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INDIAN GEOGRAPHY
PHYSIOGRAPHY OF INDIA
Overview

Imagine that you were born in Israel or Nepal. There are huge
number of countries in the world that are either completely a desert
or mountainous or simply plains. India is a blessed country. There
are only a very few countries in the world which are geographically
as blessed as India. You don’t need to go anywhere else; a travel
across India will give you an experience of almost all physiographic/
geographical features on earth. A journey thru Physiography of India
will show you the geographical features of India; and you must try
to relate every feature to its vegetation/ people/ their lifestyles and
the economy of that place.

 Covering an area of more than 32 Lakhs Sq. km, India is the 7th largest country in the
world.
Area-wise (in Million Sq Km)
Russia Canada USA China Brazil Australia India
→ → → → → →
17 10 9.8 9.6 8.5 7.7 3.28

 It has a land frontier of about 15,200 km. The total length of the coastline of the
mainland and Islands (Lakshdweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands) is 7,516 km.
 Tropic of cancer divides India in almost 2 equal parts. The southern half coinciding with
peninsular India lies in tropical zone, and the northern half, somewhat continental in nature,
belongs to sub-tropical zone.
 Tropic of cancer passes through 8 states of India (Gujarat, Rajasthan, M.P., Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand, W.B, Tripura and Mizoram)
 Countries having a common border with India are Afghanistan, Pakistan, China,
Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow
channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar. Total 7 countries have
common border with India.

Longitudinal Extent (mainland) 8o4’N - 37o6’ N 3,214 km

o o
Latitudinal Extent (mainland) 68 7’E - 97 25’ E 2,933 km
India lies entirely in the northern hemisphere. India belongs to Eastern Hemisphere as
it is situated to east of Prime Meridian. It occupies south cenral peninsula of Asian continent
It has 2 time zones: 82o30’ E forms standard Meridian

EXTREME POINTS OF INDIA

Northernmost Dafdar in Taghdumbash Pamir near Beyik Pass in J&K 37°05’N 74°40’E
Southernmost Indira point 6°45'N 93°49'E
Westernmost West of Ghuar Mota, Gujarat 68°34'E 23.67N 68.52E
Easternmost Kibithu, Arunachal Pradesh 96°30'E 28°01′N 97°24′E

 Indira Point (N 6°45' E 93°49') - Southernmost point of Indian Territory. Located on

Great Nicobar. Indonesia lies few kilometers away from Indira Point. Great Channel

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 separates India from Indonesia. Indira Point is also known as Parsons Point or Pygmalion
Point
 Order of countries sharing border with India (in decreasing order of border length)
Bangladesh – China – Pakistan – Nepal – Myanmar – Bhutan – Afghanistan.
 Its total land frontier is 15200 kms.
 Maritime boundary – 6100 kms; it is 7516 km if we include Andaman and Nicobar and
Lakshadweep.
 Kanyakumari – Southernmost point of Indian Mainland.
 Where the Himalayan mountains stand today, the region was under marine conditions about
60 crore years ago. On the other hand, Peninsula dates back as far as 380 crore years.
 With the opening of Suez canal (in year 1869), the distance of India and Europe has been
reduced by 7000 Km.
 Indian Subcontinent was originally part of Gondwana continent.

MAJOR PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS

 Three Major Structural components –

(1) The Great Mountains of North.
(2) The Northern Plains Subdivisions:-
(a) Great Plains
(b) Thar Desert
(3) The great peninsular plateau – Having Subdivisions.
(a) Central Highlands
(b) Peninsular Plateaus
(c) Coastal Plains
 Islands of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep form the fourth division of India.
 Area wise these subdivisions can be arranged as – Peninsular Plateaus, Northern Mts.,
Great Plains, Central Highlands, Coastal Plains, Thar Desert and Islands.

GREAT MOUNTAIN WALL OF NORTH

Trans Himalyas

 From Pamir Knot (The roof of the world) run several mountain ranges. Kunlun run into
Tibet, Karakorum enters Kashmir and runs S-E and includes the Plateau of Aksai Chin. It
extends further east, known as Kailas Range in Tibet. Pamir is the connecting link
between the Himalayas and the high ranges of Central Asia.
 Karakoram contains K2 (Godwin Austin), second highest peak in the world. Karakoram
pass is situated in Karakoram Range.
 Baltoro and Siachin are some of the glaciers in this area. Length wise glaciers of
Karakoram are – Siachen (in Nubra valley), Hispar, Biafo and Baltoro.
 To the south of Karakoram lie two parallel ranges – Ladakh and Zaskar.
 Indus originates beside Kailash. Flows between Ladakh and Zaskar ranges from south-east
to north-west. Indus forms deepest gorge of this region in Gilgit.
 Nanga Parbat overlooks Indus in the North.

The Himalyas

 Himalayas emerged out of the Tethys Sea in three different phases. The first phase
commenced about 120 million years ago, when the great Himalayas were formed. The
formation was completed about 70 million years ago. The second phase took place about 25

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 to 30 million years ago when the Middle Himalayas were formed. The Shiwaliks were
formed about 2- 20 million years ago.
 Himalayas run for a distance of 2500 km (over 22o longitudes) between Indus and
Brahmputra. Width of Himalayas varies from 400 km in the west to 150 km in the east.
 Himalayas are wide in the west and narrow towards the east. The height of the eastern half
is greater than the western half.
 Wider in west because of many parallel and oblique ranges.
 Himalayas in J&K and H.P. are called us western Himalaya. In Uttarakhand and Nepal are
known as central Himalayas and in W.B., Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh they are
known as Eastern Himalayas.
 Mountains along the eastern boundary of India are called Purvanchal. These are less
spectacular them Himalaya. They are of medium height and comprise the Patkai Bum, and
Naga Hills in the north and Mizo hills in the south.

The Greater Himalyas

 Greater Himalayas or Himadri are the northern most and loftiest of all.
 Mt. Everest or Sagarmatha (8848 m) is the highest peak of the world, located in Nepal.
Tibetans call it Chomlungma
 Kanchanjunga is the second highest peak of Himalaya and lies in Sikkim.
 Namcha Bharwa (located in China) is an important peak in east overlooking the
Brahmputra where this range takes a sudden turn (like a hairpin) towards south to enter
India.
 The area where Himalayas stand today together with the northern plains of India was
occupied by a Sea, called ‘Tethys’.
 Tethys was elongated and shallow sea sandwiched between two giant masses ‘the
Angaraland’ in the north and ‘the Gondwanaland’ in the south.
 Tethys stretched from the present Indo-Burmese border in the east and covered the vast
area including western Asia, North eastern and central parts of Africa before it joined the
South Atlantic Ocean in the Gulf of Guinea.
 As the Himalaya began to gain in height, the rivers and the other agents of denudation
became increasingly active in eroding them, and carrying huge amounts of silt deposits in
the shrinking Tethys. Thus Northern plains or Indo-Gangetic Plains formed.
 Himalayas are not an effective water divide as the rivers like Indus, Satluj and
Brahmputra cut gorges through it in order to turn towards south.

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 MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES OF INDIA

Middle/ Lesser Himalyas

 To the south of Great Himalayas, known as the Himachal. All the important hill stations
such as Dalhousie, Dharamshala, Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital – Darjelling.
 Southernmost ranges of Himalayas are called Shivaliks – made up of unconsolidated
deposits of rivers are prone to earthquakes and landslides.

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 Shiwalik result of deposition of Indo-Brahm river (hypothetical) sediments at foothills
of Middle Himalayas.
 Himalayas have “ridge-and-valley-topography”. The most outstanding valleys are the
valley of Kashmir and the Karewas, the Kangra and Kulu valley in Himachal Pradesh; the
Dun valley; the Bhagirathi Valley (near Gangotri) and the Mandakini Valley (near
Kedarnath) in Uttarakhand and the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal.
 Shiwaliks is an almost unbroken succession of low hills except for a gap of 80-90 km which
is occupied by the valley of the Tista River. The Churia Ghat Hills of Nepal also form parts
of the Shiwalik Range.
 Ranges of the Middle Himalayas are as follows:-
o Kashmir Section : Pir Panjal and Dhaola Dhar (Punjab Himalayas)
o Himachal Section : Mussorie and NagTiba (Punjab Himalayas)
o Nepal Section : Mahabharat Range (Nepal Himalyas)
o Assam Section : Assam Himalyas

 The arrangement of different ranges in Himalayas is classified according to the

name of that region:
a. Between Indus and Sutlej : Kashmir Himalayas
b. Between Sutlej and Kali : Himachal in west + Kumaon in East
c. Between Kali and Tista : Nepal Himalayas
d. Between Tista and Brahmaputra : Assam Himalayas
e. Kashmir + Himachal Himalayas make Punjab Himalayas

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NORTHERN PLAINS

 Length is about 3000 km from Indus to Brahmaputra; width varies from 150 km (Assam) to
400 km (Allahabad).
 It slopes south east, from Punjab towards W. Bengal.
 There are primarily 5 divisions of Plains:-

Punjab Plains

 Indus and its tributaries make these plains, with 5 Doabs (area between two rivers).
Punjab derives its name from 5 river waters. These are (from south to north):-
o BIST: Between Sutlaj & Beas
o BARI: Between Beas & Ravi
o RACHNA: Between Ravi & Chenab
o CHAJ: Between Chenab & Jhelum
o SIND SAGAR: Between Jhelum & Indus

 Placed from South to North, these rivers are: Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum and Indus
 Northern hilly region has enormous gullying, resulting into badlands called Chos
 Less than one-third of the Indus basin is located in India (J&K, H.P & Punjab)

Haryana Plains

 Act as a water divide of Indian Plains (Ambala distt.). These separate the Indus system
from the Ganga system. Drained by River Yamuna (tributary of Ganga).
 The outcrops of Aravalli in the southern part have broken the monotony of these plains.
This region is called Bhavani Bangar

Ganga Plains

 Ganga after rising from Gangotri enters Northern plains at Haridwar, Yamuna joins it at
Allahabad.
 Plains are dominated by the confluence of cones of the tributaries of Ganga.
 These consist of three sub-divisions, namely (from west to east): Rohailkhand Plains, Awadh
Plains and Bihar Plains.

West Bengal Delta

 Delta formed by Ganga, Brahmaputra and Damodar.

 Largest and fastest growing delta of the world and it is also the most fertile delta.
 Important for Jute and Rice cultivation. Three crops of rice per year.
 The marshes here are important for Sundari trees (Sunderbans)

Brahmaputra Plains

 Lie in Assam, these plains are prone to floods, earthquakes and gullying

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LATITUDINAL DIVISIONS OF NORTHERN PLAINS

Bhabar

 A Narrow, Continuous belt along the foothills of Shivaliks, from Indus to Tista
 Consists of degraded materials- pebbles. It’s a porous zone.
 Rivers are lost here after emerging from Himalayas
 Consists of alluvial cones and inter-cones

Terai

 Region (in Uttar Pradesh) where rivers re-emerge after being lost in Bhabar region
 Consists of wetlands and marshes. Rice cultivation practiced here
 Fertile soils, only soil having nitrates in India.
 In Assam, this region is called Duars, useful for tea cultivation

Bhangar

 Alluvial Terraces along the river floodplains; consists of calcareous Kankars.

 Known by different names in different regions
 Barind : West Bengal
 Bhur : Aeolian deposits in upper Ganga-Yamuna doab
 Dhaiya : Punjab (highly gullied)
 Dharos & Dhands : Indus (long & narrow)

Khadar

 New alluvium in floodplains of rivers.

 Highly fertile soils consisting of ox-bow lakes and meanders

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THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS OF INDIA IS AS
FOLLOWS:

REGION 1: KASHMIR

 Relief: mountainous, rugged topography with parallel and oblique ranges interspersed by
river valleys.
 Rivers: Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi. Jhelum cuts through Pir Panjal and makes Baramula
Pass
 Lakes: Wular (Ox-bow lake of R.Jhelum), Dal

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 Ranges: Shiwalik, Dhaola Dhar and Pir Panjal of Middle Himalayas, and Inner Himalayas i.e.
Great himalyas.
 Peaks:Nanga Parbat (8126 m)
 Passes: Zozila, Banihal, Burzil, Bara Lacha La
 Vegetation: Alpine in north to Montane sub Tropical and Temperate in South
 Forested Area: J&K– 20% of total geographical area that falls within territory of india
 National Parks: Dachigam, Kishtwar, Salim Ali
 Tribes: Gujjars & Bakarwals – (They Experience Transhumanes)
 Tourism Places: Amarnath, Gulmarg (Ski resort), Srinagar
 HEPs: Salal, Dul Hasti, Uri
 Tilted beds of Lake Deposits called KAREWAS are found on the flanks of Pir Panjal Range

REGION 2: KARAKORAM, LADAKH AND BALTISTAN

 Result of Collision between Peninsula and Eurasian Plate. Outcome was Trans-Himalayas
Ranges (Ladakh & Zaskar Range) and Karakoram Range. Karakoram uplifted before the
rise of Himalayas.
 Relief : General Elevation is more than 5000m (Ladakh Plateau – 5300 m)
 Peaks : K2 (8611m), Godwin Austin, Gasherbrum
 Rivers : Indus basin (tributaries Shyok & Gilgit join from north, Zaskar from
south)
 Lakes : Pangong, Salt Lake, Tso Morari.
 Plains : Aksai Chin, Deosai, Baltistan
 Passes : Karakoram, Aghil
 Siachen : World’s longest Glacier (72 km) and highest battlefield in the world Glacier
 Forest : Devoid of any forest (Cold desert)
 Single strategic road from Srinagar to Leh passes through Zojila Pass
 Most of it occupied as CoK (China occupied Kashmir) & PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir)

REGION 3: KUMAON & HIMACHAL

 Narrow Longitudinal Valleys called DUNES between Shiwaliks and Middle Himalayas, for
example Dehradun, Kothridun (Kumaon Himalayas), Patlidun (All in Uttranchal)
 Covers the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkhand
 Highly Forested (HP-24%, Uttarakhand > 60%)
 National Parks: Valley of Flowers, Jim Corbett, Nanda Devi (All in Uttranchal); Great
Himalayan & Pin Valley (in HP)
 Tribes: Gaddis (H.P.), Bhotias (Garhwal & Kumaon)
 Peaks: Nanda Devi, Kamet.
 Pilgrimage: Gangotari, Yamunotari, Badrinath, Kedarnath
 Tourism: Kullu, Manali, Shimla, Dehra Dun, Mussorie, Nainital

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 HEPs: Naptha Jakri (Satluj in H.P.), Tehri (Bhagirathi in Uttarakhand), Thein (Ravi in H.P.)

REGION 4, 5, 16: EASTERN HIMALAYAS, PURVANCHAL, MEGHALAYA PLATEAU

 Younger, bolder and steeper than Western Himalayas with abrupt rise
 Protruding of hard peninsular rocks into Eurasian plate, therefore syntaxial (knee like)
bending. Himalayas turn to north-south direction over here
 Distinction between parallel ranges is lost here, therefore Narrower than Western
Himalayas
 Important Ranges/ hills:-
o Dafla, Miri, Abor and Mishmi in E.Himalayas
o Patkai Bum, Naga, Mizo, Barail, Rengma, Mikir in Purvanchal
o Garo, Khasi, Jaintia in Meghalya Plateau
 Peaks – Kanchenjunga (8598m), Namcha Barwa (7756m)
 Rivers: Dihang, Dibang, Lohit, Subansiri and Surma (All tributaries of Brahmputra)
 Passes – Diphu Pass (Tri-junction of India, China and Myanmar), Bomdila, Nathu la,
Jelepla
 Lakes – Loktak ( Manipur with floating island)
 HEP – Loktak Lake HEP
 Mynsynram receives more than 1000 cm rainfall annually.
 Highly Forested (Arunachal Pradesh > 94%)
 National Parks: Namdapha, Keibul Lamjao, Dampa, Nokrek.
 Agriculture: Jhum (Shifting) Cultivation, Rice in Surma Valley
 Population density of Tripura > 300 persons/ sq. km because deltaic plains of Bangladesh
extend here.
 Tribes – Garo, Khasi & Jantia (Meghalaya); Kuki (Manipur), Nagas, Lushai (Mizoram);
Chakmas (Tripura), Abors (A.P.); Lepchas (Sikkim)
 Literacy – Low in Arunachal. High in Tripura and Mizoram

REGION 12 – ARAVALLI REGION/ HILLS

 Fold mountain- Highly dissected, denuded, a Relic mountain. Av. Elevation 800-900 m
 Senile stage of landform development. Older than Himalayas
 Broader in south as compared to north.
 Elevation goes on decreasing from south to north, quite pronounced in Udaipur. Gurusikar
(in south): highest peak near Mt. Abu.
 Extends from Delhi Ridge to Ahmedabad from N-E direction to S-W direction.
 North of Ajmer, divide into several parallel ranges separated by longitudinal valleys: Delhi
ridge and Ambala ridge.
 Acts as Gangetic water divide.
 Nakki Lake: Mt. Abu – famous for tourism
 Rivers: Luni and its small tributaries flow westward, and Banas and its feeders flow
eastward
 Aravallis are parallel to SW monsoon and fall in the zone of subsidence; therefore, scanty
rainfall & low humidity. High seasonal variation in rainfall
 Rain fall: Southern side faces more rainfall (broader)
 Vegetation– southern side– moist and dry deciduous to dry deciduous and thorny in north.
Western face fairly rainy and forested. North of Ajmer– devoid of forest cover

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REGION 13: CENTRAL VINDHYAN UPLANDS

 Location: Aravallis in west, Vindhayan Range in south & plains in north.

 Vindhyan Range continues as Bhander and Kaimur hills in east. Forms watershed between
Ganga system & Southern rivers
 Malwa plateau rolls down to north & finally merges with Gangetic Plains. Highly dissected
by river valleys of Tributaries of Chambal: Sind, Betwa & Ken, therefore forming Badlands
 Majority of it lies in M.P.
 Tribes: Bhils, Kol, Gond

REGION 14: KHANDESH & SATPURA – MAIKALA RANGE

 Satpuras are Fold Mountains. Known by different names at different sections. From west
to east, it names as Rajpipla, Gawligarh and Mahadeo Hills
 Mahadeo Hills forms the highest portion. Dhupgarh Peak (1350m) near Panchmarhi
(hill station) in M.P. is highest peak of Satpuras. Tapi rises from here.
 Maikala Range/ Amarkantak Plateau: Wet Forested Region is the source of many rivers
like Narmada, Son, Mahanadi, and Wainganga.
 Rivers:
o Narmada & Tapi – west flowing
o Son – biggest Tributary of Ganga from south
o Wainganga – major tributary of Godavari
 Highly forested area with national parks: Pench, Kanha, and Satpura.

REGION 17, 18: KACHCHH & KATHIAWAR, GUJARAT PLAINS

 Mineral oil & Natural Gas – commercial production along western Gujarat plains. Kalol,
Ankaleshwar, Gandhar are important ones

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 KACHCHH KATHIAWAR GUJARAT PLAINS
Consists of Great Rann along north. Central Tableland with Highest Alluvial Plains
Little Rann on coast & south east. point: Mt. Girnar.
Prone to earthquakes & floods

Rivers: Luni & Banas Radial drainage pattern Drained by

Sabarmati, Mahi,
Wild Ass Sanctuary Gir National Park: Asiatic Lion Narmada & Tapi
(only place in the world for
Asiatic lion)

REGION 23, 24, 26: DECCAN LAVA PLATEAU INCLUDING KARNATAKA & TELENGANA-
RAYALSEEMA PLATEAUS

 Extends from Vindhyas to the southern tip of Peninsula.

 It is triangular in shape and is widest in the north.
 Important Ranges in the northern part are Satmala, Ajanta, Balaghat & Harishchandra.
 Western Ghats lies on the western side of plateau.
 Deccan Plateau is highest along its western edge and gently slopes towards the Bay of
Bengal in the east.
 Towards its south lies the Karnataka Plateau. The western part of this plateau is called
Malnad while the eastern is called Maidan. Western part is higher and more rugged.
 Baba Budan Hills is an important Range along Karnataka Plateau.
 It lies in the rain shadow zone of Western Ghats, therefore, severely prone to droughts
 Important rivers of this region are – Krishna, Tungabhadra, Penneru and Cauvery
 Tank irrigation is widely practiced here
 Towards the South-East lies the Telengana-Rayalseema Plateau which is a low plateau,
highly dissected and denuded. River Krishna divides it into two parts- Telengana in north
and Rayalseema in south.
 It is also a drought prone area, lying in the rain shadow of Karnataka Plateau.
 Twin cities of Hyderabad and Secundrabad lie in the Telengana region.

REGION 25: WAINGANGA AND MAHANADI BASINS

 Here lie the river valleys of Wainganga, Mahanadi and Indravati (a tributary of Godavari).
Chitrakoot Falls lie on Indravati.
 It includes Dandkarnaya Plateau - Highly forested, denuded and undeveloped region
(Bastar, Kalahandi and Koraput districts) of India.
 Chattisgarh Plains also lie here
 National Parks: Tadoba, Nawegaon, Indravati
 Important Mines: Dilli Rajhara, Bastar, Bailadila, Balaghat

REGION 28, 22 & 27: WESTERN & EASTERN GHATS & SOUTHERN HILL COMPLEX

Western Ghats

 Form a continuous barrier from north to south, almost parallel to the Arabian Sea.
General altitude is 900-1100 m. These are higher in their southern part
 Known as Sahyadri in Maharashtra and Karnataka, Nilgiris in T.N., Anaimalai and
Palni-Cardamom Hills in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

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 Collectively Nilgiris, Anamalai Hills & Palni-Cardamom Hills form Southern Hills Complex.
 Nilgiris is the meeting point of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats and Southern Hill Complex.
Doda Beta (2637m) is the highest peak of Nilgiris. Udagamandalam (ooty) is a hill station
located in Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu). Temperate forests called Sholas are found here.
 Anai Mudi (2,695m) is the highest peak of Western Ghats. It is located in Anamalai Hills
and falls in Kerala.
 Famous hill station of Kodaikanal (T.N) lies in Palni Hills. The source of Periyar River lies
in Cardamom Hills. Periyar Lake is also situated here.

Eastern Ghats

 Form a discontinuous line of hills parallel to E.Coast

 Known by different names at different places –
o Northern Circars in north of Godavari
o Palkonda & Nallamala between Godavari & Palar Rivers
o Shevaroy & Javadi as T.N hills
 As opposed to Western Ghats, E. Ghats are higher in northern part. Mahendra Giri
(1501m) is the highest peak of E.Ghats, lying in Orissa.

Western Ghats Eastern Ghats

Higher average elevation than E. Ghats. Higher in Higher in northern part
Southern part

Source of many rivers. Act as a water divide Not a source of any river

High rainfall (>200cm). higher in south

Less rainfall (<200cm). higher in north
Greater HEP potential. Many waterfalls
Lesser potential
Water falls in Western Ghats
Water falls in Eastern Ghats

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REGION 19, 20, 21, 29, 30 AND 31: COASTAL PLAINS

West Coastal Plain

 Extend from Gujarat to Kerala.

 Known as Konkan in the north (Daman to Goa), Kanara in Karnataka and Malabar in the
Kerala.
 Plains are narrower in the north (Goa & Karnataka) and wider in south (Kerala)
 Jog Falls/ Gersoppa Falls (on R. Sharavati) on Karnataka Coast are the Highest in India.
 In Kerala, coast has salt water lakes called Lagoons or Backwaters or Kayals. Important
Lakes here are Ashtamudi and Vembanad
 Lowlands during rains merge together to form Patlas; are used for cultivation

East Coastal Plains

 Coastal strip along Bay of Bengal is broader as compared to the western coast.
 Known as Utkal Plains (in Orissa); wide and deltaic (Mahanadi & Brahamani delta). Chilka
lagoon is located here
 Andhra Plains: Deltaic (Godavari & Krishna delta) in middle. Kolleru lake lies here
 Coromandal Coast (Tamil Nadu) in south; Deltaic (Cauvery delta); Pulicat lake lies here

Western Coastal Plains Eastern Coastal Plains

Formed by submergence of western side of Formed by alluvium brought by rivers like
Western Ghats. Retrograded coastline Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna & Cauvery.
Prograded coastline

Less in width due to subsisdence. Continental Wider coast & narrower shelf due to
Shelf is wide because of the same reason emergence

Rivers are smaller, swift and more erosive. Rivers are longer, gradual and less erosive.
Form estuaries. Form deltas.

Rainfall: 200-400 cm (SW Monsoon) Rainfall: 100-200 cm (SW & NE Monsoon)

Less prone to cyclones More prone to cyclones

Not prone to floods except Narmada estuary Prone to floods because of gradual lengths,
because of swiftness and small lengths of rivers deltaic formations & long lengths of rivers

More contribution to marine food Less contribution

Prospects of Wave Energy Prospects of OTEC (Ocean Thermal

Energy Conversion)

More no. of Natural Harbours Lesser no.

Ports important for import purposes Ports important for export purposes

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REGION 32, 33: ISLAND GROUPS

Lakshadweep Islands

 Extend from 8ºN - 12ºN. Consists of 30 small islands, only 10 of which are populated.
 Population consists of Moppilas (Muslims) from Kerala
 Coral origin (made up by the organic activity of micro-organisms called coral polyps)
 Among Lakshadweep islands, some islands are horse-shoe shaped called Atolls.
 Lakshadweep Group consists of 2 sub-groups:
o Amandivi Islands - North of 11o N Channel
o Cannanore Islands - South of 11o N Channel
 Minicoy Islands lie to the extreme south

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

 Extend from 6º 39’N - 13º 34’N

 Consist of two groups – Andaman Group (Great & Little Andaman) – 204 islands, and
Nicobar Group (Car, Little and Great) – 19 islands
 Continent in origin. They are submerged parts of mountain range called Arkan Yoma
(Mayanmar).
 Some of them are of volcanic origin and only active volcano of India is located on these
islands (Barren Island). Narcondam is the extinct volcanic island.
 10º channel separates Andaman (Little) from Nicobar
 Little Andaman is separated from Great Andaman by Duncan passage
 Great Nicobar is the Largest Island in the group
 Saddle Peak in North Andaman – highest peak
 Car Nicobar encircled by a Fringing Reef
 Prone to earthquakes and tsunamis
 Main Tribes here are Great Andamanese, Onges, Senthelese, Jarawas and Shompens
 High potential for wave power & OTEC

crackIAS.com 24
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LETS PRACTICE: LAST 10 YEARS UPSC QUESTIONS

Which of the following hills are found where

the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats Which of the above pairs are correctly
meet? matched?
a. Anaimalai Hills a. 1 and 2
b. Cardamom Hills b. 2 and 3
c. Nilgiri Hills c. 3 and 4
d. Shevoroy Hills d. 2 and 4

Ans. C Ans. C

Which one of the following is the If there were no Himalayan ranges, what
appropriate reason for considering the would have been the most likely
Gondwana rocks as most important of rock geographical impact on India?
systems of India? 1. Much of the country would experience
a. More than 90% of limestone reserves of the cold waves from Siberia.
India are found in them 2. Indo - Gangetic plain would be devoid of
b. More than 90% of India's coal reserves such extensive alluvial soil.
are found in them 3. The pattern of monsoon would be
c. More than 90% of fertile black cotton different from what it is at present.
soils are spread over them
d. None of the reasons given above is Which of the statements given above is /
appropriate in this context are correct?
a. 1 only
Ans. B b. 1 & 3 only
c. 2 & 3 only
Consider the following pairs: (Place of d. 1, 2 & 3 only
Pilgrimage: Location
1. Srisailam: Nallamala Hills Ans. D
2. Omkareshwar: Satmala Hills
3. Pushkar: Mahadeo Hills Where were Shevaroy Hills located?
a. Andhra Pradesh
Which of the above is / are correctly b. Karnataka
matched? c. Kerala
a. 1 only d. Tamil Nadu
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only Ans. D
d. 1, 2 and 3
When you travel in Himalayas, you will see
Ans. A the following:
1. Deep gorges
Which one of the following pairs of islands is 2. U - turn river courses
separated from each other by the 'Ten 3. Parallel mountain ranges
Degree Channel'? 4. Steep gradients causing land-sliding
a. Andaman and Nicobar
b. Nicobar and Sumatra Which of the above can be said to be the
c. Maldives and Lakshadweep evidences for Himalayas being young fold
d. Sumatra and Java mountains?
a. 1 and 2 only
Ans. A b. 1, 2 and 4 only
c. 3 and 4 only
Consider the following pairs: Hills Region d. 1, 2, 3 and 4
1. Cardamom Hills: Coromandel Coast
2. Kaimur Hills: Konkan Coast Ans. D
3. Mahadeo Hills: Central India
4. Mikir Hills: North-East India

crackIAS.com 26
Which one of the following is the correct 2. West Bengal shares a border with
sequence of the given hills starting from the Bhutan and Nepal.
north and going towards the south? 3. Mizoram shares a border with
a. Nallamalai Hills - Nilgiri Hills - Javadi Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Hills - Anaimalai Hills
b. Anaimalai Hills - Javadi Hills - Nilgiri Hills Which of the statements given above is/are
- Nallamalai Hills correct?
c. Nallamalai Hills - Javadi Hills - Nilgiri a. 1, 2 and 3
Hills - Anaimalai Hills b. 1 and 2, only
d. Anaimalai Hills - Nilgiri Hills - Javadi Hills c. 2 and 3, only
- Nallamalai Hills d. 1 and 3, only

Ans. C Ans. A

Consider the following: Between which of the following was the

1. Mahadeo Hills ancient town of Takshaila located?
2. Sahyadri Parvat a. Indus and Jhelum
3. Satpura Range b. Jhelum and Chenab
c. Chenab and Ravi
What is the correct sequence of the above d. Ravi and Beas
from the north to the south?
a. 1, 2, 3 Ans. A
b. 2, 1, 3
c. 1, 3, 2 Which one of the following pairs is not
d. 2, 3, 1 correctly matched? Monastery: State
a. Dhankar Monastery: Himachal Pradesh
Ans. C b. Rumtek Monastery: Sikkim
c. Tabo Monastery: Himachal Pradesh
Match List I with List II and select the d. Kye Monastery: Arunachal Pradesh
correct answer using the code given below
the lists: List I (Valley) List II (State) Ans. D
A. Markha Valley
B. Dzukou Valley Which one of the following statements is
C. Sangla Valley NOT correct?
D. Yumthang Valley a. The Western Ghats are relatively higher
1. Sikkim in their northern region
2. Himachal Pradesh b. The Anai Mudi is the highest peak in the
3. Jammu and Kashmir Western Ghats
4. Nagaland c. Tapi river lies to the south of Satpura
d. The Narmada and the Tapi river valleys
a. A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1 are said to be old rift valleys
b. A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
c. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4 Ans. A
d. A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
In which State is the Guru Shikhar Peak
Ans. D located?
a. Rajasthan
Consider the following statements: b. Gujarat
1. Assam shares a border with Bhutan and c. Madhya Pradesh
Bangladesh. d. Maharashtra

Ans. A

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INDIAN RIVER SYSTEM
Overview

Rivers are the most critical component of a geographical

ecosystem. After starting from mountainous regions, they flow
through the country influencing everyone’s life who come across
them. They are so important that they are equated with goddess in
Hindu religion. In earlier times, they were the cradle for civilisation
and the most prosperous kingdoms evolved around rivers. Today,
they play a very important role in people’s lives and economies.
India is a blessed country as far as rivers are concerned. Every part
of India has some of world’s most important rivers.

 Himalayan Rivers are formed by melting snow & glaciers and flow throughout year.
 Deccan Rivers are rain-fed and therefore fluctuate in volume. Many of these are non-
perennial. Coastal streams, especially on the west coast are short in length and most of
them are non-perennial.
 The streams of inland drainage basin of western Rajasthan are few and far apart. Most of
them are of an ephemeral character.
 About 77% of drainage is towards Bay of Bengal and rest is towards Arabian Sea.
 Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join at Dev Prayag to form the River Ganga. Ganga traverses
through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
 Indus rises near Mansarovar in Tibet and finally falls in the Arabian Sea near Karachi.
 Indus is known as Shiquan in Tibet
 Son is the largest tributary of Ganga from south. Gandhi Setu on Son River near Patna is
highest bridge in Asia.
 Brahmaputra is known as Tsangpo in Tibet, Dihang in Arunachal & Jamuna in Bangladesh.
 Near Passighat the Debang and Lohit join the river Brahmaputra crosses into Bangladesh
downstream of Dhubri.
 It becomes Padma after meeting Ganga & finally discharges as Meghna in Bay of Bengal.
 Principal tributaries of Brahmaputra are Subansiri, Jia Bhareli, Dhansiri, Puthimari, Pagladiya
and the Manas.
 Barak River, the Head Stream of Meghna, rises in the hills in Manipur. It continues in
Bangladesh till the combined Ganga - Brahmputra join it near Bhairab Bazar.
 Lohit makes delta in reverse when it joins Brahmaputra from south. Majuli (Assam) in
Brahamputra is the largest Riverine Island in the world. It has been declared world heritage
site by UNESCO.
 Chambal is known for its Badland topography
 Dhaunadar Falls or Marble Falls lie on River Narmada near Jabalpur
 Godavari has the second largest river basin covering 10 per cent of the area of India.
 A few rivers in Rajasthan do not drain into the sea. Few of them drain into the Salt lakes
while others like Luni, Machhu, Rupen, Saraswati, Banas and Ghaggar are lost in the desert.
 Narmada forms traditional boundary between North and South India, and drains M.P.,
Gujarat and Maharashtra. Existing irrigation projects in the Narmada are Matiyari, Rani
Avantibai Sagar, Barna, Tawa and Sukta- all in Madhya Pradesh, and Karjan project in
Gujarat. Important Projects under implementation are Kolar, Man, Omkareshwar,
Maheshwar and Sardar Sarovar.

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• Tapi drains M.P, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Kakrapara, Utsai are major projects, alongwith
Hatnur Dam in Maharashtra and Ukai Dam in Gujarat. Tapi is known as the twin or hand-
made of Narmada
• The Godavari River has a drainage area in six states- Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Orissa. It has "Sriramsagar project" in
Nizamabad District. Aruthur Cotton, Trimbakeshwar are Waterfalls on it. Godavari is called
as Ganga of South or Bridh Ganga.

INDIA
RIVER BASINS

West Flowing Rivers

Group 1: rivers in
Kuchchh, Saurashtra
and river Luni

\.../
•

EastFlowing Rivers
Group 1:rivers
between Mahanadi
and Pennar
West Flowing Rivers
Group 2:rivers south
ofTapi ·:I··::·J West Rowing
East Flowing
Rivers Group 2:
D East Flowing
rivers between
Pennarand
Kanniyakumari

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 IMPORTANT RIVERS OF INDIA

REMARKS SOURCES IMPORTANT TRIBUTARIES

INDUS SYSTEM

Snow ranges of Himalayas The Zanskar is its left bank tributary in

at an attitude of 5000 m in Ladakh. In the plains, its left bank tributary
Tibet, near Mansarover is the Chenab which itself has four major
Indus Lake. tributaries, namely, the Jhelum, the Ravi, the
Beas and the Sutlej. Its principal right bank
tributaries are the Shyok, the Gilgit, the
Kabul, the Gomal and the Kurram.
 The Indus River is a major river in Asia which flows through Pakistan, India and Tibet.
After flowing for >700 km in India, flows in Pakistan
 Originating in the Tibetan Plateau in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar, the river runs a
course through the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, towards Gilgit and Baltistan and
then flows in a southerly direction along the entire length of Pakistan to merge into the
Arabian Sea near the port city of Karachi in Sindh.
 The total length of the river is 3,180 km (1,980 mi).
 It is Pakistan's longest river.
 The river is the 21st largest river in the world in terms of annual flow.
 The Indus forms the delta of Pakistan and India mentioned in the Vedic Rigveda as Sapta
Sindhu and the Iranian Zend Avesta as Hapta Hindu (both terms meaning "seven rivers").
The river Jhelum rises from The Neelum River, the largest tributary of
Verinag Spring situated at the Jhelum, joins it, at Domel Muzaffarabad,
the foot of the Pir Panjal in as does the next largest, the Kunhar River
Jhelum
the south-eastern part of of the Kaghan valley.
the valley of Kashmir in
India.
 It flows through Srinagar and the Wular Lake before entering Pakistan through a deep
narrow gorge.
 It also connects with rest of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir on Kohala Bridge east of Circle
Bakote. It is then joined by the Poonch River, and flows into the Mangla Dam reservoir in
the district of Mirpur.
 The Jhelum enters the Punjab in the Jhelum District. From there, it flows through the plains
of Pakistan's Punjab, forming the boundary between the Chaj and Sindh Sagar Doabs.
 It ends in a confluence with the Chenab at Trimmu in District Jhang.
 The Chenab merges with the Sutlej to form the Panjnad River which joins the Indus River
at Mithankot.
Bara Lacha La Pass;  Also called Chandrabhaga. The total
originating from H.P, it goes length of the Chenab is approximately 960
Chenab
towards north to enter J&K kilometres.
& then turns towards south
 It flows from the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of the Punjab,
forming the boundary between the Rechna and Jech interfluves (Doabs in Persian).
 It is joined by the Jhelum River at Trimmu and then by the Ravi River Ahmedpur Sial.
 It then merges with the Sutlej River near Uch Sharif, Pakistan to form the Panjnad or
the 'Five Rivers', the fifth being the Beas River which joins the Sutlej near Ferozepur,

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 India.
 The Chenab then joins the Indus at Mithankot.
Near Rohtang Pass (Bara  Buddha Nala
Ravi
Bhangal)
 It flows into the south-west, near Dalhousie, and then cuts a gorge in the Dhauladhar
Range, before entering the Punjab plain near Madhopur and Pathankot.
 It then flows along the Indo–Pak border for 80 kilometres (50 mi) before entering Pakistan
and joining the Chenab River.
 The total length of the river is about 725 kilometres.
 Ujh River is another major tributary of the Ravi River.
 The chief tributaries are Parbati, Bain,
Banganga, Luni and Uhal. The Sutlej
continues into Pakistani Punjab and joins
the Chenab River at Uch near Bahawalpur
Beas Near Rohtang Pass to form the Panjnad River; the latter in
turn joins the Indus River at Mithankot. The
waters of the Beas and Sutlej rivers are
allocated to India under the Indus Waters
Treaty between India and Pakistan.
 The river rises on the southern face of Rohtang Pass in Kullu.
 Near Reh in Kangra District it divides into three channels, which reunites after passing
Mirthal, 1,000 feet above sea-level.
 After touching the Jullundur district for a few miles the river forms the boundary between
Amritsar and Kapurthala district.
 Finally the Beas joins the river Satulej at the south-western boundary of Kapurthala
district of Punjab after a total course of 290 miles.
Satluj Mansarover – Rakas Lakes

 The Sutlej is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroad region of
Punjab in northern India and Pakistan.
 It is the easternmost tributary of the Indus River.
 The waters of the Sutlej are allocated to India under the Indus Waters Treaty between
India and Pakistan, and are mostly diverted to irrigation canals in India.
 There are several major hydroelectric projects on the Sutlej, including the 1,000 MW
Bhakra Dam, the 1,000 MW Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Plant, and the 1,530 MW
Nathpa Jhakri Dam.

From north to south, these are Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Satluj

GANGA SYSTEM

Ganga consists Alakananda & Bhagirathi.  Yamuna, Ram Ganga, Ghaghara, Kosi,
of 2 Burhi Gandak, Damodar, Son.
headstreams
 Ganga after entering Bangladesh, the main branch of the Ganges is known as the Padma.
 The Padma is joined by the Jamuna River, the largest distributary of the Brahmaputra.
 Further downstream, the Padma joins the Meghna River, the second largest distributary of
the Brahmaputra, and takes on the Meghna's name as it enters the Meghna Estuary, which
empties into the Bay of Bengal.
 The Ganges Delta, formed mainly by the large, sediment-laden flows of the Ganges and

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 Brahmaputra rivers, is the world's largest delta, at about 59,000 km2 (23,000 sq mi).
 Only the Amazon and Congo rivers have a greater average discharge than the combined
flow of the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, and the Surma-Meghna river system.
Yamuna Yamunotri  Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken.
 Starting catchment area of river lies in Himachal Pradesh, and an important tributary
draining the Upper Catchment Area is the Tons, Yamuna's largest and longest tributary.
 Other tributaries in the region are the Giri, Rishi Ganga, Kunta, Hanuman Ganga and
Bata tributaries, which drain the Upper Catchment Area of the vast Yamuna basin.
 After passing the Sikh pilgrimage town of Paonta Sahib, it reaches Tajewala in Yamuna
Nagar district, of Haryana, where a dam built in 1873, is the originating place of two
important canals, the Western Yamuna Canal and Eastern Yamuna Canal, which irrigate
the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
 The Yamuna also creates natural state borders between the Himachal Pradesh and
Uttarakhand states, and further down between the state of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Ramganga Near Nainital in Garhwal Distt.
 The Ramganga River flows to south west from Kumaun Himalaya.
 It is a tributary of the river Ganges, originates from the high altitude zone of 800m-
900m.
 Ramganga flows by the Corbett National Park near Ramnagar of Nainital district from
where it descends upon the plains.
 Bareilly and Badaun city of Uttar Pradesh is situated on its banks.
Ghaghra From Central Himalyas  In Nepal it is known as Narayani.
 Ghaghara is a perennial trans-boundary river originating on the Tibetan Plateau near Lake
Mansarovar.
 It cuts through the Himalayas in Nepal and joins the Sarda River at Brahmaghat in
India.
 Together they form the Ghaghra River, a major left bank tributary of the Ganges.
 With a length of 507 kilometres it is the largest river in Nepal.
 It is the largest tributary of the Ganges by volume and the second longest tributary of the
Ganges by length after Yamuna.
Kosi From Tibet Nepal Border  Arun and Tamur.
 The Kosi River drains the southern slopes of the Himalayas in Nepal and is formed by three
main streams: the Tamur Koshi originating from Mt. Kanchenjunga in the east, Arun
Koshi from Mt. Everest in Tibet, and Sun Koshi from Mt. Gosainthan farther west.
 From their confluence north of the Chatra Gorge onwards, the Kosi River is also known as
Saptakoshi.
 After flowing through the Chatra Gorge the Sapta Kosi is controlled by the Koshi Barrage
before it drains into the Gangetic plain.
Son Amarkantak Plateau  Rihand, Gopat, North Koel
 The Son parallels the Kaimur hills, flowing east-northeast through Uttar Pradesh,
Jharkhand and Bihar states to join the Ganges just above Patna.
 Geologically, the lower valley of the Son is an extension of the Narmada Valley, and the
Kaimur Range an extension of the Vindhya Range.
 Dehri on sone is the major town situated on Son River.
Near Mhow (M.P) in Janapao Banas (from Aravallis), Parbati and Kali
Chambal
Hills in Vindhayas Sindh
 The Chambal River is a tributary of the Yamuna River in central India, and forms part of
the greater Gangetic drainage system.
 The river forms the boundary between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh before turning
southeast to join the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh state.

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 The Chambal and its tributaries drain the Malwa region of northwestern Madhya Pradesh,
while its tributary, the Banas, which rises in the Aravalli Range, drains southeastern
Rajasthan.

From west to east, Rivers are Ramganga, Gomti, Sarda, Ghaghra, Gandak and Kosi
From west to east, Rivers are Banas, Chambal, Kali Sindh, Parbati, sind, Betwa, Ken & Son

BRAHAMPUTRA SYSTEM

Rises from Chema-Yungdung  Dibang & Lohit from south; Subansiri,

Brahmaputra
glacier in Tibet Tista & Manas from north.
 It flows southwest through the Assam Valley as Brahmaputra and south through
Bangladesh as the Jamuna (not to be mistaken with Yamuna of India).
 In the vast Ganges Delta it merges with the Padma, the main distributary of the Ganges,
then the Meghna, before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
 The average depth of the river is 124 feet (38 m) and maximum depth is 380 feet (120 m).
 The river is prone to catastrophic flooding in spring when the Himalayan snows melt.
 It is a classic example of a braided river and is highly susceptible to channel migration and
avulsion.
 This river is often called Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River.

PENINSULAR RIVERS (WEST FLOWING)

Amarkantaka Plateau, Shahdol  Burhner, Tawa (biggest), Sher, Dudhi,

Narmada
district (M.P.) Barna, Hiran, Lohar
 The Narmada is 5th longest river in the Indian subcontinent.
 It forms the traditional boundary between North India and South India.
 It is the one of the rivers in India that flows in a rift valley, flowing west between the
Satpura and Vindhya ranges.
 It flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, then along the border
between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and the border between Madhya Pradesh and
Gujarat and in Gujarat.
Multai in Betul (M.P.)  Purna River (Major tributary), Girna
Tapi River, Panzara, Waghur, Bori, Aner,
Kolar. Amravati, Betul, Veghai
 The Tapti River is one of the major rivers of peninsular India.
 The river rises in the eastern Satpura Range of southern Madhya Pradesh state, and flows
westward, draining Madhya Pradesh's Nimar region, Maharashtra's Kandesh and east
Vidarbha regions in the northwest corner of the Deccan Plateau and south Gujarat, before
emptying into the Gulf of Cambay of the Arabian Sea, in the Surat District of Gujarat.
 The river, along with the northern parallel Narmada River, forms the boundaries between
North and South India.
 The Western Ghats or Sahyadri range starts south of the Tapti River near the border of
Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Emerges from Annasagar  Patki, Jojri, Sukri.
Luni (Ajmer). Only salty river in
India.
 The Luni is a river of western Rajasthan state, India.
 It originates in the Pushkar valley of the Aravalli Range, near Ajmer and ends in the

crackIAS.com 41
 marshy lands of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, after travelling a distance of 495 km.
 It is first known as Sagarmati, then after passing Govindgarh, it meets its tributary Sarsuti,
which originates from Pushkar Lake, and from then on it gets its name Luni.
Rises from the Jai Samand lake  Sabar, Hathmathi, Vakul.
Sabarmati
of Udaipur
 The Sabarmati River is a river in western India and one of the biggest rivers of north
Gujarat.
 River Sabarmati is one of the major West flowing river of Gujarat
 It meets the Gulf of Cambay of Arabian Sea after travelling 371 km from the origin.
 The Sabarmati basin has a maximum length of 300 km. and maximum width of 105 km.
 The catchment area lies in Rajasthan and Gujarat State.
Vindhayas  Drains Gujarat Plains, parts of M.P &
Mahi Rajasthan. Empties into Gulf of
Khambhat
 The Mahi is a river in western India.
 It rises in Madhya Pradesh and, after flowing through the Vagad region of Rajasthan,
enters Gujarat and falls into the sea.
 It has given its name to the Mahi Kantha agency of Bombay, and also to the mehwasis,
marauding highlanders often mentioned in Arabian chronicles.

PENINSULAR RIVERS (EAST FLOWING)

Dandkaranaya near Sihawa in  Sheonath, Hasdo, Mand.

Mahanadi
Raipur District (Chhatishgarh)
 Like many other seasonal Indian rivers, the Mahanadi too is a combination of many
mountain streams and thus its precise source is impossible to pinpoint.
 However its farthest headwaters lie 6 km from Pharsiya village 442 m above sea level
south of Nagri town in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh.
 The hills here are an extension of the Eastern Ghats and are a source of many other
streams which then go on to join the Mahanadi.
Brahmini Sorrow of Orissa 
 The Brahmani is a major seasonal river in the Odisha state of Eastern India.
 The Brahmani is formed by the confluence of the Sankh and South Koel rivers, and flows
through the districts of Sundargarh, Kendujhar, Dhenkanal, Cuttack and Jajapur.
 Together with the rivers Mahanadi and Baitarani, it forms a large delta before entering
into the Bay of Bengal at Dhamra.
From Trambak plateau in Nasik  From north– Penganga, Wardha,
. Wainganga, Indravati and Sabari
(arranged west to east). Parvara &
Godavari
Manjra join from south. Others are
Pranahita, Kinnerasani, Sileru, Bindusar,
Moosi, Taliperu
 The Godavari is a river in the south-central India.
 It starts in the western state of Maharashtra and flows through the southern state
Andhra Pradesh before reaching the Bay of Bengal.
 It forms one of the largest river basins in India.
 With a length of 1465 km, it is the second longest river in India, after the The Ganges, and
the longest in southern India.
 It flows east across the Deccan Plateau into the Bay of Bengal near Yanam and Antarvedi
in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

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 Rises near Mahabaleshwar  Koyna, Yerla, Musi, Panchganga,
Krishna Dudhganga, Ghatprbha, Malprabha,
Bhima, Tungbhadra
 The Krishna River is the third longest river in India after the Ganges and the Godavari.
 It flows through the state of Karnataka before entering Andhra Pradesh.
 The delta of this river is one of the most fertile regions in India and was the home to
ancient Satavahana and Ikshvaku Sun Dynasty kings. Vijayawada is the largest city on
the River Krishna.
 Sangli is the biggest city on the river Krishna in Maharashtra state.
Tungbhadra Rises near Gomantak Peak  Tunga, Bhadra, Hagari
 The Tungabhadra River is formed by the confluence of the Tunga River and the Bhadra
River which flow down the eastern slope of the Western Ghats in the state of Karnataka.
 The rivers originate in Chikmagalur District of Karnataka along with the Nethravathi
(west-flowing River, joining the Arabian Sea near Mangalore), the Tunga and the Bhadra
rise at Gangamoola, in Varaha Parvatha in the Western Ghats forming parts of the
Kuduremukh Iron Ore Project, at an elevation of 1198 metres.
 The Bhadra River flows through the industrial city Bhadravathi.
Brahmagiri Hills. The river  Hemavati, Lokpavani, Suvarnavati and
thrice forks into 2 streams & Kabani.
reunites a few miles farther on,
thus froming the islands of
Cauvery
Srirangapattanam,
Sivasamudram and Srirangam
in the eastern part of Tamil
Nadu.
 The origin of the river is traditionally placed at Talakaveri, Kodagu in the Western Ghats in
Karnataka, flows generally south and east through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and
across the southern Deccan plateau through the southeastern lowlands, emptying into the
Bay of Bengal through two principal mouths.
 The river's basin covers 4 states and Union Territories - Karnataka (34,273 km2), Tamil
Nadu (43,856 km2), Kerala (2,866 km2) and Puducherry (160 km2).
 Rising in southwestern Karnataka, it flows southeast some 800 km to enter the Bay of
Bengal.
 East of Mysore it forms the island of Shivanasamudra, on either side of which are the
scenic Shivanasamudra Falls that descend about 320 ft (100 m).

CATCHMENT AREAS OF RIVER BASINS (IN DECREASING ORDER) →

Ganga > Godavari > Indus > Krishna > Brahmaputra > Mahanadi > Narmada > Cauvery

LENGTHS OF RIVERS (IN DECREASING ORDER) →

Ganga > Godavari > Krishna > Yamuna > Mahanadi >
Narmada = Cauvery > Brahmaputra > Ghagra > Chambal

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 COMPARISON OF HIMALAYAN AND PENINSULAR RIVERS

HIMALAYAN RIVERS PENINSULAR RIVERS

1. These are antecedent rivers i.e. these 1. These are consequent rivers i.e. these
flowed before the rise of Himalayas and kept start flowing after the rise of peninsular
cutting them with time, as evident from the landmasses. There are no deep gorges
existence of deep gorges. here.

2. Characterised by waterfalls, rapids, 2. These have graded profiles and lack

cataracts etc. Therefore have a pronounced these characteristics.
relief.

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3. These have meandering courses, thereby 3. Linear & straight courses with
forming the Ox-bow lakes smooth long profiles. Hard rocks prevent
any sort of meandering.

4. These rivers have large basins 4. Comparatively smaller basins

Indus > 11 lac sq km Narmada / Tapi < 1 lac sq. km
Ganga > 10 lac sq km Godavari / Krishna 2-3 lac sq km
Brahmaputra > 5 lac sq km

Indus Basin Mahanadi

Godavari

Brahmaputra Krishna
Basin

Ganga Basin

5. These are in Young stage. These make V- 5. These are in Mature stage of
shaped valleys because of their high erosive development. These have subdued
power gradient with lateral erosion and
shallow valleys.

6. Erosive power is high due to their young 6. Hard rocks of peninsula made up of
age, thus carry huge sedimentary load. These volcanic extrusions restrict the erosive
have resulted in great alluvial deposits, power of rivers. Further the gradual
forming the North Indian Plains. The slope of Deccan plateau and lesser
sediment load is further added due to soft erosive power result in low amount of
nature of sedimentary rocks that make sediment loads
Himalayas.
7. These are perennial rivers due to high 7. These are seasonal rivers due to less
rainfall and snow melt from snow covered rainfall in their catchment areas. Even
peaks of Himalayas. the big rivers like Godavari and Krishna
dry up in summers. The lesser rainfall is
because these rivers emanate from the
points which lie on the leeward side of
Western Ghats.
8. These carry high value vis-à-vis irrigation 8. These are not that good for irrigation

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 due to their perennial nature. A network of purposes owing to their seasonal
canals has been laid in the northern plains of nature.
Punjab, Haryana, UP and Bihar to fetch their
potential. This has led to the green revolution
in these areas making them the granary of
India.
9. More navigable owing to their flat 9. Less navigable due to their seasonal
topography and perennial nature. This is true nature and lesser quantity of water
in the middle and lower courses of these in rivers to support big vessels. Also the
rivers and not in the upper course where gradient of peninsula is steeper than
these rivers have steep slopes. National the northern plains that support the
Waterway-1 links Allahabad – Haldia navigational facilities.
covering a distance of 1620 km. national
Waterway-2 links Sadia–Dubri.
10.These have high HEP potential- perennial 10.West flowing rivers have more potential
nature and steep slopes. Indian Himalayan due to more water and steep slopes.
Region (IHR), also known as the water tower
of the world, hold potential of 1,48,700
MW
11.HEP development lesser compared to 11.More, because of greater economic
peninsula; of huge potential, just around development & more demand.
22.4% has been utilized

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 INDIA RIVERS

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IMPORTANT HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS IN INDIA

Overview

God has gifted the nature with bountiful of features and brains to humans to use them to their
benefit. HEPs or Multipurpose Projects (not just electricity generation) on rivers is a beautiful
example of this. Since time immemorial, humans have used the rivers for various purposes like
irrigation, generation of power etc. using innovative techniques. Did you watch the movie –
Mohanjodaro – featuring Rithik Roshan; you will find the answer!

States Name of the Hydroelectric Plants

J&K Lower Jhelum, Uri, Salal and Dulhasti
Punjab and H.P. Bhakara Nangal (Satluj), Pong on Beas, Rongtong, Nathpa Jhakri
(biggest hydel power project in India) on river Satluj, Chamera
and Thien on Ravi.
Uttarakhand Tehri Dam on Bhagirathi
U.P. Rehand, Khodri on Tons.
Rajasthan Rana Pratap Sagar and Jawahar Sagar on Chambal.
M.P. Gandhi Sagar on Chambal, Pench, Sardar Sarovar on Narmada.
Bihar Kosi
Jharkhand Subarnrekha; Maithon, Panchet, Tilaiya, (all three under DVC).
W.B. Panchet
Orissa Hirakud on Mahanadi, Balimela.
North East Loktak (Manipur), Kopili (Assam), Khandong (Meghalya)
Gujarat Ukai and Kakarapara (Tapi), Kadana (Mahi)
Maharashtra Koyana Bhivpuri (Tata Hydroelectric Works).
A.P. Sileru, Nizamsagar (Manjra), Nagarjun Sagar & Srisailam (Krishna)
Karnataka Tungabhadra, Sharavati, Mahatma Gandhi (Jog Fall), Siva
Samudram (Kaveri), Lungnamakki.
Kerala Idukki (Periyar), Sabarigiri, Ponniar.
T.N. Mettur, Papanasam, Kundah
MP, UP and Bihar Banasagar Project (On Son river)
India and Bhutan Chukka Project
J&K Dul Hasti (On the rive Chenab)
Bihar and UP Gandak Project (On the river Gandak)
Karnataka (Bijapur) Ghataprabha Valley
Maharashtra Jayakwadi Project (On rive Godavari)
Gujarat Kakrapara Project (On Tapi River)
Karnataka (Belgaum) Malaprabha Project (Malaprabha river)
TN and Kerala Parambikulam Aliyar
Andhra Pradesh Poochampad (On river Godavari)
MP & UP Rajghat Dam Project (On Betwa River)
J&K Salal Project (Chenab)
Hoshangabad district Tawa Project (Tawa river, a tributary of the Narmada)
(MP)
Tamil Nadu Papanasam Scheme (Tambraparni river)
Kerala, TN Sholayar Project (Sholayar River)
Andhra Pradesh Srisailam power project (Krishna River)
Andhra Pradesh and Balimela Hydro-Electric Project (Sileru River)

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Orissa
Meghalaya Umiam Project (Umiam River)

MULTIPURPOSE PROJECTS OF INDIA

Location Of Dams Special Features (Note The Purposes Served)

Bhakra Nangal (Satluj)

Bhakra  Joint venture of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. 2 dams – Bhakra
Nangal and Nangal. Power houses with combined installed capacity of
1204 MW.
 Bhakra canal system of irrigation.
 One of the highest Gravity Dams in the world (226m).
 Huge reservoir (Gobind Sagar Lake in Bilaspur District of
Himachal Pradesh).

Damodar Valley Project (Damodar)

Tilaiya (R. Barakar)  Damodar also called as River of sorrow, or sorrow of Bengal,
Maithon (R. Barkar) Tributary of Hugli; drains the Chotanagpur plateau.
Konar (Konar  This was the First multipurpose river project in India.
River)  In 1948 – Project executed on the model of TVA (Tennessee Valley
Panchet Hill (R. River Project) of USA.
Damodar)  Durgapur Barrage – created for the storage of irrigation water.
 Bakaro and Durgapur Thermal Power Stations are the important
link to DVC Power Station System, another purpose is Flood
control

Hirakund (Mahanadi)
Hirakund (in  One of the longest dams in the world (4,801m long)
Sambalpar Distt),  Two other dams on Mahanadi are at Tikrapara and Naraj.
Orrisa  3 canals have been taken out for irrigation.
 It also provides for navigation facility besides power generation.

Rihand (Tributary Of Son)

Mirzapur Distt U.P  Most important multipurpose project in U.P.
 Gobind Ballabh Pant Sagar is largest man made reservoir in
India.

Chambal
Gandhinagar (M.P)  Gandhinagar – long masonry gravity dam.
Rana Pratap Sagar  Rana Pratap masonry dam at Rawat Bhata.
(Rajasthan)  Jawahar Sagar is also called Kota Dam
Jawahar Sagar
(Rajasthan)

Gandak
Balmikinagar  Joint venture of U.P. and Bihar, though Nepal also get irrigation
(Bihar) and power facilities.

Tungbhadra (Tributary Of Krishna River)

Mallapur, Bellary  Joint undertaking of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
distt. (Karnataka).  Masonry Dam.

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 Kosi
Hanumannagar  Kosi – Sorrow of Bihar
 Object of Project – irrigation, flood control, power generation,
land reclamation, fishing and navigation.

Narmada Valley
Sardar Sarovar  Joint venture of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra,
Project on lower Rajasthan is Beneficiary States.
Narmada Valley in  Most controversial project in India.
Gujarat. Narmada  Narmada has the largest no. of tributaries.
Sagar Dam Project
at Narmada in
Madhya Pradesh.

Nagarjunasagar Projcet (River Krishna)

Nalgonda Distt.  Lal Bahadur Canal had been taken off from it besides the Jawahar
(Andhra Pradesh) Canal

Tehri Project Confluence Of Bhagirathi And Bhilganga

Garhwal District  One of the controversial projects in India.
(Uttarakhand)

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 IMPORTANT HEPs OF INDIA

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LETS PRACTICE: LAST 10 YEARS UPSC QUESTIONS

Which one of the following pairs is not Consider the following pairs: (Tributary
correctly matched? (Dam/ Lake River) River: Main River)
a. Govind Sagar: Satluj 1. Chambal: Narmada
b. Kolleru Lake: Krishna 2. Sone: Yamuna
c. Ukai Reservoir: Tapi 3. Manas: Brahmaputra
d. Wular Lake: Jhelum
Which of the pairs given above is/ are
Ans. D correctly matched?
a. 1, 2 & 3
Consider the following rivers: b. 1 & 2
1. Vamsadhara c. 2 & 3 only
2. Indravati d. 3 only
3. Pranahita
4. Pennar Ans. D

Which of the above are tributaries of On which one of the following rivers is the
Godavari? Tehri Hydropower Complex located?
a. 1, 2 and 3 a. Alakananda
b. 2, 3 and 4 b. Bhagirathi
c. 1, 2 and 4 c. Dhauliganga
d. 2 and 3 only d. Mandakini

Ans. D Ans. B

Consider the following rivers: Where the Tapovan and Vishnugarh

1. Barak Hydroelectric Projects located?
2. Lohit a. Madhya Pradesh
3. Subansiri b. Uttar Pradesh
c. Uttarakhand
Which of the above flows / flow through d. Rajasthan
Arunachal Pradesh?
a. 1 only Ans. C
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only With which one of the following rivers is the
d. 1, 2 and 3 Omkareshwar Project associated?
a. Chambal
Ans. B b. Narmada
c. Tapi
The Narmada River flows to the west, while d. Bhima
most other large peninsular rivers flow to
the east. Why? Ans. B
1. It occupies a linear rift valley
2. It flows between the Vindhyas and the Rivers that pass through Himachal Pradesh
Satpuras are
3. The land slopes to the west from Central a. Beas and Chenab only
India b. Beas and Ravi only
c. Chenab, Ravi and Sutluj only
Select the correct answer using the codes d. Beas, Chenab, Ravi, Sutluj and Yamuna
given below:
a. 1 only Ans. D
b. 2 and 3
c. 1 and 3 With reference to the River Luni, which one
d. None of the following statements is correct?
a. It flows into Gulf of Khambhat
Ans. A b. It flows into Gulf of Kuchchh

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c. It flows into Pakistan and merges with a
tributary of Indus Ans. D
d. It is lost in the marshy land of the Rann
of Kuchchh Which one of the following statements is
NOT correct?
Ans. D a. Mahanadi River rises in Chhattisgarh
b. Godavari River rises in Maharashtra
Consider the following statements: c. Cauvery River rises in Andhra Pradesh
1. There are no east flowing rivers in d. Tapti River rises in Madhya Pradesh
Kerala
2. There are no west flowing rivers in Ans. C
Madhya Pradesh
From north towards south, which one of the
Which of the above statements is / are following is the correct sequence of the
correct? given rivers in India?
a. 1 only a. Shyok - Spiti - Zaskar – Satluj
b. 2 only b. Shyok - Zaskar - Spiti - Satluj
c. Both 1 & 2 c. Zaskar - Shyok - Satluj - Spiti
d. Neither 1 nor 2 d. Zaskar - Satluj - Shyok - Spiti

Ans. D Ans. B

Which one of the following rivers does not Match List I with List II and select the
originate in India? correct answer using the code given below
a. Beas the lists: List I (Town), List II (River nearer
b. Chenab to it)
c. Ravi A. Betul
d. Sutlej B. Jagdalpur
C. Jabalpur
Ans. D D. Ujjain
1. Indravati
At which one of the following places do two 2. Narmada
important rivers of India originate; while 3. Shipra
one of them flows towards north and 4. Tapti
merges with another important river flowing
towards Bay of Bengal, the other one flows a. A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
towards Arabian Sea? b. A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
a. Amarkantak c. A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
b. Badrinath d. A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2
c. Mahabaleshwar
d. Nasik Ans. B

Ans. A Which of the following pairs are correctly

matched? (Waterfalls: River)
Which one of the following rivers originates 1. Kapildhara Falls: Godavari
at Amarkantak? 2. Jog Falls: Sharavati
a. Damodar 3. Sivasamudram Falls: Cauvery
b. Mahanadi
c. Narmada Select the correct answer using the code
d. Tapti given below:
a. 1 & 2 only
Ans. C b. 2 & 3 only
c. 1 & 3 only
Assertion (A): River Kalinadi is an east- d. 1, 2 & 3
flowing river in the southern part of India.
Reason (R): The Deccan Plateau is higher Ans. B
along its western edge and gently slopes
towards the Bay of Bengal in the east.

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For which one of the following, is Satara Lake Sambhar is nearest to which one of the
well-known? following cities of Rajasthan?
a. Thermal power plant a. Bharatpur
b. Wind energy plant b. Jaipur
c. Hydro-electric plant c. Jodhpur
d. Nuclear power plant d. Udaipur

Ans. B Ans. B

Gandhi Sagar Dam is a part of which one of Which one among the following major
the following? Indian cities is most eastward located?
a. Chambal Project a. Hyderabad
b. Kosi Project b. Bhopal
c. Damodar Valley Project c. Lucknow
d. Bhakra Nagal Project d. Benguluru (Bangalore)

Ans. A Ans. C

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