The Most Important Mountain Ranges in India

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The Most Important Mountain Ranges in India

KARAKORAM RANGE:

• A Trans- Himalayan Mountain starts from the Pamir Knot

• Karakoram means black gravel (Turkic term)

• Length – 500 km

• Most heavily glaciated part of the world outside the polar regions

• It is the second-highest mountain range in the world

• It has 18 summits over 7,500 m in height, and four exceeding 8,000 m

• K2-Second highest peak in the world

• Glaciers Siachen, Biafo, Batloro,Batura

LADAKH RANGE:

• Trans- Himalayan Mountain located between Shyok and Indus rivers

• The southern extension of this range is called the Kailash Range in Tibet

• Leh is located at its southern edge

• Runs parallel to the Indus River from the Shyok River in the west to the Tibet border in the east

• Khardung La Pass is located on it

ZASKAR RANGE:

• Trans-Himalayan or Tibetan Himalayan range located between the Great Himalayas and the Ladakh Range

• Branches off from the Great Himalayas near 80° E longitude run parallel to the latter

• Nanga Parbat forms its culmination in the northwest

• The coldest place in India, Dras is located here

Mountain Ranges in India

PIR PANJAL:

• Westernmost range of the Lesser Himalayas which separates Jammu from Kashmir

• Extends from the Jhelum River to the upper Beas River for 300-400km.

• Pir Panjal and Banihal passes are located here

• Jawahar Tunnel passes through the Banihal Pass.

DHAULADHAR RANGE:

• Range of the Lesser Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh

• Water divides between the Beas and Ravi rivers

• Important Passes – Hazi Pir, Rohtang La, and Sinthan

• Important Peaks – Deo Tibba (6,001 m) and Indrasan (6,221 m)

• Hill Stations – Dalhousie, Chamba, Kullu, Manali, Botata, Dharmshala, Shimla

• The southern slope is steeper than the northern slope

• The southernmost range of the Lesser Himalayas

NAG TIBBA:

• Part of the Lesser Himalaya in the southwestern Uttarakhand

• Nag Tibba (3022m) is its highest peak

• Region of Bugyals (High Altitude Grasslands)

• Most easterly of the ranges of the Lesser Himalayas in India

• Hill Station- Mussoorie

KUMAON RANGE:

• Part of the Lesser Himalayas in the southeastern part of Uttarakhand

GARO:

• The westernmost part of the Meghalaya Plateau

• Tribe – Garo tribes

• Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is located here

• The main city in the region – Tura

• Highest peak- Nokrek (1412 m)

KHASI:

• The central part of the Meghalaya Plateau

• The highest point of the Meghalaya Plateau

• Main city – Shillong, Cherrapunjee and Mawsynram

• Inhabited by the matrilineal Khasi tribes

JAYANTIYA:

• Eastern part of the Meghalaya Plateau

• Inhabited by the Jatantiya tribes

• Jhumming cultivation is practiced here

• High rainfall region

• Laterite soils region

BARAIL RANGE:

• Located along the border of Manipur and Assam

• Connects Meghalaya Plateau with Purvanchal Hills

• Covered with pine and bamboo trees

• Water divide between the Brahmaputra and the Barak rivers

• The Barak rises in its southern slopes

MIZO HILLS:

• The southernmost part of the Purvanchal located in Mizoram

• Also called the Lusai Hills

• Highest peak – Blue Mountain

• Crossed by the Tropic of Cancer

Mountain Ranges in India

Fig. 1.2 Mountain Ranges/Hills in the North-East India

MANIPUR HILLS:

• Part of the Purvanchal located in Manipur

• Loktak Lake is located here

• Source of Manipur River

• Forms boundary between India and Myanmar

NAGA HILLS:

• Part of the Purvanchal lies between the Patkai Bum and the Manipur Hills in Nagaland

• Highest peak- Saramati (3826m) 

• Makes a boundary between India and Myanmar

PATKAI BUM:

• The northernmost range of the Purvanchal lies in the state of Arunachal Pradesh 

• Makes the border between India and Myanmar

• Source of Burhi Dibing and Disang rivers

MIKIR:

• Part of the Meghalaya Plateau located in Assam, just south of the Brahmaputra River

• Mikir tribes live here practice Jhumming cultivation

• Hills composed of the Archaean rocks

RENGMA:

• Part of the Meghalaya Plateau in Assam is located to the east of the Mikir Hills 

• Full of bamboo and Rengma tribes live here

DAFLA:

• Part of the Siwalik lies in Arunachal Pradesh between the Subansiri River and Kameng River, to the south of the Kamla River

• Tribes living here practice Jhumming

• Covered with dense bamboo, and pine trees.

MIRI:

• Part of the Outer Himalayas or Siwalik in Arunachal Pradesh lies between the Subansiri River and the Kameng River to the north of the Kamla River which separates it forms the Dafla Hills,

• Terraces are built for the cultivation

ABOR:

• Lies in Arunachal Pradesh between the Dibang and the Subansiri rivers

• Parts of the Siwalik Range

• Deciduous and evergreen forests

MISHMI:

• The easternmost part of the Siwalik in northeast Arunachal Pradesh from the Dibang River in the West to the Myanmar border in the east

• Dibang River flows through it

CARDAMOM HILLS:

• The southernmost part of the Western Ghats, in Kerala and Tamil Nadu

• Named after the cardamoms which are grown here, besides pepper and coffee

• Also known as Yela Mala

• Has the Shencottah Gap and includes Mullaperiyar and Idukki Dam  

• Periyar wildlife sanctuary is located in the central part of these hills

• Source of many rivers

PALANI HILLS:

• Mountains of Tamil Nadu east of the Anaimudi Peak

• Located to the North of the Vaigai River

• Mostly within the Dindigul district

• Home of the temple of Lord Muruga, chief God in Tamil Nadu

• Highest peak – Vandaravu

• Hill station of Kodaikanal

• Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park

ANAIMALAI HILLS:

• Anaimalai means ‘Elephant Hills’

• Located between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, south of the Palghat Gap

• Highest peak –Anaimudi (Idukki district, Kerala)

• Many sanctuaries and parks: Idamalayar Reserve Forest, Mankulam Forest Division, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, and Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Eravikulam National Park, and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, 

• Trekking destination

• Tea, coffee, and rubber are grown on lower slopes, and teak forests on the higher slope

Mountain Ranges in India

NILGIRI HILLS:

• Trijunction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, north of the Palghat

• Meeting point of the Eastern and Western ghats

• Waterfalls – Kolakambai Fall, Catherine Falls, Pykara falls, Kalhatti Falls, Karteri Fall, Law’s Fall

• Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve and other conservation areas

• Highest peak – Doddabetta (2637 m), 4 km from Udhagamandalam (Ooty)

BABA BUDAN HILLS:

• Part of the Western Ghats in the Chikamangaluru District of Karnataka

• Also known as Chandra Drona Parvatha

• Highest peak-Mullayangiri (1930 m)

• Baba Budan was a 17th-century Sufi, who is believed to have introduced coffee to India

• Known for Unique flowers known as kurinji that blooms in these hills once every 12 years.

• Known for coffee cultivation

VARUSHANAD HILLS:

• South of the Vaigai River and southwest of Madurai, up to the Cardamom Hills

• Eastern offshoot of the Western Ghats

• Cumbum Valley (Vaigai) divides it from the Western Ghats

• Source of Arjuna and Gunnar rivers

SIRUMALAI HILLS:

• Between Vaigai (S) and Kaveri in Tamil Nadu

• Source of Valiyar and Manimuttar rivers

• Dindigul is the main city nearby it

• Hill station: Sirumalai

PANCHAIMALAI HILLS:

• Panchami means ‘green’ and malai means ‘hills’

• Between Kaveri and Vellar rivers in Tamil Nadu

• Haven of tribals

• Average elevation: 500m to 1000m 

• Good for trekking and enjoying nature

• Namakkal is the main city

SHEVROY HILLS:

• Between Vellar and Ponnaiyar rivers in Tamil Nadu

• The highest peak in the southern part of Eastern Ghat

• Around Salem city

• Sanatorium and several old coffee plantations

• Tourist Place

• Source of Turunanimuttai, Vellar, and Manimukta rivers

JAVADI HILLS:

• Northern Tamil Nadu in Vellar district

• Lies between Ponnaiyar and Palar rivers

• Bisected into eastern and western sections by Cheyyar and Agaram, tributaries of the Palar

• It is sparsely populated

• These hills are known for fruit-bearing trees and sandalwood. 

• Grains, legumes, and oilseeds are chief crops

NAGARI HILLS:

• Located in the southernmost part of Andhra Pradesh, west of the Pulicat Lake in the Chittur District

• Main city – Nagari

• ‘Nag’ means nose in Telugu

• Highest cliff: Nagari Nose (855 m)

PALKONDA RANGE:

• Meaning ‘Milk Hill’

• Arc-shaped Mountain between Penneru and Palar rivers

• Highest point – Buttaid (3,060 ft)

• Relict of mountains formed during the Cambrian Period

• The main crops are – Jowar, groundnuts

• Formed of quartzites, slates, and lavas

• Source of rivers

• Densely forested

Mountain Ranges in India

VELIKONDA RANGE:

• Part of the Eastern Ghats

• Located in Southeast of Andhra Pradesh, east of the Nallmalla Hills

• It is strongly folded and faulted

• Assumed to be elevated during the Cambrian Period, now a relict range

• Sparsely wooded.

• The Chenchu tribe lives here

NALLAMALLA RANGE:

• Between Penneru and Krishna Rivers

• Parallel to the Coromandel Coast

• Part of the Eastern Ghats

• Forms the eastern boundary of the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh and the Nagar Kurnool district of Telangana

• Old Mt. extensively weathered and eroded

• The largest stretch of undisturbed forests in South India excluding the Western Ghats

• Srisailam Tiger Reserve located here

ERRAMALA RANGE:

• A range of low hills in southern India, in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh

• Located between Krishna and Penneru rivers

• West of Nallamalla Range

MELAGIRI RANGE:

• A smaller hill located south of Bangalore in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Range of hills, part of the Eastern Ghats

• Highest peak – Gutherayan (1,390 meters)

• Melagiri Sanctuary is located here

• Arkaveti River flows through this range

• Bannerghatta National Park is located in the northeast and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is in the south

• Kolar gold fields are located near to it

HARISHCHANDRA RANGE:

• Eastward spur of the Western Ghats, in Maharashtra

• Lies between the Bhima and the Godavari rivers OR between Ahmednagar and Pune

• Average elevation – 600 m.

•  Highest peak – Kalsubai (1,646 m)

• Elevation gradually decreases towards the southeast

• Flat topped, consisting of basaltic lava Slops are eroded into terraces

• Named after Harishchandra

• Ahmednagar is the chief city in the region

BALAGHAT RANGE:

• A Series of hills in western Maharashtra originates from the Western Ghats

• Form border between Maharashtra and Karnataka up to 200 miles

• Flat-topped hills with lava covers

• Source of Manjra River

• The western part has dense vegetation but the eastern part is barren and stony

AJANTA RANGE:

• A mountain of Maharashtra entirely within the state

• Forms the watershed between the Godavari and the Tapi river systems

• Source of Purna and Penganga Rivers

• Ajanta Caves are located here

SATMALA RANGE:

• Branch the northern Western Ghats in northwest Maharashtra in Nasik district

• It passes through the center of the city of Nasik

• Highest Peak – Dhodap (1,451m)

• 14 forts are located on this range

NIRMAL RANGE:

• A low hill of Maharashtra located between Penganga and Godavari rivers

• Nanded city is in it

Mountain Ranges in India

GAWILGARH HILLS:

• Part of the Satpura Range located between the Rajpipla Hills (West) and the Mahadeo Hills (East)

• It is spread over Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh

• Located between rivers Tapi and Purna

• Main city-Burhanpur

MAHADEO HILLS:

• Located in the central part of India in the northern part of Satpura Range in southern Madhya Pradesh

• The watershed between the Narmada and Godavari Rivers

• Highest Peak – Dhupgarh (1350 m)

• Source of the Tapi River

GIR HILLS:

• Low hills of the Kathiawar Peninsula to the southeast of the Girnar Hills

• Highest Peak – Sarkala (643m)

• The Gir National Park is in the region

MAIKAL HILLS:

• Eastern part of the Satpura Range, located between Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

• Source of many tributaries of Narmada, Mahanadi, and Godavari

• Inhabited by tribal peoples like Baigas and Gonds.

• Kanha National Park and Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve are located here

Mountain Ranges in India

KAIMUR RANGE:

• Eastern range of the Vindhya’s

• Located between the Son and the Tons rivers in north-eastern Madhya Pradesh

• Its northern edge forms escarpments

• Prehistoric rock paintings have been discovered

GARHJAT HILLS:

• Hill on the northern Orissa and adjoining Jharkhand

• Also called Odisha Highlands

• Average height – 900 m

• Made up of crystalline rocks as granites and gneisses belong to the Archaean period

• Important rivers in the Garhjat hills – Brahmani, the Mahanadi, the Baitarani, and the Subarnarekha.

• Major tribal group – Gonds

• Famous for iron ores

• Highest peak- Malaygiri (1187m)

RAMGARH HILLS:

• Hills of the north-eastern Chhattisgarh, adjoining Jharkhand

• Source of Rihand, Sankh, Mand and lb rivers

• The main city is Ambikapur

Mountain Ranges in India

ARAVALLI RANGE:

• Old dissected mountains of northwestern India, from Gujarat to Delhi

• Source of Banas, Luni and Sabarmati rivers

• Origin in the Proterozoic era

• Oldest fold mountains in India

• Rich in non-ferrous minerals

• Highest peak-Guru Shikhar (1722 m)

ABU HILLS:

• The southwestern part of the Aravalli Range, between the Sabarmati and the Banas Rivers

• City Mount Abu is located on it

GIRNAR HILLS:

• A collection of mountains in the Junagarh district, in the Kathiawad

• Girnar Peak (945m) is the highest peak in Gujarat

• The Gir National Park is located in this region.

• A holy place for both Hindus and Jains

RAJPIPLA HILLS:

• The westernmost part of the Satpura Range, mainly in eastern Gujarat, around the city of Rajpipla

• Separated from the Gawilgarh Hills by the Khandwa Gap

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