SSC CGL Study Materials : India - Physical Features, Relief & Drainage

India is divided into four major geomorphological components. They are

• The Himalayas
• The Indo - Gangetic plain
• The Peninsular plateau
• The Coastal plains

Himalayas :

• The Youngest fold mountains
• Once Himalayas were occupied by a sea - Tethys
• The north part of the Tethys sea - Angara land
• The south part of Tethys sea - Gondwana land
• The area of the Himalayas - 5 lakh sq kms
• The longitudinal distance of the Himalayas - 2400 kms
• The parallel ranges of Himalayas - Three, those are,
• The Himadri (greater Himalayas)
• The Himachal (lesser Himalayas)
• The Siwaliks (outer Himalayas)
• The Arunachal Pradesh Siwaliks are called - Mishmi hills
• Important peaks of Himalayas and their heights:
• Mt. Everest (8848 mts) 
• Kanchenjunga (8598 mts) 
• Makalu(8481 mts)  
• Dhaulagiri (8177 mts) 
• Manaslu (8156 mts) 
• Chooyu (8153 mts) 
• Nanga Prabhath ( 8126 mts)  
• Annapurna (8078 mts)

Indo Gangetic plains :

• Also known as - The North Indian River Plain
• Named after - Indus and Ganga
• Irrigated by three important rivers - the Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra
• Punjab means - Land of Five Rivers

Peninsular Plateau : 

• It is a table land
• Formed due to the drifting of the Gondwana land
• It is considered as the oldest land mass.
• It can be divided into two regions :
1. Deccan Plateau 
• the biggest part
• stretches over eight states
2. Malwa Plateau

Coastal Plains : 

• Formed by the Peninsular rivers
• Two types :
• Eastern 
• Western

Few more Important Points to Note :

• One of the oldest mountain ranges - Aravali ranges
• The highest point in Aravalis - Gurusikhar
• The highest peak in the world - Mt Everest (8848 mt)
• 2nd Highest peak in the world - k2 (8611 mts)
• K2 mountain peak is in - Karakoram
• The highest peak in Nilgiris - Dodabetta (2637 mts)
• The highest point in peninsular India - Anai Mudi (2695 mts)
• In Arunachal Pradesh Brahmaputra is called - Dihang
• "Thar" desert is also called - The Great India Desert
• Western Ghats are also called - The Sahyadris
• The Largest - River among peninsular rivers - The Godavari
• The second largest river among peninsular rivers - The Krishna
• The Important Geomorphic features :
• Bhabar - Pebble studded porous beds zone
• Terai - A wide marshy tract
• Bhangar - Older alluvial plain
• Khadar - Newer / Younger alluvial plain
• Reh (or) Kallar - Barren, Saline efflorescences
• West flowing Rivers - Narmada, Tapati, Mahi, Sabarmati

Synopsis : Major Geomorphological Components :

• Himalayas :
• Himadri (Greater)
• Himachal (Lesser)
• Shiwaliks (Outer)
• Indo-Gangetic Plain
• Bhabar Plains
• Terai
• Bhangar
• Khadar
• Reh / Kallar
• Peninsular Plateau 
• Malwa Plateau
• Deccan Plateau
• Coastal Plains
• Eastern Coastal Plain
• Western Coaastal Plain