Mountains

Mountains are elevated landforms rising prominently above their surroundings.

• In India, mountains play a major role in influencing climate, rivers, biodiversity, and cultural life.
• India has young fold mountains (Himalayas), old block mountains (Aravallis), and volcanic hills (in Deccan).

📝 PYQ (BPSC 64th): Which is the highest mountain peak in India? → Kangchenjunga

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Mountain Ranges of India

1. The Himalayas

• Formed by collision of Indian and Eurasian plates
• Extend from Jammu & Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh

Sub-divisions:

• Western Himalayas – J&K, Himachal Pradesh
• Central Himalayas – Uttarakhand, Nepal
• Eastern Himalayas – Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh

Important Peaks:

• Kangchenjunga (8598 m) – Sikkim (highest in India)
• Nanda Devi – Uttarakhand
• Namcha Barwa – Arunachal Pradesh
• Mount Everest – Nepal (not in India)

📝 PYQ (BPSC 65th): Kangchenjunga is in which Indian state? → Sikkim

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2. Trans-Himalayas

• Located north of Greater Himalayas
• Includes Karakoram, Zanskar, and Ladakh ranges

Important Peak:

• K2 or Godwin-Austen (8611 m) – second highest in the world (PoK)

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3. Purvanchal Hills

• Eastern extension of Himalayas
• Spread across Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura

Ranges include:

• Patkai, Naga, Lushai, Mizo Hills

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4. Peninsular Mountains (Old Mountains)

• Located in central and southern India
• Formed from ancient block uplift and erosion

Major Ranges:

• Aravalli Range – Rajasthan to Delhi (oldest fold mountain)
• Vindhya Range – Madhya Pradesh
• Satpura Range – Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
• Western Ghats – Kerala to Maharashtra
• Eastern Ghats – Odisha to Andhra Pradesh

📝 PYQ (BPSC 66th): Oldest mountain range in India? → Aravalli Range

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Important Hills and Plateaus in Bihar

Though Bihar lacks tall mountains, several hill ranges and plateau outcrops exist in southern districts:

Southern Bihar Hills (Chotanagpur Plateau Fringe)

• Kaimur Hills – Extends from Rohtas to Sonbhadra
• Rajgir Hills – Nalanda district
• Barabar Hills – Gaya (famous for rock-cut Buddhist caves)
• Pretshila Hills – Gaya (religious significance)

Physiographic Zones of Bihar

• Northern Plains – Alluvial, fertile
• Southern Uplands – Small hills, rocky terrain (Gaya, Nawada, Jamui)

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Strategic & Ecological Significance

• Himalayas – Control monsoon, source of rivers
• Western Ghats – Biodiversity hotspot
• Hills in Bihar – Pilgrimage tourism, natural heritage

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Expected MCQs

• Highest peak in India? → Kangchenjunga
• Oldest mountain range? → Aravallis
• Rajgir hills are in which district? → Nalanda
• Barabar hills are famous for? → Buddhist caves
• Kaimur hills lie in? → Rohtas region of Bihar

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Quick Revision Points

• Himalayas → Young fold mountains
• Kangchenjunga → Highest peak in India (Sikkim)
• K2 → Highest peak in India-claimed territory (PoK)
• Aravalli → Oldest mountains
• Rajgir, Barabar → Notable hill regions of Bihar
• Vindhya–Satpura → Divide North and South India
• Western Ghats → Ecological hotspot

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Sources Used

• NCERT Class 9 & 11 Geography – India: Physical Features
• Lucent GK – Geography Section
• Drishti Bihar Special – Physical Geography
• Bihar Tourism & Geological Survey of India
• Ghatna Chakra PYQs – BPSC/DPCS