Geography (India & World) • Topic 1 of 4

Physical Geography of India

India has four broad physical divisions: the Himalayas in the north, the Indo-Gangetic plains, the Peninsular plateau (the Deccan), and the coastal plains with islands. Rajasthan is the largest state by area, and the Tropic of Cancer divides India almost in half.

The four physical divisions (north to south)

Picture India as four bands stacked from the northern mountains down to the southern coasts:

The Himalayas (young fold mountains) Northern (Indo-Gangetic) Plains Peninsular Plateau (the Deccan) Coastal Plains & Islands N S
India's relief in four bands, from the Himalayas down to the coasts.
Where the Ghats meet. The Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats flank the Deccan plateau and join at the Nilgiri Hills in the south.

Quick facts that recur

  • Largest state by area: Rajasthan (the Thar Desert lies here, in the north-west).
  • Highest peak within India: Kangchenjunga (Sikkim). Everest is in Nepal, not India.
  • The Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N) cuts India almost in half and passes through 8 states.

✅ Solved examples

1. Which is the largest Indian state by area?
Rajasthan.
2. Where do the Western and Eastern Ghats meet?
At the Nilgiri Hills.
3. In which part of India is the Thar Desert?
The north-west (mainly Rajasthan).
4. The Himalayas are what type of mountains?
Young fold mountains.

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. The plateau covering most of peninsular India is the ___ Plateau.
South India.
—
—
Deccan
2. Which line divides India almost in two?
23.5°N.
—
—
Tropic of Cancer
3. The highest mountain peak located within India is?
In Sikkim.
—
—
Kangchenjunga
4. The Nilgiris connect which two mountain ranges?
Flank the Deccan.
—
—
Western and Eastern Ghats
5. Largest Indian state by area?
North-west.
—
—
Rajasthan

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

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