📊 Land Use — Area Distribution
🗺️ 6 Physical Divisions of India
Himalayan + North-Eastern ranges — youngest & highest
Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra — most densely populated
Part of Gondwanaland — oldest, triangular shape
NW of Aravalli — Thar — one of the most densely populated deserts
East + West — estuaries vs deltas
Lakshadweep (Arabian Sea) + A&N (Bay of Bengal)
⚡ QUICK RECALL — Area Percentage Trick
43-28-18-11 → Plains-Plateau-Hills-Mountains (descending order — "PPHM")
🏔️ Himalayan Mountains — Origin & Division
- Modern theory: Plate Tectonics
- Where Himalayas stand today → Tethys Sea (shallow sea) existed
📐 4 Parallel Divisions (N → S)
- Karakoram Range → K2 / Godwin-Austen (8611 m) — world's second-highest peak
- Ladakh Range
- Zaskar Range
- Rivers: Shyok River, Indus River
- Glaciers: Siachen, Baltoro, Hispar, Biafo
-
Nubra Valley → between Karakoram and Ladakh ranges
- 1Everest (8848.86 m) — World's highest | Sagarmatha (Nepal) | Chomolungma (China)
- 2Kangchenjunga (8586 m, Sikkim) — Highest in India
-
3Nanda Devi (7816 m, Uttarakhand)
Other Peaks:
Nanga Parbat
Kamet (UK)
Namcha Barwa (eastern Himalayan end)
Annapurna (Nepal)
Dhaulagiri (Nepal)
Makalu (Nepal)
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Greater Himalaya valleys →
Bhotias tribe (Nomadic)
Height 3700–4500 m
Northern slope Gentle
Southern slope Steep
- Valleys: Kashmir Valley, Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, Kangra
- Pir Panjal Range → J&K
- Dhauladhar Range → Himachal Pradesh
- Nag Tibba Range → Uttarakhand
- Mahabharat Range → Nepal
Grasslands (Pastures):
- Kashmir Valley → Marg (e.g. Gulmarg, Sonmarg)
- Uttarakhand → Bugyal / Payars
Height 900–1200 m
Age Newest
- Between Shivalik & Lesser Himalaya → Duns (e.g. Dehra Dun)
- Longitudinal valleys in West/Middle → Duns (e.g. Dehradun — largest)
- Eastern Himalayan foothill plains/gateways → Duars (e.g. Buxa Duar)
🗺️ Regional Divisions of Himalaya (River-based)
| Division |
Between Rivers |
Length |
Highest Peak |
Special |
| Punjab/Kashmir Himalaya |
Indus – Satluj |
560 km |
Nanga Parbat (8126 m) |
Karewas — Saffron cultivation |
| Kumaon Himalaya |
Satluj – Kali |
320 km |
Nanda Devi (7816 m) |
— |
| Nepal Himalaya |
Kali – Teesta |
800 km (longest) |
Everest (8848.86 m) |
Mostly in Nepal |
| Assam Himalaya |
Teesta – Dihang |
720 km |
Namcha Barwa (eastern end) |
Monpa, Nyishi/Adi, Mishmi communities |
Dafla Hills
Abor Hills
Mishmi Hills
Patkai Bum
Naga Hills
Manipuri Hills
Garo Hills
Khasi Hills
Jaintia Hills
Mizo Hills
- Abor Hills → Arunachal Pradesh, around the Siang–Dibang region
- Dafla Hills → Tezpur + Lakhimpur
- Patkai Bum → India-Myanmar border
🚨 EXAM TRAP
- K2 = Karakoram; world's second-highest peak, 8611 m
- Kangchenjunga = Highest peak on the Sikkim–Nepal border; Nanda Devi is highest wholly within India (Sikkim)
- Everest = World's highest — but NOT in India (Nepal)
- Duns = longitudinal valleys; Duars = eastern foothill plains/gateways; Dehradun = largest Dun
- Karewas = Kashmir elevated tablelands → Saffron cultivation
- Namcha Barwa = easternmost Greater Himalaya peak, near the eastern Himalayan bend
🗺️ Important Mountain Passes
| Pass |
Connects |
| Umling La |
Held highest motorable-road record in 2021–2025 (Project Himank); OP lists Mig La (19,400 ft) as the late-2025 record holder |
| Karakoram Pass |
India-China |
| Zojila |
Srinagar → Leh |
| Banihal |
Jammu → Kashmir |
| Pir Panjal |
Jammu → Kashmir |
| Burzil |
Kashmir → Gilgit |
| Pass |
Connects |
| Nathula |
Sikkim → Tibet |
| Jelep La |
Sikkim → Chumba Valley (Tibet) |
Muling La
Mana Pass
Niti Pass
Lipulekh Pass
Bum La
Bomdila
Diphu (AP+Myanmar)
Dihang
Yongyap
| Pass |
Connects |
Note |
| Baralacha La |
Lahaul Spiti → Leh |
— |
| Rohtang |
Kulu → Lahaul Spiti |
Atal Tunnel located here |
| Shipkila |
Himachal → Tibet |
— |
🏔️ Highest Peaks of States
| State |
Highest Peak |
| West Bengal |
Sandakphu |
| Gujarat |
Girnar Hills |
| Jharkhand |
Parasnath (Paras Peak) |
| Odisha |
Deomali Peak |
| Nagaland |
Mount Saramati |
| Arunachal Pradesh |
Kangto Peak |
| Sikkim |
Kanchenjunga |
| Andhra Pradesh |
Arma Konda |
| Sri Lanka |
Pidurutalagala Peak |
🚨 EXAM TRAP
- World's highest motorable road = Umling La, Ladakh (Project Himank)
- Atal Tunnel = Rohtang Pass, HP
- Zojila = Srinagar → Leh (NH-1) — strategic pass
- Parasnath, the highest point in Jharkhand, lies near Bihar and is also an important Jain pilgrimage site.
🌾 Northern Plains — Introduction
- Located between Himalayan range and Peninsular India
- Formed by alluvium of Himalayan rivers (Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra)
-
Most densely populated region of India
📏 N → S Divisions of Northern Plains
- Region between Indus and Teesta River
- Rivers disappear underground (flow beneath pebbles)
- Alluvial fan of Shivalik — porous zone
-
Marshy/swampy area
- Disappeared rivers from Bhabar reappear here
- Store of Biodiversity
- Most National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries of Northern India are here
| Feature |
Khadar (New) |
Bhangar (Old) |
| Alluvium type |
New alluvium |
Old alluvium |
| Fertility |
More fertile |
Less fertile |
| Position |
Low-lying flood plain |
Elevated part |
| Material |
Fine silt |
Gravel (Kankar) |
| Punjab name |
Bet land / Khadar Bet |
Dhaya |
🗺️ Regional Divisions of Great Plains
- Spread: Punjab, Haryana, Delhi
- Rivers: Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Jhelum, Chenab
- Spread: UP, Bihar, West Bengal
- Western UP = Upper Ganga Plain, including the Ganga–Yamuna Doab
- West of Aravalli
- Steppe-type vegetation
- Main river: Luni
- Between Himalaya and Meghalaya Plateau
- Known for river islands and sandbars
💧 Doab — Between Rivers (Punjab)
| Doab Name |
Between Rivers |
| Bist Doab |
Beas – Satluj |
| Bari Doab |
Beas – Ravi |
| Rachna Doab |
Ravi – Chenab |
| Chaj Doab |
Chenab – Jhelum |
| Sindh Sagar Doab |
Jhelum – Indus |
🚨 EXAM TRAP
- Bhabar = rivers disappear | Tarai = rivers reappear
- Khadar = more fertile (new alluvium) | Bhangar = elevated, less fertile
- Bihar = Ganga Plain — Quaternary alluvial deposits
- Doab = "Do" (two) + "ab" (water) → land between two rivers
🪨 Peninsular Plateau
- Part of Gondwanaland
- Shape: Triangular
- Rocks: Igneous, Metamorphic & Crystalline
- Bounded (North) by: Aravalli, Vindhya, Satpura, Rajmahal Hills
🗂️ Major Plateaus
- Formed from lava (Basaltic) → Black Soil
- Spread: Mainly western Madhya Pradesh + south-eastern Rajasthan
- Rivers: Betwa, Parvati, Kali Sindh, Chambal
- Spread: WB (Purulia) to Jharkhand (Palamu, Dhanbad, Singhbhum, Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Santhal Pargana)
- India's 'Ruhr Pradesh' (mineral rich)
- Highest Peak: Parasnath Hill
- South of Narmada River — triangular
- West border: Western Ghats
- East border: Eastern Ghats
- North: Satpura + Maikal + Mahadeo
- Formed from Volcanic Lava
- NE extension of Peninsular Plateau
- Separated by Malda Gap
- West: Garo, Khasi, Jaintia Hills
- East: Mikir Hills
⛰️ Mountain Ranges of Peninsular Plateau
- Spread: Gujarat, UP, MP, Bihar, Chhattisgarh
- Mountains: Vindhyachal, Kaimur Hills
- Highest Peak: Sadbhavana Peak
- Bihar: Kaimur Hill | Gujarat: Jobat Hill
- Between Narmada and Tapi Rivers
- Block mountains
- Mountains: Rajpipla, Mahadeo, Maikal
- Highest Peak: Dhoopgarh (on Mahadeo Hills, 1350m)
-
Amarkantak Plateau → Origin of Narmada and Son Rivers
- Narmada Valley separates Vindhyan from Satpura
🏔️ Western & Eastern Ghats
-
2nd longest mountain range (after Himalayas)
- Tapi River → Kanyakumari (1600 km)
- 6 states: Gujarat, MH, Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, TN
- Highest Peak: Anai Mudi (2695 m)
- Nilgiri highest: Doddabetta (2637 m)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site (2012)
- Rivers form estuaries
- Backwaters (Kayals): Ashtamudi, Vembanad (Kerala)
Ghats (Passes):
-
Thal Ghat (MH) → Mumbai–Nasik
-
Bhor Ghat (MH) → Mumbai–Pune
-
Pal Ghat (Kerala) → Palakkad–Coimbatore
- Shenkottai Pass → Kollam–Sengottai corridor (Kerala–Tamil Nadu)
- About 1,750 km, from Mahanadi region southward to the Nilgiri/Vaigai sector
- Hills: Nilgiri, Palkonda, Nallamalai, Jawadi, Shevaroy
- Highest Peak: Jindhagada Peak
- Southernmost: Sirumalai, Alaghar, Karanthamalai Hills
- Rivers form deltas
-
Residual mountains — old fold mountains
- Origin: Pre-Cambrian era
- Spread: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi (Raisina Hills)
- Highest Peak: Guru Shikhar (1722 m) in Mount Abu
- Mount Abu → Dilwara Jain Temple
- NW of Aravalli Hills
- Landforms: Longitudinal dunes, Barkhans, Mushroom rocks, Playa Lake
- One of the world's one of the most densely populated desertss
- Annual Rainfall: <150 mm
- Main River: Luni
🚨 EXAM TRAP
- Anai Mudi = highest peak of Western Ghats + Peninsular India
- Doddabetta = highest peak of Nilgiri hills (Ooty is here)
- Western Ghats = UNESCO Heritage 2012 | Eastern Ghats = discontinuous
- Amarkantak = origin of both Narmada AND Son River
- Chotanagpur = India's Ruhr = mineral belt (Jharkhand-Bihar region)
- Bhor Ghat connects the Mumbai–Pune route, while Thal Ghat lies on the Mumbai–Nashik route; both are in Maharashtra.
🏝️ Island Groups of India
- Total: 36 Islands (only 10 inhabited)
- Type: Coral Islands
- Largest Island: Androth (4.90 km²)
Important Channels:
-
11° Channel → Amindivi – Cannanore islands
-
9° Channel → Minicoy – main Lakshadweep
-
8° Channel → Minicoy – Maldives
- Minicoy = 2nd largest island of Lakshadweep
- Total: 572 Islands
- Southward continuation of the Arakan Yoma–Purvanchal chain, represented by elevated submarine relief
- Northernmost Island: Landfall Island
N → S Sequence:
-
North Andaman → Saddle Peak (highest)
-
Middle Andaman → Barren Island (active volcano)
-
South Andaman → Sri Vijaypuram (old: Port Blair)
-
Duncan Pass → South Andaman – Little Andaman
- Little Andaman
-
10° Channel → Little Andaman – Car Nicobar
- Car Nicobar
- Little Nicobar
-
Great Nicobar → Mount Thullier (642m)
| Old Name |
New Name |
| Ross Island |
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island |
| Neil Island |
Shaheed Island |
| Havelock Island |
Swaraj Island |
| Port Blair |
Sri Vijaypuram |
| Narcondam |
Volcanic Island (not renamed) |
+ 21 islands named after Param Vir Chakra
awardees
- West Coast: Aaliabet Island (Gujarat)
- New Moore / South Talpatti — former low-lying island, later submerged; India–Bangladesh maritime-dispute context
-
Wheeler Island → APJ Abdul Kalam Island (Odisha)
-
Pamban Island (Tamil Nadu)
-
Kachchativu Island (India-Sri Lanka)
⚓ Major Ports of India
| Port |
State |
New Name / Note |
| Kandla |
Gujarat |
Deendayal Port |
| Mumbai |
Maharashtra |
Natural deep-water harbour; historic maritime gateway |
| J.L. Nehru Port |
Maharashtra |
— |
| Vadhavan |
Maharashtra |
Landlord port model |
| Mormugao |
Goa |
— |
| New Mangalore |
Karnataka |
— |
| Cochin |
Kerala |
— |
| Port |
State |
New Name / Note |
| Kolkata |
West Bengal |
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port |
| Paradip |
Odisha |
— |
| Visakhapatnam |
Andhra Pradesh |
Natural Port |
| Ennore |
Tamil Nadu |
Kamarajar Port (landlord model) |
| Chennai |
Tamil Nadu |
— |
| Tuticorin |
Tamil Nadu |
V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority |
| Shreevijaypuram |
Andaman (Island) |
— |
🚨 EXAM TRAP
- Barren Island = India's only active volcano (Middle Andaman)
- Lakshadweep = Coral islands | A&N = Arakan Yoma–Purvanchal chain continuation
- 10° Channel = Little Andaman – Car Nicobar | 8° Channel = Minicoy – Maldives
- Mumbai Port = natural deep-water harbour on the west coast; historic maritime gateway
- Kandla = Deendayal Port | Tuticorin = V.O. Chidambaranar
- Narcondam = volcanic island (NOT active like Barren)
⚡ MASTER QUICK RECALL — Ch03
- Plains ≈ 43% | K2 = world's second-highest | Kangchenjunga = Sikkim–Nepal border | Nanda Devi = highest wholly within India
- Duns → Dehradun | Duars → eastern foothill plains/gateways (Buxa Duar)
- Bhabar = disappear | Tarai = reappear + NP/WLS
- Anai Mudi = W.Ghats highest | Guru Shikhar = Aravalli highest
- Amarkantak = Narmada + Son origin | Dhoopgarh = Satpura highest
- Chotanagpur = India's Ruhr (Jharkhand-Bihar region)
- Barren Island = active volcano | Lakshadweep = 36 islands (10 inhabited)