PA R M A R S S C

Topic - Himalayas
Physiographic Divisions Of India
India is Divided into six
physiographic divisions based on
the varied physical features.
1. Himalayas / Northern Mountains
2. Northern Plains
3. Indian Desert
4. Coastal Plains
5. Peninsular Plateau
6. Islands

Mountains
Mountains are landforms that are much
higher than the surrounding land. They
usually steeper than the hills and often have
a sharp peak, or summit.

Types of Mountains
1. Fold Mountains 2. Block Mountains 3. Volcanic Mountains

1. Fold Mountains
They are formed when tectonic plates collide, causing the Earth's
crust to buckle and fold. These mountains are often characterized by
parallel ridges and valleys.

There are two types of Fold Mountains

Young Fold Mountain Old Fold Mountain
Mountains that were formed by Mountains that were formed by
tectonic activity a few million years the folding of the Earth's crust
ago. in the distant past.
E.g. Himalayas, Andes (located in E.g. Aravalli (residual
South America and is world's mountains), Ural (separates Asia
longest mountain range), Alps and Europe), Appalachians
(Europe), Rockies (North America), (North America).
Atlas (Africa), Caucasus mountains.
2. Block Mountains
Block mountains are formed when large areas of the Earth's crust are
broken and displaced due to vertical slippage.
Horst: Raised block of
land bounded by faults,
often appearing as a
ridge or plateau.
Graben (also known as
→
Rift Valley) Lowered
block of land between
two faults, often forming
a valley are formed in
block mountains
E.g: Vindhya and
Satpura, Vosges Mt.
(France), Harz Mt.
(Germany), Great African
Rift Valley

3. Volcanic Mountains
They are formed when magma from the Earth’s mantle rises to the
surface and erupts, Creating lava flows that builds up over time.
Examples:
Mt. Stromboli (known as
"Lighthouse of
Mediterranean",
Mt. Cotopaxi (Ecuador),
Fujiyama (Japan),
Barren and Narcondam
(Andaman & Nicobar
Islands),
Ojas del Salado (world's
highest active volcano in
Chile-Argentina border),
Mt. Kilimanjaro (Africa).
 Himalayas
The Himalayas are one of
the youngest fold mountains
ranges in the world of
tectonic origin and comprise
mainly Sedimentary Rocks.

Formation of Himalayas
They were formed when the Indo-Australian tectonic plate and Eurasian
(Asian) tectonic plate collided, this caused the closure of the ancient
Tethys Sea, leading to the folding and uplifting of sediments deposited
on its seabed. This resulted in creation of multiple massive mountain
ranges which are collectively know as the Himalayas.

Geosyncline: It is an obsolete geological concept that described a long,

linear trough in the Earth's crust where vast amounts of sediment
accumulate, which was believed to later be deformed into mountain ranges

Mountain Ranges in Himalaya

1. Trans Himalayas
2. Greater Himalayas
3. Lesser Himalayas
4. Outer Himalayas

Trans Himalayas
It is located north of
Great Himalayas, the
region is characterized
by high plateaus and
arid landscape.
Average Elevation is
3000 m.
Three division of Trans
Himalayas are :
Karakoram Range,
Ladakh Range &
Zanskar Range

Karakoram Range :
It forms India's boundary with Afghanistan and China.
Highest peak of this range is K2, also known as Mt. Godwin-
Austen (8611 m), which is also world's second highest peak.
Mt. Rakaposhi, Mt. Gasher Brum is also a part of Karakoram
Range
Ladakh Range :
It has the highest slope.
Shyok (tributary of Indus) river flows between Karakoram and
Ladakh range.

Zanskar Range :
Kamet peak is the highest peak of this range.
Indus river flows between Ladakh and Zanskar range

Glaciers of Karakoram Range

- p o la r ld :
1. Siachen n r
2nd longest non-polar glacier. e s t n o h e wo r
g t
Lo n i e r i n Gla c i e
Highest battlefield (5700 m above) c
g la h e n ko n
Operation Meghdoot (1984). c a n
Fe d aj i k i s t c i e r i
a
2. Baltoro (Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan in T est g l The in
g
3. Hisper Lo n wo rld : la c i e r
4. Biafo the bert G
La m rc t i c a
a
Ant

Greater Himalayas

They are also known as

Himadri /Inner Himalayas.
They are formed due to
asymmetrical folding.
The core of Greater
Himalayas is composed of
granitic rock.
Average height: 6000 m.
Axial range: 2500 km.
Width: 120-190 km.
It's westernmost point is:
Nanga Parbat (8126 m).
It's easternmost point is:
Namcha. Barwa (shows
syntaxial bending).
Peaks of Greater Himalayas
1. Mt. Everest (Highest mountain in the world with 8848 m
height) Local names: Sagarmatha (in Nepal) and Chomolungma
(in Tibet).
2. Mt. Kanchenjunga (highest in India (Sikkim) with 8598 m
height).
3. Mt. Lhotse (in Tibet and Khambu region of Nepal with 8516
m height).
4. Mt. Makalu (8485 m).
5. Dhaulagiri (8167 m) →
Also known as White Mountain.
Nepal
6. Annapurna (8091 m).
7. Nanda Devi (highest peak in Uttarakhand with 7816 m
height).
8. Mt. Kamet (7756 m in Uttarakhand)

Note : Kedarnath, Badrinath, Banderpoonch are part of Great

Himalayas.

All important Peaks are mentioned in the given figure above.

 Lesser Himalayas
They are also known as Middle Different Names of
Himalayas / Himachal. Lesser Himalayas
Average height : 4000 m In J&K : Pir Panjal
Width: 60-80 Km. Range
In Himachal Pradesh :
Dhauladhar
Uttarakhand :
Valley Nagtibba
Nepal : Mahabharat
A valley is a low area of land Range
between hills or mountains,
typically with a river or stream
flowing through it.
Kashmir Valley is between Great
Himalayas and Lesser
Himalayas.
Kangra Valley is type of
Longitudinal valley that runs
parallel to Mountain Trend,
whereas Kullu Valley is type of
Transverse Valley that cuts
across Mountain Trend

Note : Duars are

Outer Himalayas soft
unconsolidated
They are also known as Shivalik deposits that are
Average height : 1000 m
In the eastern part they disappear and
good for tea
Duars take its place. cultivation)
Longitudinal Valleys called Duns are
formed between Lesser Himalayas and
Shiwaliks.
Largest Dun in India is Dehradun.
The portion of Shiwalik lying in the
region of Nepal is called the Churia
Range
Regional Division Of Himalayas
Punjab Himalayas : Between Indus and Sutlej River.
Kumaon Himalayas : Between Sutlej and Kali River.
Nepal Himalayas : Between Kali and Teesta River.
Assam Himalayas: Between Teesta and Dihang River.
Kashmir Valley
The Kashmir Valley is also known for
the Karewa formations (composed of
glacial and lacustrine deposits), which
are used to grow Zafran, a local
variety of Saffron.
Zoji La on the Greater Himalayas,
Banihal on the Pir Panjal, Photu La
(Ladakh) on the Zanskar, and
Khardung La on the Zanskar are some
of the region's most important passes.
This region also has some of the most
important freshwater lakes, such as
Dal and Wular, as well as saltwater
lakes, such as Pangong Tso and Tso
Moriri (Both are Salt Water Lakes)
The Indus River and its tributaries,
such as the Jhelum and Chenab, drain
in this region.

Himachal & Uttarakhand Himalayas

They are spread across three states: J&K,
Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Important Hill
It is drained by two of India's largest river
systems, the Indus and the Ganga.
Station
The Bhotia tribe live largely in the valleys of the
Greater Himalayan range. These are nomadic Dharamshala
people who travel to the 'Bugyals' (summer
grasslands in the mountains) in the summer.
Mussoorie
Shimla
Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas
It is home to India's highest peak Mt.
Kanchenjunga.
The Lepcha/Bhutia tribe live in the
higher elevations of this region.
Duar formation can also be seen here.
Arunachal Himalayas
The eastern border of Eastern
Himalayas is formed by Arunachal
Himalayas.
Orientation of Himalayas in
Arunachal is South-west to North-
West.
Important peaks include: Kangtu and
Namcha Barwa.
Important river include: Kameng,
Subansiri, Dibang.
The Monpa, Dafla, Abor, Mishmi,
Nyishi, and Nagas are some of the
most well-known tribes from west to
east.
Jhumming is practiced by the
majority of these groups. It's also
known as slash and burn cultivation
or shifting cultivation.

Eastern/Purvanchal Hills
Important Ranges
Eastern Hills/Purvanchal
Patkai Hills. Hills are part of the
Naga Hills. Himalayan mountain chain,
Manipur Hills. with a basic alignment from
Mizo/Lushai Hills. north to south.
In Manipur and Mizoram They extend from
(also known as Molasses Arunachal Pradesh in the
Basin), the Barak is a north to Mizoram in the
significant river. south.
The state of Manipur is
known for world's only
floating lake → Loktak Lake.
Keibul Lamjao National Park
is located here (World’s only Orientation of Himalayas
floating National Park) In J&K: North-West to
South-East
Sikkim: East-West
Arunachal : South-West
Note : Garo, Khasi, Jaintia
to North-East.
hills are not part of
Eastern Himalayas :
Himalayas but are part of
North-South
Peninsular Plateau.
Mountain Passes
A mountain pass is a route that runs through or over a
mountain range.
Mountain passes between mountain peaks may form during the
formation of the mountain range, or they may form as a result
of the action of glaciers, running water, or precipitation in the
form of rain or snow.

J&K and Leh-Ladakh

Karakoram Pass: It is the highest
pass that connects India and China.
Pir Panjal Pass and Banihal Pass:
They connect Jammu to Srinagar.
Burzil Pass: It is between Srinagar
and Gilgit.
Zoji La: It connects Srinagar in
Kashmir to Leh-Ladakh.
Umling La: World's highest motorable
road (constructed through Project
Himank) in Ladakh.

Himachal Pradesh Shipki La Pass: It connects Kinnaur

district of Himachal Pradesh to Tibet,
China. Sutlej enters in India through
this pass.
Rohtang Pass: It connects the Kullu
Valley to the Lahaul and Spiti valleys
in Himachal Pradesh (Atal Tunnel,
the longest highway tunnel (9.02 km)
is built under the Rohtang Pass).
Bara-Lacha La Pass: It connects
Lahaul and Leh by crossing the
Zanskar range.

Uttarakhand
Mana Pass: It connects the Mana with
Tibet.
Niti Pass: It also connects Uttarakhand
and Tibet.
Lipu Lekh Pass: It is between Uttrakhand,
Tibet and Nepal, it acts as a tri-junction.
Mauling La Pass: During the winter, this
seasonal pass connecting Uttarakhand and
Tibet.
Sikkim

Nathu La Pass: It links Sikkim

and Tibet.
Jelep La Pass: It is located on
the border of Sikkim and
Tibet.

Arunachal Pradesh

Bom Di La Pass: It connects Arunachal Pradesh with Lhasa (Tibet)

Sela Pass
Dihang La Pass: This pass connects the states of Arunachal
Pradesh and Myanmar.
Pangsu Pass: It connects Arunachal and Myanmar.
Bum La Pass: It is a border pass between China and Tawang
district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Diphu Pass: It is in Arunachal Pradesh that borders Myanmar and
is close to the trijunction of India, Myanmar, and China.
Yangyap Pass: It is a pass from where Brahmaputra river enters
India.

Some Important Mountain/Peaks

Mt. Jhopuno: Sikkim.
Gorichen Peak: Arunachal Pradesh.
Saramati: Highest peak of Nagaland.
Kangto: Highest peak of Arunachal.
Thaidawr Tlang: Tripura.
Phawngpui (also known as Blue Mountain): Highest peak of Mizoram.
Mt Iso : Highest Peak of Manipur