UPSC/PCS/HPSC/Comptetitive Exams.Preparation- Indian Mountains (Static Geography)

 

Indian Mountains Competitive Exam. Preparation (Static Geography)

Mountains of India: North to South (Location, Height, States, Features, Origin of Names)

 

1. Karakoram Range

• Location: Northernmost India (Ladakh), extending into Pakistan and China.
• Highest Peak: K2 – 8,611 m (outside Indian control).
• Important Indian Peak: Saltoro Kangri – 7,742 m.
• State/UT: Ladakh.
• Features:
• Contains the world's largest glaciers outside polar regions.
• Includes the strategic Siachen Glacier.
• Extremely rugged and barren.
• Name Origin: "Karakoram" is a Turkic term meaning "Black Gravel" or "Black Rock."

 

2. Ladakh Range

• Location: Between Karakoram and Zanskar ranges.
• Highest Peak: Around 6,000 m.
• State/UT: Ladakh.
• Features:
• Cold desert landscape.
• Sparse vegetation.
• Important passes such as Khardung La.

 

3. Zanskar Range

• Location: South of Ladakh Range.
• Highest Peak: Kamet region peaks nearby exceed 7,000 m.
• State/UT: Ladakh.
• Features:
• Source region of several tributaries of the Indus.
• Famous for the frozen Zanskar River trek.
• Name Origin: Derived from the ancient region of Zanskar.

 

4. Great Himalayas (Himadri)

• Location: Northernmost Himalayan range.
• Average Height: 6,000 m.
• Highest Peak in India: Kangchenjunga – 8,586 m.
• States/UTs:
• Jammu & Kashmir
• Ladakh
• Himachal Pradesh
• Uttarakhand
• Sikkim
• Arunachal Pradesh
• Features:
• Permanent snow cover.
• Source of major rivers.
• Young fold mountains.
• Name Origin: "Himadri" means "abode of snow."

 

5. Lesser Himalayas (Himachal)

• Average Height: 3,500–4,500 m.
• States: J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim.
• Important Ranges:
• Pir Panjal
• Dhauladhar
• Nag Tibba
• Features:
• Hill stations located here.
• Dense forests.
• Name Origin: "Himachal" means "snow-clad mountains."

 

6. Shiwalik Range

• Height: 900–1,200 m.
• States: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab.
• Features:
• Outermost Himalayan range.
• Made of unconsolidated sediments.
• Formation of "Duns" (Dehradun, Kotli Dun).
• Name Origin: Derived from "Shiva" + "Alik" (belonging to Shiva).

 

7. Pir Panjal Range

• Location: Part of Lesser Himalayas.
• Highest Peak: Indrasan (6,221 m).
• States: J&K and Himachal Pradesh.
• Features:
• Separates Kashmir Valley from Jammu region.
• Contains the famous Banihal Pass.

 

8. Dhauladhar Range

• Location: Himachal Pradesh.
• Highest Peak: Hanuman Tibba (5,982 m).
• Features:
• Steep southern slopes.
• Popular trekking destination.
• Name Origin: "Dhauladhar" means "White Ridge."

 

9. Aravalli Range

• Location: Delhi–Haryana–Rajasthan–Gujarat.
• Highest Peak: Guru Shikhar – 1,722 m.
• States: Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat.
• Features:
• World's oldest fold mountain system.
• Runs southwest from Delhi.
• Acts as climatic divide in Rajasthan.
• Name Origin: Sanskrit "Ara" (peak) + "Valli" (line).

 

10. Vindhya Range

• Location: Central India.
• Highest Peak: Kalumar Peak (~752 m).
• States: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh.
• Features:
• Traditionally separates North and South India.
• Forms watershed between Ganga and Narmada basins.
• Mythological Story: Mentioned in ancient texts as a mountain that challenged the Sun's path.

 

11. Satpura Range

• Location: South of Vindhyas.
• Highest Peak: Dhupgarh – 1,350 m.
• States: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh.
• Features:
• Source region of many rivers.
• Dense forests and biodiversity.
• Name Origin: "Satpura" means "Seven Folds."

 

12. Maikal Range

• Location: Eastern Satpuras.
• Highest Peak: Amarkantak Plateau region.
• States: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh.
• Features:
• Origin of Narmada and Son Rivers.

 

13. Rajmahal Hills

• Location: Eastern India.
• States: Jharkhand.
• Height: ~600 m.
• Features:
• Formed from volcanic lava flows.
• Rich fossil deposits.

14. Meghalaya Plateau

Garo Hills

• State: Meghalaya
• Highest Peak: Nokrek (1,412 m)

Khasi Hills

• State: Meghalaya
• Highest Peak: Shillong Peak (1,965 m)

Jaintia Hills

• State: Meghalaya
• Features:
• Rich limestone deposits.
• Heavy rainfall region.

 

15. Purvanchal Hills (Eastern Hills)

Patkai Hills

• State: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland.
• Forms India–Myanmar boundary.

Naga Hills

• Highest Peak: Mount Saramati – 3,841 m.
• State: Nagaland.

Manipur Hills

• State: Manipur.

Mizo Hills (Lushai Hills)

• Highest Peak: Phawngpui – 2,157 m.
• State: Mizoram.

 

16. Western Ghats (Sahyadri)

• Location: Parallel to western coast.
• Length: ~1,600 km.
• States:
• Gujarat
• Maharashtra
• Goa
• Karnataka
• Kerala
• Tamil Nadu
• Highest Peak: Anamudi – 2,695 m.
• Features:
• UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Major biodiversity hotspot.
• Source of Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri tributaries.
• Name Origin: "Sahyadri" means "Benevolent Mountains."

 

Major Sections of Western Ghats

Nilgiri Hills

• States: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka.
• Highest Peak: Doddabetta (2,637 m).
• Name Meaning: "Blue Mountains."

Anaimalai Hills

• States: Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Highest Peak: Anamudi.
• Name Meaning: "Elephant Hills."

Cardamom Hills

• State: Kerala.
• Famous for spice cultivation.

 

17. Eastern Ghats

• Location: Along eastern coast but discontinuous.
• States:
• Odisha
• Andhra Pradesh
• Telangana
• Tamil Nadu
• Highest Peak: Jindhagada Peak – ~1,690 m.
• Features:
• Dissected by rivers like Godavari, Krishna, and Mahanadi.
• Older than Himalayas.

 

18. Nallamala Hills

• States: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana.
• Features:
• Home to Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve.

 

19. Shevaroy Hills

• State: Tamil Nadu.
• Highest Point: Servarayan Peak (~1,620 m).
• Hill Station: Yercaud.

 

20. Palani Hills

• State: Tamil Nadu.
• Highest Peak: Vandaravu (2,533 m).
• Features: Connected to Nilgiris.

 

21. Agasthyamalai Hills

• States: Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Highest Peak: Agasthyarkoodam (1,868 m).
• Features:
• End portion of Western Ghats.
• Rich medicinal plants.
• Name Origin: Named after sage Agastya.

 

UPSC Quick Revision Table

Mountain	Highest Peak	Height (m)	State/UT
Karakoram	K2	8611	Ladakh region
Great Himalaya	Kangchenjunga	8586	Sikkim
Naga Hills	Mount Saramati	3841	Nagaland
Western Ghats	Anamudi	2695	Kerala
Nilgiris	Doddabetta	2637	Tamil Nadu
Aravalli	Guru Shikhar	1722	Rajasthan
Eastern Ghats	Jindhagada	1690	Andhra Pradesh
Satpura	Dhupgarh	1350	Madhya Pradesh
Garo Hills	Nokrek	1412	Meghalaya
Vindhya	Kalumar	752	Madhya Pradesh

 One-Liner Facts

1. Karakoram contains India's largest glacier — Siachen.
2. Kangchenjunga is India's highest peak.
3. Aravalli is among the world's oldest fold mountains.
4. Vindhyas traditionally divide North and South India.
5. Satpura lies between Narmada and Tapti valleys.
6. Western Ghats are a UNESCO World Heritage region.
7. Eastern Ghats are discontinuous.
8. Nilgiri Hills connect Eastern and Western Ghats.
9. Purvanchal Hills are the eastern extension of the Himalayas.
10. Agasthyamalai marks the southern end of the Western Ghats.

For UPSC Prelims, remember the sequence:
Karakoram → Ladakh → Zanskar → Himadri → Himachal → Shiwalik → Aravalli → Vindhya → Satpura → Rajmahal → Meghalaya Hills → Purvanchal Hills → Western Ghats → Eastern Ghats → Nilgiri → Anaimalai → Cardamom → Agasthyamalai (North → South)