A Brief Guide on Natural Divisions of Bihar

Bihar is an Indian state in eastern India, having a rich history. Patna, situated on the banks of the river Ganges, is its capital city. It is bordered on the north by Nepal and on the east and west by the Indian states of West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. Jharkhand was formed from Bihar’s southern provinces in November 2000. It currently forms the state’s southern and southeastern borders. 

The state boasts of some places of mythological importance. Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, a town in central Bihar. According to legends, the state had an important place in Ramayana. Sita was a princess of Bihar. The state plays a significant part in India’s rich culture and civilisation. For hundreds of years, it held a prominent place for imperial powers.

Now, let’s have a look at the natural division of Bihar.

Natural Divisions of Bihar

Bihar is divided into three physiographic regions:-

1. Shivalik Ranges and Terai Region
2. The Ganga Plains
3. Southern Plateau Region

Shivalik Ranges and Terai Region

The Shivalik Ranges and its Terai Region are located in the northwestern section of Bihar’s Western Champaran. It covers an area of 932 square kilometres. In Bihar, this region symbolises the Tertiary Rock System. It is further broken down into three sections:

Doon Ramnagar

This is the southernmost portion of the Terai Region, covering an area of 214 square kilometres. The highest point in this area is around 240 metres.

Ranges of Someshwar

This is an extension of the Shivalik Ranges in Bihar. It is located in the northernmost section of the state, covering 75 square kilometres with a maximum altitude of 874 metres, making it Bihar’s highest point. It stretches from the Triveni Canal in the west to Bhikhnathori in the east.

Harha Valley / Doon Valley

This area lies between the Ramnagar Doon and Someshwar Ranges. Because the Harha river runs through this valley, it is also known as Harha Valley.

Plains of the Ganges

It covers a total area of 643 square kilometres. This region is higher in elevation than Bihar’s Northern Plains, yet it is still plain.

It stretches from Nepal in the north to the Chota Nagpur Plateau in Bihar’s south. It covers 450,000 square kilometres or roughly half of Bihar’s total geographical area. This is formed by the Ganga and its tributaries flowing continuously for millions of years, creating alluvial fans in the trough between the Himalayas and Peninsular India. Bihar is divided into two parts by the Ganges:

• The Northern Plains of Bihar
• The Southern Plains of Bihar

The Northern Plains of Bihar 

This region stretches from Nepal to the Ganga River and is produced by alluvium deposited by the Ganga’s northern tributaries in Bihar, such as the Ghaghara, Bagmati, Burhi, Gandak, Koshi, Mahananda, and others. In Bihar, it also represents the Quaternary Rock System.

The rivers of Bihar’s Northern Plains divide it into several Doabs; however, the most notable Doabs in the Northern Plains is the Ghaghra-Gandak Doab.

The Northern Plains are a downslope from Nepal in the north to the Ganga river in the south. This plain has a steeper slope than the southern half of Bihar. As a result of the higher Kinetic Energy, more erosion occurs, which aids in enhancing the carrying capacity of the rivers in this region.

The Southern Plains of Bihar

In terms of physiographic features, this region is highly complicated since it has hills protruding from the surface in practically every district, particularly in the southern regions of the district. Batholith outflow is the cause of its formation. Gaya Hills (266 metres), Rajgir Hills (466 metres), Kharagpur (510 metres), Barabar Hills, and Giriak Hills are other notable instances.

The Southern Plains are significantly wider in the west than they are in the east. The Southern plains have a smoother slope than the Northern plains. From south to north, it slopes at around 6 centimetres per kilometre towards the Ganga Basin. As a result, several marshes have formed along the Ganga’s southern bank from Badh (Patna) to Bhagalpur. In Bihar, these swamps are known as ‘Tal.’

Southern Plateau Region

This is found in Bihar’s southern sides, between the Southern Plain and Jharkhand’s Chota Nagpur Plateau. It lies around halfway between Kaimur in the west and Banka in the east.

Many conical hills built of batholith, such as Pretshila, Ramshila, and Jethian Hills, are found in this region.

It is composed of hard rocks, such as gneiss, schist, and granite, among others. This region is rich in minerals, and practically all of Bihar’s mineral resources are found here.

Conclusion

Bihar is a state in India’s eastern region. It is a landlocked state with three Indian states lying on its borders: Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Nepal borders Bihar on the north, Uttar Pradesh on the west, Jharkhand in the south, and West Bengal in the east. It is majorly divided into three physiographic regions – Shivalik Ranges and Terai Region, The Ganga Plains, and the Southern Plateau Region.