Here I am going to provide you CBSE Class 9 Geography Notes Chapter 2 - Physical Features of India. You can also Download PDF of these notes. Physical Features of India, explains the diverse landforms that make up India’s geography. It covers the formation and characteristics of six major physical divisions: the Himalayas, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Indian Desert, Coastal Plains, and Islands. These features influence India's climate, resources, biodiversity, and human activities. By going through Physical Features of India Class 9 Notes you will acquire a better command on this chapter. So, use these notes and do your best!!
Introduction
India is a land of amazing geographical diversity. From the snow-covered Himalayas in the north to the sunny beaches of the southern coastline, and from the vast, fertile plains of the Ganga to the dry, arid deserts of Rajasthan, the physical landscape of India is as varied as its culture. But have you ever wondered why India has such diverse landforms? The answer lies deep beneath the surface of the Earth — in the movement of tectonic plates and millions of years of geological processes.
Major Physiographic Divisions of India
India's landmass is a beautiful mosaic of diverse geographical features. From towering snow-clad mountains to sun-soaked deserts, from lush green plateaus to expansive coastal belts — India truly is a land of contrasts. These contrasts are not random; they are the result of millions of years of geological evolution, shaped by internal and external forces. To better understand these geographical wonders, geographers have divided the Indian landscape into six major physiographic divisions.
Let’s explore each of them in detail:
1. The Himalayan Mountains – The Crown of India
The Himalayas are the youngest and highest fold mountains in the world, stretching across the northern boundary of India like a majestic wall. They were formed by the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate around 50 million years ago.
- Extent: The Himalayas stretch for about 2,400 km from Jammu and Kashmir in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east.
- Width: Varies between 400 km in Kashmir to 150 km in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Direction: Run in a west-east direction.
Three Parallel Ranges:
- Himadri (Greater Himalayas):
- Innermost and highest range (average height: 6,000 m+).
- Peaks like Mount Everest (in Nepal) and Kanchenjunga are part of this.
- Always snow-covered with many glaciers (like Gangotri, Yamunotri).
- Himachal (Middle Himalayas):
- Average height: 3,700–4,500 m.
- Home to famous hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital.
- Valleys like Kullu, Kangra, and Kashmir lie here.
- Shiwalik (Outer Himalayas):
- Youngest and outermost range.
- Composed of unconsolidated sediments brought by rivers.
- Prone to landslides and earthquakes.
Significance:
- Natural barrier protecting India.
- Source of perennial rivers.
- Climate regulator.
- Home to diverse flora and fauna.
2. The Northern Plains – The Breadbasket of India
These extensive flat lands are formed by alluvial deposits of the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra rivers and their tributaries. They are extremely fertile, supporting dense population and intensive agriculture.
- Length: About 2,400 km.
- Width: Ranges between 240–320 km.
- Location: Lies south of the Himalayas.
Divisions Based on Rivers:
- Punjab Plains – Formed by the Indus and its tributaries.
- Ganga Plains – Spread across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal.
- Brahmaputra Plains – Found in Assam and northeast India.
Based on Elevation:
- Bhabar – Pebble-covered area at the foothills of Shiwaliks; streams disappear here.
- Terai – Marshy area where streams reappear; rich in wildlife.
- Bangar – Older alluvium; less fertile.
- Khadar – Newer, regularly renewed alluvium; very fertile.
Importance:
- Ideal for agriculture due to fertility and flatness.
- Dense transport network and urbanization.
- Heart of India's food production.
3. The Peninsular Plateau – The Ancient Core
This is the oldest landmass of India and part of the Gondwana land. It's a tableland composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks, rich in minerals and natural resources.
- Bordered by hill ranges and coastal plains.
- Uneven terrain with flat-topped hills.
Divisions:
- Central Highlands:
- Lies north of the Narmada River.
- Includes Malwa Plateau, Bundelkhand, and Baghelkhand.
- Drained by Chambal, Betwa, Ken, and Son rivers.
- Deccan Plateau:
- Lies south of the Narmada River.
- Bounded by Western and Eastern Ghats.
- Includes Maharashtra Plateau, Karnataka Plateau, and Telangana Plateau.
Importance:
- Rich in iron ore, coal, manganese, and other minerals.
- Ideal for hydroelectricity due to rivers with waterfalls.
- Cultural heartland of many dynasties.
4. The Indian Desert – The Thar’s Golden Sands
Located in western Rajasthan, this desert is a region of sand dunes, extreme climate, and scarce vegetation.
- Receives less than 150 mm of rainfall annually.
- Rivers are seasonal or ephemeral.
- Luni River is the only prominent river.
Key Features:
- Barchans (crescent-shaped dunes) are common.
- Soil is sandy and saline.
- People depend on animal husbandry and irrigation from Indira Gandhi Canal.
5. The Coastal Plains – Where Land Meets Sea
India has a long coastline of about 7,600 km, flanked by two narrow strips of land — the Eastern Coastal Plain and the Western Coastal Plain.
Western Coastal Plains:
- Lies between Western Ghats and Arabian Sea.
- Narrow and steep.
- Divided into Konkan Coast, Kannad Coast, and Malabar Coast.
- Features backwaters like Kerala’s lagoons.
Eastern Coastal Plains:
- Lies between Eastern Ghats and Bay of Bengal.
- Wider and more level.
- Includes Northern Circar and Coromandel Coast.
- Has large deltas (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri).
6. The Islands – India’s Maritime Marvels
India has two main island groups:
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Bay of Bengal):
- Volcanic origin.
- Tropical forests and biodiversity.
- Indira Point, India’s southernmost tip, is here.
- Lakshadweep Islands (Arabian Sea):
- Coral origin (atolls).
- Flat terrain with coconut palms.
- Headquarters at Kavaratti.
Formation of the Physical Features
India’s diverse physical landscape – from the snow-capped Himalayas to the coastal plains and the desert sands of Rajasthan – is the result of millions of years of geological evolution. This process involved continental drift, plate tectonics, volcanic activity, folding, faulting, and erosion. These features didn’t appear overnight; they are a product of ancient movements beneath the Earth's crust and natural forces working over ages.
Let us understand how these physical features came into existence.
The Theory of Plate Tectonics: The Beginning of Everything
The most widely accepted explanation for the formation of the Earth’s surface is the Theory of Plate Tectonics. According to this theory:
- The Earth's crust (the outermost solid layer) is not one piece but broken into several large and small tectonic plates.
- These plates are continuously moving – though very slowly – floating over the semi-liquid upper mantle.
- Movements of these plates cause events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, mountain formation, and rift valleys.
There are three types of plate boundaries:
- Convergent Boundary – where two plates collide. (e.g., Himalayas)
- Divergent Boundary – where two plates move away from each other. (e.g., Mid-ocean ridges)
- Transform Boundary – where two plates slide past each other. (e.g., San Andreas Fault)
The Continental Drift Theory – How Continents Moved
Before the current continents took shape, there was a supercontinent called ‘Pangaea’, proposed by German scientist Alfred Wegener. It broke into two parts:
- Laurasia in the north
- Gondwanaland in the south
India was part of Gondwanaland, which also included modern-day Africa, South America, Australia, and Antarctica. Over millions of years, India drifted northward, eventually colliding with the Eurasian plate, giving rise to the Himalayan mountains and changing the face of Asia forever.
The Himalayan Uplift – Collision of Plates
About 50 million years ago, the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate. This collision was so forceful that the crust buckled and folded, pushing up the landmass to form the young fold mountains we now call the Himalayas.
- The Himalayas continue to rise even today, growing about 5 cm every year.
- This is why the region remains tectonically active, experiencing frequent earthquakes.
This movement also caused:
- Depression in the south of the Himalayas, which later became the Indo-Gangetic Plains, filled by alluvium over time.
- The upliftment of Western and Eastern Ghats and formation of the Deccan Plateau.
Formation of Other Physical Features of India
Let’s explore how other landforms came into existence due to plate movement and natural forces:
1. The Northern Plains – Alluvial Accumulation
- As the Himalayas rose, rivers like the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra started flowing from them.
- These rivers brought huge amounts of silt and sediments which were deposited in the depression south of the Himalayas.
- Over thousands of years, these deposits formed the fertile and flat Northern Plains – the ‘breadbasket’ of India.
2. The Peninsular Plateau – An Ancient Landmass
- This is the oldest physical division of India.
- It is a part of Gondwanaland and consists of igneous and metamorphic rocks.
- The plateau was formed through volcanic activity and the cooling of magma.
- Over time, rivers and winds eroded it into its current shape, forming hills and valleys.
3. The Indian Desert – Result of Arid Climate and Tectonics
- The Thar Desert in western Rajasthan lies in a rain shadow region.
- The Himalayas prevent rain-bearing monsoon winds from reaching here.
- Over time, weathering and erosion created sand dunes and arid conditions.
4. The Coastal Plains – Narrow Fertile Strips
- Formed by the action of sea waves and deposition of sediments along India’s long coastline.
- The Eastern Coastal Plains are wider and have river deltas.
- The Western Coastal Plains are narrow and rocky.
5. The Islands – Volcanic and Coral Origins
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands are of volcanic origin, formed by submerged mountains.
- Lakshadweep Islands are formed by coral polyps, making them atolls and reefs in the Arabian Sea.
Internal and External Forces: Nature’s Sculptors
The Earth’s landforms are also shaped by two powerful forces:
Internal (Endogenic) Forces:
- Originate from within the Earth.
- Examples: Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, mountain building (folding/faulting).
External (Exogenic) Forces:
- Originate from outside the Earth.
- Examples: Erosion (by wind, water, glaciers), weathering, and deposition.
Together, they continuously modify landforms over time, making the Earth’s surface dynamic and ever-changing.
Conclusion
India is not just a country; it is a geographical story millions of years in the making. Its physical features — the towering Himalayas, the fertile Northern Plains, the ancient Peninsular Plateau, the arid Desert, the diverse Coastal Plains, and the island groups — are not randomly formed, but the result of intricate natural forces like plate tectonics, erosion, volcanic activity, and deposition.
The Theory of Plate Tectonics taught us that Earth’s crust is divided into several constantly moving plates. It was through the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate that the Himalayas were born, still rising even today. As these mighty mountains rose, the Indo-Gangetic Plain formed through river deposition, becoming the heart of agriculture in India.
Meanwhile, the Peninsular Plateau, among the oldest landmasses, stood witness to volcanic activity and erosion over geological time. In contrast, the Thar Desert symbolizes nature’s silence — dry winds, scarce rainfall, and golden sands shaped by the forces of climate and geography. Our coastal plains, enriched by rivers and seas, and the coral and volcanic islands that dot the ocean — all add layers to India’s geographical diversity.
Each region plays a unique role in shaping human life, agriculture, settlement patterns, biodiversity, and even culture. From snow-clad peaks to sun-kissed shores, from plateaus to plains — India's physical features are a living textbook of Earth’s evolution.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Landform | A natural feature of the earth’s surface such as mountains, plateaus, and plains. |
| Plate Tectonics | Theory explaining the structure of the earth’s crust as resulting from the movement of large tectonic plates. |
| Gondwana Land | Ancient landmass that included present-day India, Australia, South Africa, South America, and Antarctica. |
| Convergent Boundary | Region where two tectonic plates move towards each other, often forming mountains. |
| Divergent Boundary | Region where two plates move away from each other, often creating rift valleys or mid-ocean ridges. |
| Transform Boundary | Region where plates slide past one another horizontally, causing earthquakes. |
| Himalayas | The youngest and highest mountain range in the world, formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. |
| Peninsular Plateau | Oldest landmass of India made of hard igneous and metamorphic rocks, characterized by broad and shallow valleys. |
| Indo-Gangetic Plain | Large fertile plain formed by the deposition of alluvium from the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra rivers. |
| Coastal Plains | Narrow plains located along the eastern and western coastlines of India. |
| Island Groups | Small landmasses surrounded by water such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands. |
| Western Ghats | Mountain range along the western coast of India that influences monsoon rainfall. |
| Eastern Ghats | Discontinuous range of mountains on the eastern coast of India. |
| Block Mountains | Formed when land between two faults is uplifted or the surrounding areas sink, e.g., the Vindhya range. |
| Fold Mountains | Mountains formed mainly by the folding of earth’s crust due to compressional forces, e.g., the Himalayas. |
| Alluvial Soil | Fertile soil deposited by rivers, common in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. |
| Lagoon | Shallow body of water separated from a larger sea by sandbars or coral reefs. |
