (seasonal). This single difference explains most river questions.
| Feature | Himalayan rivers | Peninsular rivers |
|---|---|---|
| Water source | Snow + rain — perennial (flow all year) | Mainly rain — seasonal |
| Examples | Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra | Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, Tapi |
| General flow | Long courses; large basins | Most flow east into the Bay of Bengal |
- The Godavari is the largest peninsular river, so big that it is called the "Dakshin Ganga" (the Ganga of the South).
- Most peninsular rivers flow east into the Bay of Bengal, but the Narmada and Tapi are famous exceptions — they flow west into the Arabian Sea.
Climate & the Monsoon
India has a monsoon climate — its weather is ruled by seasonal winds. The rains that make or break Indian farming come mostly from one season: the South-West Monsoon.
- South-West Monsoon (June–September): brings most of India's rainfall. It arrives in two branches — the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch.
- Retreating / North-East Monsoon (October–December): as the winds reverse, they bring rain especially to the Tamil Nadu (Coromandel) coast.
- June–SeptemberSouth-West Monsoon — main rainy season (most rainfall)
- October–DecemberRetreating / North-East Monsoon — rain to the Tamil Nadu coast
Two more high-yield facts about the monsoon and the Northern Plains often appear together in exams.
- Mawsynram (Meghalaya), near Cherrapunji (Sohra), is generally recorded as the wettest place on Earth, receiving extremely heavy Bay-of-Bengal-branch rainfall as moist winds are forced up the Khasi Hills — a dramatic contrast to the Thar Desert receiving almost none.
- The interior of Tamil Nadu stays relatively dry during the South-West Monsoon because it lies in the "rain shadow" of the Western Ghats — the Arabian Sea branch dumps its moisture on the windward (western) side, leaving little for the leeward (eastern) side. Tamil Nadu instead gets most of its rain later, from the retreating North-East Monsoon.
The Northern Plains themselves are not uniform north-to-south — they show a belt-like structure moving away from the Himalayan foothills: the Bhabar (a narrow pebbly belt just below the hills, where streams often disappear underground), the Tarai (a wetter, marshy belt just south of the Bhabar, where those underground streams re-emerge), and then the plains proper, split into Bhangar (older, higher alluvium, away from active flooding) and Khadar (newer, lower alluvium, renewed by floods every year — best for farming).
Key takeaways
- India has six physiographic divisions: Northern (Himalayan) Mountains, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Indian (Thar) Desert, Coastal Plains, and Islands.
- The Himalayas run in three ranges: Greater (Himadri — highest, permanent snow), Lesser (Himachal), and Outer (Shiwaliks — youngest, lowest).
- Kanchenjunga is the highest peak within India (Everest is in Nepal; K2 in the Pakistan-administered region).
- Himalayan rivers (Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra) are snow-fed and perennial; peninsular rivers are rain-fed and seasonal.
- The Godavari is the largest peninsular river ("Dakshin Ganga"); Narmada and Tapi flow west into the Arabian Sea while most others flow east.
- The South-West Monsoon (June–September) brings most rainfall in two branches (Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal); the retreating North-East Monsoon (Oct–Dec) rains on the Tamil Nadu coast.
- The Tropic of Cancer passes through India (through 8 states), dividing it into tropical and subtropical zones.
- Peninsular Plateau = Central Highlands + Deccan Plateau + North-Eastern Plateau. Western Ghats: continuous, higher, Anaimudi (highest peak of the whole Peninsula), UNESCO site. Eastern Ghats: discontinuous (broken by rivers), lower, highest peak Mahendragiri.
- Mawsynram (Meghalaya) = wettest place on Earth (near Cherrapunji). Interior Tamil Nadu stays dry in the SW Monsoon — it lies in the Western Ghats' "rain shadow"; gets most rain from the retreating NE Monsoon instead.
- Northern Plains belt (Himalaya-ward to south): Bhabar (pebbly, streams sink) → Tarai (marshy, streams re-emerge) → Bhangar (older alluvium) & Khadar (newer, flood-renewed alluvium — best farmland).
Practice questions (12)
Attempt each one before opening the answer. Every explanation names the tempting wrong option as well as the right one, because that is where marks are lost.
How many major physiographic divisions is India traditionally divided into?
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Answer: C — Six
India has six major physiographic divisions: the Northern Mountains, the Northern Plains, the Peninsular Plateau, the Indian Desert, the Coastal Plains, and the Islands.Which of the three Himalayan ranges is the highest, with permanent snow?
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Answer: C — Himadri (Greater Himalayas)
The Greater Himalayas (Himadri) form the highest range and hold permanent snow; the Shiwaliks are the youngest and lowest.Which is the highest mountain peak located within the territory of India?
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Answer: C — Kanchenjunga
Kanchenjunga is the highest peak within India. Mount Everest lies in Nepal, and K2 is in the Pakistan-administered region.Consider the following statements:
1. Himalayan rivers such as the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra are perennial.
2. Most peninsular rivers are rain-fed and seasonal.
Which is/are correct?Show answer
Answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. Himalayan rivers are snow-fed and flow all year (perennial), while peninsular rivers depend mainly on rain and are seasonal.Which river is the largest peninsular river and is known as the "Dakshin Ganga"?
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Answer: C — Godavari
The Godavari is the largest peninsular river and is called the "Dakshin Ganga" (Ganga of the South).Consider the following statements about west-flowing peninsular rivers:
1. The Narmada flows west into the Arabian Sea.
2. The Tapi flows west into the Arabian Sea.
Which is/are correct?Show answer
Answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The Narmada and Tapi are the notable west-flowing peninsular rivers, draining into the Arabian Sea, while most other peninsular rivers flow east into the Bay of Bengal.Most of India's annual rainfall is brought by which of the following?
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Answer: A — South-West Monsoon (June–September)
The South-West Monsoon (June–September) brings most of India's rainfall, arriving in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal branches.The retreating (North-East) Monsoon of October–December brings significant rainfall especially to which coast?
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Answer: B — The Tamil Nadu (Coromandel) coast
During the retreating monsoon (October–December), the North-East winds pick up moisture over the Bay of Bengal and bring rain especially to the Tamil Nadu (Coromandel) coast.Anaimudi, the highest peak of the entire Peninsular Plateau, is located in which range?
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Answer: B — Western Ghats
Anaimudi is located in the Western Ghats and is the highest peak of the entire Peninsular Plateau, higher than the Eastern Ghats' highest peak, Mahendragiri.Consider the following statements about the two Ghats:
1. The Western Ghats form a continuous range, while the Eastern Ghats are discontinuous, broken by rivers.
2. The Western Ghats are recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Which is/are correct?Show answer
Answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The Western Ghats are continuous and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (biodiversity hotspot); the Eastern Ghats are discontinuous, broken by rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri.Which place is generally recorded as the wettest place on Earth, located near Cherrapunji in Meghalaya?
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Answer: A — Mawsynram
Mawsynram, near Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, is generally recorded as the wettest place on Earth, receiving extremely heavy rainfall as Bay-of-Bengal-branch moisture is forced up the Khasi Hills.In the Northern Plains, the marshy, wetter belt lying just south of the pebbly Bhabar tract, where underground streams re-emerge, is called:
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Answer: C — Tarai
The Tarai is the marshy belt just south of the Bhabar, where streams that sank underground in the Bhabar tract re-emerge; further south lie the Bhangar (older alluvium) and Khadar (newer, flood-renewed alluvium) plains proper.