Indian Peninsular Plateau Overview - Study features and formation of the Deccan Plateau, Marwar Plateau, Bundelkhand, Chotanagpur, and other major plateaus. Learn about their geographical significance, formation, and characteristics in India.

Indian Peninsular Plateau (Deccan Plateau)

• Definition of Plateau
  • A plateau is defined as a landform that rises sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side, characterized by a flat top.
  • Plateaus are typically isolated, standing alone without surrounding plateaus.
  • According to National Geographic, plateaus are flat and elevated landforms that can significantly differ in height from the surrounding terrain.


• Features of the Peninsular Plateau
  • The Peninsular Plateau is roughly triangular in shape, with its base coinciding with the southern edge of the great plain of North India. The apex of this triangular plateau is at Kanniyakumari.

  

  • It covers a vast area of approximately 16 lakh square kilometers, while the total area of India is about 32 lakh square kilometers. This makes the plateau a significant portion of the Indian landmass.
  • The average height of the Peninsular Plateau ranges between 600 to 900 meters above sea level, though this height varies across different regions within the plateau.
  • The majority of the rivers originating from the Peninsular Plateau flow from west to east, reflecting the general slope of the land.
  • An exception to this west-to-east flow is the Narmada and Tapti rivers, which flow from east to west in a rift valley caused by divergent tectonic plates.
  • The Peninsular Plateau is one of the oldest landforms on Earth, formed during the Archaean era.
  • It is a stable block primarily composed of ancient Archaean gneisses and schists, indicating long-term geological stability.
  • For several hundred million years, the Peninsular Plateau has remained a land area with minimal submersion beneath the sea.
  • The plateau is an aggregation of several smaller plateaus, hill ranges, river basins, and valleys, creating a diverse landscape.


• Minor Plateaus in the Peninsular Plateau

  • Marwar Plateau or Mewar Plateau

    • Location: Eastern Rajasthan, east of the Aravalis.
    • Average elevation: 250-500 meters above sea level, sloping eastwards.
    • Composition: Sandstone, shales, and limestones from the Vindhayan period.

    

    • Rivers: The Banas River and its tributaries (Berach, Khari) originate in the Aravalis and flow northwest into the Chambal River. Erosional activity creates a rolling plain appearance.
    • Rolling Plain: Slight rises and falls in the landform, similar to the prairies of the USA.
  
  

  • Central Highland

    • Also called the Madhya Bharat Pathar or Madhya Bharat Plateau.
    • Location: East of the Marwar or Mewar Upland.
    • Composition: Basin of the Chambal River, flowing through a rift valley.
    • Main tributaries: Kali Sindh, Banas, Parwan, and Parbati rivers.

    

    • Characteristics: Rolling plateau with rounded hills made of sandstone and thick forests. The northern region features Chambal river ravines or badlands.
  
  

  • Bundelkhand Upland

    • Location: Bordered by Yamuna river (north), Madhya Bharat Pathar (west), Vindhyan Scarplands (east and southeast), and Malwa Plateau (south).
    • Composition: Dissected upland of 'Bundelkhand gneiss' made of granite and gneiss.
    • Extent: Covers five districts in Uttar Pradesh and four districts in Madhya Pradesh.

    

    • Elevation: 300-600 meters above sea level, sloping from Vindhyan Scarp to Yamuna River.
    • Features: Chain of hillocks made of granite and sandstone. The region has an undulating surface due to erosional work by rivers, rendering it less suitable for cultivation.
    • Characterized by senile topography, streams include Betwa, Dhasan, and Ken.
  
  

  • Malwa Plateau

    • Shape: Roughly triangular, based on the Vindhyan Hills, bounded by the Aravali Range (west), Madhya Bharat Pathar (north), and Bundelkhand (east).
    • Drainage systems: One towards the Arabian Sea (Narmada, Tapi, Mahi), and another towards the Bay of Bengal (Chambal, Betwa, joining Yamuna).

    

    • Drainage in the north: Chambal River and its right-bank tributaries (Kali, Sindh, Parbati). Includes upper courses of Sindh, Ken, and Betwa rivers.
    • Composition: Extensive lava flow covered with black soils.
    • Slope: General slope towards the north, decreasing from 600 meters in the south to less than 500 meters in the north.
    • Characteristics: Rolling plateau dissected by rivers; Chambal ravines mark the northern part.

Baghelkhand Plateau

• Location and Composition
  • Located north of the Maikal Range.
  • Composed of limestones and sandstones in the west, and granite in the east.
  • Bounded by the Son River to the north.
  • Central part of the plateau acts as a water divide between the Son drainage system in the north and the Mahanadi river system in the south.

  

  • The region is uneven with general elevation varying from 150 m to 1,200 m.
  • Bharner and Kaimur are located close to the trough-axis.
  • The general horizontality of the strata indicates minimal major disturbances in the area.

Rohtas Plateau

• General Information
  • Also known as the Kaimur Plateau.
  • Located in the south-western part of Bihar.

  

  • Comprises about 800 square miles (2,100 km²) and is an undulating table land.
  • At Rohtasgarh, it attains a height of 1,490 feet (450 m) above sea level.


• Surrounding Geography
  • A series of fluvial plateaux run along the Kaimur Range, consisting of descending plateaux starting with the Panna Plateau in the west, followed by Bhander Plateau and Rewa Plateau, and ending with Rohtas Plateau in the east.

Bhander Plateau

• General Information
  • Located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India.
  • Covers an area of 10,000 square kilometers.
  • Links the Deccan Plateau to the south with the Indo-Gangetic Plains and the Chota Nagpur Plateau to the north and east, respectively.
  • Part of the Vindhya Range in central India.
  • Features a series of plateaux along the Kaimur Range, with descending plateaux starting from the Panna Plateau in the west, followed by Bhander Plateau and Rewa Plateau, and ending with Rohtas Plateau in the east.

Chotanagpur Plateau

• Location and Features
  • Represents the north-eastern projection of the Indian Peninsula.
  • Located mostly in Jharkhand, northern part of Chhattisgarh, and Purulia district of West Bengal.
  • The Son River flows in the north-west of the plateau and joins the Ganga.

  

  • Average elevation is 700 m above sea level.
  • Composed mainly of Gondwana rocks.
  • Drained by numerous rivers and streams in different directions, presenting a radial drainage pattern.


• Major Rivers and Regions
  • Rivers such as the Damodar, Subarnrekaha, North Koel, South Koel, and Barkar have developed extensive drainage basins.
  • The Damodar River flows through the middle of this region in a rift valley from west to east, housing Gondwana coal fields which are significant for coal production in India.
  • North of the Damodar River lies the Hazaribagh Plateau, with an average elevation of 600 m above mean sea level. It features isolated hills and resembles a peneplain due to extensive erosion.
  • The Ranchi Plateau, to the south of the Damodar Valley, rises to about 600 m above mean sea level. The region is mostly rolling, with the city of Ranchi (661 m) situated here.
  • Interruption by monadnocks (isolated hill or ridge of erosion-resistant rock) and conical hills is common.
  • The Rajmahal Hills, forming the northeastern edge of the Chotanagpur Plateau, are predominantly basaltic and covered by lava flows. They run in a north-south direction and rise to an average elevation of 400 m, with the highest peak at 567 m. These hills have been dissected into separate plateaus.

Meghalaya Plateau

• Extension and Formation
  • The peninsular plateau extends further east beyond the Rajmahal Hills to form the Meghalaya or Shillong Plateau.
  • Separated from the main block of the Peninsular Plateau by the Garo-Rajmahal Gap.

  

  • Formed by down-faulting, which was later filled by sediments deposited by the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers.
  • The Malda Gap is created by down-warping along the Rajmahal–Garo Hills, through which the Ganga-Brahmaputra flows.
  • Composed of Archaean quartzites, shales, and schists.
  • Slopes down towards the Brahmaputra Valley in the north and the Surma and Meghna Valleys in the south.
  • Western boundary coincides with the Bangladesh border.


• Major Regions
  • The western, central, and eastern parts are known as the Garo Hills (900 m), Khasi-Jaintia Hills (1,500 m), and Mikir Hills (700 m), respectively.
  • Shillong, the highest point of the plateau, stands at 1,961 m.

Deccan Plateau

• General Information
  • Covers an area of about five lakh sq km.

  

  • Triangular in shape, bounded by the Satpura and Vindhya ranges in the north-west, the Mahadev and Maikal ranges in the north, the Western Ghats in the west, and the Eastern Ghats in the east.
  • Average elevation is 600 m.
  • Rises to 1000 m in the south but dips to 500 m in the north.
  • General slope is from west to east, indicated by the flow of major rivers.
  • Rivers have further subdivided the plateau into several smaller plateaus.

Maharashtra Plateau

• General Information
  • Located in Maharashtra.
  • Forms the northern part of the Deccan Plateau.
  • Much of the region is underlain by basaltic rocks of lava origin (Deccan Traps).
  • The area appears as a rolling plain due to weathering.
  • The horizontal lava sheets have led to the formation of typical Deccan Trap topography (step-like).


• Geography
  • Broad and shallow valleys of the Godavari, Bhima, and Krishna rivers are flanked by flat-topped, steep-sided hills and ridges.
  • The region is covered by black cotton soil known as regur.

Karnataka Plateau

• General Information
  • Also known as the Mysore Plateau.
  • Lies to the south of the Maharashtra Plateau.
  • Appears as a rolling plateau with an average elevation of 600-900 m.
  • Highly dissected by numerous rivers rising from the Western Ghats.
  • Hills generally trend either parallel to the Western Ghats or across it.

  

  • The highest peak is Mulangiri (1913 m) in the Baba Budan Hills, located in the Chikmaglur district.


• Plateau Division
  • The plateau is divided into two parts: Malnad and Maidan.
  • Malnad (meaning hill country in Kannada) is characterized by deep valleys covered with dense forests.
  • Maidan is a rolling plain with low granite hills.
  • The plateau tapers between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats in the south and merges with the Nilgiri Hills.

Telangana Plateau

• General Information
  • Consists of Archaean gneisses and Dharwar rocks.
  • Gondwana rocks are also found in the Godavari Valley, known for its coal fields.
  • Rich in mineral resources due to the Dharwar rock strata.
  • Average elevation is 500-600 m.
  • The southern part is higher compared to the northern part.
  • Drained by three river systems: Godavari, Krishna, and Penner.
  • Divided into Ghats and Peneplains (featureless, undulating plains).

Bastar Plateau

• General Information
  • Located in the southernmost region of Chhattisgarh.
  • Forest-rich and mineral-rich region.
  • Situated between the Mahanadi and Godavari rivers.
  • Bisected into two parts by the Indravati River.
  • Tribal-dominated area.
  • Under the influence of Naxalism.

Chhattisgarh Plain

• General Information
  • The only plain in the Peninsular Plateau worth mentioning.
  • A saucer-shaped depression drained by the upper Mahanadi.
  • Located between the Maikala Range and the Odisha hills.

  

  • Named after the Haithaivanshi Rajputs who ruled the region and left thirty-six forts (Chhattisgarh).
  • Laid with nearly horizontal beds of limestone and shales.
  • General elevation ranges from 250 m in the east to 330 m in the west.

Dandakaranya Plateau

• Historical and Geographical Information

  

  • Dandakaranya is a historical region in India, mentioned in the Ramayana.
  • Located in the Bastar region of the present-day state of Chhattisgarh, central India.
  • Physiographic region extending over about 35,600 square miles, including the Abujhmad Hills to the west and bordering the Eastern Ghats to the east.
  • Abujmarh is a hilly forest area covering Narayanpur district, Bijapur district, and Dantewada district, and is home to indigenous tribes like Gond, Muria, Abuj Maria, and Halbaas.
  • Includes parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Dimensions are about 200 miles from north to south and about 300 miles from east to west.

Indian Peninsular Plateau (Deccan Plateau)

Region/Heading	Details
Definition of Plateau	Plateau is an area of raised land that is flat on top. Plateaus are often isolated with no surrounding plateaus. National Geographic describes plateaus as flat and elevated landforms that rise sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side.
Features of the Peninsular Plateau	Roughly triangular in shape with its base coinciding with the southern edge of the great plain of North India. The apex is at Kanniyakumari. Covers a total area of about 16 lakh sq km (India as a whole is 32 lakh sq km). Average height: 600-900 m above sea level (varies by region). Most rivers flow west to east, indicating a general slope. Exception: Narmada-Tapti rivers flow east to west in a rift caused by a divergent boundary. One of the oldest landforms on earth, composed of Archaean gneisses and schists. Stable block with little structural change since its formation. A land area for millions of years, submerged in the sea only in a few places. An aggregation of several smaller plateaus, hill ranges, river basins, and valleys.
Minor Plateaus in the Peninsular Plateau
Marwar Plateau or Mewar Plateau	Plateau of eastern Rajasthan, west of Aravalis. Elevation: 250-500 m, sloping eastward. Composed of sandstone, shales, and limestones of the Vindhayan period. Banas River, along with tributaries Berach and Khari, originate from the Aravali Range. Erosion from rivers gives the plateau a rolling plain appearance.
Central Highland	Also known as the Madhya Bharat Pathar or Madhya Bharat Plateau. Located east of the Marwar Plateau. Comprises the Chambal river basin, flowing in a rift valley. Kali Sindh, Banas, Parwan, and Parbati rivers are its tributaries. Rolling plateau with rounded hills of sandstone and thick forests. Ravines or badlands north of the Chambal river.
Bundelkhand Upland	Bordered by Yamuna river to the north, Madhya Bharat Pathar to the west, Vindhyan Scarplands to the east and south-east, and Malwa Plateau to the south. Old dissected upland of ‘Bundelkhand gneiss’ with granite and gneiss. Spreads over five districts of Uttar Pradesh and four districts of Madhya Pradesh. Elevation: 300-600 m, sloping from the Vindhyan Scarp to the Yamuna. Erosion makes the area undulating, unfit for cultivation. Characterized by senile topography. Rivers: Betwa, Dhasan, and Ken.
Malwa Plateau	Triangular plateau based on Vindhyan Hills, bounded by Aravali Range, Madhya Bharat Pathar, and Bundelkhand. Drained by rivers flowing towards the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. Covered with black soils from extensive lava flows. General slope towards the north, from 600 m in the south to below 500 m in the north. Dissected by rivers, with Chambal ravines in the north.
Baghelkhand	North of the Maikal Range, made of limestones and sandstones in the west, granite in the east. Bounded by Son river in the north, acting as a water divide between the Son and Mahanadi drainage systems. Elevation varies from 150 m to 1,200 m. Bharner and Kaimur hills located near the trough-axis. General horizontality of the strata shows stability.
Rohtas Plateau	Located in southwestern Bihar, also called Kaimur Plateau. Area: 2,100 sq km, undulating tableland with a height of 450 m at Rohtasgarh. Series of fluvial plateaux: Panna, Bhander, Rewa, and Rohtas.
Bhander Plateau	Located in Madhya Pradesh. Area: 10,000 sq km, part of the Vindhya Range. Links Deccan Plateau with Indo-Gangetic Plains and Chota Nagpur Plateau. Series of plateaux running along Kaimur Range.
Chotanagpur Plateau	Northeastern projection of the Indian Peninsula, mostly in Jharkhand, northern Chhattisgarh, and Purulia district. Drained by numerous rivers, forming a radial drainage pattern. Rivers like Damodar, Subarnrekaha, North Koel, South Koel, and Barkar flow here. Damodar flows through a rift valley, containing Gondwana coal fields. Hazaribagh Plateau and Ranchi Plateau within the region, dissected by erosion. Rajmahal Hills, forming the northeastern edge, are made of basalt and run north-south.
Meghalaya Plateau	Extension of the Peninsular Plateau beyond Rajmahal hills. Garo-Rajmahal Gap separates it from the main block. Formed by down-faulting, filled by Ganga and Brahmaputra sediments. Western boundary coincides with the Bangladesh border. Garo Hills (900 m), Khasi-Jaintia Hills (1,500 m), and Mikir Hills (700 m) are the prominent features. Highest point: Shillong (1,961 m).
Deccan Plateau	Area: 5 lakh sq km. Bounded by the Satpura, Vindhya, Mahadev, Maikal, Western Ghats, and Eastern Ghats. General slope west to east, indicated by river flow. Subdivided into smaller plateaus by rivers.
Maharashtra Plateau	Northern part of the Deccan Plateau, underlain by basaltic rocks. Rolling plain due to weathering. Godavari, Bhima, and Krishna rivers have broad and shallow valleys.
Karnataka Plateau	Also known as the Mysore plateau, lies south of Maharashtra Plateau. Rolling plateau with an average elevation of 600-900 m. Dissected by numerous rivers from the Western Ghats. Divided into Malnad (hill country) and Maidan (rolling plain).
Telangana Plateau	Consists of Archaean gneisses, Dharwar rocks, and Gondwana coal fields. Average elevation: 500-600 m. Drained by Godavari, Krishna, and Penner rivers.
Bastar Plateau	Located in southern Chhattisgarh, rich in minerals. Bisected by the Indravati River. Tribal region with Naxalism influence.
Chhattisgarh Plain	Saucer-shaped depression drained by the upper Mahanadi. Elevation: 250 m in the east to 330 m in the west. Once ruled by Haithaivanshi Rajputs, the plain derives its name from thirty-six forts (Chhattisgarh).
Dandakaranya Plateau	Historical region, mentioned in Ramayana, located in the Bastar region. Physiographic region covering parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Includes Abujhmad Hills, home to indigenous tribes.