CH_2 [GEOGRAPHY] PHYSICAL FEATURES OF INDIA_CLASS_9

Introduction:
1. India is a vast country with varied land forms.
2. Our country has practically all major physical features of the earth, i.e., mountains,
plains, deserts, plateaus and islands.
3. The land of India displays great physical variation.
4. Geologically, the Peninsular Plateau constitutes one of the ancient landmasses on the
earth’s surface. It was supposed to be one of the most stable land blocks.
5. The Himalayas and the Northern Plains are the most recent landforms. From the view
point of geology, Himalayan mountains form an unstable zone. The whole mountain
system of Himalaya represents a very youthful topography with high peaks, deep
valleys and fast flowing rivers.
6. The northern plains are formed of alluvial deposits. The peninsular plateau is
composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks with gently rising hills and wide
valleys.

Major physiographic divisions:

A. The Himalayan Mountains.
B. The Northern Plain
C. The Peninsular Plateau
D. The Indian Desert
E. The Coastal Plains
F. The Islands

A. The Himalayan Mountains:

1. The Himalayas, geologically young and structurally fold mountains stretch over the
northern borders of India.
2. These mountain ranges run in a west-east direction from the Indus to the
Brahmaputra.
3. The Himalayas represent the loftiest and one of the most rugged mountain barriers of
the world.
4. They form an arc, which covers a distance of about 2,400 Km. Their width varies
from 400 Km in Kashmir to 150 Km in Arunachal Pradesh.
5. The altitudinal variations are greater in the eastern half than those in the western half.
6. The Himalaya consists of three parallel ranges in its longitudinal extent. A number of
valleys lie between these ranges.
7. The three parallel ranges are:
a. Great or Inner Himalayas or the Himadri
b. Himachal or lesser Himalaya
c. The outer Himalayas or the Shivaliks
8. The Himalayas have been divided on the basis of regions from west to east. These
divisions have been demarcated by river valleys. They are:
a. Punjab Himalayas
b. Kumaon Himalayas
c. Nepal Himalayas
d. Assam Himalayas
e. Purvachal or the Eastern hills and mountains

7-a. Great or Inner Himalayas or the Himadri:

 1. It is the most continuous range consisting of the loftiest peaks with an average height
of 6,000 metres. It contains all prominent Himalayan peaks.
2. The folds of the Great Himalayas are asymmetrical in nature. The core of this part of
Himalayas is composed of granite.
3. It is perennially snow bound, and a number of glaciers descend from this range.

7-b. Himachal or lesser Himalaya:

1. The range lying to the south of the Himadri forms the most rugged mountain system
and is known as Himachal or lesser Himalaya.
2. The ranges are mainly composed of highly compressed and altered rocks.
3. The altitude varies between 3,700 and 4,500 metres and the average width is
of 50 Km.
4. The Pir Panjal range forms the longest and the most important range, the
Dhaula Dhar and the Mahabharat ranges are also prominent ones.
5. This range consists of the famous valley of Kashmir, the Kangra and Kullu
Valley in Himachal Pradesh.
6. This region is well-known for its hill stations.

7-c. The Outer Himalayas or the Shivaliks:

1. The outer-most range of the Himalayas is called the Shiwaliks.
2. They extend over a width of 10-50 Km and have an altitude varying between 900 and
1100 metres.
3. These ranges are composed of unconsolidated sediments brought down by rivers from
the main Himalayan ranges located farther north.
4. These valleys are covered with thick gravel and alluvium.
5. The longitudinal valley lying between lesser Himalaya and the Shiwaliks are known
as Duns.
6. Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun and Patli Dun are some of the well-known Duns.

8-a. Punjab Himalaya: The part of Himalayas lying between Indus and Satluj has been
traditionally known as Punjab Himalaya but it is also known regionally as Kashmir
and Himachal Himalaya from west to east respectively.
8-b. Kumaon Himalayas: The part of the Himalayas lying between Satluj and Kali rivers
is known as Kumaon Himalayas.
8-c. The Nepal Himalayas: The Kali and Teesta rivers demarcate the Nepal Himalayas.
8-d. Assam Himalayas.: The part lying between Teesta and Dihang rivers is known as
Assam Himalayas.
8-e. Purvachal or the Eastern hills and mountains: a) The Brahmaputra marks the
eastern-most boundary of the Himalayas. b) Beyond the Dihang gorge, the Himalaya
bend sharply to the south and spread along the eastern boundary of India.
c) These hills running through the north-eastern states are mostly composed of
strong sandstones, which are sedimentary rocks. d) Covered with dense forests, they

mostly run as parallel ranges and valleys. e) The Purvachal comprises the Patkaihills,
the Naga hills, the Manipur hills and the Mizo hills.

B. The Northern Plain :

1. The northern plain has been formed by the interplay of the three major river systems,
namely — the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra along with their tributaries.
2. This plain is formed of alluvial soil.
3. The deposition of alluvium in a vast basin lying at the foothills of the Himalaya over
millions of years, formed this fertile plain.
4. It spreads over an area of 7 lakh sq. km.
5. The plain is about 2400 km long and 240 to 320 km broad.
6. It is a densely populated physiographic division and agriculturally a productive part
of India because of rich soil cover , adequate water supply and favourable climate.
7. The rivers coming from northern mountains are involved in depositional work. In the
lower course, due to gentle slope, the velocity of the river decreases, which results in
the formation of riverine islands. (Majuli, in the Brahmaputra river, is the largest
inhabited riverine island in the world.)
8. The rivers in their lower course split into numerous channels due to the deposition of
silt. These channels are known as distributaries.
9. The Northern Plain is broadly divided into three sections. a. The Punjab Plain, b. The
Ganga plain, c. The Brahmaputra plain.

a. The Punjab Plain: The Western part of the Northern Plain is referred to as the
Punjab Plains. Formed by the Indus and its tributaries, the larger part of this plain
lies in Pakistan. The Indus and its tributaries — the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi,
the Beas and the Satluj originate in the Himalaya. This section of the plain is
dominated by the doabs. (‘Doab’ is made up of two words — ‘do’ meaning two and
‘ab’ meaning water. Similarly ‘Punjab’, is also made up two words — ‘Punj’
meaning five and ‘ab’ meaning water. )

b. The Ganga plain: The Ganga plain extends between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers. It
is spread over the states of North India, Haryana, Delhi, U.P., Bihar, partly
Jharkhand and West Bengal.

c. The Brahmaputra plain: To the east of Ganga plains, particularly in Assam lies the
Brahmaputra plain.

10. According to the variations in relief features, the Northern plains can be divided into
four regions: bhabar, terai, bhangar, khadar.
11. Bhabar: The rivers, after descending from the mountains deposit pebbles in a narrow
belt of about 8 to 16 km in width lying parallel to the slopes of the Shiwaliks. It is
known as bhabar. All the streams disappear in this bhabar belt.
12. Terai : South of this belt, the streams and rivers re-emerge and create a wet, swampy
and marshy region known as terai. This was a thickly forested region full of wildlife.
The forests have been cleared to create agricultural land and to settle migrants from
Pakistan after partition. Locate Dudhwa National Park in this region.
13. Bhangar: The largest part of the northern plain is formed of older alluvium. It lies
above the floodplains of the rivers and presents a terrace- like feature. This part is
known as bhangar. The soil in this region contains calcareous deposits, locally known
as kankar.
14. Khadar: The newer, younger deposits of the floodplains are called khadar. They are
renewed almost every year and so are fertile, thus, ideal for intensive agriculture.

C. The Peninsular Plateau:

1. The Peninsular plateau is a tableland composed of the old crystalline, igneous and
metamorphic rocks.
2. It was formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land and thus,
making it a part of the oldest landmass.
3. The plateau has broad and shallow valleys and rounded hills.
4. This plateau consists of two broad divisions, This plateau consists of two broad
divisions, namely, a. the Central Highlands and, b. the Deccan Plateau.

a. The Central Highlands:

1. The part of the Peninsular plateau lying to the north of the Narmada river, covering a
major area of the Malwa plateau, is known as the Central Highlands.
2. The Vindhyan range is bounded by the Satpura range on the south and the Aravalis on

the northwest.
3. The further westward extension gradually merges with the sandy and rocky desert of
Rajasthan.
4. The flow of the rivers draining this region, namely the Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa

and the Ken is from southwest to northeast, thus indicating the slope.
5. The Central Highlands are wider in the west but narrower in the east.
6. The eastward extensions of this plateau are locally known as the Bundelkhand and
Baghelkhand.
7. The Chotanagpur plateau marks the further eastward extension, drained by the
Damodar river.

b. The Deccan Plateau :

1. The Deccan Plateau is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river
Narmada.
2. The Satpura range flanks its broad base in the north, while the Mahadev, the Kaimur
hills and the Maikal range form its eastern extensions.
3. The Deccan Plateau is higher in the west and slopes gently eastwards.
4. An extension of the Plateau is also visible in the northeast, locally known as the
Meghalaya, Karbi-Anglong Plateau and North Cachar Hills.
5. It is separated by a fault from the Chotanagpur Plateau.
6. Three prominent hill ranges from the west to the east are the Garo, the Khasi and the
Jaintia Hills.
7. The Aravali Hills lie on the western and north-western margins of the Peninsular
plateau. These are highly eroded hills and are found as broken hills. They extend from
Gujarat to Delhi in a southwest-northeast direction.
8. One of the distinct features of the Peninsular plateau is the black soil area known as
Deccan Trap.

Deccan Trap:
a) This is of volcanic origin, hence, the rocks are igneous.
b) These rocks have denuded over time and are responsible for the formation of black
soil.

9. The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats mark the western and the eastern edges of
the Deccan Plateau respectively.

1. The Western Ghats:

 1. Western Ghats lie parallel to the western coast.
2. They are continuous and can be crossed through passes only.
3. The Western Ghats are higher than the Eastern Ghats. Their average elevation is 900–
1600 metres.
4. The Western Ghats cause orographic rain by facing the rain bearing moist winds to
rise along the western slopes of the Ghats.
5. The height of the Western Ghats progressively increases from north to south.
6. The highest peaks include the Anai Mudi (2,695 metres) and the Doda Betta (2,637
metres).

2. The Eastern Ghats:

1. Their average elevation is about 600 metres.

2. The Eastern Ghats stretch from the Mahanadi Valley to the Nigiris in the south.
3. The Eastern Ghats are discontinuous and irregular and dissected by rivers draining
into the Bay of Bengal.
4. Mahendragiri (1,501 metres) is the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats.
5. Shevroy Hills and the Javadi Hills are located to the southeast of the Eastern Ghats.
6. Some famous hill stations of Udagamandalam, popularly known as Ooty and the
Kodaikanal.

D. The Indian Desert :

1. The Indian desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills.
2. It is an undulating sandy plain covered with sand dunes.
3. This region receives very low rainfall below 150 mm per year.
4. It has arid climate with low vegetation cover.
5. Streams appear during the rainy season. Soon after they disappear into the sand as
they do not have enough water to reach the sea.
6. Luni is the only large river in this region.
7. Barchans (crescent-shaped dunes) cover larger areas but longitudinal dunes become
more prominent near the Indo-Pakistan boundary.

E. The Coastal Plains :

1. The Peninsular plateau is flanked by stretch of narrow coastal strips, running along
the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east.
2. The western coast, sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, is a
narrow plain and consists of three sections, a) the northern part of the coast is called
the Konkan (Mumbai – Goa), b) the central stretch is called the Kannad Plain and c)
the southern stretch is referred to as the Malabar coast.
3. The plains along the Bay of Bengal are wide and level and it consist of mainly two
section, e.g. a) in the northern part, it is referred to as the Northern Circar, and b) the
southern part is known as the Coromandel Coast.
4. Large rivers, such as the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri have
formed extensive delta on this coast.
5. Lake Chilika is an important feature along the eastern coast.
 6. The Chilika Lake is the largest salt water lake in India. It lies in the state of Odisha,
to the south of the Mahanadi delta.

F. The Islands: India has two groups of islands. 1) Lakshadweep islands and 2)
Andaman and Nicobar Islands

1) Lakshadweep Islands:

1. The Lakshadweep Islands group lying close to the Malabar coast of Kerala.
2. This group of islands is composed of small coral islands.
3. Earlier they were known as Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindive.
4. In 1973, these were named as Lakshadweep.
5. It covers small area of 32 sq. km.
6. Kavaratti island is the administrative headquarters of Lakshadweep.
7. This island group has great diversity of flora and fauna.
8. The Pitti island, which is uninhabited, has a bird sanctuary.

2) Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

1. The elongated chain of islands located in the Bay of Bengal extending from north to
south are Andaman and Nicobar islands.
2. They are bigger in size and are more numerous and scattered.
3. The entire group of islands is divided into two broad categories – The Andaman in the
north and the Nicobar in the south.
4. It is believed that these islands are an elevated portion of submarine mountains.
5. These island groups are of great strategic importance for the country.
6. There is great diversity of flora and fauna in this group of islands too.
7. These islands lie close to equator and experience equatorial climate and has thick
forest cover.
8. India’s only active volcano is found on Barren island in Andaman and Nicobar group
of Islands.

Corals:
1. Coral polyps are short-lived microscopic organisms, which live in colonies.
2. They flourish in shallow, mud-free and warm waters.
3. They secrete calcium carbonate.
4. The coral secretion and their skeletons from coral deposits in the form of reefs: they
are mainly of three kinds: barrier reef. fringing reef and atolls.
5. The Great Barrier Reef of Australia is a good example of the first kind of coral reefs.
6. Atolls are circular or horse shoe-shaped coral reefs.

Conclusion:

1. A detailed account of the different physiographic units highlights the unique features
of each region.
 2. Each region complements the other and makes the country richer in its natural
resources.
3. The mountains are the major sources of water and forest wealth.
4. The northern plains are the granaries of the country.
5. They provide the base for early civilisations.
6. The plateau is a storehouse of minerals, which has played a crucial role in the
industrialisation of the country.
7. The coastal region and island groups provide sites for fishing and port activities.
8. Thus, the diverse physical features of the land have immense future possibilities of
development.

Difference between:
Bhangar Khadar
1. These are older alluvium deposits of 1. The newer and younger deposits of the
Northern Plains and are less fertile.
Northern plains. Renewed every year.
2. They lie above flood plains of rivers 2. They lie in the flood plains and are
presenting terrace like feature. renewed every year.
3. It contains calcareous deposits locally 3. Soil is fine in texture.
known as Kankar.

Western Ghats Eastern Ghats

1. They mark the western edge of the 1. They mark the eastern edge of the
Deccan Plateau Deccan Plateau
2. They are continuous and they can be 2. They are discontinuous and are dissected
crossed only by passes e.g. Thal, Bhor by rivers draining into Bay of Bengal.
and Pal Ghats
3. They have a higher elevation of 900- 3. They have a lower elevation of 600
1600 meters. meters.
4. Highest peak is Anai Mudi (2,695 mts). 4. Highest peak is Mahendragiri(1,501mts).
5. They cause orographic rainfall by 5. This area receives winter rainfall from
facing rain bearing moist winds from retreating monsoons.
Arabian sea in summer

Himalayas Peninsular Plateau

1. Himalayas are young fold and loftiest 1. It is a high tableland made up of old
mountains of the world comprising of crystalline, igneous and metamorphic
several parallel ranges and composed of rocks. It is the oldest landform.
sedimentary rocks.
2. They were formed due to folding of 2. They were formed due to the breaking
sedimentary rock strata in the bed of the and drifting of the Gondwana land.
Tethys sea.
3. The ranges have high peaks and deep 3. It has broad and shallow valleys.
valleys.
4. It has perennial rivers. E.g. Ganga 4. It has rain fed seasonal rivers. E.g.
Godavari
5.This region forms an unstable zone. 5. This region forms a stable zone.
 Western Coastal Plain Eastern Coastal Plain
1. The Western Coast, sandwiched between 1. The Eastern Coast, sandwiched between
the Eastern Ghats and Bay of Bengal.
the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
2. It is a narrow plain. 2. It is a wide and level plain.
3. No large delta is formed. 3. Large delta are formed.
4. Narmada and Tapi are the rivers forming 4. Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna and
estuaries in western coastal plain. Kaveri are the rivers forming deltas in
eastern coastal plain.
5. It consists of three sections i.e. Konkan, 5. It consists of two sections i.e. Northern
Kannad and Malabar coast. Circar and Coromandel coast.

Bhabar Terai
1. It is formed by the rivers after descending 1. It lies to the south of bhabar running
parallel to it.
down from the mountains (along the
foothills- Shiwaliks to Teesta).
2. It is 8-16 km wide. 2. It is 20-30 km wide.
3. The bhabar area comprises of pebble 3. It has rich deposits of alluvium.
rocks.
4. Not suitable for agriculture. 4. Suitable for agriculture.
5. Streams disappear in the bhabar belt and 5. Underground streams re-emerge here.
flow undergrounds.

Map Work:

  Mountain Ranges: The Karakoram, The Zasker, The Shivalik, The Aravali, The
Vindhya, The Satpura, Western & Eastern Ghats
  Mountain Peaks – K2, Kanchan Junga, Anai Mudi
  Plateau - Deccan Plateau, Chotta Nagpur Plateau, Malwa Plateau
  Coastal Plains - Konkan, Malabar, Coromandal & Northern Circar (Location and
Labelling)

Some Highest Peaks of the Himalayas :

 Mt. Everest Nepal 8848

 Kanchenjunga India 8598 (Sikkim)
 Makalu Nepal 8481
 Dhaulagiri Nepal 8172
 Nanga Parbat India 8126(Kashmir)
 Annapurna Nepal 8078
 Nanda Devi India 7817( Uttarakhand)
 Kamet India 7756 ( Uttarakhand)
 Namcha Barwa India 7756( Arunachal Pradesh)
  Gurla Mandhata Nepal 7728
 Mount K2 India 8,611 (Jammu and Kashmir)

Famous Passes of Himalayas: Shipki La Pass, Nathula Pass, Zoji La Pass, Bomdila Pass,
etc.

Glacier in Himalayas: Siachen, Gangotri, Nubra, Bhagirathi, Pindari, etc.