Mountain Ranges in India are there to captivate you!

Mountain Ranges in India

Pristine, tranquil, unperturbed and magnificent, the mountain ranges in India are there to bewitch you, captivate and enthrall you! The snowy, swaying mountains, the emerald meadows, the lofty crests, emerald meadows or the lush dense valleys are always evoking a sense of sanctity and a feeling of spirituality within! The eight huge Indian Mountain Ranges in India are there to captivate you! They also offer ample scope for trekking and eco-tourism. Besides serving as the scenic wonders for India, the mountains also carry an ecological significance. They also act as natural barriers for the country.

• The Himalayans Mountain Ranges
• The Aravalli Mountain Ranges
• The Vindhya Mountain Ranges
• The Satpura Mountain Ranges
• The Karakoram Mountain Ranges
• The Patkai or the Purvanchal Mountain Ranges
• The Eastern Ghats
• The Western Ghats

The Himalayas

The mighty Himalayan Mountain Range, popularly known as the Himalayas, actually means the “Abode of Snow”. It happens to be the youngest Mountain in India having a cluster of Metamorphic and Sedimentary Rocks. The origin of these mountain ranges can be traced back to the collision of the tectonic plates. Almost 50 million years ago, the Eurasian and the Indian plates collided to join the continent of Asia. This in turn resulted in the formation of the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas. This is why; the mountains are also called the “Fold Mountains”. This highest mountain range worldwide, also consist of some of the high and popular peaks such as the “Mount Everest” laying along side the border of Nepal and China and Kanchenjunga. The Himalayas separate the Tibetan Plateau from the Indian sub-continent.

Covering numerous outlaying, small ranges, the Himalayan ranges cover 6 nations namely, Tibet, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Pakistan. Several mountains in the Himalayan mountain system bear a religious significance both for the Buddhists and also the Hindus. Important rivers originating from this mountain range are Ganga, Indus, Yangtse, Brahmaputra etc. The Alluvial Plain that is the ultimate basin in the region houses almost 1.4 billion people.

The huge Himalayas are home to diverse and rich variety of Flora and Fauna. The type of flora and fauna changes with the change in climate, Soil, rainfall and altitude. Just above the Alluvial Plain is located the Indo-Gangetic Basin. Then there happens to be the Tarai belt comprising of Marshy Medows, since high rainfall is received by the region. The place is home to the Indian Rhinoceros. Again, above the Tarai belt is situated the Bhabar zone of Rocky soils having forests with Sal trees and Chir Pine.

Aravalli Mountain Ranges

The oldest mountain in India, Aravalli mountain ranges stretches for about 800 km. Running across the northeast through the state of Rajasthan, the Aravalli mountain ranges passes through the southwest, into Haryana and finally ends near the capital city of India, Delhi. Guru Shikhar peak located at Mount Abu is the highest peak of the Aravallis. It has a height of about 1722 m.

Vindhya Mountain Range

The Vindhya mountain range lies in Central India. It is believed that the wastes formed by the weathering of the Aravallis resulted in the formation of the Vindhyas. This mountain range separates south India from North India. It runs at an approximate height of 3000 m. The West end of the Vindhyas is situated in the state of Gujarat. Some of the rivers that flow through this range are the Tapti River, the Ganges, the Godavari and Mahanadi River. Initially though this mountain range was covered with forests yet many human interventions and ecological problems have posed great threats to the range. However, the Vindhya Range provides you with a good holiday spot having many sanctuaries and reserves. The mountain range runs through Gujarta and through Ganges in Mirzapur. The southern and northern regions of the mountain happen to be inhospitable and arid. The southern slopes of the Vindhya mountain range is drained by River Narmada River that next moves towards the Arabian Sea in the west.  Popular for the wildlife reserves, the mountain is home to the well-known Ranthambore National park.

The Satpura Range

The Satpura Range runs from Gujarat and passes through the states of Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Having a triangular shape, the apex of the Satpura Range is at Ratnapuri. The two sides of this mountain range in India run parallel to River Tapti and Narmada. Further, this mountain in India also runs parallel along the Vindhyas in the north. Stretching for about 900 km, the Satpuras consist of many peaks with an average height of about 1000m.

The Karakoram Range

The Karakoram Range is a huge mountain range in India that spans over the borders of Pakistan, India and China. In India, the Karakoram mountain range is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Among Asia’s largest mountain range, the Karakoram happens to be the one of the glaciered range as well, having a length of about 500m. Some of the famous mountains are located in this mountain range such as World’s 2^nd largest mountain, K2. Glaciers like the Biafo Glacier and the Siachen Glacier, the Pamir Mountains and the Wakhan Corridor surrounds the Karakoram Mountain Range. The rivers that originate from this mountain range ultimately converge in Pakistan. Though a wide mountain range, yet in comparison to the Himalayas, the range is less inhabited, owing to its ruggedness. The formation of this mountain range is very similar to that of the Himalayas. The range was also formed owing to movements in the tectonic plates.

The Purvanchal Range

Situated alongside the eastern border of India and Myanmar, the Purvanchal was formed by the collision of the tectonic plates. Conical peaks, steep slopes and deep valleys characterize this mountain range. Also known as the Patkai range, this mountain range consists of 3 ranges namely, the Patkai–Bum, the Lushai hills and the the Garo-Khasi-Jaintia. The whole region is covered with forests comprising of sandstones. The peaks in the Purvanchal mountain range are not rugged or high. The ideal route to this mountain range is offered by the Pangsau Pass.

The Western Ghats

The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Range are situated in West India, as the mane itself suggests. The Western Ghats serves as the separation point in between the Deccan Plateau and the coastal plain near the Arabian Sea. Starting from the borders of Maharashtra and Gujarat, the range runs through the Tapti River and passes through Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, finally ending near the southern tip of the country that is in Kanyakumari. Majority of the portion of the Western Ghats is situated in Karnataka. The ghats offer a diverse variety of vegetation from shrubs to forests etc. Marked as one of the biodiversity hotspots in India, the Ghats have the credit for being the home to about one third diversity of flowers found in India. Some well-known National parks in India, such as the Borivali National Park and the Nagarhole National Park are located in the Western Ghats.

The Eastern Ghats

Discontinuous range of mountains, the Eastern Ghats run parallel to the Bay of Bengal. The 4 important rivers flowing through the Eastern Ghats happens to be River Mahanadi, Kaveri, Krishna, Godaveri. At the meeting point of the Western and the Eastern Ghats, lie the Nilgiri hills of Tamil Nadu. Starting from the state of West Bengal and passing through Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, the Eastern Ghats finishes at Tamil Nadu.

Usefulness

The mountain ranges in India apart from offering great opportunities for tourism, also acts as natural barriers for the country and prevents India from the cold strong winds from the poles. The mountains in India also influence the climatic conditions in the region, thereby providing with monsoon winds. The mountains in India re therefore immensely useful!

Western Ghats: The Disappearing Heritage!

Mountain Ranges in India

In proximity to the eternal waters of the Arabian Sea, and along the Malabar Coast in south India, lies an ancient realm of mountain ranges, the Western Ghats or the Sahyadris. Wrapped within dense greenery is the world that teems with bizarre yet beautiful life!

Western Ghats comprises the beautiful range of mountains that lie along the west coast of India, separating the Deccan Plateau from the coastal strip alongside the Arabian Sea. It is basically a broken extension of the Deccan Plateau that was possibly created during the breaking up of the Gondwana continent. This mountain range commences from the south of the River Tapti, bordering Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Western Ghats has a length of about 1600 km and runs through the states of Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, culminating at Kanyakumari, the south of the peninsular India. The ranges cover an approximate area of about 60,000 square kilometer, with an approximate elevation of 1200m. .

The Western Ghats in the state of Maharashtra extends from the Satpuras in the north and passing through Goa, it goes till Karanataka.  The 2 major peaks in this region are Kalsubai, and Salher with a height of about 1646 m and 1567 m, respectively. Several passes and gaps can be found at the Western Ghats, popular among them being the Bhor Ghat and the Thal Ghat. On the south of the Western Ghats lies the Nilgiri hill that happens to be the meeting point of the Eastern and the Western Ghats.

2 of the highest peaks in the Nilgiris are the Dodabetta and Makurti, with a height of about 2637 m and 2554 m respectively. In the south of the Nilgiris lies the Palghat gap that stretches from east to west of the mountain ranges. Having 24km width, the Palghat gap serves as a comfortable passageway across the beautiful Western Ghats. Cardamom and Palni hills also lie in the south of the Nilgiris. The coastal plain in between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats is called in the north, the Konkan Coast, while in the south it is know as the Malabar Coast. Pune happens to be the largest city in between these mountain ranges.

Climate and Rainfall in the Western Ghats

The lower parts of the Western Ghats experience a tropical and humid climate. Regions with an approximate elevation of 1500m and more in the north and 2000m or more in the south experience a moderate climate. The mean temperature fluctuates from 24 degree Celsius in the northern side to about 20 degree Celsius in the southern side. Winds play an essential part in the seasonal cycle of the Western Ghats. In the summers, winds bring monsoons in the region while in the winters; the winds offer a calm and comfortable effect. In the months of June to September that is during the monsoons, Western Ghats interrupt the path of the heavy rain bearing clouds moving eastward as a result of which, the windward side receives more rainfall of about 3000 mm to 4000 mm with few extremes leading to 9000 mm. The east of the Western Ghats, however, is the rain-shadow area with an average rainfall of 1000mm.

Rivers in the Western Ghats

The drainage system at the Western Ghats mainly comprises the perennial rivers of the Indian peninsula. Rivers flowing westward such as the Krishna River, Godavari River and Kaveri River flow into Arabian Sea. The Zuari River, Mandovi River and Periyar River moving eastwards flows into the Bay of Bengal. Few rivers also drain into the backwaters of Kerala and Maharashtra. Kabini River, Kallayi River, Chittar River, Malaprabha River, Bhima River, Pachaiyar River, Manimuthar River, Kundali River, Pennar River, and the Tambaraparani River are among the other small rivers in the Western Ghats. The Parambikulam Dam in Kerala, Koyna Dam in Maharashtra, and the Linganmakki Dam in Karnataka are among the important reservoirs in the region.

People in the Western Ghats

That which runs parallel and matches the amazing diversity of the animal and plant life, is the cultural heritage, customs and traditions prevalent among the people in the Western Ghats. You can find people from varied religious and along with the indigenous groups of people such as the Todas.

The people in the Western Ghats have for generations used the wild, local plants to develop crops. This consists of grains like barley, rice, and finger millet, spices like cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, and nutmeg and fruits such as garcinia, banana, mango, and jackfruit.

Western Ghats: Biodiversity Hotspot

Biodiversity is the huge assortment of microorganisms, animals and planst coexisting in order to create some ecological communities. The Biological diversity doesn’t happen to be evenly distributed all across the Earth. 34 global ‘hotspots’ have been identified by the Conservation biologists. Although about 2.3% of the earth’s area is occupied by the hotspots, yet these hotspot destinations are home to more than 50% of vascular plants and over 42% of terrestrial vertebrates. These small portions of biodiversity hotspots are immensely essential as they are home to about 75% of the most threatened birds, mammals and amphibians on the Earth.

The Western Ghats serves as 1 of the top 10 biodiversity hotspots on the earth. The number of animal and bird species occurring in the Western Ghats is very high. The mountains are home to more than 1700 endemic species of plants, 14 endemic species of mammals and abundant endemic reptiles and amphibians species, all at such a region, which has lost almost 80% of the initial forest cover. The Western Ghats are therefore considered among the cherished ecological locations in the earth. The main ecosystems of the Western Ghats consist of the tropical wet evergreen forests in Radhanagari and Amboli, the moist deciduous forests in Mulsi, the montane evergreen forests in Bhimashanker and Mahabaleshwar and the scrub forests in Mundunthurai. The vegetation of the Western Ghats will offer you a diverse variety ranging from scrub jungles to grasslands, moist deciduous forests to evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. 2 important areas of multiplicity in the region are the Agashyamalai hills and the Silent Valley. Owing to comprehensive landscape and heavy rainfall, certain areas in the region are inaccessible, which in turn has helped in the preservation of the variety in the region. One can find in the Western Ghats, numerous ranges of species of plants. A large range of flowering plant species of the country are found in this region. Among the 450 plants that are found here, about 40 percent are well-known and important since they have completely been acclimating to the climate.

An equal diversity is also provided by the wildlife in the region. The sole biodiversity reserve in the Western Ghats happens to be the Nilgiri biodiversity reserve that promotes the conservation of endangered and endemic species. The Ghats also have few national parks such as the Borivali National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Bandipur National Park, Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary and the Periyar National Park in Kerala. You can trace here leopards, elephants, sloth bears, tigers, barking deer, mouse deer, rare lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, spotted deer, and the giant squirrel and birds such as fairy bluebirds, hornbills and racket tailed drongos, gaur, lion-tailed macaque and many more!

Western Ghats: The Disappearing Heritage!

With an ever-increasing rise in the number of people who depends on the mountain resources, the vast cultural and biological diversity of the Western Ghats are under immense stress. Like many other ecosystems, modernization has taken a toll of this region as well. This has resulted in the extinction of numerous species of animals and birds. The rising demand for the natural resources along with insufficient protection on the part of the Government is posing great threats to these mountains. Natural habitats in the region are fast degrading and getting fragmented into isolated, small patches, leaving behind very less space for the plants and animals to exist. The Western Ghats are hence fast losing its heritage.

The Eastern Ghats of merging hills and meandering rivers!

Mountain Ranges in India

The stupendous glory of India is unparalleled and unmatched for! No other country, worldwide can compare itself to this glory of India. Whether it is the magnificent waterfalls or the sacred rivers, lush canopies or the verdant valleys or the varied and rich flora and fauna, India has it all in store for you! India is blessed to have experienced every creation of ‘Mother Nature’. And when it comes to mountains, India has no dearth of it. Serene, unruffled, pristine, and majestic, the mountains in India have will never fail to mesmerize, bewitch, and enthrall you. Be it the snow peaks or the lofty crests, meandering valleys or the emerald meadows, the mountain ranges in India are surely there to evoke sanctity and spirituality. Mountains in India are the origin points of many rivers in the country. Acting as the natural barriers for the country, there are nine major mountain ranges in India. These 9 gigantic mountain ranges in India make the subcontinent a major attraction for the tourist by offering immense opportunities for eco-tourism and adventurous activities. However, apart from being scenic wonders of the country and being ecologically useful, the mountain ranges of India, also acts as the natural barriers.

• The Himalayan Range
• The Kunlun Range
• The Karakoram Range
• The Shiwalik Range
• The Patkai Range
• The Aravali Range
• The Vindya Range
• The Western Ghats Range
• The Eastern ghats Range

The Himalayan Range- The Himalayan Mountain or the “land of snow” are the highest and youngest mountain ranges worldwide. Separating India from the remaining part of Asia, the mighty Himalayan ranges consist of 30 peaks with a height of about 7315m. The 2 highest mountain peaks worldwide, Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga are located in the Himalayas. The states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal are nestled within the Himalayas.

The Kunlun Range- Running on the eastward direction, the Kunlun range in India lies on the northern region of Kashmir and the Tibetan plateau.

The Karakoram Range – yet another important mountain range in India, the Karakoram Range is situated in the Ladakh Region of Jammu and Kashmir. Extending 500 km in the south east, the range houses over 60 peaks with an average height of about 7000 m. Popular among the peaks is K2. Some of the longest glacier in the world can also be find here, for instance the Siachen glacier and the Biafo glacier.

The Shiwalik Range- This sub-Himalayan mountain range is situated on the lower Himalaya foothills. It runs from Jammu, through Kangra valley, Sirmaur district, Dehradun to Bhabbar tracts of Garhwal and Kumaon. It consists of smaller hills. Some popular hill stations in India such as Dehradun, Nainital etc are situated in this range.

The Patkai Range- Patkai or Purvanchal ranges are situated in the east of India, thereby connecting the country to Myanmar. This mountain range is replete with steep slopes, conical peaks and deep valleys. 3 main hills that are located in this range are the Garo-Khasi-Jaintia, the Patkai-Bum and the Lushai hills.

The Aravali Range – India’s oldest mountain range, the Aravali mountain range runs around 300 miles from the northeast direction to the southwest, across the state of Rajasthan in western region of India. The sole and famous hill station, Mount Abu is nestled within the Aravalis.

The Vindhya Range and Satpura Range- These 2 mountain ranges in India, runs through out Central India. A low mountain range, the Vindhyas is situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh. With an average height of about 910m, the range sprawls over an area of about 970 km. The Satpuras on the other hand, are a triangular shaped range, originating from the eastern part of Gujarat. It sprawls over an area of about 900km, running mostly through Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to Chhattisgarh.

The Western Ghats- The Western Ghats or the Sahyadri mountain range runs across the north- south western edge of the popular Deccan Plateau in India. Running parallel to the Arabian Sea, the range starts from the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra and passes through Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu and finally ends at Kanya Kumari.

The Eastern Ghats – The Eastern Ghats of merging hills and meandering rivers stretches from the state of West Bengal in the northern region, through Andhra Pradesh and Orissa to Tamil Nadu in the southern part of India. 4 biggest rivers in India, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, and Kaveri cut the Eastern Ghats, thereby making it irregular at several places. This mountain range has an average height of 600m. The Eastern Ghats runs parallel to the Bay of Bengal. The Deccan Plateau is on the west of the range, in between the Western and the Eastern Ghats. The coastal plain is located in between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. In the southern end, the few low hill ranges are formed by the Eastern Ghats. The southern part of the Eastern Ghats is the Karanthamalai and Sirumalai Hills located in the south of Tamil Nadu. The central region of the Eastern Ghats comprise of 2 parallel ranges, namely the lower Velikonda Range in the east, and the higher Palikonda-Lankamalla-Nallamalla Ranges in the west.

The Eastern Ghats: Merging Hills and Meandering Rivers!

Much older than the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats are located at a height lower than the former. The ranges are situated within 76° 50′ and 86 ° 30 E longitudes and 11° 30′ and 22° N latitude. Extremely fertile, the Eastern Ghats sprawls over an approximate area of 75,000 square km. The Ghats serve as a watershed for numerous rivers since higher waterfall is received by the ranges. Owing to high rainfall and fertility of the land, the ranges help in the better growth of crops. Often called by the name “Estuaries of India”, the Ghats is filled with numerous opportunities for fishing. The Eastern Ghats thus bear an ecological significance as well, like the Western Ghats.

Flora and Fauna of the Eastern Ghats

The diverse environmental niches and ecological situation offers a great habitat for a rich and varied flora and fauna. The ranges house many Asiatic elephants. Apart from that, you can also find Leopards, Gaurs, Nilgiri Tahr, Sambar, and tigers etc. Diverse species of birds can be traced here. As a tourist some of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the Eastern Ghats are the Baissipalli Wildlife Sanctuary, Simlipal National Park, Satkoshia Gorge Sanctuary etc. Also having a rich flora, one can find a number of medicinal plants in the regions.

Tribal Population in the Eastern Ghats

In the Eastern Ghats, one can find many tribes such as the Jatapu, Savara, Konda Dora, Khond, Manne Dora, Gadaba, and Mukha Dora. These indigenous groups have their unique and individual cultural heritage and traditions. Ancient customs and traditions are followed by the tribal population in the Eastern Ghats. The population till date is largely dependent on haunting and various forest products for earning their livelihood.

High peaks at the Eastern Ghats

The Eastern Ghats consist of the peaks like Mahendragiri, Devagiri, Chandragiri, Deomali Parvat, Malayagiri, Dharakonda, Hatimali, Turiakonda, Sambari Konda, Mettur, Shevaroy, Nallamalla, Kalrayan, Pachamalai hills and many more. In the, several many low hills are formed by the Eastern Ghats, like the Sirumalai and Karanthamalai Hills. The higher elevation hills of the Eastern Ghats are Kalrayan, Palamalai, Pachaimalai, Mettur and Shevaroy in the north of Tamil Nadu. The center of the Eastern Ghats comprises 2 parallel ranges, the higher Palikonda-Lankamalla-Nallamalla Ranges in the western side and the lower Velikonda Range in the eastern side.

Eastern Ghats Reserves, Hill stations and Waterfalls

Both hill stations such as Yercaud in the state of Tamil Nadu and also ecological reserves like in the Bilgiri Hills can be found in the Eastern Ghats of India. The Bilgiri Hills connects the Eastern and the Western Ghats by forming a ecological, forested corridor, running from the east of the Western Ghats up to River Kaveri. The forest region also serves as an important route for the elephants. Vishakhapatnam, Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack, Pondicherry, Puri and Rajahmundry are some of the nearby places that you can visit. Be it waterfall such as the Kiliyur Falls or lakes such as the Kolleru Lake, Pullicat Lake or Chilika Lake, the Eastern Ghats of merging hills and meandering rivers have it all!

 

 

 

Interesting Facts about Mountains

Mountain is a landform with steep slopes that rise high above the surrounding area. Mountains are considered larger than hills but there is really no hard and fast rule to this.

What is considered a hill in one county may be called mountain in another country. Watchung Mountains in the USA are less than 200 meters high while a 400 meters high peak in Himalayas is considered t be a foot hill.

Generally mountain is higher and is steeper than a hill

Mountains are classified into 5 categories on the basis of their physical characteristics.

· Fold Mountains

· Block Mountains

· Dome Mountains

· Volcanic Mountains

· Plateau Mountains

How do can we measure a mountain – To measure a mountain we use Barometer. Barometer helps to measure the air pressure and at the top of the mountains air pressure is lower than the pressure on the ground. By comparing the two we can calculate how tall a mountain is. Another instrument used to measure Mountain is Theodolite. Lately we use Satellite pictures to Measure Mountains.

Water and Ice play an important role providing shape to the mountains.

Mountains are everywhere on Earth in all the continents and even under the sea. A mountain is a truly spectacular sight.

Some of the well known mountain ranges found in each continents are:-

Antarctica	Antarctic Peninsula, Trans-Antarctic Mountains
Africa	Atlas, Eastern African Highlands, Ethiopian Highlands
Asia	Hindu Kush, Himalayas, Taurus, Elbrus, Japanese Mountains
Australia	MacDonnell Mountains
Europe	Pyrenees, Alps, Carpathians, Apennines, Urals, Balkan
North America	Appalachians, Sierra Nevada, Rockies, Lauren tides
South America	Andes, Brazilian Highlands

Some Interesting facts about Mountains

1. Some of the world highest and longest mountains lies under the ocean. The Worlds largest Under Water Mountain is Mauna Kea in Hawaii.
2. The mid-Atlantic Ridge is the Worlds longest chain of undersea mountains.
3. Mount Everest is not the tallest mountain in the world, if we calculate the height of the mountain from the base to the peak. Mauna Kea of Hawaii is the tallest. If we measure the height of the mountain from the centre of the earth, Chimborazo, a volcano in the Andes of Ecuador is the tallest since it is located nearly on the equator where the earth bulges the most. Everest is tallest mountain if we measure the height from above the sea level.
4. It is estimated that 12% of the world population leave in Mountain Areas.
5. Amongst the entire mountain Areas Alps are densely populated.Worlds top 10 Highest Mountains

Mountain	Range	Location	Height (meters)
Everest	Himalayas	Asia	8850
K2(Godwin Austen)	Karakoram	Asia	8611
Kanchenjunga	Himalayas	Asia	8586
Lhotse 1	Himalayas	Asia	8501
Makalu 1	Himalayas	Asia	8463
Cho Oyu	Himalayas	Asia	8200
Dhaulagiri	Himalayas	Asia	8167
Manaslu	Himalayas	Asia	8156
Nanga Pārbati	Himalayas	Asia	8126
Annapurna	Himalayas	Asia	8091

We find that all these mountains are located in Asia. Himalayas is made up three parallel ranges – the great Himalayas, the middle Himalayas and the sub Himalayas. We have to learn a lot from the mountains.