Geographical Diversity of India

Class 07 Social Science

India is the seventh-largest country in the world, and a part of Asia. Along with its neighbours - Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar - it forms the region known as the Indian Subcontinent.

The Himalayas

Many of its peaks are over 8000 metres in height and are together called the ‘Eight Thousanders’. This mountain range stretches across six countries in Asia: India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

In the summer, the snow on the mountains melts and feeds major rivers, such as the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra. These rivers and their tributaries provide water for drinking, farming, and industrial use, connecting with the lives of hundreds of millions of people. Hence, the Himalayas are sometimes called the Water Tower of Asia. 

The Himalayas are also important to many cultures and belief systems. The mountains themselves are considered sacred, and temples and monasteries have been built within them, attracting monks and spiritual seekers from around the world who come to pray and meditate.

Ranges

The Himalayas are broadly categorised into three main ranges:

ƒ1. The Himadri (the Greater Himalayas) are the highest and most rugged part of the range, home to towering peaks like Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga. This region remains snow-covered throughout the year. Life here is tough, and there are not many human settlements.

ƒ2. The Himachal (the Lower Himalayas) lie south of the Greater Himalayas and have a more moderate climate, allowing rich biodiversity and human habitation. Popular hill stations, such as Nainital (Uttarakhand), Darjeeling (West Bengal), Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), and Mussoorie (Uttarakhand), are located in this region.

3. ƒThe Shivalik Hills (the Outer Himalayas) form the outermost and lowest range, consisting of rolling hills and dense forests. These foothills are rich in wildlife, serving as a transition zone between the Himalayas and the Gangetic Plains (also called the Northern Plains).

How the Himalayas were formed?

A long time ago, India was part of a much bigger landmass called Gondwana, where its neighbour was Africa. At some point, it broke away and slowly started moving north. About 50 million years ago, it reached the landmass of Eurasia and collided with it. As India pushed against Eurasia, the land between them crumpled and rose up.

India is still pushing into Asia today, very slowly - about five centimetres each year. This means the Himalayas are still growing taller.

The Cold Desert of India

Ladakh is a cold desert where winter temperatures drop below –30°C. There is very little rainfall, and the landscape is rugged, with rocky terrain, deep valleys, and lakes such as Pangong Tso.

The terrain here resembles that of the moon, hence, it is called moonland. Geologists explain the formation of this terrain by the fact that the mountains were folded when the Indian landmass collided with Eurasia. This folded portion was part of an ocean, and so the rocks in this area are made largely of sand and clay.

Despite the harsh conditions, Ladakh is home to unique wildlife like snow leopards, ibex, and Tibetan antelopes. The Ladakhi people lead a simple life. The region is known for its ancient monasteries and colourful festivals such as Losar and the Hemis Festival.

The Gangetic Plains

As we move southwards from the Himalayas, we reach the vast and fertile Gangetic Plains. These plains are nourished by rivers originating from the Himalayas, providing a vital lifeline: water. The Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra river systems, along with their extensive network of tributaries, enrich the soil with minerals, making the region highly fertile and ideal for agriculture. The rivers bring with them minerals that enrich the soil, enabling abundant agriculture. The rivers are also a source for generating electricity.

A large proportion of India’s population lives in these plains. The flat land of the Northern Plains has allowed for the development of an elaborate transportation network. Road and railway networks facilitate the movement of people and goods over long distances.

The Great Indian Desert or Thar Desert

The Thar is a vast arid region. Most of it lies within India, spanning the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana. The desert acts as a natural barrier due to the harsh conditions that deter human and animal movement - including very high daytime temperatures and cold nights, as well as a lack of access to water.

Sand dunes are formed when the wind shifts and shapes the sand into hill-like formations. Sometimes these rise as high as 150 metres.

People living in the Thar have adapted their way of life to the place and what it offers; food habits, clothing and lifestyle are suited to these harsh conditions.

The Aravalli Hills

The Aravallis are among the oldest mountains in the world, some 2.5 billion years old. The range has many peaks and ridges. Although its highest peak, Mount Abu, towers at over 1700 m, most of its hills are between 300 and 900 metres high.

The Aravallis, rich in minerals like marble, granite, zinc, and copper, have supported mining and construction activities for centuries. Historic forts, such as Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, and Ranthambore, are located here.

The Peninsular Plateau

India has several plateaus; the most important one is the triangular peninsular area in the middle and south of the country. Since this region is a peninsula, surrounded by water on all three sides by the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean, it is called a peninsular plateau.

The plateau is bordered by two mountain ranges, the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats. The Western Ghats are taller and run along the western coast like a wall, with many beautiful waterfalls flowing down their steep sides during the monsoon season. The Eastern Ghats are lower and broken into smaller hills along the eastern coast. Between these mountain ranges lies the Deccan Plateau, a vast area of flat highlands.

Rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri flow across the plateau from west to east. These rivers are important for farming and provide water to millions of people.

This plateau is rich in minerals, forests, and fertile land, making it vital for India’s economy. It tilts a little to the east, so a few of the rivers in this region flow towards the Bay of Bengal. East-flowing rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, and Mahanadi originate here, providing water for farming, industries, and hydroelectric power. There are west-flowing rivers (Narmada, Tapti) too, which drain into the Arabian Sea.

Dense forests on the plateau are home to tribal communities, including the Santhal, Gond, Baiga, Bhil, and Korku. These tribes have distinct languages, traditions, and ways of life closely connected to Nature.

Plateaus are home to many beautiful waterfalls in India, as rivers flow over their uneven and rocky surfaces. These waterfalls not only attract tourists but also help in hydroelectric power generation and provide water for irrigation.

Coastlines

India’s coastline is dotted with beautiful beaches, rocky cliffs, and lush green forests. Some beaches have golden sand while others have black rocks. Some islands have coral reefs while others are covered in thick jungles. The Indian coastline is over 7500 km long.

The West Coast of India

The West Coast of India stretches from Gujarat to Kerala, passing through Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka. Most rivers here originate in the Western Ghats, flow swiftly, and form estuaries. The coastline is shaped by alluvial deposits from short rivers and features coves, creeks, and estuaries, with the Narmada and Tapti estuaries being the largest.

The west coast has many important ports and cities. These have been the centres of economic activity for millennia.

The East Coast of India

The East Coast lies between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal, stretching from the Ganga delta to Kanyakumari. It has wide plains and major river deltas, including Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri. Important water bodies like Chilika Lake and Pulicat Lake are found here.

Deltas are landforms formed at the mouth of a river when it deposits sediments into a larger body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another river. Over time, these sediments build up, forming a triangular or fan-shaped area. The Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri and Mahanadi rivers create fertile deltas, making the land ideal for farming.

Indian Islands

The Indian Islands refer to the group of islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal, which form part of India’s territory. India has two major island groups - Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. These islands have unique wildlife, beautiful beaches, coral reefs, and volcanoes. Several ancient tribes made these islands their home tens of thousands of years ago.

Lakshadweep Islands

Lakshadweep is an archipelago (a group of islands) located in the Arabian Sea, close to the Malabar coast of Kerala. It is made up of 36 islands made of coral. Not all islands are inhabited by people. India controls a vast marine area, allowing for fishing, resource exploration, and environmental protection.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

This archipelago comprises more than 500 large and small volcanic islands, divided into two distinct groups - the Andaman and the Nicobar Islands.

Their location is very important. They are like the outposts of India, keeping an eye on the ocean. It is home to a variety of flora and fauna. The Andaman Islands are also significant from a historical point of view - many of our freedom fighters were jailed there under the most severe conditions in a prison complex called ‘Cellular Jail’.

The Delta in West Bengal and the Sundarbans

This is located in the delta of the Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. This delta has a unique combination of the river, sea and land. About half of it is located in India, and the rest is in Bangladesh. This is also a UNESCO Heritage site. The Sundarbans are home to many species, including the Royal Bengal Tiger.

The hills of the Northeast

Garo, Khasi, and Jantia hills, part of the Meghalaya Plateau, are known for their lush greenery, heavy rainfall, and breathtaking waterfalls. This region experiences one of the highest rainfalls in the world, making it rich in forests, unique wildlife, and fertile land.