Which are the major physiographic divisions of India? Contrast the relief of the Himalayan region with that of the Peninsular plateau.

The enormous expanses of plain land are familiar to those who reside on the plains. If you reside in a hilly area, however, the harsh environment with mountains and valleys are typical elements.
In reality, our nation contains almost all of the major geographic elements of the planet, including mountains, plains, deserts, plateaus, and islands.
India’s terrain exhibits a wide range of physical characteristics. The Peninsular Plateau is one of the planet’s ancient landmasses, according to geology. One of the most stable land blocks was what it was intended to be. The most modern landforms are the Himalayan Mountains and the Northern Plains. Geologically speaking, the Himalayan mountains constitute an unstable region.
With its tall peaks, deep valleys, and rapid rivers, the entire Himalayan mountain range displays a relatively young shape.
The northern plains were created by alluvial deposits. The igneous and metamorphic rocks that make up the peninsular plateau are characterized by gently ascending hills and vast valleys.

Major Physiographic Divisions of India

The major Physiographic divisions of India are:

(i) The Himalayan Mountains
(ii) The Northern Plains
(iii) The Peninsular Plateau
(iv) The Indian Desert
(v) The Coastal Plains
(vi) The Islands

The Himalayan Mountains

The Himalayan Mountains encircle India’s northern boundaries. These mountain ranges extend from the Indus to the Brahmaputra in a west-to-east orientation. The longitudinal extent of the Himalayas divides them into three parallel ranges.

• The Great or Inner Himalayas or the Himadri are the names of the range that lies to the north. With peaks that average 6,000 metres in height, it is the range that is the most continuous.
• The Great Himalayas’ folds are asymmetrical in design. This portion of the Himalayas’ core is composed of granite.
• The most rugged mountain system is found in the range to the south of the Himadri, which is also referred to as the Himachal or lower Himalaya.
• The longest and most significant range is that of Pir Panjal.
• The most isolated mountain range in the Himalayas is known as the Shiwaliks. These ranges are composed of uncemented sediments.
  Duns are the name of the lengthy valley that runs between the Shiwaliks and the smaller Himalayas. Among the famous Duns are Dehradun, Kotli Dun, and Patli Dun.

The Northern Plains

The northern plain was formed by the interaction of the Ganges, Indus, and Brahmaputra river systems, as well as their tributaries. It has a 7 lakh square km area.

The Northern Plain is largely divided into the following three sections:

•  The Western portion of the Northern Plain is known as the Punjab Plains. This plain was formed by the Indus and its tributaries, the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Satluj.
• Between the Ghaggar and Teesta rivers is where you’ll find the Ganga plain. It includes Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and, to a lesser extent, Jharkhand and West Bengal in northern India.
• The state of Assam contains the Brahmaputra Plain.

The Peninsular Plateau

A tableland built up of ancient crystalline, igneous, and metamorphic rocks is referred to as the Peninsular Plateau. It was created as a result of the Gondwana continent breaking and drifting. The black dirt region known as Deccan Trap is one of the Peninsular Plateau’s distinctive features.
There are two divisions on this plateau:

• The Central Highlands are situated on the Peninsular plateau to the north of the Narmada River and make up a sizeable chunk of the Malwa plateau. Locally, the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand are named for the eastern reaches of this plateau.
• The Deccan Plateau, a triangle-shaped land mass, is situated south of the Narmada River. The Plateau’s extensions, the Meghalaya, Karbi-Anglong, and North Cachar Plateaus are also visible in the northeast.

The Indian Desert

The Indian desert is situated on the western flanks of the Aravalli Hills.

• It is a sandy plain surrounded by dunes.
• Less than 150 mm of rainfall in this area per year.
• It has an arid climate and little flora cover.

The Coastal Plains

A flat, low-lying area of land near the coast is known as a coastal plain. To the east and west of the peninsular plateau are two compacted areas of flat land known as the Eastern Coastal Plain and Western Coastal Plain, respectively.

• Between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal, occupies a sizable area of land known as the Eastern Coastal Plains. It is also referred to as the Northern Circar in the northern part and the Coromandel Coast in the southern part. The Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri are just a few of the large rivers that have created a substantial delta on this shore. A significant element of the eastern coast is Lake Chilika.
• On either side of the western shore are the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. It consists of three thin plains and is divided as follows: 

1. The Konkan (Mumbai-Goa) area is the region of the coast that is furthest to the north.
2. The middle area is known as the Kannad Plain.
3. The southern region is known as the Malabar coast.

The Islands

An island is a piece of land on a subcontinent that is encircled by water. The Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindive names for the little coral islands that make up the Lakshadweep Islands group still exist today.
The entire island chain is split into two main groups: The northern Andaman Sea and South of the Nicobar Islands
These islands have an equatorial temperature, are near the equator, and are covered under a thick canopy of trees.
India’s varied topography offers enormous potential for growth in the future for the reasons listed below.

• The mountains are the main suppliers of water and forest wealth.
• The northern plains are home to the country’s granaries. They are the fundamental components of historic civilizations.
• The plateau is a treasure trove of minerals, which were essential to India’s industrialization.
• On the island groups, there are fishing ports and coastal areas.

Compare the peninsular plateau’s relief to that of the Himalayan region

The Himalayan Region	The Peninsular Plateau
It is comprised of young fold mountains, which are of very recent origin.	Indian subcontinent’s oldest landmass, it once belonged to Gondwanaland.
Includes the highest mountains and the deepest valleys.	It consists of rounded hills and wide, shallow valleys.
It formed as a result of the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates interacting.	It formed as a result of Gondwanaland’s breaking and drifting.
Sedimentary rocks.	Rocks that are both igneous and metamorphic.
It plays a crucial role in shielding India from chilly winds, bringing the monsoon season to the country’s north, and providing water for rivers like the Ganga and the Indus.	Mineral mining and other primary sector-related businesses are quite successful in this area.

Frequently Asked Questions –

Que 1. What distinguishes a tributary from a distributary?

Ans-  A tributary is a river that joins the main river and adds to its water flow. It typically occurs in a river’s upper or middle course. For instance, the Yamuna is the river Ganga’s principal tributary.

A distributary is a river that flows into a larger river. Before it flows into the ocean, it is formed close to the river’s mouth. It is located in the river’s lower course. For instance, the Ganga’s principal distributary is the Hooghly.

Que 2. Write about the Shiwaliks’ distinguishing characteristics.

Ans- It is the Himalayas’ most remote range. The Shiwalik range has an average elevation of 900 and 1,100 metres above sea level and a width of 10 to 50 kilometres. This range is prone to earthquakes and landslides because it is formed of unconsolidated materials like mud, silt, and soft rocks. Between the Shiwalik Mountains and the Himalayas, there are a few small valleys. ‘Duns’ is the name given to them. Dehradun, for instance, is located in one of these valleys.

Que 3. What does distributary mean?

Ans- Due to the silt buildup, the rivers’ lower courses break into multiple channels.  Distributaries are the name given to these channels. For instance, the river Ganga’s distributary Hooghly, Meghna.

Que 4. What did Gondwanaland mean?

 Ans- It was a prehistoric supercontinent that included what is now South America, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica in the southern hemisphere.

Que 5. Describe the Deccan Plateau in detail.

Ans- It is a triangle-shaped landmass that is located south of the Narmada River. Its large base is flanked to the north by the Satpura range, while its eastern extensions are formed by the Mahadev. The Deccan Plateau rises modestly to the east and climbs higher in the west. In the northeast, the Plateau appears to continue. The Meghalaya, Karbi Anglong Plateau, and North Cachar Hills are its regional names.