1. PHYSICAL FEATURES OF
INDIA
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

2. INTRODUCTION
India is a large landmass formed during different geological periods
which has influenced her relief. Besides geological formations, a number
of processes such as weathering, erosion and deposition have created and
modified the relief to its present form. Earth scientists have attempted to
explain the formation of physical features with the help of some theories
based on certain evidences. One such plausible theory is the “Theory of
Plate Tectonics”. According to this theory, the crust (upper part) of the
earth has been formed out of seven major and some minor plates.
The movement of the plates results in the building up of stresses within
the plates and the continental rocks above, leading to folding, faulting
and volcanic activity.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

3. • These plate movements are classified into three types. While some plates
come towards each other and form convergent boundary. Some plates
move away from each other and form divergent boundary. In the event of
two plates coming together they may either collide and crumble, or one
may slide under the other. At times, they may also move horizontally
past.
• each other and form transform boundary. The movement of these plates
have changed the position and size of the continents over millions of
years. Such movements have also influenced the evolution of the present
landform features of India.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

4. CONVERGENT PLATE
DIVERGENT PLATE
TRANSFORM PLATE
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

5. Theory Of Plate Tectonics
• The crust of the Earth is made up of seven Major plates and some
Minor plates.
• The movement of the plates results in Folding, Faulting and
Volcanic Activity.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

6. Boundaries
• Convergent – These types of Boundaries are formed when two
plates come towards each other.
• Divergent – When two plates away from each other they form
Divergent Boundaries.
• Transform Boundary – When two plates move horizontally past
each other they form Transform Boundaries.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

7. Major Physiographic Divisions
• The Himalayan Mountains
• The Northern Plains
• The Peninsular Plateau
• The Indian Desert
• The Coastal Plains
• The Islands
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

8. 1.The Himadri
2.The
Himachal
3.The
Shiwaliks
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

9. • It is the Northernmost range of the Himalayas.
• It’s width varies from 400 km in Kashmir to 150 km in Arunachal
Pradesh.
• They form an arc, which covers a distance of 2,400 km.
• The average height of its peaks are 6,000 km.
• They are made up of Granite.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

10. Peak Country Height in Meters
Mt. Everest Nepal 8848
Kanchenjunga India 8598
Makalu Nepal 8481
Dhaulagiri Nepal 8172
Nanga Parbat India 8126
Annapurna Nepal 8078
Nanda Devi India 7817
Kamet India 7756
Namcha Barwa India 7756
Gurla Mandhata Nepal 7728
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

11. • It lies south to the Himadri.
• The average width is 50 km.
• The average height is 3,700 to 4,500 m.
• The ranges of Pir Panjal, Dhaula Dhar and the Mahabharat are
found here.
• The famous Kangra(Kashmir) and Kullu(Himachal Pradesh) valleys
are found here.
• Mainly composed of Highly compressed rocks.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

12. • The southernmost range of the Himalayas.
• Their width varies from 10-50 km.
• Their altitude varies from 900-1,100 m.
• The valleys in these ranges are composed of thick gravel and rich
alluvium which are brought down by the rivers from the Northern
Himalayan ranges.
• The longitudinal valleys lying between the Himachal and the
Shiwaliks are known as Duns(Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun and Patli Dun
are some).
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

13. Longitudinal Divisions
• The Himalayas have been divided on the basis of
regions from west to east. These divisions have been
demarcated by River valleys.
• Punjab Himalayas – Indus to Satluj rivers
• Kumaon Himalayas – Satluj to Kali
rivers
• Nepal Himalayas – Kali to Tista rivers
• Assam Himalayas – Tista to Dihang
rivers
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

14. The Purvanchal
• The Brahmaputra marks the Eastern boundary of the Himalayas.
• The Himalayas bend sharply after the Dihang gorge towards the
South and spread along the Eastern boundary of India.
• They consist of the Patkai hills, the Naga hills, Manipur hills and
the Mizo hills.
• They are covered with dense forests and run parallel to valleys.
• They are made up of Strong Sandstones and Sedimentary rocks.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

15. The Northern Plains
• They have been formed by the alluvial soil brought down by the
Indus, The Ganga, The Brahmaputra and their Tributaries.
• The Alluvial soil is millions of years old.
• It covers an area of 7 lakh sq. km.
• The plain is 2,400 km long and 240-320 km wide.
• This plain is widely used for Farming.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

16. • The rivers split into numerous Distributaries in their lower
courses due to the deposition of silt.
• Punjab Plains– Western Northern Plain
• Punjab plains are formed by Indus and its Tributaries.
• The Ganga Plains – Ghaggar to Tista rivers
• Brahmaputra Plains – Assam and Eastern plain
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

17. Relief features
• The descending rivers from the Shiwaliks deposit pebbles 8-16
km wide belt parallel to the slopes of Shiwaliks known as bhabar.
• The streams and rivers re-emerge south of this belt to create a
wet, swampy and marshy region known as terai.
• The terai is used for Agricultural.
• The older alluvium lies above the flood plains like a terrace
known as bhangar.
• The soil in this region contains calcareous deposits known as
kankar.
• The newer deposits of the Flood plains are known as khaddar.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

18. • The plateau is made up of old crystalline, igneous and
metamorphic rocks.
• It was formed due to the drifting and breaking of the Gondwana
landmass.
• It consists of two broad divisions known as the Central Highlands
and the Deccan Plateau.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

19. The Central Highlands
• Lies north to the Narmada.
• The Vindhyan range lies on the south and the Aravalis range lies
on the Northwest.
• They are wider in the west but narrower in the East.
• The eastward extensions are known as Bundelkhand and
Baghelkhand.
• The Chotanagpur plateau marks the further eastward extension,
drained by the Damodar.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

20. The Deccan Plateau
• Triangular landmass south to the Narmada.
• The Satpura range in the North and the Mahadev, the Kaimur
hills and the Maikal range in its eastward extension.
• Higher in the west and slopes gently eastwards.
• Meghalaya, Karbi-Anglong plateau and North Cachar hills form
the Northwest extension.
• Separated from the Chotanagpur plateau by a fault.
• Three prominent ranges from west to east are the Garo, the
Khasi and the Jaintia Hills.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

21. Western and Eastern Ghats
• They form Western and Eastern edges of the Deccan plateau.
• The Western Ghats are higher than the Eastern
Ghats.
• Western Ghats :-
 Their average elevation is 900-1,600 m.
Their height increases from North to South.
Highest peaks are the Anai Mudi(2,695 m) and the
Doda Betta(2,637 m).
• Eastern Ghats:-
Their average elevation is 600 m.
They stretch from the Mahanadi Valley to the Nilgiris in the South.
They are continuously dissected by the rivers draining into the Bay of
Bengal.
Mahendragiri(1,501 m) is the highest peak.
Shevroy and Javadi Hills are located in the Southeast.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

22. Extra Features
• The Peninsular plateau has black soil known as the Deccan Trap.
• They are made up of Igneous rocks.
• The Aravalis range form the North and Northwestern margins.
• They are highly eroded hills and extend from the Gujarat to Delhi.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

23. • Lies west to the Aravali range.
• Covered with sand dunes it
receives low rainfall of 150 mm per year.
• Has arid climate with low vegetation cover.
• Luni is the only large river in this Desert.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

24. • The Western Coast lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
• It consists of three sections.
• The northern part is called the Konkan(Mumbai to Goa), the central stretch is
called the Kannad plain and the southern stretch is known as the Malabar Coast.
• The Eastern Coasts are wide and level.
• The Northern Circar(North) and the Coromandel Coast(South) are its two sections.
• The rivers Mahanadi, Godavari, Kaveri and Krishna have formed their Deltas here.
• Lake Chilika is an important feature along the Eastern Coast.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,

25. • The Lakshadweep island lie close to the Malabar coast.
• They are composed of Small coral islands.
• They cover an area of 32 sq. km.
• Kavaratti island is its administrative Headquarters.
• The uninhabited Pitti island has a Bird Sanctuary.
• The Andaman and Nicobar islands are located in the Bay of Bengal.
• They are divided into the Andaman in the north and Nicobar in the
south.
• It is believed that these mountains are elevated portions of Submarine
Mountains.
• These Islands display a great diversity of flora and fauna.
• Due to the presence of Equatorial Climate, they have thick forest
cover.
Madan Kumar M.A.,M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,M.B.A.,