Major Mountain Ranges of India


India has a stunning array of mountain ranges that beautify its enormous landscape. These mountains, which form the topography of India and provide spectacular panoramas, span from the high peaks of the Himalayas to the rough beauty of the Satpura and Aravalli ranges. The nation draws nature lovers, hikers, and adventure seekers from all over the world to experience the breath-taking beauty of its varied mountain landscapes because each range includes distinctive features and significant peaks.

Features of Major Mountain Ranges of India

Here are the descriptions of major mountains of India −

The Himalayas

One of the three mountain systems that make up the Himalayan Mountain range system is the Himalayas. Young folded mountains that traverse India's northern borders make up the three portions. From the Indus River to the Brahmaputra River, the Himalayan Ranges stretch in a west to east direction. The three parts were produced by the tectonic collision of the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. In addition to having the highest peaks, glaciers, and deep valleys, the Himalayas are the world's highest mountain range. The Himalayan Mountain range forms an arc over the Indian subcontinent, stretching 2,400 km in total and varying in breadth from 400 km in Kashmir to 150 km in Arunachal Pradesh.

Satpura Range

In the central part of India, there are hills known as the Satpura Range. The range begins in eastern Gujarat and extends through Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra's border to Chhattisgarh. The Indo-Gangetic plain in northern India and the Deccan Plateau in the south are separated by this range, which runs parallel to the Vindhya Range to the north. A tall mountain range, the Satpura Range is bordered by the Narmada Graben in the north and the considerably smaller but adjacent Tapi Graben in the south.

Aravalli Range

The Aravalli Range is a mountain chain in northern-western India that stretches for about 670 km in a south-westerly direction, beginning close to Delhi, going through southern Haryana, Rajasthan, and Ahmedabad Gujarat. At 1,722 meters, Guru Shikhar on Mount Abu is the highest summit. The Proterozoic age gave rise to the Aravalli Range, which is possibly the oldest geological feature on Earth. Natural resources abound in the Aravalli Range, which also serves as a barrier to the western desert's expansion.

Vindhya Range

In west-central India, there is a complicated, discontinuous chain of mountain ridges, hill ranges, highlands, and plateau escarpments known as the Vindhya Range, also known as Vindhyachal. In a geological sense, the Vindhyas technically do not constitute a single mountain range. The Vindhyas' precise boundaries are ill-defined, and historically, the title applied to a number of diverse hill ranges in central India, notably the Satpura Range. In reality, the Vindhya range is a patchy network of mountain ridges, hill ranges, highlands, and plateau escarpments. The Vindhya range's precise meaning has changed throughout time because the term "Vindhyas" has a convention-based definition.

Karakoram

The Karakoram is a mountain range in the Kashmir region that runs along the borders of Pakistan, China, and India and extends into Afghanistan and Tajikistan at its far northwest corner. The majority of the Karakoram Mountain range is governed by Gilgit-Baltistan, which is run by Pakistan. K2, its tallest peak and the second-highest mountain peak in the world. It starts in the Wakhan Corridor in western Afghanistan, covers most of Gilgit-Baltistan, and extends into Ladakh, which is under Indian sovereignty, and Aksai Chin, which is under Chinese control. The Hindu Kush, Pamir Mountains, and Himalayas are all included in the complex of mountain ranges that encompasses the second-highest mountain range on Earth, the Karakoram. There are 18 summits in the range that are higher than 7,500 meters, and four of those are over 8,000 meters.

Pir Panjal Range

The Pir Panjal Range is a group of mountains in the Lower Himalayan range that may be found in the northern Indian subcontinent's Western Himalayas. Between the Beas and Neelam/Kishanganga rivers, in the Indian provinces of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, it flows from southeast to northwest, with its northwest end extending into Pakistan. The Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges of the Himalayas demonstrate a gradual ascent. The Pir Panjal mountain range is the biggest in the Lesser Himalayas. It separates from the Himalayas close to the Sutlej River's bank and creates a chasm between the Beas and Ravi rivers on the one side and the Chenab on the other. The Pir Panjal range, which is located further west, divides the hills of the Jammu region from the Kashmir Valley.

Nilgiri Mountain

In India's western Tamil Nadu, southern Karnataka, and eastern Kerala, the Nilgiri Mountains are a portion of the Western Ghats. They connect the Western Ghats with the Eastern Ghats and are situated at the intersection of three states. The tallest peak in the Nilgiri Mountains, Doddabetta, is 2,637 meters high, with at least 24 more summits also rising above 2,000 meters (6,600 feet). The Moyar River divides the Karnataka Plateau from the Nilgiri Hills to the north. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve includes the Nilgiri Hills.

Velikonda Hills

The Velikonda Range, also known as the Velikonda Hills, is a low mountain range in eastern India that is a member of the Eastern Ghats Mountain range system. The Velikonda Range is situated in the state of Andhra Pradesh's southeast region. They comprise the eastern flank of the Eastern Ghats, which are at that time severely folded and faulted, and have a north-south trend. They comprise the eastern flank of the Eastern Ghats, which are at that time severely folded and faulted, and have a north-south trend.

Balaghat Range

In the Indian state of Maharashtra, there is a low-lying mountain range called the Balaghat range. From the Western Ghats at the Harishchandra Range to the border between Maharashtra and Karnataka states, the Balaghat Range extends south-east. It covers 320 kilometres in total. In Maharashtra, the range passes across the districts of Ahmednagar, Beed, Latur, Osmanabad, and Solapur. The mountain range is five to nine kilometres wide. Balaghat Hills' western margin is higher than their eastern edge, at an elevation of 550 to 825 meters. These mountains have flat tops. The ridge divides the Bhima River basin from the Godavari River basin in the north.

Langpangkong Range

In Nagaland, India, there is a mountain range called the Langpangkong Range. It is one of the six significant mountain ranges that the Ao people call home. In the Mokokchung District, it is situated between the valleys of the Dikhu and Milak rivers.

It is the easternmost range that follows the Dikhu River's path. The river serves as the district's natural border with Tuensang and Mon. The name of this series is appropriate because it is laid out like a bed.

List of Major Mountain Ranges of India

Here is a table showcasing some of the prominent mountain ranges in India, their notable peaks, and state coverage −

Mountain Range

Prominent Peaks

State Coverage

Himalayas Range

Mount Everest

Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh

Satpura Range

Dhupgarh

Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra

Aravalli Range

Guru Shikhar

Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat

Vindhya Range

Amarkantak Hill

Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh

Karakoram Range

K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen)

Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir), Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan-Administered Kashmir)

Pir Panjal Range

K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen)

Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh

Nilgiri Mountains

Doddabetta

Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka

Velikonda

Mahendragiri

Andhra Pradesh

Balaghat

Chanderkhani Peak

Himachal Pradesh

Langpangkong Range

Mount Saramati

Nagaland, ManipurConclusion

Conclusion

Indian mountain ranges are diverse and spectacular, showcasing the country's geological treasures. As the tallest mountain range, the Himalayas are ornamented with snow-covered peaks, glaciers, and deep valleys. The splendour of India's terrain is enhanced by additional noteworthy ranges such the Satpura, Aravalli, Vindhya, Karakoram, Pir Panjal, Nilgiri, Velikonda, Balaghat, and Langpangkong.

These mountain ranges, which cross several states, provide stunning views and act as physical boundaries. Each mountain range has its own distinctive peaks that draw travellers looking for adventure and environment lovers from all over the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the highest mountain range in India?

The Himalayas is the highest mountain range in India, featuring majestic peaks and stunning natural beauty.

Which state is home to the Aravalli Range?

The Aravalli Range extends through the states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat.

Where can the famous Kaziranga National Park be found?

Kaziranga National Park is located in the state of Assam, India.

What is the tallest peak in the Nilgiri Mountains?

Doddabetta is the highest peak in the Nilgiri Mountains, standing at an elevation of 2,637 meters.

Which range forms a natural border between Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh?

The Pir Panjal Range forms a natural border between the states of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Which state in India is known for the Satpura Range?

The Satpura Range is primarily situated in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Which mountain range includes Mount Everest?

Mount Everest is part of the Himalayas, the world's highest mountain range.

What is the prominent peak in the Vindhya Range?

Amarkantak Hill is a prominent peak in the Vindhya Range, located in Madhya Pradesh.

Updated on: 16-Oct-2023

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