The peninsular upland, with an extent of nearly 16 lakh sq km, is India's largest physiographic division. The region is an uneven triangle with a base between the Delhi Ridge and the Rajmahal Hills and an apex formed by Kanyakumari, with a general elevation of 600-900 m. It is bordered on the north by the Aravallis, on the north by the Maikal Range, on the east by the Hazaribagh and Rajmahal Hills, on the west by the Western Ghats (Sahayadri Mountains), and on the east by the Eastern Ghats. Anaimudi, Peninsular India's highest peak, is 295 metres above sea level.

The Peninsular Uplands can be divided into the following 8 macro-physiographic units, such as-----

1. The North Central Highlands
2. The South Central Highlands
3. The Eastern Plateau (The Chhotanagpur Plateau)
4. The Meghalaya-Mikir Uplands
5. The North Deccan
6. The South Deccan
7. The Western Ghats or Sahaydri
8. The Eastern Ghats

 

1) THE NORTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS:

The Central Highlands of Peninsular India include the Aravallis, the Malwa Plateau, and the Vindhyan Range.

i) The Aravallis:

a) It is an 800-kilometer-long range that stretches from Delhi to Palanpur from north to south (Gujarat).

b) It is one of the world's oldest folded mountains. Its highest mountain, Guru-Shikhar, is just 1722 metres high due to its extensive deforestation.

c) Precambrian quartzites, gneisses, and schists make up the majority of the Aravallis.

d) The Jagra Hills, located north-west of Udaipur, are part of the Aravallis.

e) Guru-Shikhar and Mount Abu are separated by the Goranghat Pass.

f) The Aravallis and the Vindhyan Mountains are separated by the Great Boundary Fault (GBF).

ii) The Malwa Plateau:

a) It is bordered on the north by the Aravallis, on the south by the Vindhyan Range, and on the east by the Bundelkhand Plateau.

b) The Malwa Plateau has two drainage systems, one that flows to the Arabian Sea (Narmada and Mahi) and the other that flows to the Bay of Bengal (Chambal, Sind, Betwa, and Ken), both of which meet at the Yamuna River.

 

2) THE SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS:

The Vindhyan Range stretches from Gujarat's Jobat and Rajasthan's Chittorgarh to Bihar's Sasaram. It stretches through around 1050 kilometres and has a general elevation of 450 to 600 metres. The Maikal Range connects the Vindhyans with the Satpura Mountains, with the exception of the Kaimur Hills in the east.

i) The Bundelkhand (Vindhyachal Plateau):

a) It is bordered on the north by the Yamuna River, on the south by the Vindhyans, on the west by the Chambal, and on the east by the Panna-Ajaigarh Range.

b) The Bundelkhand upland encompasses the Uttar Pradesh districts of Banda, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi, and Lalitpur, as well as the Uttar Pradesh districts of Datia, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, and Panna (MP).

c) The topography of the area is characterised by senile topography. Betwa, Dhasan, and Ken rivers have built steep gorges, rapids, cataracts, and waterfalls.

ii) The Vindhyachal-Baghelkhand or Vindhyachal Plateau:

a) It includes the plateaux of Satna, Rewa (MP) and Mirzapur (UP).

b) Its elevation varies between 150 to 1200 m with uneven relief.

c) To the south, the Archaeans and Bijwar Series characterise the Narmada-Son through (rift valley). d) The eastward expansion of the Satpura, which is a radial drainage basin, lies south of this passage.

e) Among the basins, Singrauli and Dudhi (150-300 m) and upper Gondwana basins, which are rich in coal deposits.

f) The Karmanasa, Tons, Ken, and Belandare rivers, in addition to the Narmada and Son, drain this region.

g) The Satpura Range runs parallel to the Vindhyas between the Narmada and Tapi rivers.

h) Rajpipla Hills, Mahadev Hills, and the Maikal Range make up Satpura. Satpura's highest peak is Dhupgarh (1350 m, near Panchmarhi). Another significant summit in the Satpura Mountains is Amarkantak.

 

3) THE CHHOTANAGPUR PLATEAU:

• The Chhotanagpur Plateau stretches through parts of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh's north-eastern region.
• This plateau is made up of a sequence of meso and micro plateaus (Example: Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Singhbhum, Dhanbad, Palamu, Santhal, Parganas, and Purulia districts of West Bengal).
• It is made up of Archaean granite and gneiss rocks with patches of Dharwar (micro-schiets), the Gondwana Period's Damuda series, and the Cretaceous Period's lava flow.
•  Furthermore, the Chhotanagpur Plateau is made up numerous plateaux with various elevations, with Pat Lands in the mid-western region having the highest general elevation of roughly 1100 m.
• The Barakar, Damodar, Subarnarekhs, and Koels rivers drain the Chhotanagpur Plateau. Deep gorges, rapids, cataracts, and waterfalls have been carved out of the plateau region by these rivers.

 

4) THE MEGHALAYA PLATEAU AND MIKIR HILLS:

• It is a plateau that has been separated from the Indian Peninsula by the Malda Gap and consists of the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills, as well as the outlying Mikir and Rengma Hills.
• The Meghalaya Plateau has had a tumultuous evolutionary history that includes emergence, submergence, and planation, as well as erosion, sedimentation, diastrophism, and intrusions.
• Shillong Mountain (1823 metres) is the highest point on the Meghalaya Plateau, while Nokrek (1515 metres) is the highest peak in the Garo Hills.
• Mawsynram, 16 kilometres west of Cherrapunji, has the world's highest rainfall.
• The Mikir Hills are separated from the Meghalaya Plateau and flanked on three sides by plains. The Rengma Hills are the southernmost range of the Mikir Hills. Radial drainage characterises the Mikir Hills, with the main rivers being the Dhansiri and Jamuna.

 

5) THE NORTH DECCAN (MAHARASHTRA PLATEAU):

Except for the Konkan Coast and the Sahyadris, Maharashtra's Plateau encompasses the whole state. The Cretaceous Period basalt covers the most of it. The western part of the basaltic sheet has a thickness of about 3 km, which decreases towards the east and south-east. The fissure (1000 m) that gave rise to the current Arabian Sea beachfront is the most prominent feature of the Maharashtra Plateau.

The Tapi River travels from east to west through the northern Maharashtra Plateau. In the south, it has a gradual slope, but in the north, it has a strong grade (towards the Satpura Hills).

i) The Mahanadi Basin:

• Sprawling over the districts of Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, and Rajgarh.
• The Mahanadi Basin is also known as the Chhattisgarh Plain.
• The region is largely dominated by the Archaean and Cuddaph formations.
• The Mahanadi river and its tributaries like Seonath, Hasdeo, Mand, Ib, Idra and Tel drain this plain.

ii) The Chhattisgarh Plain:

• It is bordered by a series of hills and plateaux.
• The Lomari Plateau, Pendra Plateau, Chhuri, and Raigarh Hills make up the northern boundary.
• The Korba coalfields of Chhattisgarh lie in this basin.
• Bituminous coal is abundant in the Gondwana strata, which is supplied to the Bhilai Steel Plant.
• The western rimland includes the Maikal Range with crest line of 700-900 m.
• The Dhalli-Rajhara Hills in southern Durg district and the Raipur uplands in south-eastern Raipur district make up the southern rimland.
• The Rajhara Hill is home to Dharwarian rocks containing haematite-type iron ore.
• The Bhilai Steel Plant receives iron ore from the Dhalli-Rajahara mines.

iii) Garhjat Hills:

• The Garhjat Hills are also known as the Odisha Highlands.
• It is surrounded on the north by the Chhotanagpur Plateau, on the west by the Mahanadi basin, on the south by the Eastern Ghats, and on the east by the Utkal Plains.
• The majority of the rocks in the area are Archaean in origin, such as granite, gneisses, and magmatic rocks.
• The Gondwana, Talcher, Barakar and Kamathi series are also located in this region.

iv) Dandakaranya:

• Dandakaranya is an undulating plateau that stretches through Odisha's Koraput and Kalahandi districts, Chhattisgarh's Bastar district, and Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari, Vishkhapatnam, and Srikakulam districts.
• Its Abujhmar Hills provide one of the richest iron-ore deposits at Bailadila Range.
• It is drained by the Mahanandi tributaries Tel and Udanti, as well as the Godavari tributaries Sabari and Sileru.

 

6) THE SOUTH DECCAN:

The South Deccan consists of several plateaux:

i) Karnataka Plateau:

• This plateau can be found in the state of Karnataka's south western region, as well as the Kerala districts of Kannur and Kozhikode.
• It shows dominance of Archaean and Dharwar formations.
• The average elevation of this plateau is 600-900 metres. The highest peak in the Baba-Budan Hills is Mulangiri (1913 m), followed by Kudermukh (1892 m).
• The northern upland of Karnataka Plateau is known as Malnad, while the southern part is called a Maidan.
• It is drained by the Kaveri and the Tungbhadra rivers.
• The Nandi Valley is a summer resort in this region.

ii) The Telangana Plateau:

• The Dharwar and Cuddapah formations make up Telangana's Plateau. Telengana is home to Hyderabad, the state's capital and cultural centre.

iii) The Tamil Nadu Uplands:

• Between the South Sahyadri and Tamil Nadu coastal plains is this hill.
• The Archaean rocks have largely covered it. The charnockites can be found in the highlands of Javadi and Shevaroy. Cuddapah and alluvial formations are also present.
• Between Coimbatore and Anaimalais, there is a 25-kilometer-wide gap known as Palakkad Gap (Palghat), through which the Gayitri River runs from east to west, connecting Tamil Nadu with Kerala's coast.

 

7) THE WESTERN GHATS:

• From the mouth of the Tapi River to Kanyakumari, the Western Ghats, or Sahyadris in Sanskrit, run parallel to the Western Coast for around 1600 kilometres in a north-south direction (Cape Comorin).
• The western slope of Sahyadri is steep while the eastern slope is gentle.
• These are Block Mountains formed due to the downwarping of a part of land into the Arabian Sea.
• The Sahyadris form a watershed of the Peninsula.
• All the important rivers of Peninsular India, like the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri rise from the Western Ghats.
• The western rivers merging into the Arabian Sea are swift.
• The Gersoppa (Jog Falls) on Sharvati is the highest waterfall in India.
• The average elevation of the Western Ghats varies between 1000 to 1300 m.
• The important peaks of the Western Ghats are Kudermukh (1892 m), Pushpagiri, Kalsubai and Salher, Mahabaleshwar and Harishchandra.
• In the Nilgiris the Eastern Ghat joins the Western Ghat to form a mountain knot (Nilgiri) whose highest point in Anaimudi (2695 m).
• South of Nilgiri lies the Palghat (Palakkad Gap).
• South of Palghat, the Western Ghat is known as Anaimalai Hills.
• Anaimudi is the highest peak of Sahayadris.
• The other important passes of the Western Ghats are Thal Ghat and Bhor Ghat.

Passes of Western Ghats:

• Bhar Ghat _________ The Bhorghat connects Mumbai with Pune at a height of around 1000 metres above sea level. In the Western Ghats, it is one of the busiest passes. Trains and commercial vehicles travel at a tremendous rate.
• Gorhan Ghat _________ It connects the cities of Udaipur, Sirohi, and Jalore in Rajasthan, and is located to the south of Mount Abu. It is approximately 1200 metres above sea level. The surrounding rocky terrain is barren, with spiky bushes and cacti.
• Hadighat __________ It is a mountain pass in Rajasthan's Aravalli Range. It connects Rajsamand and Pali districts and is about 40 kilometres from Udaipur. The turmeric-colored yellow soil is thought to be the source of the name. The historic battle of Haldighat, which took place in 1576 between Rana Pratap Singh of Mewar and Raja Mansingh of Amber, General of Mughal Emperor Akbar, is commemorated by the mountain pass.
• Harishchandra _________ From north-west to south-east, the Harishchandra Mountain ranges in Maharashtra's southern regions. It runs across the Pune and Osmanabad districts. Degraded forests cover the area.
• Jog Falls __________ The Sharavati River, which flows westward, cascades down the Western Ghats, generating one of the world's highest waterfalls at 250 metres.
• Kalsubai _________ It is one of the tallest peaks in the Western Ghats, located in Maharashtra. The elevation is 1646 metres above sea level. Its forest wealth has decreased owing to deforestation, and it is inhabited by indigenous people.
• Kudarmukh __________ The Kudarmukh range is rich in iron ore and is located in the state of Karnataka. Haematite and magnetite are the two types of iron ore. Through the port of Mangalore, iron ore is shipped to Iran.
• Mahabaleswar __________ Mahabaleashwar is one of the most notable peaks in the Western Ghats, with an elevation of 1438 metres. For both local and international visitors, it is a religious and cultural tourism destination.
• The Nilgiri Hills _________ The Nilgiri Hills, located in the Western Ghats, occupy an area of around 2500 square kilometres and climb to a height of about 2500 metres. Udhagamandalam, one of the most well-known hill resorts in southern India, is located here.
• Palghat _________ The Palakkad Gap, also known as the Nilgiri Gap, is located to the south of the Nilgiri Hills. It is situated between 75 and 300 metres above sea level. This chasm is around 25 kilometres wide. It connects the state of Kerala with Tamil Nadu's seaports (joins Coimbatore with Kochi and Kozhikode). From east to west, the Gayitri River runs through it.
• Pushpagiri __________ This is one of the Western Ghats' tallest peaks. It is at a height of 1741 metres above sea level. The Dravidian tribes call it home. However, the trees have been destroyed, and soil erosion is the main issue.
• Salher __________ The Salher Peak, at 1567 metres above sea level, is located between Malegaon and Nashik. Tribal people live on the island. Deforestation has resulted in a loss of visual value as well as a slew of ecological issues.
• Thal Ghat _________ Thal is over 1000 metres above sea level and is located in the Sahyadri Ranges. It connects the cities of Nashik and Mumbai.

 

8) EASTERN GHATS:

These are a succession of raised plateaus that make up a broken range. The Eastern Ghats are divided into four divisions by Krishnan: I the northern section, north of the Mahanadi; ii) the central area, south of the Mahanadi; and iii) the southern section, south of the Maha ii) between the Mahanadi and the Krishna, iii) between the Krishna and Chennai, and iv) between Chennai and the Nilgiris.

• The northernmost part is made up of intrusive igneous rocks that have a wide range of relief. It's a dissected plateau with a few peaks above 1000 metres, including Gandhmardan (1060 m), Meghashni (1165 m), and Malayagiri (1187 m).
• Khondalites and Charnokites are the most common rocks in the area between the Mahanadi and the Krishna. It has given the terrain a dissected aspect. In pre-cambrian times, minor folding occurred here. This area has an average elevation of 1000 metres. The highest mountain in this section is Mahendragiri (1501 m). From this point, several rivers branch out. The Godavari has carved a steep valley in the west.
• The Cuddaph System limestone and quartz hills of Nallamalai, Palkonda, and Velikonda are located south of the Krishna River. The average elevation of these hills is 900 metres.
• Beyond Chennai, the Ghats are mostly Charnokites, with some gneiss, limestone, quartzite, and mica-schist thrown in for good measure. The Nilgiris are eventually joined by the Javadi, Gingi, and Shevaroy mountain ranges.