Landscape of India

The Indian subcontinent is built on one of the oldest landmasses, the peninsular plateau, which was once part of the larger ancient supercontinent called Gondwana. This massive landmass also included what are now the continents of South America, Australia, India, and South Africa. Millions of years ago, the land broke apart due to movements in the Earth’s tectonic plates and changing ocean currents.

As part of this process, the Indo-Australian plate moved northward and collided with the Eurasian plate (which today includes much of Europe). This collision caused the land to fold, leading to the formation of the towering Himalayas. Over time, other geological events contributed to the creation of the many diverse physical features that we see in India today.

The ongoing movements of tectonic plates, along with natural internal (endogenetic) and external (exogenetic) forces, continue to shape the country’s geological structure and influence its landforms.

Geological Divisions of India
India’s physical landscape can be categorized into three main geological regions:

1. The Peninsular Block
2. The Himalayas and Other Peninsular Mountains
3. The Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain

Physiographic Division of India
Island groups: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an extension of the Himalayas, and Lakshadweep Islands, coral-based in the Arabian Sea.

Divided into five major zones: Northern Mountain Chain, Indo-Gangetic Plain, Peninsular region, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Northern Mountain Chain: Comprises the Himalayan mountain ranges and surrounding mountain ranges.

Indo-Gangetic Plain: South of northern mountains, characterized by fertile alluvial soil from rivers like Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus.

Peninsular region: Comprises central highlands, plateaus, and lush coastal areas.

1. The Northern and North-Eastern Mountains
2. The Northern Plain
3. The Peninsular Plateau
4. The Indian Desert
5. The Coastal Plains
6. The Islands