Mountain Ranges of India : Indian Geography. Indian Geography for Competitive Exams and General Knowledge. Major Hills of India.

India is home to several major mountain ranges, each with unique geographical and cultural significance. Here are the major mountain ranges of India:

1. Himalayas

• The highest mountain range in the world, extending across northern India.
• Includes Mount Everest (in Nepal) and India’s highest peak, Kangchenjunga (8,586 m).
• Divided into three parts:
  • Greater Himalayas (Himadri) – Includes the highest peaks.
  • Lesser Himalayas (Himachal) – Includes hill stations like Shimla, Manali, and Darjeeling.
  • Outer Himalayas (Shivalik Hills) – The foothills of the Himalayas.

2. Karakoram Range

• Located in Ladakh and extends into Pakistan and China.
• Includes K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen), the second-highest peak in the world (8,611 m).
• The Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield, is in this range.

3. Zanskar Range

• Located in Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.
• Separates the Indus River from the Tibetan Plateau.
• Home to frozen rivers like the Chadar Trek route.

4. Pir Panjal Range

• Runs parallel to the Himalayas in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
• Contains the Banihal Pass and Rohtang Pass.
• Famous hill stations like Gulmarg, Patnitop, and Dalhousie are located here.

5. Dhauladhar Range

• Part of the Lesser Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh.
• Home to Triund Trek and Dharamshala (Dalai Lama’s residence).

6. Ladakh Range

• Located to the north of the Indus River in Ladakh.
• Includes cold deserts like Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake.

7. Aravalli Range

• One of the world’s oldest mountain ranges, extending from Gujarat to Delhi.
• Home to Mount Abu (highest peak, Guru Shikhar – 1,722 m).
• Plays a crucial role in protecting western India from desertification.

8. Vindhya Range

• Runs across Madhya Pradesh and forms a natural divide between North and South India.
• Important historical sites like Ujjain and Sanchi are located here.

9. Satpura Range

• Lies parallel to the Vindhyas in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• Includes Pachmarhi (Madhya Pradesh’s only hill station).

10. Western Ghats (Sahyadri Hills)

• A UNESCO World Heritage site stretching along Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
• Home to Anamudi (2,695 m), the highest peak in South India.
• Includes hill stations like Munnar, Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar, and Coorg.

11. Eastern Ghats

• Runs along the east coast from Odisha to Tamil Nadu.
• Includes Araku Valley (Andhra Pradesh) and Simlipal Hills (Odisha).
• Home to Mahendragiri (1,501 m), the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats.

12. Patkai Hills (Purvanchal Range)

• Located in the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur.
• Includes three major subranges:
  • Naga Hills – The highest peak is Saramati (3,841 m).
  • Lushai Hills – Located in Mizoram.
  • Dafla Hills – Located in Arunachal Pradesh.