📌 Topic 04 of 6 · Chapter 01 · Location & Physiography
Peninsular Plateau — Deccan & Ghats
Central Highlands, Deccan Plateau, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats — features, rivers, and significance.
🏔️ Peninsular Plateau — Overview
The Peninsular Plateau is the oldest and most stable landmass of India — part of the ancient Gondwana land. It is a tableland composed of old crystalline, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. It is bounded by the Western Ghats in the west, Eastern Ghats in the east, and the Vindhya-Satpura ranges in the north.
📊 Major Divisions of Peninsular Plateau
1. Central Highlands
- North of the Narmada river
- Aravalli Range: Oldest fold mountains in India; NE-SW direction; Guru Shikhar (1,722m) — highest peak
- Vindhya Range: Separates North India from South India; east-west direction
- Satpura Range: South of Vindhya; Dhupgarh (1,350m) — highest peak in MP
- Malwa Plateau: Between Aravalli and Vindhya; black soil; cotton cultivation
- Chhota Nagpur Plateau: Jharkhand; rich in minerals (coal, iron ore, mica)
2. Deccan Plateau
- South of Narmada river; triangular shape
- Tilts from west to east — rivers flow eastward into Bay of Bengal
- Deccan Trap: Volcanic lava flows; black soil (regur); Maharashtra, MP, Gujarat
- Average height: 600–900m
- Major rivers: Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Mahanadi
3. Western Ghats (Sahyadri)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | ~1,600 km; from Gujarat to Kanyakumari |
| Height | Average 1,000–1,500m; higher in south |
| Highest peak | Anamudi (2,695m) — highest peak in South India; Kerala |
| Passes | Thal Ghat, Bhor Ghat, Pal Ghat (Palakkad Gap) |
| Rivers | Source of Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Periyar |
| Rainfall | Heavy rainfall on western slopes (windward); rain shadow on eastern side |
| UNESCO | Western Ghats = UNESCO World Heritage Site (biodiversity hotspot) |
4. Eastern Ghats
- Discontinuous range; lower than Western Ghats
- Average height: 600m; highest peak: Jindhagada (1,690m) in AP
- Cut by rivers — Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery
- Nallamala, Erramala, Javadi, Shevaroy hills
⭐ Western vs Eastern Ghats:
• Western Ghats = continuous = higher = UNESCO WHS = Anamudi (2,695m) = source of major rivers
• Eastern Ghats = discontinuous = lower = cut by rivers = Jindhagada (1,690m)
• Palakkad Gap = only major break in Western Ghats = Kerala = important pass
• Western Ghats = continuous = higher = UNESCO WHS = Anamudi (2,695m) = source of major rivers
• Eastern Ghats = discontinuous = lower = cut by rivers = Jindhagada (1,690m)
• Palakkad Gap = only major break in Western Ghats = Kerala = important pass
📝 Exam Tip:
• Aravalli = oldest fold mountains in India
• Anamudi = highest peak in South India = Western Ghats = Kerala
• Chhota Nagpur Plateau = mineral wealth = coal, iron ore, mica
• Deccan Trap = volcanic lava = black soil = Maharashtra
• Guru Shikhar = highest peak of Aravalli = Rajasthan
• Aravalli = oldest fold mountains in India
• Anamudi = highest peak in South India = Western Ghats = Kerala
• Chhota Nagpur Plateau = mineral wealth = coal, iron ore, mica
• Deccan Trap = volcanic lava = black soil = Maharashtra
• Guru Shikhar = highest peak of Aravalli = Rajasthan