Mountain Ranges of India

India has several major mountain ranges that play crucial roles in climate, agriculture, defense, and tourism. These ranges are broadly classified into young fold mountains and old fold mountains.

• Age: 25-30 million years old (Tertiary period)
• Formation: Collision between Indian and Eurasian plates
• Type: Young, fold mountains
• Still rising: About 1 cm per year

Latitudinal Divisions (South to North):

Longitudinal Divisions (West to East):

• Kashmir Himalayas - K2, Nanga Parbat
• Himachal Himalayas - Dhaula Dhar, Pir Panjal
• Kumaon Himalayas - Nanda Devi, Kedarnath
• Central/Nepal Himalayas - Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga
• Assam Himalayas - Namcha Barwa

• Type: Block mountains (fault-block)
• Length: 1,600 km
• Orientation: North-South along western coast
• Average height: 900-1200m
• Highest peak: Anamudi (2,695m) in Kerala

• Kalsubai (1,646m) - Highest in Maharashtra
• Mullayanagiri (1,930m) - Highest in Karnataka
• Doddabetta (2,637m) - Highest in Nilgiris
• Anamudi (2,695m) - Highest in Western Ghats

• Monsoon barrier - Causes orographic rainfall
• Biodiversity hotspot - Endemic species
• River source - Origin of many peninsular rivers
• Coffee and spice cultivation

• Type: Residual mountains (eroded)
• Length: 1,750 km
• Orientation: Northeast-Southwest
• Average height: 600m
• Discontinuous - Broken by rivers

• Javadi Hills - Tamil Nadu
• Shevaroy Hills - Tamil Nadu
• Pachhaimalai - Tamil Nadu
• Nallamala Hills - Andhra Pradesh
• Simhachalam Hills - Andhra Pradesh

• Jindhagada Peak (1,690m) - Odisha
• Arma Konda (1,680m) - Andhra Pradesh
• Deomali (1,672m) - Odisha

• Location: Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Delhi
• Type: Oldest fold mountains in India
• Age: Pre-Cambrian (2.5 billion years)
• Highest peak: Mount Abu (1,722m)
• Direction: Southwest to Northeast
• Significance: Mineral wealth (zinc, lead, copper)

• Location: Central India (MP, Maharashtra)
• Direction: East-West
• Highest peak: Dhupgarh (1,350m)
• Features: Extensive plateau region

• Location: Central India
• Significance: Traditional divide between North and South India
• Rivers: Chambal, Betwa, Ken originate here

• Natural barriers - Himalayas protect northern borders
• Strategic passes - Khyber, Bolan (historical invasion routes)
• Border security - Mountain warfare challenges

• Monsoon patterns - Western Ghats create rain shadow
• Temperature regulation - Altitude affects climate
• Water cycle - Snow/glacier melt feeds rivers

• Deforestation - Loss of forest cover
• Climate change - Glacier retreat in Himalayas
• Mining impacts - Environmental degradation
• Urbanization pressure - Hill station development

• Paper: General Studies Paper I (Geography)
• Topics: Physical features, climate impact, economic geography
• Previous Year Questions:
  1. Compare Western and Eastern Ghats (2020)
  2. Himalayan formation and divisions (2019)
  3. Mountain ranges and monsoon patterns (2018)

Himalayan Divisions (South to North): Small Hills Grow Taller

• Shivaliks (Outer)
• Himachal (Lesser)
• Greater Himalayas (Himadri)
• Trans Himalayas (Karakoram)

Western Ghats Sections: Northern Central Southern

• Northern - Maharashtra
• Central - Karnataka
• Southern - Kerala/Tamil Nadu

• Impact on cyclone patterns
• Influence on coastal geography
• Relationship with Deccan Plateau

← Back to Indian Geography | Home

Sources: NCERT Class 11 Geography, Certificate Physical and Human Geography