Geography of India

India is located in Southern Asia. The second-largest population in the world resides here and it is the seventh-largest nation in the world in terms of land area. It is situated on the northern portion of the Indo-Australian Plate known as the Indian Plate. Three separate bodies of water encircle the Indian subcontinent. On a map of the planet, it may be seen with ease. This serves as the geographical setting for India.

Physical Features of India

India’s physical aspects that cover diversified geographic features such as high mountain ranges, hills, rivers, plateaus, river plains, coastal plains, etc., reflect its structure, processes, along with different developmental stages. All such features took millions of years to take the present shape. Secondly, still we cannot say that these are the final shape and features, as the geological process is going on. Likewise, geologically, the Peninsular Plateau is one of the oldest and most stable land formations on the Indian sub-continent. On the other hand, the most recent landforms are the Himalayas and the Northern Plains. Lofty mountain peaks, narrow (V-shaped) valleys, and swift rivers make up the Himalayan and terrains, which are thought to be extremely young. While the Peninsular Plateau is made up of volcanic and metamorphic rocks with gradually sloping hills and vast valleys, the Northern Plains are made up of alluvial deposits.

Divisions of Physical Features

The following physiographic divisions can be used to classify India's physical characteristics −

Mountains

The Indian subcontinent is bounded by a broad arc of mountains, including the Himalaya, Hindu Kush, and Patkai ranges. The continuing tectonic collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which began some 50 million years ago, is what created these mountains. Some of the tallest mountains in the world may be found in these mountain ranges, which also act as a natural defence against the chilly arctic winds. Additionally, they help the monsoons, which regulate India's climate. India's status as a Great Power has benefited from the geographical quality of protection and climate control they have offered. The arid Indo-Gangetic plains receive water from the numerous rivers that rise in these mountains.

Besides, some of the older mountains are Aravalli ranges that extends from Gujarat to Delhi and Haryana; in the central part, there are Vindhya and Satpura Ranges that extend from east to west; in the eastern and western part of peninsular India, there are Eastern Ghats (in the east) and Western Ghats (also known as Sahyadri Range (in the west); and in the south, there is Nilgiri Hills.

Indo-Gangetic Plains (Northern Plains)

The Indus and Ganga-Brahmaputra River systems' extensive floodplains are known as the Indo-Gangetic plains. From Jammu and Kashmir in the west to Assam in the east, they follow the Himalayan mountains, draining the states of Punjab, Haryana, eastern Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. The plains cover an area of 700,000 km² and vary in breadth by several hundred km along its length. The Ganga (Ganges) and Indus Rivers, as well as their tributaries the Beas, Yamuna, Gomti, Ravi, Chambal, Sutlej, and Chenab, are the two principal rivers that make up this system.

The Indo-Gangetic belt is the largest uninterrupted area of alluvium in the world, having been created by the multiple rivers' silt deposition. Because the plains are flat and largely treeless, canal irrigation is possible. There are numerous groundwater resources in the region. One of the most heavily cultivated regions of the globe is the plains. The main crops farmed on the Indo-Gangetic Plain are wheat and rice, which are rotated. Cotton, sugarcane, and maize are examples of other crops. The Indo-Gangetic plains, also referred to as the Great Plains, are among of the most densely populated regions on earth. Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Bengal Bay are among the waterways in India.

Thar Desert

Western India is largely made up of the Thar Desert, commonly referred to as the Great Indian Desert. It is a scorching desert. It spans 208,110 km² over the Indian states of Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. The Cholistan Desert (locally known as Rohi Desert) stretches on into Pakistan. Rajasthan is home to the majority of the Thar Desert, which makes about 61% of its total land. A minor portion of the desert's far west is made up of sand, while the most of it is made up of rocks. The large Desert and the tiny Desert are the two regions that make up the desert. The northern edge of Gujarat's Rann of Kutch region is where the Great Desert begins. The small desert stretches between the River Luni and the towns of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, up to the northern areas.

Highlands/Plateaus

The Deccan Plateau in the south, which covers most of the Indian peninsula, the Malwa Plateau in the west, and the Chota Nagpur Plateau in Jharkhand in the east make up the Central Highlands. The Vindhyas to the north and the Eastern and Western Ghats on either side define the huge triangular Deccan plateau. The Deccan spans 1.9 million km² in total. With heights ranging from 300 to 600 meters, it is mainly flat. The majority of the state of Jharkhand, as well as surrounding regions of Orissa, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh, are covered by the Chota Nagpur Plateau, a plateau in eastern India. Chota Nagpur Plateau covers a total area of over 65,000 km².

East Coast

Located between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal, the Eastern Coastal Plain is a large area of land. It extends from West Bengal in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south. These plains are largely made up of river deltas from many of India's rivers. These plains are drained by the Mahanadi, Godavari, Kaveri, and Krishna rivers. The area experiences rain from both the Northeast and Southwest monsoons, with an average annual rainfall of 1,000 mm to 3,000 mm. The plains range in breadth from 100 to 130 km. There are six regions that make up the plains: The Krishna Godavari deltas, the southern Andhra Pradesh plain, the Kanyakumari coast, the Coromandel Coast, and sandy littoral

West Coast

There is a little area of land called the Western Coastal Plain that lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. The plains are small, with widths between 50 and 100 km. The area is flooded by several backwaters and small rivers. The Western Ghats are the source of a number of swift-moving, perennial rivers. Estuaries rather than deltas are formed as a result of the rivers' rapid flow. The Tapi, Narmada, Mandovi, and Zuari are the principal rivers that empty into the sea. There are three regions along the coast. The Konkan Coast refers to the northern region of Maharashtra and Goa, the Kanara Coast to the central region of Karnataka, and the Malabar Coast to the southern coastline of Kerala.

Rivers

In northern India, there are three major river systems namely Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra River Systems. On the other hand, in the southern India (also known as peninsular rivers), the major river systems are Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. These are east flowing rivers that empty into Bay of Bengal. Besides, there are two major west flowing rivers are Narmada and Tapi. These two rivers debouche into Arabian Sea.

Islands

The Lakshadweep Islands and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are two of India's most important offshore island holdings. The Lakshadweep islands are located in the Arabian Sea 200 to 300 km off the coast of Kerala. In the Bay of Bengal, close to the Myanmar coast, is the Andaman and Nicobar Island series. It is located 193 kilometres from Cape Negrais in Myanmar and 950 km from Kolkata (Calcutta) in India. The Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands are the two island groups that make up the territory.

The 204 islands that make up the Andaman Islands have a combined length of 352 km. Twenty-two islands make up the 1,841 km2 Nicobar Islands, which are located south of the Andamans. Diu, a former Portuguese outpost; Majuli, Asia's largest freshwater island; Salcette Island, India's most populous island, on which Mumbai (Bombay) city is situated; Elephanta in Bombay Harbour; and Sriharikota barrier island in Andhra Pradesh are notable islands off the Indian coast.

Conclusion

The majestic Himalayan mountains in the north, the vast Indo-Gangetic plains, and the parched Thar Desert are just a few examples of India's diverse physical landscapes. Along with highlands, coastal plains, and offshore islands, the nation is blessed. India's natural beauty has been moulded by its various geography, which has also produced distinct ecosystems that support a vast biodiversity. India's topography offers an enthralling and varied terrain for exploration and discovery, with everything from snow-capped peaks to fertile plains and sandy beaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the major physical features of India?

India has diverse physical features including the Himalayan mountains, Indo-Gangetic plains, Thar Desert, Deccan Plateau, and coastal plains.

Which mountain range forms a natural defence for India?

The Himalayan Mountain range acts as a natural defence for India and influences its climate.

What are the major coastal regions of India?

India has the Eastern Coastal Plain and the Western Coastal Plain as its major coastal regions.

What are the notable offshore islands of India?

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands are the notable offshore island groups of India.

What are the major mountain ranges in India?

The major mountain ranges in India include the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, and Patkai ranges.