India and Its Geographic Features

India is present in the Asian continent and is surrounded by land and water bodies. The shape of India on the map is roughly triangular and is bordered by different countries in different directions. Some of the countries that border India are China, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and many more countries. There are various geographical features of India for which the country is known. These geographical features also play a major role in the country’s history. The country is also known for its physical features like mountains, plains, deserts, etc.

Geographical features of India

• India is present on the upper side of the equator(Tropic of Cancer) between 8°4′  to 37°6′  latitude and 68°7′ to 97°25′ longitude.
• It is the 7th largest country globally, with a total area of 3,287,263 sq km.
• It covers a distance of approximately 3214 km from the northern tip to the country’s southern tip. It covers a total distance of 2933 km in the east to west direction of the country.
• It shares a land border with other countries of approximately 15,200 km and a maritime border with other countries of length 7,515 km.
• The Indian Ocean bounds India, the Arabian Sea, the Lakshadweep Sea, and the Bay of Bengal in the south, west, southwest, and east regions. 
• The Ganges–Brahmaputra river system is known to occupy most of India’s north, central, and east regions, while the Deccan Plateau is known to occupy the southern regions of India.
•  Kanchenjunga is the highest point in India located in Sikkim, and it is the world’s third-highest peak. 

Physical features of India

There are three major physical features of India;

Himalayan Mountains

The Himalayan Mountains are the northernmost land of the country. It spreads from Kashmir in the north through Arunachal Pradesh in the North East and covers a distance of 2500 Km.

The entire the Himalayas mountain belt is further divided into three main parts-

• The Greater Himalayas is also known as the Himadri and has an average height of the peaks of approximately 6000 m above sea level.
• The Lesser Himalayas is also known as Himachal, with average peaks of the height of 4000 m
• The Outer Himalayas, also known as the Shivalik hills, is the Himalayan mountain’s foothill.

Northern Plains

Indus, Ganga, and the Brahmaputra, the three major rivers of India, have given a huge amount of alluvial deposits that lead to the formation of the Northern plains. The Northern Plains are further divided into three parts, namely-

• The Punjab Plains- this region is formed by the Indus River and its tributaries. 
• The Ganga Plains- This is present mostly in the Northern states of India, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Delhi.
• The Brahmaputra Plains- covers major parts of Assam and the other North Eastern States.

Peninsular Plateau

It is formed due to the tectonic shifts of the Gondwana Land. It is further divided into:

• The Central Highlands – Present on the northern part of the Narmada River and occupying a large part of the Malwa Plateau.
• The Deccan Plateau- is a famous triangular landmass present on the southern part of the Narmada River. The Deccan Plateau is bordered by the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats on the eastern and western sides. In the northern part, it is covered by the Satpura mountain ranges. 

Geographical Features of Indian History

Different geographical features in India have been known to play an important role in the history of India.

The Himalayan mountains are known to protect India from invasions.

The Indo-Gangetic plain is known for its rivers, the major route for commerce and communication.

Due to its long coastline, the Southern Peninsula is a hub of all the activities performed through water routes like trades and commerce.

Conclusion

India belongs to the Asian continent and is known for its physical features like mountains, plains, desserts, etc., which play a major role in the history of India. India is regarded as the second most populated country after China. The country is known for its geographical features like the presence of the 3rd highest peak globally, different climatic conditions in different regions, and many more. It is a country surrounded by water bodies on three sides and mountains on one side. The country is known for its architecture, culture, and traditions.