India Our Country With Its Physical Divisions
India has the 7th largest area and the 2nd highest population in the world. India is the perfect example of diverse topography. It has excellent examples of beautiful land formations giving it a variety of vegetation, people, culture, and wildlife. Our country India has a diverse culture. Let us learn how many physical divisions are there in India with a proper description of its location and neighbouring countries surrounding it. In this section, you will find a proper description of the topics mentioned here.
India: A Brief Introduction
Many travellers visited different eras of history and depicted India as a diverse country where people consider guests as gods and believe in harmony. India has always been the prime attraction for other countries. Spreading across an area of 3.287 million square kilometers, this country is the home of a diverse ecosystem comprising exotic wildlife and vegetation.
Where is Our Country Located?
Our country India is located in the northern hemisphere spreading from the latitudes 37°6’N to 8°4’N. It has a span ranging from the longitudes 68°7’E to 97°25’E. The Tropic of Cancer (23°30’N) passes through the upper middle section of the subcontinent dividing it into two parts. The majority of this country enjoys a tropical and subtropical climate.
Due to the vast longitudinal distance, India has a difference in time witnessed by different zones. For instance, Arunachal Pradesh witnesses sunrise two hours before it hits Kutch in Gujarat. Despite the fact, the Indian Standard Time is considered to be 82°30’E longitude.
Administration and Neighbours
If you want to find out which is our country on the map, you can easily tell it by pointing at the neighbouring countries surrounding India in the eastern, northern, and western parts. The border of our country is shared by seven other countries that we call neighbours. These countries are Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, China, and Pakistan.
India has 29 states as per the new configuration and 7 union territories. The capital of our country is Delhi. The central government takes care of the international affairs whereas the state governments take care of the individual states. Every state is divided into smaller sections called districts for better administration. Rajasthan is the largest state in India by area whereas Goa is the smallest state. Rajasthan is also bordered by Pakistan on the western side. If you study the map carefully, you will understand India's physical and adjacent countries.
Physical Divisions of India
The geographical map of India is topographically divided into the following sections. This is the part where you will find the answer to ‘how many physical divisions are there in India?’
1. The Himalayan Ranges
The mighty Himalayan Ranges guards the northern and north-eastern border of India like a giant. This is the highest mountain range in the world. Our nation India is guarded against the Arctic winds by this huge wall so that the majority of the states can enjoy a subtropical climate. The ranges are divided into three parallel sub-ranges.
The Greater Himalayas, also called Himadri, is the highest in the world.
The Middle Himalayan ranges or Himachal.
The Southern Himalayas or the Shivalik Ranges.
A majority of the highest peaks in the world are located in the Himalayas.
2. The Northern Plains
The Northern Plains are a prime division of India that comprises the river basins and plains. It includes the network of a few of the largest rivers in the world such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus. The river basins are rich in alluvial soil and provide the ideal place for human settlement. This is why this physical region of India is highly populated. Cultivation and industries are the prime occupations of the people here.
3. The Great Indian Desert
You will easily answer which is your country when it gives the hint of the Thar Desert. It is the desert region located in the western part of our country and is considered to be one of the diverse landscapes. It sprawls over Rajasthan and a part of Gujarat. Due to the arid climate and less vegetation, the human population here is also less.
4. The Peninsular Plateau
This is probably the vastest physical division of India that sprawls across the lower northern states to the peninsular region. This area covers a few of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. Aravalli Hills resides on the north-western corridor of this division. Satpura and Vindhya mountains are also in this region. The eastern and western borders of this region are guarded by the Eastern and Western Ghats respectively.
5. Coastal Plains
This is the longest among the physical divisions of India. India boasts of its 7516 km of continuous coastline adding more diversity to its topographical map. The eastern coastline is guarded by the Bay of Bengal. The western part is guarded by the Arabian Sea and the southern part faces the Indian Ocean. This region is adorned by fertile deltaic formations in the estuaries of large rivers such as the Ganges and Brahmaputra.
6. Archipelagos
The presence of two archipelagos explains India is which type of country. In the south-eastern part of the subcontinent, Andaman & Nicobar Islands lies. In the south-western part, we find the Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea.
You can now easily find out in which region India is located. Study this article properly to gather more knowledge about India and its different physical divisions.
FAQs on India Our Country
1. What is the geographical location of India in the world?
India is a vast country located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. The mainland extends between latitudes 8°4'N and 37°6'N and longitudes 68°7'E and 97°25'E. The Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N) passes almost halfway through the country, dividing it into two climatic zones.
2. What are the key dimensions and frontiers of India?
India has a total area of about 3.28 million square kilometres, making it the seventh-largest country in the world. Its north-to-south extent, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, is approximately 3,200 km, while its east-to-west extent, from Arunachal Pradesh to Kutch, is about 2,900 km. India is bounded by the Himalayas in the north, the Arabian Sea in the west, the Bay of Bengal in the east, and the Indian Ocean in the south.
3. Why is India often referred to as a subcontinent?
India is often called a subcontinent because it is a very large and distinct landmass that stands out from the rest of Asia. It is separated from the continent by natural barriers like the Himalayan mountains. Furthermore, it possesses an immense diversity of physical features, including high mountains, vast plains, a desert, a plateau, and a long coastline, along with a wide range of climates, cultures, and languages, similar to a continent.
4. How is India divided for administrative purposes?
For the purpose of efficient governance, India is divided into 28 States and 8 Union Territories. The states are primarily organised based on language. New Delhi serves as the national capital. This political and administrative division helps manage the country's vast area and diverse population effectively.
5. What are the six major physical divisions of India?
India's diverse landscape can be broadly divided into six major physical divisions. These are:
- The Great Himalayan Mountains: The world's highest mountain range, acting as a northern border.
- The Northern Indian Plains: Fertile, flat lands south of the Himalayas, formed by rivers.
- The Peninsular Plateau: An old, triangular-shaped tableland.
- The Great Indian Desert (Thar Desert): A large, arid region in the west.
- The Coastal Plains: Narrow strips of plain land along the east and west coasts.
- The Islands: Two major groups, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands.
6. What is the importance of the Northern Indian Plains?
The Northern Indian Plains are of immense importance to the country. Formed by the rich alluvial deposits brought by the rivers Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra, these plains are extremely fertile. This fertility makes them one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, supporting a high population density and contributing significantly to India's food security.
7. How do the two main island groups of India differ from each other?
India has two primary island groups that differ significantly in their origin and location.
- The Lakshadweep Islands, situated in the Arabian Sea, are coral islands, which are formed from the skeletons of tiny marine animals called polyps.
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located in the Bay of Bengal, are of volcanic origin and are believed to be the elevated peaks of a submerged mountain range.
8. What is the key difference between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats?
The Western and Eastern Ghats are two major mountain ranges bordering the Peninsular Plateau, but they have key differences:
- Continuity: The Western Ghats are a continuous mountain range, whereas the Eastern Ghats are broken and discontinuous, dissected by major rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal.
- Elevation: The Western Ghats are generally higher in elevation compared to the Eastern Ghats.
9. Which countries are India's neighbours?
India shares its land borders with seven countries. In the northwest, it is bordered by Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the north, its neighbours are China, Nepal, and Bhutan. To the east, it shares borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar. Across the sea, its island neighbours are Sri Lanka to the south and Maldives to the southwest.
