Peninsular Mountains of India: Origin, Features, and Major Ranges

The Peninsular Mountains of India are among the oldest landforms, formed during the Paleozoic Era, approximately 250 to 540 million years ago. Unlike the young Himalayas, these mountains are stable, eroded, and composed mainly of igneous and metamorphic rocks. 

Peninsular Mountains include ranges like Aravalli, Vindhya, Satpura, Western Ghats, and Eastern Ghats, playing a key role in India’s geography, climate, and river systems, making them highly important for UPSC preparation.

Peninsular Mountains: Origin and Characteristics

The Peninsular Mountain Ranges are considerably older than the Himalayan Mountains, which formed about 40-50 million years ago in the Tertiary Period. The Peninsular Ranges began evolving in the Paleozoic Era. This vast age difference results in distinct characteristics for each mountain system.

UPSC Online Coaching

Key Features

• Among the oldest mountains in the world
• Formed due to Gondwanaland breakup
• Mostly block mountains (horsts)
• Composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks
• Highly eroded and stable 

Himalayan Mountains vs. Peninsular Mountain Ranges

Understanding the fundamental differences between these two major Indian mountain systems is crucial:

Major Peninsular Mountain Ranges

The Peninsular Mountain Ranges are broadly categorized into the following distinct systems:

• Aravalli Range
• Vindhya Range
• Satpura Range
• Western Ghats
• Eastern Ghats

1. Aravalli Range

The Aravalli Range is a prominent feature, extending approximately 800 km from Delhi to Palanpur in Gujarat, following a North-East to South-West direction.

• Geological Age: Its formation started in the Archean Era, around 4500 million years ago, making it one of the world’s oldest fold mountains.
• Elevation: The average height ranges from 400 to 600 meters.
• Visibility: While clearly visible in Rajasthan, it becomes less distinct in Haryana and Delhi, with the Delhi Ridge considered its northern end.
• Key Features:
  • Mount Abu: This segment is separated from the main range by the Banas Valley.
  • Guru Shikhar: The highest peak within the Aravalli Range, located in Mount Abu.
  • Passes: Important passes like Pipli Ghat, Divair, and Desuri Passes facilitate connectivity for road and railway networks.

2. Vindhya Range

The Vindhya Range runs in an East-West direction, almost parallel to the Narmada Valley, stretching from Jobat in Gujarat to Sasaram in Bihar.

• Elevation: Mountains in this range typically stand between 300 to 650 meters tall.
• Hydrological Role: The range acts as a critical watershed, separating the Ganga River System to its north from the Peninsular Rivers System to its south.
• River Origins: Several major rivers, including the Chambal, Betwa, and Ken, originate from the Vindhya Range.
• Highest Peak: Sadbhavana Shikhar, also known as Goodwill Peak, is the highest point at 752 meters.

UPSC Online Classes

3. Satpura Range

The name Satpura literally means “Seven Mountains,” referring to its series of seven peaks.

• Extent: It stretches for approximately 900 km.
• Direction: The range extends in an East-West direction, situated south of the Vindhyas and running roughly parallel to the Narmada and Tapi rivers.
• Geological Structure: Parts of the Satpura are folded, representing structural uplifts or horsts.
• Highest Peak: Dhupgarh, located in the Mahadeo Hills near Pachmarhi, is the highest peak.
• Other Important Peak: Amarkantak is another significant peak, from which several important Peninsular rivers originate.

4. Western Ghats (Sahyadris)

The Western Ghats are also widely known as Sahyadris, particularly in Maharashtra and Goa. (Memory Tip: UPSC often uses ‘Sahyadris’ when referring to the Western Ghats, so remember this alternative name.)

• Extent: They form the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, covering approximately 1600 km from the Tapi Valley in the north to Kanyakumari.
• States Covered: The range traverses through Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, effectively separating the Deccan Plateau from the narrow coastal plains.
• Global Significance: Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Western Ghats are also one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, celebrated for their rich ecological diversity.
• Climatic Influence: This range plays a vital role in influencing the Indian monsoon mechanism.

Regional Divisions of Western Ghats

1. Northern Section:
   • Prominent Peaks: Key peaks include Kalsubai (near Igatpuri), Salher (near Nashik), Mahabaleshwar, and Harishchandragarh.
   • Major Passes: Thal Ghat and Bhor Ghat are important passes that connect the Konkan Plains (West) to the Deccan Plateau (East).
2. Middle Section:
   • Character: This part is largely covered by dense forests.
   • Important Peaks: Notable peaks include Brahmagiri, Kudremukh, and Pushpagiri.
   • Confluence: This section meets the Eastern Ghats at the Nilgiri Mountains, located at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
   • Nilgiri Peaks: Doddabetta and Mukurthi are two significant peaks within the Nilgiri Mountains.
3. Southern Section:
   • Separation: This section is separated from the main Sahyadri range by the Palghat or Palakkad Gap.
   • Palghat Gap: A rift valley that connects the plains of Tamil Nadu to the coastal plains of Kerala.
   • Highest Peak of South India: Anai Mudi, located in the Anaimalai Hills, is the highest peak in South India, often referred to as the Everest of South India.
   • Other Important Hills: This region also includes the Cardamom Hills, Palani Hills, and Agastyamalai Hills.

5. Eastern Ghats

The Eastern Ghats run almost parallel to India’s Eastern Coast.

• Extent: They stretch from the Mahanadi River in Odisha to the Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu.
• Distinguishing Feature: The Eastern Ghats lack physiographic continuity as they are broken by numerous Peninsular rivers flowing eastward. Consequently, the hills in this range are often considered independent units.

Regional Divisions of Eastern Ghats

1. Northern Parts (between Mahanadi and Godavari):
   • Ranges: This region includes the Maliya and Madugula Konda ranges.
   • Peaks: Mahendragiri is the highest peak of the Maliya range. Jindhagada Peak, located in the Araku Valley, is the highest peak of the entire Eastern Ghats.
2. Southern Part (further south in the north):
   • Prominent Peaks: Key peaks here are Atmakonda, Gali Konda, and Sinkarametta.
3. Central Section (between Godavari and Krishna rivers):
   • Here, the Eastern Ghats lose their distinct hill character, with the Gondwana formation becoming dominant.
4. Andhra Pradesh (Cuddapah and Kurnool districts):
   • The hills in this area are known as the Nallamala Range, with its southern part specifically called the Palkonda Range.
5. Further South:
   • The height of the hills generally decreases.
   • Distinct features include the Javadhi Hills, Shevaroy, and Kalrayan Hills, which rise to about 1000 meters.
   • Confluence: Further south, the Eastern Ghats eventually merge with the Western Ghats at the Nilgiri Hills.

Click to Know UPSC Offline Courses

Importance of Peninsular Mountains

The Peninsular Mountains of India are key geographical features due to the following reasons:

• Control river systems and drainage
• Influence climate and rainfall
• Rich in minerals (bauxite, iron ore)
• Support biodiversity (Western Ghats)
• Act as natural barriers and watersheds

Check Out UPSC CSE Books

Visit PW Store

DOWNLOAD PDF