India is one of the oldest civilisations in the world. It is a vast and beautiful country, bounded by the mighty Himalayas in the north and surrounded by the sea on three sides. India is called a subcontinent because it is a large landmass that is a part of the continent of Asia but is separated from it by the Himalayas.
India is the seventh largest country in the world by area and the second most populous country. It is a land of great diversity – different languages, religions, climates, cultures and landscapes are found here, yet all its people are united as one nation.
In this chapter, we will learn about the location and size of India, its boundaries, its neighbouring countries, and its physical divisions, including the mountains, plains, plateaus and coastal areas.
India lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and the Eastern Hemisphere. The mainland of India extends between 8 degrees 4 minutes North and 37 degrees 6 minutes North latitudes, and between 68 degrees 7 minutes East and 97 degrees 25 minutes East longitudes.
The Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees North) passes through the middle of India, dividing it roughly into two equal parts. The southern half of India, which is a peninsula, extends into the Indian Ocean. A peninsula is a landmass surrounded by water on three sides. India is a peninsula because it is bounded by the Arabian Sea in the west, the Bay of Bengal in the east, and the Indian Ocean in the south.
India is the seventh largest country in the world, with a total area of about 3.28 million square kilometres. It is the second most populous country in the world, after China.
The land boundary of India is about 15,200 kilometres long, and the total length of its coastline is about 7,516.6 kilometres including the islands. India is bounded by: - The Himalayas and the oceans to the north and south. - The Indus river and the deserts to the west. - The Ganga-Brahmaputra and the hills to the east.
India shares its land boundaries with seven neighbouring countries: 1. Pakistan and Afghanistan in the north-west. 2. China, Nepal and Bhutan in the north. 3. Myanmar and Bangladesh in the east.
In the south, India has two island neighbours: Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait, a narrow stretch of sea.
India has a variety of physical features, which are divided into six main divisions: 1. The Himalayan mountains in the north. 2. The Northern plains (the Indo-Gangetic plains). 3. The Peninsular plateau (the Deccan plateau). 4. The Indian desert (the Thar desert). 5. The Coastal plains. 6. The Islands.
These divisions give India a rich variety of climate, soil, forests and natural resources.
The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world. They stand in the north of India and are the source of many great rivers, including the Ganga, the Indus and the Brahmaputra.
The Himalayas are formed of three parallel ranges: - The Himadri – the northernmost and highest range, which remains covered with snow throughout the year. - The Himachal – the middle range, with many hill stations. - The Shivalik – the southernmost range, with gentle slopes.
The Himalayas act as a natural barrier that protects India from the cold winds of Central Asia and influences the monsoon rains.
South of the Himalayas lie the vast Northern plains, formed by the alluvial deposits of the rivers Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra. These plains are about 2,400 kilometres long and about 240 to 320 kilometres wide.
The Northern plains are the most fertile region of India. They are drained by three great river systems: - The Indus river system. - The Ganga river system. - The Brahmaputra river system.
Because of the fertile soil and plenty of water, the Northern plains are the most densely populated region of India and are called the "food bowl of India".
The Peninsular plateau is a large tableland, made up of old crystalline rocks. It lies to the south of the Northern plains and is the oldest landmass of India.
The Peninsular plateau is divided into two main parts by the Narmada river: - The Central Highlands in the north, which lie north of the Narmada. - The Deccan plateau in the south, which lies south of the Narmada.
The Aravalli hills in the north-west and the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats in the south are important hills of the plateau. The plateau is rich in minerals and is the home of many great rivers like the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri.
India has two long coastal plains: - The Western coastal plain, between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, which is narrow and is home to important ports like Mumbai. - The Eastern coastal plain, between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal, which is wider and has the important port of Chennai.
India has two groups of islands: - The Lakshadweep islands in the Arabian Sea, near the Kerala coast. - The Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal, which lie near the equator.
These islands are beautiful and are important for tourism and national defence.
The Indian desert, called the Thar desert, lies in the north-western part of India, mainly in the state of Rajasthan. It is a dry and sandy region.
The Thar desert has a hot and dry climate with very little rainfall. Water is scarce, and the vegetation is sparse. The people of the desert rear camels and other animals, and where irrigation is available, they grow crops. The Indira Gandhi Canal has brought water to some parts of the desert, enabling farming in new areas.
The rivers of India are divided into two groups based on their origin: - Himalayan rivers: These rivers are perennial (they flow throughout the year) because they are fed by the melting snow and glaciers of the Himalayas. The Ganga, the Indus and the Brahmaputra are Himalayan rivers. - Peninsular rivers: These rivers are seasonal because they depend on the monsoon rains. The Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri are peninsular rivers.
The rivers of India are important for irrigation, drinking water, transport and hydroelectric power.
| Direction | Neighbouring Country |
|---|---|
| North-west | Pakistan, Afghanistan |
| North | China, Nepal, Bhutan |
| East | Myanmar, Bangladesh |
| South (islands) | Sri Lanka, Maldives |
| Division | Special Feature |
|---|---|
| Himalayan mountains | Highest mountains; source of rivers |
| Northern plains | Fertile; food bowl of India |
| Peninsular plateau | Oldest landmass; rich in minerals |
| Indian desert (Thar) | Hot and dry; sandy |
| Coastal plains | Eastern (wider) and Western (narrower) |
| Islands | Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar |
India is a vast and beautiful country, located in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres and bounded by the Himalayas and the seas. It is the seventh largest and second most populous country in the world, and it shares its boundaries with seven neighbouring countries and two island neighbours.
The physical divisions of India – the Himalayas, the Northern plains, the Peninsular plateau, the Thar desert, the coastal plains and the islands – give the country a rich variety of landscapes, climates and resources. The Himalayan rivers and the seasonal peninsular rivers support the agriculture and life of the people. India's great diversity, united under one nation, is its greatest strength, and its physical features are the foundation of its history, economy and culture.