Indian Geography
Northern Mountains of India
The Northern Mountains of India are located in the areas from northwest of Ladakh to the eastern border of India (Arunachal Pradesh). The Northern Mountains are spread over the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, and Meghalaya. The Northern Mountains are classified into three categories based on the mountain ranges located in that region. Trans-Himalayan Ranges, Himalayan Ranges, and Purvachal/Eastern Ranges. The Trans-Himalayan region, which is a plateau with an average elevation of 9800 feet, is known as the 'Tibetan Himalayas'. Based on geographical features, the Himalayan ranges are classified into three parallel mountain ranges: Siwalik Hills, Himachal (Lesser Himalayas), and Himadri (Greater Himalayas). The Siwalik Hills are a region of hills that exists parallel to the great Himalayas and have a maximum height of about 3200 feet. The Himachal ranges have higher ranges that reach a maximum height of about 10800 feet. The Himadri is the mountain range that forms the backbone of the Himalayas, with huge mountains like Everest. The Naga Hills (Nagaland), Manipur Hills, Tripura Hills, and Khasi-Garo Hills (Meghalaya) are the main hills located in the eastern mountain range (Purvachal) of the Uttar Parvata region.
Trans Himalayan Ranges
The Trans Himalayas are a mountain range located to the north and northeast of Jammu and Kashmir. The Trans Himalayas include the Ladakh, Karakoram, and Saskar mountain ranges. The second highest peak in the world, Mount K2 (Godwin Austin), is in the Karakoram Range. The height of Godwin Austin is 8661 meters. It is located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Himalayan Ranges
The Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the world, is spread across India, China, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The Himalayas extend for about 2400 km from the Indus in the west to the Brahmaputra in the east. The height and width of the Himalayas decrease as you go east. The width of the Himalayas is 400 km in the Kashmir-Ladakh region and 150 km in Arunachal Pradesh. The Himalayas are a series of three parallel ranges: the Greater Himalayas or Himadri, the Lesser Himalayas or Himachal, and the Outer Himalayas or Siwalik. The Indian states that form part of the Himalayas are Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian Union Territories that form part of the Himalayas are Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Himadri
The Himadri is the highest mountain range in the Himalayas. It is known as the backbone of the Himalayas. The surface of the Himadri is made of granite. The Himadri, the northern part of the Himalayas, has many peaks. Nine of the world's 10 highest peaks are located in the Himadri. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parvat, and Nanda Devi are the peaks of Himadri.
Major peaks of Himadri
■ Mount Everest (Nepal) - 8850 m
■ Kanchenjunga (India) - 8586 m
■ Lhotse (Nepal) - 8516 m
■ Makalu (Nepal) - 8481 m
■ Dhaulagiri (Nepal) - 8172 m
■ Nanga Parvat (India) - 8126 m
■ Annapurna (Nepal) - 8078 m
■ Nanda Devi (India) - 7817 m
■ Kamet (India) - 7756 m
■ Namcha barwa (India) - 7756 m
Mount Everest
Mount Everest, known as "Sagarmatha" in Nepal and "Chomolungma" in Tibet, is located in Nepal. The highest peak in the world, Mount Everest, is 8,848 metres (29,029 ft) high. Initially, Mount Everest was named 'Peak XV'. In 1862, a surveyor from Bengal, Radhanath Sikdar, identified the world's highest peak as 'Peak XV'. In 1865, Andrew Waugh, the Surveyor General of India, gave the peak the name 'Everest'. The peak was named in memory of Sir George Everest, the long-serving Surveyor General of India.
Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary were the first to summit Mount Everest at 11:30 a.m. local time on 29 May 1953. They were members of the 9th British Expedition led by John Hunt. Tenzing was born in Nepal but spent most of his time in India. Hillary is a New Zealander. The first woman to summit Everest was Japanese Junko Tabe; this was on 16 May 1975. The first Indian team to summit Everest was in 1965 under the leadership of Lieutenant Commander M.S. Kohli. Nine members of this team reached the summit of Everest. Bachendripal was the first Indian woman to summit Everest. This was in May 1984.
Kanchenjunga Peak
Kanchenjunga is the third highest peak in the world. This 8586-meter-high mountain is located between Sikkim and Nepal. Kanchenjunga is made up of five mountain peaks. The name means 'five snow treasures'. The mountain was first climbed in 1955 by a team led by a British man named Charles Evans.
Godwin Austin (K2 / Mount Godwin-Austen)
K2 (Godwin-Austen) is the second highest peak in the world. This 8611-meter-high mountain giant is located in the Karakoram region on the China-Pakistan border. The mountain was first surveyed in 1856 by a British colonel named T.G. Montgomery. Although attempts to climb this peak began in 1902, an Italian mountaineering team succeeded on July 31, 1954. The peak is considered the most difficult to climb.
Himachal
Himachal is a mountain range located between Himadri and Siwalik. Kashmir, Kullu, and Kangra valleys are in this region. The resort towns of Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Almora, and Darjeeling are also part of Himachal. The Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh is the main pass in this region.
Sivalik
The Sivalik Range is the southernmost low mountain range in the Himalayan ranges. The average elevation of the Sivalik Range is 1220 meters above sea level. The dunes are the wide valleys that appear perpendicular to this range.
Glaciers
The word Himalayas means 'house of snow'. The Himalayas are covered with glaciers. These are called glaciers. Glaciers are found in the Himalayan region in India. It is estimated that there are about 15,000 glaciers in the Himalayas between the Hindu Kush Karakoram mountain range and the Patkai mountain range. These are mainly divided into seven regions. After the polar regions, the largest glaciers in the world are found in the Himalayas and the glaciers are found at the highest altitude in the world. Siachen (76 km) is the longest glacier outside the polar regions. It is the longest in the Himalayan region and in India. This glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram region. Gangotri, Yamunotri, Semu, Khumbu etc. are the major glaciers here. The Baltoro Glacier is the second largest glacier in the Himalayan region. The Baltoro Glacier is located in the Karakoram Range.
Eastern Range/Purvanchal
The Eastern Range includes the Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, the Mizo Hills in Mizoram, and the Naga and Patkai Hills in Nagaland. They are called hills/mountain ranges because their height is less than 900 meters. The Patkai Range extends in the northeast of India towards the Myanmar border. The Patkai Range is also known as the Purvanchal. This range, which consists of the Patkai, Garo-Khasi, Lushai, and Jaintia Hills, was created along with the Himalayas.
Passes in India
Passes connecting points
■ Banihal: Jammu - Srinagar
■ Debsa: Kullu - Spiti Valley
■ Lipulekh: Uttarakhand - Tibet
■ Shipkila: Himachal Pradesh - Tibet
■ Zojila: Srinagar - Kargil
■ Nathula: Sikkim - Tibet
■ Bomdila: Arunachal Pradesh - Tibet (Lhasa)
■ Rohtang: Kullu - Lahul - Spiti Valley
■ Dihang Pass: Arunachal Pradesh - Mandalay (Myanmar)
■ Baralachla: Himachal Pradesh - Leh, Ladakh
■ Jelappla: Sikkim - Lhasa
■ Kumbharli Ghat: Ratnagiri - Satara (Konkan Plain)
■ Talghat : Nashik - Mumbai
■ Borghat : Mumbai - Pune
Majuli (River Island)
Majuli Island in the Brahmaputra River is the largest river island in South Asia (in the world). Majuli has won the Guinness World Record by beating Marajo Island in Brazil. Majuli Island was located in Jorhat district of Assam. Majuli Island, which has an area of 880 square kilometers, is home to about 1.5 lakh people. In 2016, the island was declared a district. Majuli, the 34th district of Assam, is also the first island district in India. Nong, the second largest river island in Asia, is also located in Meghalaya.
Dams in India
Jawaharlal Nehru described dams as the 'temples of modern India'. Dams lead the country towards progress by providing facilities for irrigation and power generation. India has built over 3,200 dams, both large and small, for various purposes, including power generation and irrigation.
Bridges in India
Many bridges, both large and small, have been built across India for pedestrian and transport purposes. The longest bridge in India is located on the Lohit River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra in Assam. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 26 May 2017. It is named after the famous singer Bhupen Hazarika. The 9.1 km long bridge connects Sadiya and Dhola in Tinsukia district near Arunachal Pradesh. The Mahatma Gandhi Setu, built across the Ganges in Patna, the capital of Bihar, was the longest river bridge in India till the construction of Bhupen Hazarika Bridge. It is 5575 meters long. It was inaugurated in May 1982.
Northern Great Plains
The Himalayan rivers originate from the northern mountain range. The major Himalayan rivers are the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra. The Northern Great Plains are fertile plains formed by the deposition of sediments carried by these rivers and their tributaries. The Northern Great Plains is the largest single plain in the world. The Northern Great Plains include parts of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, and Rajasthan. The Northern Great Plains are divided into four types based on the rivers that contribute to the deposition of sediments.
■ Punjab-Haryana Plain - Indus River, tributaries Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
■ Gangetic Plain - Ganges, Kosi, Gomati, Yamuna, Gandak, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar are included in this region.
■ Brahmaputra Plain - Brahmaputra and Manas rivers. Brahmaputra Valley in Assam.
■ Marusthali-Bagar Plain - Luni River, Saraswati River, and Marusthali-Bagar regions of Rajasthan.
Thar Desert
The Thar is the largest desert in India. The majority of the Thar Desert is located in Rajasthan (61 percent). Parts of the Thar Desert are also located in the states of Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana. In the Punjab province of Pakistan, the Thar is known as the 'Cholistan Desert'. In the Sindh province of Pakistan, the Thar is called the 'Nara Desert'. The Thar is the seventh largest desert in the world. The Thar Desert covers an area of about 2,38,700 square kilometers.
Sundarbans Delta
The Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers join the Meghna River in Bangladesh to flow into the Bay of Bengal. The Sundarbans is the delta formed by these rivers in Bangladesh and India during their flow. It is the largest and fastest growing delta in the world! It is home to the world's largest mangrove forest on the coast. The Sundarbans is also home to the Bengal tiger. The Sundarbans Delta has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The Peninsular Plateau
The land area between the Northern Plateau and the Coastal Plain. The plateaus here are located at an altitude of about 400 meters above sea level. The Peninsular Plateau area covers an area of 1.5 million sq. km. These are the oldest areas in India and are the result of volcanic eruptions. Igneous rocks are mainly found here. About twelve states are part of the Peninsular Plateau. The states of Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra. Some areas of the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
Major geographical divisions of the Peninsular Plateau
■ Deccan Plateau
■ Central Highlands
■ North-Eastern Plateau
Boundaries of the Peninsular Plateau
■ North-West - Aravalli
■ East - Rajmahal Hills
■ West - Gir Ranges
■ North-East - Shillong & Karbi Anglo Plateau
■ South - Nilgiris
Deccan Plateau
The Deccan Plateau is located in the southern part of the Peninsular Plateau, between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats. The Deccan Plateau can be divided into three parts - the Maharashtra Plateau, the Karnataka (Mysore) Plateau, and the Telangana Plateau.
Central Highlands of India
The geographical division located north of the Narmada River. The Central Highlands are more extensive in the west and less extensive in the east. The Central Highlands can be divided into seven main ranges. The Aravalli Range, the Eastern Rajasthan Hills, the Malwa Plateau, the Bundelkhand, the Baghelkhand, the Chotanagpur Plateau, and the Vindhya Range. Most of the Central Highlands are part of the Malwa Plateau. The Chotanagpur Plateau is found to the east of the Central Region. The Ranchi Plateau, the Hazaribagh Plateau, and the Koderma Plateau are collectively known as the Chotanagpur Plateau.
The North Eastern Plateau
The North Eastern Plateau is located to the east of the Peninsular Plateau. The Meghalaya Plateau and the Karbi Anglo Plateau are the major landforms of the North Eastern Plateau.
Aravalli Range
The Aravalli Range extends for 700 km from the southwest of the Delhi border, through Haryana and Rajasthan, and into eastern Gujarat. The Aravalli also serves as a watershed separating the Indus-Gangetic river systems. The Aravalli divides Rajasthan into east and west. The northwest is a desert. The southeast has a relatively mild climate. The highest peak in the Aravalli Range is Guru Shikhar (1722 m) in Mount Abu. The Aravalli is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. Although the Aravalli was formed as a fold mountain, it also shows the characteristics of a relic mountain as a result of erosional activity.
Vindhya-Satpura Mountain Ranges
The Vindhya Ranges divide the Gangetic Plain (northern India) from southern India. It is spread over the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The Vindhya ranges are located in an east-west direction with a northward slope. The Chambal, Ken and Betwa rivers, which are tributaries of the Yamuna, originate from here. The Vindhya ranges are formed from the mountain ranges that have been eroded and removed from the Aravalli.
Parallel to the Vindhyas in the south, the Satpura ranges lie. Starting from the eastern part of Gujarat, the Satpura extends through Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to Chhattisgarh. The Narmada River, which originates near the Amarkantak peak in the Satpura and flows westward to the Arabian Sea, is supplied with water and electricity by various dams. The Tapti River, which flows westward, also originates in the Satpura ranges. As the name Satpura suggests, this mountain range is made up of many parallel fold mountains.
Eastern Ghats in India
The Eastern Ghats are a series of low, rugged mountain ranges that stretch 1,750 km along the Bay of Bengal coast between the Vaiga and Mahanadi rivers, and are located in the states of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The Eastern Ghats are older than the Western Ghats. The highest point is in Visakhapatnam district (1,680 m). The second highest is Mahendragiri (1,501 m). The southernmost point of the Eastern Ghats is Sirumala and Karanthamala in Tamil Nadu. Only small rivers originate from here. The Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, and the Pennar Rivers in the south and north, and the Vaiga and their tributaries flow through the Eastern Ghats in many places. The Tirumala Tirupati temple is located in the Eastern Ghats.
Western Ghats in India
The Western Ghats are located on the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, parallel to the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats are also known as the 'Sahyadri'. The Western Ghats extend for about 1600 km from the Tapti River valley to Kanyakumari on the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra. The Western Ghats pass through the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. The average elevation of the Western Ghats above sea level is 1200 meters. The width of the Western Ghats is 100 km. The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats meet in the Nilgiri Plateau of Tamil Nadu. The Western Ghats have seven ranges: Agasthyamala, Periyar, Anamala, Nilgiri, Talakaveri, Kundremukh, and Sahyadri.
Islands in India
An island means a place surrounded by water. There are more than a thousand islands in India. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the largest archipelago in India. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands consist of 572 islands.
Coastal Plain (Eastern and Western Coastal Plains of India)
The coastal plain of India extends from the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta region (Sunderbans Delta). (About 6100 km long). The Indian coastline is divided into two parts: the Eastern Coastal Plain (East Coast) and the Western Coastal Plain (West Coast). The Western Coastal Plain is located between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. This plain has an average width of 50 km. The Western Coastal Plain extends from Kutch in Gujarat to Kanyakumari. The Western Coastal Plain is divided into three parts - the Gujarat Coast, the Konkan Coast, and the Malabar Coast.
The Eastern Coastal Plain extends from the Ganges River to about Kanyakumari. Its average width is 100 km. It extends from the confluence of the Krishna River into the Bay of Bengal to the confluence of the Kaveri River. The deltas formed by the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri rivers are characteristic of the eastern coastal plain. The eastern coastal plain is wider than the western coastal plain. The eastern coastal plain is divided into two parts - the Coromandel Coast and the Northern Circars.
Himalayan River System
Indian rivers are mainly divided into two categories: Himalayan rivers and peninsular rivers. Himalayan rivers originate from the melting glaciers of the Himalayas. Himalayan rivers, which originate from the Himalayan ranges, have water throughout the year. They are replenished by melting snow and rainfall. The Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra are examples of such rivers. The peninsular tributaries that originate from the peninsular plateau and join the Himalayan rivers are the Sone, Chambal, Betwa, Ken, and Sindh. The Sone joins the Ganges. The Chambal, Betwa, Ken, and Sindh join the Yamuna and then fall into the Ganges.
Himalayan River System in India
Indus River System
Our country got its name from this river. One of the longest rivers in the world, the Indus River originates near Mansarovar in the Himalayas. From there, it flows northwest and enters India through the Ladakh district of Kashmir. The state through which the Indus River passes in India is Jammu and Kashmir. The Indus River flows for a total distance of about 3,200 kilometers and falls into the Arabian Sea. The major tributaries of the Indus River in Pakistan, which flows through the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, and Karakoram mountain ranges, are Shyok, Shigar, and Gilgit. The five most important tributaries of the Indus River flowing through India are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. The name Punjab means the land of five rivers. The tributaries of the Indus River are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. Alexander the Great entered India in the 4th century BC by crossing the Indus River.
Floods: A lot of water flows into the Indus River from tributaries and glaciers. Therefore, this river often floods. Such floods occurred in 1947, 1958, and 2010. The river sometimes changes course during major floods. The annual flow of the Indus, which is also the national river of Pakistan, is twice that of the Nile, the world's longest river. It is three times that of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers combined.
Indus Water Treaty: India and Pakistan have an agreement on sharing the waters of the Indus River. The Indus Water Treaty was signed on 19 September 1960 in Lahore, Pakistan, by former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then Pakistani Prime Minister Ayub Khan. The World Bank mediated this agreement. According to the agreement, India got the right to the waters of the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers and Pakistan got the right to the waters of the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers.
Many names: The Indus River is known by many names in many languages. These names are: Indus (English), Sindh (Urdu, Sanskrit), Sindhu (Hindi), Hindu (Persian), Sengena Chu (Tibetan), Yin Du (Chinese), Indotus (Greek), and the first Veda, the Rigveda, mentions this river by the name 'Sindhu'.
Tributaries of the Indus River
The three most important tributaries of the Indus that flow through Pakistan are Shyok, Shigar and Gilgit. The major tributaries of the Indus in India are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
Jhelum: The Jhelum River originates from the Verinag glacier in Kashmir. From there, it flows through Srinagar to the Wular Lake in Kashmir. Wular is the largest freshwater lake in India. The Jhelum then enters Pakistan and joins the Chenab River. The Kishanganga is the most important tributary of the Jhelum River, which is about 725 km long.
Chenab: The word Chenab means "Moon River". The Chenab River originates from the Bara Lacha Pass in Himachal Pradesh as two rivers, Chandra and Bhaga. These two rivers join at Thandi in the Upper Himalayas. The Chenab River is also known as 'Chandra Bhaga' in Himachal Pradesh. The Chenab enters Jammu and Kashmir through Himachal Pradesh and then flows southwest to Pakistan. The Chenab joins the Jhelum River at Trimmu and then falls into the Sutlej River. The total length is about 974 km.
Ravi: The Ravi River originates in Himachal Pradesh. It is about 720 km long. It flows from Himachal Pradesh through the border districts of Gurudaspur and Amritsar in Punjab. The Ravi enters Pakistan. It then joins the Chenab to join the Indus. Lahore, the main city of Pakistan, is located on the banks of the Ravi River.
Sutlej: The Sutlej is the largest tributary of the Indus River. The Sutlej River, which is about 1,500 km long, originates in the Rakshasthal Lake in Tibet and flows through the states of Himachal and Punjab before entering Pakistan. It is joined by the Beas River in Punjab and the Chenab in Pakistan. They then flow as the Panchnad and fall into the Indus.
Beas: The Beas River, which joins the Sutlej and falls into the Indus, originates from the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh. It then flows southwards through the Kullu Valley and finally joins the Sutlej in Punjab. The total length of this river is 470 km. It is a river that flows entirely through India. In May 2018, a large number of fish in the Beas River died due to chemical pollution. A species of dolphin called the 'Indus dolphin' has been found in this river.
Ancient and Greek names
■ Sutlej - Shatadru - Hesedros
■ Jhelum - Vitasta - Hydaspes
■ Chenab - Askini - Essayes
■ Beas - Vipassa - Hyphasis
■ Ravi - Parushni/Airavati - Hydrotis
Ganga River System
The Ganges is the national river of India. According to Indian belief, the Ganges is a holy river and a goddess. The Ganges originates from the famous Gaimukh cave (Uttarakhand) in the "Gangotri" glacier in the Himalayas. The Ganges is formed by the union of two rivers, the Alaknanda, which originates from Badrinath, and the Bhagirathi, which originates from Gangotri. These rivers merge to form the Ganges at Devprayag in Uttarakhand. The Ganges flows for kilometers through the Himalayas and reaches the Gangetic plains through the pilgrimage center of Haridwar before flowing through Bangladesh and emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The Ganges is the Indian river with the most tributaries. The tributaries are divided into left and right tributaries. The Son, Yamuna, and Damodar are the main tributaries on the right bank of the Ganges. The tributaries on the left bank of the Ganges are Ramganga, Gomati, Gaghra, Gandaki, Kosi, Mahananda, and Rapti.
Tributaries of Ganga River
The Ganges is the Indian river with the most tributaries. The major tributaries are the Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Mandakini, Dhauliganga, Pindar, Yamuna, Damodar, Ramganga, Gomati, Mahananda, Rapti, Sone, Ghaghra, Kosi, and Gandhak. The tributaries are divided into left and right tributaries. The places where the five rivers join the Alaknanda are known as Panch Prayag. The last of these, Devprayag, is where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join to form the Ganges.
Right tributaries of the Ganges
Yamuna: The Yamuna is a holy river, known as Kalindi in the Puranas. This river originates from Yamunotri in Uttarakhand and joins the Ganges at the Triveni Sangam in Allahabad. The three main tributaries of the Yamuna are the Chambal, Betwa and Sindh. All three originate in Madhya Pradesh. The length of the Yamuna River is 1376 km.
Sone: Sone River originates from the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh. This 784 km long river joins the Ganges near Patna in Bihar. There is also a beautiful waterfall on this river above the Amarkantak Plateau.
Damodar: Damodar is a river known as the 'sorrow of Bengal'. This epithet is due to the fact that it has caused many floods. This river originates from the Chotanagpur Plateau in Jharkhand. From there, the Damodar flows into West Bengal and joins the Hooghly River. The length of this river is 592 km.
Left tributaries of the Ganges
Ramganga: Ramganga is a river originating from Garhwal in Uttarakhand. This river flows through the states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh and is 596 km long. The Ramganga River joins the Ganges near Kanauj in Uttar Pradesh. The Ramganga Dam is located in Uttarakhand.
Gomati: Originating in northern Uttar Pradesh, the Gomati is a river that flows only through Uttar Pradesh. The city of Lucknow is located on the banks of this river. The 900 km long Gomati joins the Ganges near Varanasi.
Ghaghra: The name Ghaghra means 'holy water flowing from the holy mountain'. The 1080 km long Ghaghra originates in Tibet and reaches Uttar Pradesh via Nepal. This river, which flows through Brahmaghat in Uttar Pradesh and joins the Sharda River, joins the Ganges in Bihar.
Mahananda: The Mahananda is a river that originates from Darjeeling in West Bengal. It joins the Ganges in Bangladesh.
Gandanak: The Gandanak is a river that is older than the Himalayas. This 630 km long river originates in Tibet near the Nepal border. It is also known as Narayani and Ganduki. The Gandanak, which reaches India from Nepal through the Himalayas, joins the Ganges in Bihar.
Kosi: The Kosi River is known as the 'Sorrow of Bihar'. The Kosi, which originates in Tibet, is also known as Saptakoshi in some places. This 729 km long river flows through northern Bihar and joins the Ganges.
Rapti: The Rapti is a river that originates in Nepal. The river flows through the Awadh and Purvanchal regions of Uttar Pradesh and merges with the Ghaghra River.
Brahmaputra River System
The Brahmaputra is one of the largest rivers in Asia. This river flows through three countries - China, India, and Bangladesh. It originates near Lake Mansarovar in Tibet. Flowing along the slopes of the Himalayas, passing through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, the Brahmaputra flows westward to Bangladesh. There, it merges with the Padma (Ganga) river and finally merges with the Meghna river and flows into the Bay of Bengal. Of the approximately 2,900 km long Brahmaputra, only 916 km flows through India. The Brahmaputra has many large and small tributaries. The major tributaries of the Brahmaputra are Lohit, Dibang, Kamong, Dhanushri, Teesta, Manas, and Subansiri. The Brahmaputra has a different name in each country. It is known as 'Tsangpo' in Tibet, 'Dihang' and 'Siang' in Arunachal Pradesh. It gets the name Brahmaputra when it reaches Assam. In Bangladesh, the Brahmaputra is known as Jamuna.
Yamuna River System
The Yamuna is a holy river known as Kalindi in mythology. This river, also known as Jamuna, originates from Yamunotri in Uttar Kashi, Uttarakhand. The Yamuna joins the Ganges at the Triveni Sangam in Allahabad. This area is known as Prayag. The Yamuna, which passes through North Indian cities such as Delhi, Mathura, and Agra, is the longest Indian river that does not directly flow into the sea. The Yamuna is 1376 km long.
Tributaries of Yamuna
The three main tributaries of Yamuna are the Chambal, Sindh and Betawa or Betravati. All three originate in Madhya Pradesh. The longest tributary, the Chambal, joins the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh. The Sindh joins the Yamuna at Etawah in Uttar Pradesh. The Ken River is another major tributary of Yamuna. It joins the Yamuna at Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Peninsular River System of India
Peninsular rivers originate in the peninsular regions of India, such as the Vindhya-Satpura ranges, the Chota Nagpur Plateau, and the Western Ghats. The major peninsular rivers of India are the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, Tapti, and Luni. Formed earlier than the Himalayan rivers, these rivers have abundant water resources during the rainy season. Since the flow of these rivers is completely dependent on rainfall, the water is very low in the summer. Except for the Narmada, Tapti, and Luni, all the major peninsular rivers falls in the Bay of Bengal in the east. The Narmada and Tapti rivers flow to the Arabian Sea in the west. The Narmada and Tapti rivers flow westward due to the slope formed when the northern part of the peninsular plateau was lowered from the Himalayan plateau. The other major rivers of the peninsular plateau flow eastwards along the northwest to southwest slope. The Bharatapuzha, Sabarmati, Dhandhar, Mahi, Palar, Vaigai, Sharavati, Kali Nadi, Thamirabarani, Netravati, Penna, Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha etc. are other important rivers of the peninsula.
Godavari River System
The Godavari is the largest of the peninsular rivers and the second longest river in India. This 1465 km long river is also known as the 'Dakshina Ganga' and the Vriddha Ganga. The Godavari originates in the Nashik district of Maharashtra and flows through the states of Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before falling into the Bay of Bengal.
Tributaries of the Godavari River
Wardha: The Wardha River, which originates from the foothills of the Mahadeo Hills south of the Satpura Range, flows into the main tributary of the Godavari, the Wainganga.
Purna: The Purna originates from the Ajanta Hills in Maharashtra. This 373 km long river joins the Godavari at Nanded.
Penganga and Manair: The Penganga is a river that originates from the Ajanta Hills and flows through the eastern region of Maharashtra before joining the Wardha River. Another river that originates from the Ajanta Hills is the Manair, which is also a tributary of the Godavari.
Wainganga: The Wainganga River, which originates in Madhya Pradesh, is another major tributary of the Godavari. It joins the Wardha River and flows south along the Maharashtra-Telangana border before joining the Godavari. After joining the Wainganga, Wardha is known as Pranahita.
Indravati: The Indravati river originates in Odisha. Flowing west from Odisha and passing through Chhattisgarh, the Indravati joins the Godavari at the Telangana-Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh borders. The Indravati river is known as the 'oxygen belt' of the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.
Sabari: The Sabari is a river that originates in Odisha, flows along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border and joins the Godavari in Andhra Pradesh. The Sileru river, which originates in Andhra Pradesh, is the main tributary of the Sabari.
Manjeera: The Manjeera is the most important tributary of the Godavari river flowing from the right bank. This river, which originates in Maharashtra and flows in a southeasterly direction, turns northwards as it reaches Telangana and joins the Godavari at Karimnagar, on the Maharashtra-Telangana border.
Krishna River System
The Krishna River is the main water source of the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This river originates from the Mahabaleshwar near the Sahya Parvat in Maharashtra. The second largest peninsular river, Krishna, is about 1300 km long. The main tributaries are Dutaganga, Panchganga, Varna, Koyna, Bhima and Musi. The famous Nagarjunasagar Dam is built on the Krishna River, also known as Krishnaveni.
Dutaganga: Dutaganga, which originates from Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, flows through Kolhapur and Belgaum districts of Karnataka and reaches Krishna.
Panchganga: Panchganga river in Maharashtra is the confluence of Kasari, Kumbi, Tulsi and Bhogavati rivers. It joins Krishna in Maharashtra.
Koyna River: Koyna is a river known as the "lifeline" of Maharashtra. This river originates in Satara district of Maharashtra and flows southwards to Karnataka. It joins the Krishna near the Maharashtra-Karnataka border. India's largest hydroelectric project, the 'Koyna Hydroelectric Project', is located on this river.
Bhima: The 861 km long Bhima River originates from Bhimashankar near Pune in Maharashtra. Bhima flows in a northeasterly direction through the states of Karnataka and Telangana before merging with the Krishna River.
Musi: Musi is a major tributary of the Krishna. The city of Hyderabad is located on its banks. Musi joins the Krishna in Andhra Pradesh. The artificial lakes Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar are built with the water of this river.
Malaprabha and Tungabhadra: Malaprabha and Tungabhadra are the major tributaries on the right bank of the Krishna River. The Malaprabha River originates in Belgaum district of Karnataka. From there it flows eastwards and joins the Krishna River in Bagalkot district. The Tungabhadra River originates from two rivers, the Tunga and the Bhadra. Together they flow eastwards and join the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh.
Kaveri River System
The source of Kaveri river is the Talakaveri on the Brahmagiri hills in Kodagu district of Karnataka. The Kaveri, which flows through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and reaches the Bay of Bengal, is a major source of water for agriculture in these areas. The 765 km long Kaveri, unlike other peninsular rivers, is a river with abundant water throughout the year. This is because the upper reaches of the river receive rainfall during the summer due to the southwest monsoon and the lower reaches receive rainfall during the rest of the year due to the northeast monsoon. The famous Hogenakkal waterfall and Krishnasagar Dam are located on the Cauvery. The major tributaries of the Kaveri River are Kabani, Bhavani, Amaravati, Pambar, Lakshmanatheertham, Arkavati, and Noyyal.
Mahanadi River System
The Mahanadi River originates in the Sihawa Hills of Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. It flows for 857 km through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha before falling into the Bay of Bengal. The Mahanadi was once notorious for its floods. This situation changed with the construction of the Hirakud Dam on this river. It is the largest earthen dam in the world. The major tributaries of the Mahanadi are the Seonath, Hasdeo, Ib and Tel. The city of Cuttack in Odisha is located on this river. Upon reaching Cuttack, the Mahanadi turns into another tributary called the Kathajodi. This again divides into several parts and finally falls into the Bay of Bengal. The delta formed by the confluence of the Mahanadi, Baitarani and Brahmani rivers at the False Point near Cuttack is one of the largest deltas in India.
Narmada River System
Narmada is the third longest river in India. Originating from the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh, the Narmada flows westwards, crosses Maharashtra and Gujarat, and falls into the Gulf of Khambhat, a part of the Arabian Sea. The Narmada, which is about 1312 km long, is called the lifeline of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The Sardar Sarovar Dam, famous for the environmental campaign launched by Medha Patkar, is located on the Narmada. The important tributaries of the Narmada are Sher, Shakkar, Dudhi, Tawa, Ganjal, Hiran, Burhner, Koral, and Uri.
Narmada Bachao Andolan
Narmada Bachao Andolan is the largest non-political organization with people's participation in the country. It was an organization formed by Medha Patkar against the Sardar Sarovar project in Gujarat. Medha first visited the Narmada Valley in 1985. Medha had been campaigning since 1987 for the rehabilitation of those who would lose their homes and livelihoods during the implementation of the Sardar Sarovar project. Patkar went on a 22-day hunger strike and the issue gained global attention. In 1989, she formed the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) to oppose the construction of the dam. As a result, the state and central governments adopted a clear policy that the same amount of land would be given to the project victims as compensation for the land acquired by the government for the project. In 1991, NBA received the 'Right to Livelihood' award.
Tapti River System
The Tapti River originates from the Multai region of Madhya Pradesh. The Tapti River is also known as Tapi. The name of the river is derived from the word "tapam" meaning heat. The 724 km long Tapti flows westwards from Madhya Pradesh, crosses the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat and falls into the Arabian Sea. The main tributaries of the Tapti are the Amravati, Purna, Suki, Girna, Aner, Betal, Patki, Bori and Panjhara.
Luni River System
The Luni is the largest river in Rajasthan. This river originates near the Pushkar Lake near Ajmer in Rajasthan. This river, which is also known as the Sagarmati, merges with the Saraswati River at Govindgarh in Rajasthan to become the Luni. This river flows into the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
Climate in India
The climate in India is called 'tropical monsoon climate'. The factors that influence the climate of India are latitude, topography, proximity to the sea, altitude, distance from the sea, the Himalayan mountain range, and monsoon winds. India experiences four main seasons - winter, summer, southwest monsoon, and northeast monsoon. Winter is the period from December to February. During winter, there is occasional rain in some parts of North India. The hot season in India is from March to May. During this time, the temperature in North India soars. The main rainy season in India is the southwest monsoon, which lasts for four months from June to September. Monsoon winds reach the Kerala coast in early June and advance in a northeasterly direction. The months of October and November are the months of withdrawal of the monsoon. This is also known as the northeast monsoon season. During this time, a low pressure area and a cyclone form in the Bay of Bengal due to the winds blowing from the northeast of India. This results in heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.
Traditional Seasons in India
Although the seasons are generally divided into four, India is considered to have six distinct seasons based on the changes in atmospheric conditions - Shishir, Hemanta, Sharat, Varsha, Grisma and Vasantha.
Minerals of India
Mineral resources are divided into metallic and non-metallic minerals. Metallic minerals can be classified as ferrous and non-ferrous. Non-metallic minerals are further divided into mineral fuels and other minerals. Iron and manganese are examples of ferrous minerals. Gold, silver, copper, bauxite, zinc, tungsten, nickel, and chromite are examples of non-ferrous minerals. Coal and petroleum are mineral fuels, and mica and limestone are examples of other minerals. Uranium, thorium, ilmenite, and zirconium are the major nuclear minerals found in India.
Metallic Minerals in India
Metallic minerals can be classified as ferrous and non-ferrous. Iron and manganese are examples of ferrous metallic minerals. Gold, silver, copper, bauxite, zinc, tungsten, nickel, and chromite are examples of non-ferrous metallic minerals.
Non-metallic Minerals
Non-metallic minerals are divided into mineral fuels and other minerals. Coal, petroleum (mineral fuels), mica, and limestone (other minerals) are examples of non-metallic minerals.
Types of Crops in India
Agriculture plays a vital role in the Indian economy. It includes farming of crops, animal husbandry and other farming methods etc. About 60 percent of the people of india primarily depend on agriculture. The types of crops farming in india can be divided into four main categories depending on their usage. The four main categories are Food Crops, Cash Crops, Plantation Crops and Horticulture Crops.
1. Food Crops
Crops grown to feed humanity are known as food crops. There are many food crops cultivated in the country. Wheat, Rice, Maize, Millets, Pulses, Cereals etc are some of the food crops cultivated in India.
Cereals - Wheat, barley, rice and oats were the first grains cultivated by man. Cereal cultivation, which began in the West Asian regions, later spread to European regions, Egypt and the Indus Valley. The use of ploughs and wheeled carts for ploughing the land was learned by the Indus Valley people from the Sumerians. The main cereal crops cultivated in India are paddy, wheat, maize, millet, oats, barley, rye, bajra, millet, sorghum, chama and Horsetail.
Pulses - After cereals, pulses are the next most important crop used by humans for food. They are a source of protein. Most plants have root nodules on their roots. These nodules contain bacteria called rhizobium. The presence of these bacteria causes the formation of nodules on the roots of leguminous plants. These bacteria absorb atmospheric nitrogen and add it to the soil. Thus, pulses are cultivated to enrich the soil with low fertility. This practice is also prevalent in Kerala. All pulses are members of the Fabaceae (Papilionaceae) plant family. The main pulses cultivated in India are cowpea, broad bean, chickpea, soybean, gram, green bean etc.
2. Cash Crops
A cash crop is a crop grown for sale in the market for profit. Most of the crops grown around the world today are cash crops grown for sale in national and international markets. Well-known cash crops include Spices, Cotton, Sugarcane, Jute, Tobacco, Tea, Coffee, Coconut, Sugarcane, Cashew, etc.
Spices - Kerala is the largest producer of spices in India. The major spice crops in Kerala are cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, castor, ginger, turmeric, and vanilla. Other spices include cardamom, star anise, black cumin, castor oil, couscous, sesame, carom seeds, saffron, garlic, fenugreek/fenugreek leaves, basil, mint leaves, neem/curry leaves, coriander/cilantro, turmeric, cloves, gooseberries, tamarind, asafoetida, cumin, and chilies.
3. Plantation Crops
Plantation is the large scale agricultural unit usually for the cultivation of a single crop. They are grown to cater to the needs of the market. Plantation crops help in conserving the soil and ecosystem. The important plantation crops are Rubber, Coconut, Tea, Coffee, Cocoa, Sugarcane, Bananas, Coconut, Oil Palm etc.
Beverage Crops - Cocoa, coffee, and tea are the major beverage crops in India. The most important use of cocoa is in the production of chocolate. Cocoa beans need to be fermented for two to ten days to develop their attractive chocolate aroma. Coffee and tea are the most popular beverage crops in India. South India is the center of coffee cultivation in India; especially the southern Indian hills. The tea plant is native to Asia. Assam accounts for 52 percent of India's tea production.
4. Horticulture Crops
Horticulture is the branch of plant agriculture that deals with garden crops, generally fruits, vegetables, aromatic plants, medicinal plants and ornamental plants. The important horticulture crops cultivated in India are Fruits, Vegetables and Tuber Crops.
Vegetables - Vegetables are parts of plants that are used by humans and other animals as food. Vegetable usually refers to the fresh edible portions of certain herbaceous plants. The fresh edible portions may be leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, stems or fruit. The major vegetables grown in India include spinach, okra, bitter gourd, pumpkin, cucumber, bottle gourd, ash gourd, brinjal, tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, chilli, carrot, beetroot, radish, snow peas, yam and onion.
Fruits - 'Pomology' is the comprehensive study of fruits. Ethylene is a plant hormone that helps fruits ripen. Calcium carbide is a chemical used to artificially ripen fruits. Fructose is the abundant sugar in fruits. The largest fruit is known as jackfruit. The scientific name of jackfruit is Artiocarpus heterophyllus. The national fruit of India is mango. The national fruit of Bangladesh is jackfruit. The most widely consumed fruit in the world is banana. India is the largest producer of bananas. Fruits cultivated in India includes sugar beet, banana, gooseberry, mandarin orange, guava, lime, papaya, pineapple, custard apple, plantain, mango, apple, zapota, plum, watermelon etc.
Tuber Crops - They are the main food source for about 400 million people living in tropical regions. After cereals and pulses, they are the main food source of humans. They can grow in different climates and soils and have higher yields and energy than cereal crops. cassava, sweet potato, sorghum, yam, kurka, arrowroot and potato are the main tuberous crops.
