The Peninsular Plateau is one of the oldest and most stable physiographic divisions of India.
It is made mainly of ancient rocks and forms the rigid part of the Indian landmass.
Unlike the Himalayas, which are young and still rising, the Peninsular Plateau is old, hard, stable, and highly eroded.
It has plateaus, uplands, hills, block mountains, rift valleys, lava-covered regions, and mineral-rich areas.
Table of Contents
Geological Nature Of The Peninsular Plateau
The Peninsular region is formed mainly by ancient gneisses and granites.
It is part of the Indo-Australian Plate.
The region has experienced:
- Vertical movements
- Block faulting
- Erosion
- River dissection
- Lava flows
- Tectonic changes
The rift valleys of the Narmada, Tapi, and Mahanadi, along with the Satpura block mountains, are important examples of these geological changes.
Residual Mountains Of The Peninsular Plateau
The Peninsular Plateau has several residual mountains.
These are old mountains that have been reduced by long periods of erosion.
Important residual mountains include:
- Aravali Hills
- Nallamala Hills
- Javadi Hills
- Veliconda Hills
- Palkonda Range
- Mahendragiri Hills
Geomorphological Divisions Of Peninsular Plateau
On the basis of prominent relief features, the Peninsular Plateau is divided into three broad groups:
- Central Highlands
- Deccan Plateau
- North-Eastern Plateau
Central Highlands
The Central Highlands are also called the Madhya Bharat Pathar.
They form the northern part of the Peninsular Plateau.
This region is made of old rocks and has several rounded hills.
Location Of Central Highlands
The Central Highlands lie mainly to the north of the Deccan Plateau.
The chapter divides this region into several parts:
- Marwar Upland
- Bundelkhand Upland
- Baghelkhand
- Malwa Plateau
- Aravalli Ranges
- Chhattisgarh Plain
- Chotanagpur Plateau
- Rajmahal Hills
General Features Of Central Highlands
- Made of old rocks.
- Contains rounded hills.
- Has an open rolling plateau surface.
- Chambal River and its tributaries flow through this region in a rift valley.
- General slope is towards the north and north-east.
- Elevation varies between 700 and 1,000 metres above mean sea level.
Marwar Upland
The Marwar Upland lies east of the Aravalli Range.
Main Features
- Elevation ranges from 250 to 500 metres.
- It slopes eastwards.
- It is made up of sandstone, shale, and limestone of the Vindhyan period.
- Small rivers such as Berach and Khari flow through it.
- It has a rolling plateau surface with rounded hills and forest.
Bundelkhand Upland
The Bundelkhand Upland is an important part of the Central Highlands.
Location
It is bounded by:
- Yamuna River in the north.
- Madhya Bharat Pathar in the west.
- Vindhyan scarplands in the east.
- Malwa Plateau in the south.
Main Features
- Elevation ranges from 300 to 600 metres above mean sea level.
- The plateau slopes down from the Vindhyan scarp towards the Yamuna River.
- It is made up of granite and gneiss.
- Important rivers include Betwa, Dhasan, and Ken.
- River erosion has made the surface undulating.
- Due to uneven relief, several parts are not suitable for cultivation.
Baghelkhand
The Baghelkhand lies north of the Maikal Range.
It is bounded by the Son River in the north.
The southern part has highlands and valleys made of sandstone and limestone.
Main Features
- Elevation varies from 150 metres to 1,200 metres.
- It is made of limestone and sandstone.
- It forms an important link between the Central Highlands and the eastern plateau regions.
Malwa Plateau
The Malwa Plateau is an important plateau region of central India.
It lies mainly in western Madhya Pradesh and south-eastern Rajasthan.
It is a part of the Central Highlands.
Main Features
- It has a rolling surface.
- It is agriculturally important.
- It is linked with the broader Central Highland region.
- Its terrain has been shaped by river erosion and old rock formations.
Aravalli Range
The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest mountain ranges in India.
It forms an important relief feature of the north-western Peninsular Plateau.
Main Features
- It is highly eroded.
- It runs mainly through Rajasthan.
- It marks an important structural boundary of the Peninsular Block.
- It is older than the Himalayas.
Chhattisgarh Plain
The Chhattisgarh Plain is also included within the broad Central Highland system.
It lies in the central-eastern part of India.
It is associated with the Mahanadi river system and forms an important lowland region within the Peninsular framework.
Chotanagpur Plateau
The Chotanagpur Plateau lies east of the Baghelkhand Plateau.
It represents the north-eastern projection of the Peninsular Plateau.
The Son River flows in the north-west and joins the Ganga.
Main Features Of Chotanagpur Plateau
- Average elevation is about 700 metres above sea level.
- Rocks are mostly Gondwana rocks.
- Some sections contain Deccan lava, gneisses, and Archaean granite.
- Parasnath Hills in Jharkhand form the highest point of this region.
- It is rich in mineral resources.
- It contains important Gondwana coalfields.
Rivers Of Chotanagpur Plateau
Important rivers include:
- Son
- Damodar
- North Koel
- South Koel
- Barakar
The Damodar River flows through the middle of the plateau in a rift valley.
Hazaribagh Plateau
The Hazaribagh Plateau lies north of the Damodar River.
Main Features
- It consists of isolated hills.
- It is rich in mineral resources.
- It is especially important for Gondwana coalfields.
Ranchi Plateau
The Ranchi Plateau lies south of the Damodar Valley.
Main Features
- It has a rolling surface.
- Some areas are interrupted by monadnocks and conical hills.
- It forms one of the important physical units of the Chotanagpur Plateau.
Rajmahal Hills
The Rajmahal Hills are situated at the north-eastern edge of the Chotanagpur Plateau.
Main Features
- They are composed of basaltic lava.
- They form an important eastern edge of the Peninsular Plateau system.
Deccan Plateau
The Deccan Plateau is the largest unit of the Indian Peninsular Plateau.
It has a triangular shape.
Location And Boundaries
The Deccan Plateau is bordered by:
- Satpura and Vindhya ranges in the north-west.
- Mahadev and Maikal ranges in the north.
- Western Ghats in the west.
- Eastern Ghats in the east.
Area And Elevation
- Area – About 5 lakh square Km.
- Average elevation – About 600 metres.
- General slope – From west to east.
This slope explains why many major Peninsular rivers flow eastwards into the Bay of Bengal.
Sub-Plateaus Of The Deccan Plateau
The Deccan Plateau consists of sub-plateaus formed by the dissection of rivers.
The main sub-plateaus mentioned in the chapter are:
- Maharashtra Plateau
- Karnataka Plateau / Mysore Plateau
Maharashtra Plateau
The Maharashtra Plateau forms the northern part of the Deccan Plateau.
Main Features
- It is made up of black cotton soil.
- Black cotton soil is also called Regur soil.
- It is important for cotton cultivation.
Karnataka Plateau Or Mysore Plateau
The Karnataka Plateau, also called the Mysore Plateau, lies south of the Maharashtra Plateau.
It forms the southern part of the Deccan Plateau.
Main Features
- It is an important southern plateau region.
- It is shaped by river dissection.
- It forms part of the larger Deccan Plateau system.
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats run parallel to the western coast of the Indian Peninsular Plateau.
They separate the Deccan Plateau in the east from the Western Coastal Plains and the Arabian Sea in the west.
Local Names Of Western Ghats
The Western Ghats are known by different local names:
- Sahyadri in Maharashtra.
- Nilgiri Hills in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
- Anaimalai Hills and Cardamom Hills in Kerala.
States Covered By Western Ghats
The Western Ghats spread across:
- Gujarat
- Maharashtra
- Goa
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
Topography Of Western Ghats
The Western Ghats are characterised by:
- Steep-sided hills.
- Terraced slopes.
- Flat-topped hills.
- Cliff-like escarpments.
Their average elevation is about 1,500 metres.
The Western Ghats are higher and more continuous than the Eastern Ghats.
Important Peaks Of Western Ghats
- Anaimudi – 2,695 metres, located on Anaimalai Hills.
- Doddabetta – 2,637 metres, located in Nilgiri Hills.
Anaimudi is the highest peak of the Peninsular Plateau.
Divisions Of Western Ghats
The Western Ghats are divided into three parts:
- Northern Western Ghats
- Central Western Ghats / Central Sahyadri
- South Western Ghats
Northern Western Ghats
The Northern Western Ghats are located between the Tapi Valley and north of Goa.
Important Peaks
- Kalsubai
- Salher
- Mahabaleshwar
- Harishchandragarh
Important Passes
- Thalghat
- Bhorghat
Central Western Ghats / Central Sahyadri
The Central Western Ghats, or Central Sahyadri, run from about 16° N latitude up to the Nilgiri Hills.
Important Peaks
- Doddabetta – 2,637 metres
- Mukurthi – 2,554 metres
- Vavul Mala – 2,339 metres
- Kudremukh – 1,894 metres
- Pushpagiri – 1,715 metres
South Western Ghats
The South Western Ghats are separated from the main Sahyadri Range by the Palghat Gap.
Important Peak
- Anaimudi
Important Hills
- Anaimalai Hills
- Palani Hills
- Cardamom Hills
- Agasthyamalai Hills
Eastern Ghats
The Eastern Ghats are a series of discontinuous mountain ranges along the eastern edge of the Indian Peninsular Plateau.
The Deccan Plateau lies to the west of the Eastern Ghats, while the Eastern Coastal Plains and the Bay of Bengal lie to the east.
Topography Of Eastern Ghats
The Eastern Ghats are not a continuous range.
They consist of broken, detached, and highly dissected hills.
They are cut by major east-flowing rivers.
Divisions Of Eastern Ghats
The Eastern Ghats are divided into two sections:
- North Eastern Ghats
- South Eastern Ghats
North Eastern Ghats
The North Eastern Ghats lie between the Mahanadi and Godavari valleys.
Important Hills
- Maliya Range
Mahendragiri is the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats.
Important Rivers
- Mahanadi
- Subarnarekha
- Brahmani
- Vamsadhara
South Eastern Ghats
The South Eastern Ghats lie between the Godavari and Krishna rivers.
Important Hills
- Nallamalai Range
- Javadi Hills
- Shevroy-Kalrayan Hills
- Biligiri Rangan Hills
Important Rivers
- Pennar
- Kaveri
- Krishna
- Godavari
The Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats meet each other at the Nilgiri Hills.
North-Eastern Plateau
The North-Eastern Plateau is an extension of the main Peninsular Plateau.
It lies in the north-eastern part of India.
During the formation of the Himalayas, the Indian Plate exerted force in the north-east direction.
This created a major fault between the Rajmahal Hills and the Meghalaya Plateau.
The depression created by this faulting was later filled by deposition from many rivers.
Parts Of North-Eastern Plateau
The North-Eastern Plateau has two main parts:
- Meghalaya Plateau
- Karbi Anglong Plateau
Meghalaya Plateau / Shillong Plateau
The Meghalaya Plateau, also called the Shillong Plateau, is a rectangular block formed by the extension of the Peninsular Plateau in the north-eastern direction beyond the Rajmahal Hills.
Location
It is bounded by:
- Brahmaputra Valley in the north.
- Surma and Meghna valleys in the south.
Composition
It is made up of:
- Archaean quartzites
- Dharwarian quartzites
- Shales
- Schists
Topography
The Meghalaya Plateau has:
- Rolling grasslands.
- Hills.
- River valleys.
Mineral Resources
The region is rich in mineral resources such as:
- Coal
- Iron ore
- Sillimanite
- Limestone
- Uranium
Garo Hills
The Garo Hills form the western part of the Meghalaya Plateau.
Their average elevation is about 900 metres.
The region is a subtropical forest ecoregion.
Nokrek National Park is an important example.
The region receives exceptionally high rainfall.
Khasi Hills
The Khasi Hills form the central part of the Meghalaya Plateau.
The Khasi are an indigenous tribe of these hills.
Mawsynram, known for receiving the world’s maximum rainfall, is situated here.
Karbi Anglong Plateau
The Karbi Anglong Plateau is another important part of the North-Eastern Plateau.
It is also considered an extension of the Peninsular Plateau towards the north-east.
Importance Of Peninsular Plateau
The Peninsular Plateau is extremely important in Indian geography.
It affects climate, drainage, agriculture, soils, minerals, and settlement.
Major Importance
- It is one of the oldest landmasses of India.
- It contains important mineral resources.
- It has rich coalfields, especially in the Chotanagpur region.
- It gives rise to many Peninsular rivers.
- Its western edge forms the Western Ghats, an important biodiversity hotspot.
- Its slope influences the eastward flow of major rivers.
- Its black soil regions support cotton cultivation.
- Its plateau surfaces support agriculture, forestry, and mining.
Important Facts At A Glance
| Topic | Fact |
|---|---|
| Broad divisions | Central Highlands, Deccan Plateau, North-Eastern Plateau |
| Central Highlands also called | Madhya Bharat Pathar |
| Central Highlands elevation | 700 to 1,000 metres |
| Marwar Upland | East of Aravalli Range |
| Bundelkhand rocks | Granite and gneiss |
| Bundelkhand rivers | Betwa, Dhasan, Ken |
| Chotanagpur Plateau elevation | About 700 metres |
| Highest point of Chotanagpur | Parasnath Hills |
| Chotanagpur rivers | Son, Damodar, North Koel, South Koel, Barakar |
| Damodar River | Flows through a rift valley |
| Rajmahal Hills | Made of basaltic lava |
| Deccan Plateau area | About 5 lakh square Km |
| Deccan Plateau elevation | About 600 metres |
| Deccan Plateau slope | West to east |
| Maharashtra Plateau soil | Black cotton soil / Regur |
| Western Ghats average elevation | About 1,500 metres |
| Highest peak of Peninsular Plateau | Anaimudi, 2,695 metres |
| Doddabetta | 2,637 metres, Nilgiri Hills |
| Eastern Ghats | Broken and discontinuous ranges |
| Highest peak of Eastern Ghats | Mahendragiri |
| Western and Eastern Ghats meet at | Nilgiri Hills |
| Meghalaya Plateau | Shillong Plateau |
| Mawsynram | Located in Khasi Hills |
FAQs On Geographical Location And Extension Of India
What is the Peninsular Plateau of India?
The Peninsular Plateau is an old, stable, and hard landmass of India made mainly of ancient rocks such as gneisses and granites.
What are the main divisions of the Peninsular Plateau?
The Peninsular Plateau is divided into Central Highlands, Deccan Plateau, and North-Eastern Plateau.
What are the Central Highlands?
The Central Highlands, also called Madhya Bharat Pathar, form the northern part of the Peninsular Plateau.
Which areas are included in the Central Highlands?
The Central Highlands include Marwar Upland, Bundelkhand Upland, Baghelkhand, Malwa Plateau, Aravalli Range, Chhattisgarh Plain, Chotanagpur Plateau, and Rajmahal Hills.
What is the general slope of the Central Highlands?
The Central Highlands generally slope towards the north and north-east.
What is the Marwar Upland?
The Marwar Upland lies east of the Aravalli Range and is made of sandstone, shale, and limestone of the Vindhyan period.
Which rivers flow through Bundelkhand Upland?
The Betwa, Dhasan, and Ken rivers flow through Bundelkhand Upland.
What is the Chotanagpur Plateau?
The Chotanagpur Plateau is the north-eastern projection of the Peninsular Plateau, located east of Baghelkhand Plateau.
Which is the highest point of Chotanagpur Plateau?
Parasnath Hills in Jharkhand form the highest point of the Chotanagpur Plateau.
Why is Chotanagpur Plateau important?
It is important because it is rich in mineral resources and contains Gondwana coalfields.
Which river flows through Chotanagpur Plateau in a rift valley?
The Damodar River flows through the middle of the Chotanagpur Plateau in a rift valley.
What are the Rajmahal Hills made of?
The Rajmahal Hills are composed of basaltic lava.
What is the Deccan Plateau?
The Deccan Plateau is the largest unit of the Indian Peninsular Plateau.
What is the area of the Deccan Plateau?
The Deccan Plateau covers about 5 lakh square Km.
What is the general slope of the Deccan Plateau?
The Deccan Plateau generally slopes from west to east.
What are the main sub-plateaus of the Deccan Plateau?
The main sub-plateaus are the Maharashtra Plateau and Karnataka Plateau or Mysore Plateau.
Which soil is found in the Maharashtra Plateau?
The Maharashtra Plateau is made up of black cotton soil, also called Regur soil.
Where are the Western Ghats located?
The Western Ghats run parallel to the western coast of India, between the Deccan Plateau and the Western Coastal Plains.
What are the local names of the Western Ghats?
They are called Sahyadri in Maharashtra, Nilgiri Hills in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and Anaimalai and Cardamom Hills in Kerala.
Which is the highest peak of the Peninsular Plateau?
Anaimudi, located in the Anaimalai Hills of the Western Ghats, is the highest peak of the Peninsular Plateau.
What is the height of Anaimudi?
Anaimudi is 2,695 metres high.
Which is the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats?
Mahendragiri is the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats.
Are the Eastern Ghats continuous?
No. The Eastern Ghats are discontinuous, broken, and detached hill ranges.
Where do the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats meet?
The Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats meet at the Nilgiri Hills.
What is the North-Eastern Plateau?
The North-Eastern Plateau is an extension of the main Peninsular Plateau towards north-eastern India.
What are the two parts of the North-Eastern Plateau?
The two parts are the Meghalaya Plateau and the Karbi Anglong Plateau.
What is the Meghalaya Plateau also called?
The Meghalaya Plateau is also called the Shillong Plateau.
Which hills form the western part of Meghalaya Plateau?
The Garo Hills form the western part of the Meghalaya Plateau.
Where is Mawsynram located?
Mawsynram is located in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya.
Which minerals are found in the Meghalaya Plateau?
Coal, iron ore, sillimanite, limestone, and uranium are found in the Meghalaya Plateau.
Last Moment Exam Cheat Sheet – Peninsular Plateau Of India
- Peninsular Plateau – Old, stable and rigid landmass of India.
- Main rocks – Ancient gneisses and granites.
- Plate – Part of Indo-Australian Plate.
- Main processes – Vertical movements, block faulting, erosion and river dissection.
- Rift valleys – Narmada, Tapi and Mahanadi.
- Satpura – Example of block mountain.
- Residual mountains – Aravali, Nallamala, Javadi, Veliconda, Palkonda, Mahendragiri.
- Geomorphological divisions – Central Highlands, Deccan Plateau and North-Eastern Plateau.
- Central Highlands – Also called Madhya Bharat Pathar.
- Central Highlands slope – North and north-east.
- Central Highlands elevation – 700 to 1,000 metres.
- Marwar Upland – East of Aravalli Range.
- Marwar composition – Sandstone, shale and limestone of Vindhyan period.
- Bundelkhand Upland – Made of granite and gneiss.
- Bundelkhand rivers – Betwa, Dhasan and Ken.
- Baghelkhand – North of Maikal Range, bounded by Son River in north.
- Chotanagpur Plateau – North-eastern projection of Peninsular Plateau.
- Chotanagpur elevation – About 700 metres.
- Parasnath Hills – Highest point of Chotanagpur Plateau.
- Damodar River – Flows through Chotanagpur Plateau in a rift valley.
- Hazaribagh Plateau – North of Damodar River, rich in Gondwana coalfields.
- Ranchi Plateau – South of Damodar Valley.
- Rajmahal Hills – Composed of basaltic lava.
- Deccan Plateau – Largest unit of Indian Peninsular Plateau.
- Deccan Plateau area – About 5 lakh square Km.
- Deccan Plateau elevation – About 600 metres.
- Deccan Plateau slope – West to east.
- Maharashtra Plateau – Northern Deccan, black cotton soil / Regur.
- Karnataka Plateau – Mysore Plateau, southern Deccan.
- Western Ghats – Parallel to western coast.
- Western Ghats local names – Sahyadri, Nilgiri, Anaimalai, Cardamom Hills.
- Western Ghats states – Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu.
- Western Ghats average elevation – About 1,500 metres.
- Western Ghats – Higher and more continuous than Eastern Ghats.
- Anaimudi – 2,695 metres, highest peak of Peninsular Plateau.
- Doddabetta – 2,637 metres, Nilgiri Hills.
- Northern Western Ghats peaks – Kalsubai, Salher, Mahabaleshwar, Harishchandragarh.
- Northern Western Ghats passes – Thalghat and Bhorghat.
- Central Western Ghats peaks – Doddabetta, Mukurthi, Vavul Mala, Kudremukh, Pushpagiri.
- South Western Ghats separated by – Palghat Gap.
- South Western Ghats hills – Anaimalai, Palani, Cardamom, Agasthyamalai.
- Eastern Ghats – Discontinuous and broken ranges.
- North Eastern Ghats – Between Mahanadi and Godavari valleys.
- Highest peak of Eastern Ghats – Mahendragiri.
- South Eastern Ghats – Between Godavari and Krishna rivers.
- Eastern and Western Ghats meet – Nilgiri Hills.
- North-Eastern Plateau – Extension of Peninsular Plateau.
- North-Eastern Plateau parts – Meghalaya Plateau and Karbi Anglong Plateau.
- Meghalaya Plateau – Also called Shillong Plateau.
- Meghalaya Plateau minerals – Coal, iron ore, sillimanite, limestone and uranium.
- Garo Hills – Western part of Meghalaya Plateau.
- Nokrek National Park – Located in Garo Hills region.
- Khasi Hills – Central part of Meghalaya Plateau.
- Mawsynram – Located in Khasi Hills.