The physical features of India can be divided into 6 parts based on physiographic features:
(i) The Himalayan Mountains
(ii) The northern Plains
(iii)The Peninsular Plateau
(iv)The Indian Desert
(v) The Coastal Plains
(vi)The Islands
The contrast between the Himalayan region and Peninsular Plateau: Himalayan Region:
- Mountains of the Himalayas stretch over the northern borders of India. These mountain ranges cover the west-east direction from the Indus to the Brahmaputra.
- The Himalayas represent the most elevated and one of the roughest mountain barriers in the world.
- They cover a distance of about 2400 km and form an arc. Their width varies from 400 Km in Kashmir to 150 Km in Arunachal Pradesh.
- In its longitudinal extent, the Himalayas consists of 3 parallel ranges. Between these ranges, several valleys lie.
- This range consists of the most elevated peaks with an average height of 6,000 metres.
- These mountain ranges of the Himalayas are always covered with snow. That's why this mountain range is called the Himalayas.
Peninsular Plateau:
- The Peninsular plateau is a high-level flat plateau composed of the old crystalline, igneous and metamorphic rocks.
- It was formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land and making it a part of the oldest landmass.
- This plateau is spread over an area of 16 lakh sq. km. The plateau consists of broad and shallow valleys and rounded hills.
- In the north of this plateau, Satluj- Brahmaputra plains and the Arabian sea are located.
- This Plateau can be divided into two parts: the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau.