Environmental Background of Rajasthan 56

2.1 PHYSIOGRAPHY of RAJASTHAN

T he territory which the state covers has developed after years of denudation

and erosion processes and has a very mature topography. The State can be divided

into two major divisions structurally along the Aravalli range which cuts the state

into East Rajasthan and West Rajasthan. These two divisions on the physiographic

basis stretch into two of India’s major physiographic divisions i.e. the Great Plains

and the northern part of the Central Highlands respectively (See Map-2).

On the basis of the existing relief features, Rajasthan has been divided into

the following physiographic divisions:

1. Western Sandy Plains

(a) Sandy Arid Plains

(i) Marusthali

(ii) Dune free Tract

(b) Semi-Arid Transitional Plains (Rajasthan Bagar)

(i) Luni Basin (Godwar Tract)

(ii) Plain of Interior Drainage (Sekhawati Tract)

2. Aravalli Range And Hilly Region

(a) Aravalli Range and Bhorat Plateau

(b) Northeastern Hilly Region

3. Eastern Plains

(a) Banas Basin

(b) Chappan Plains

MAP - 2
Environmental Background of Rajasthan 58

4. Southeastern Rajasthan Pathar (Hadoti Plateau)

(a) Vindhyan Scarpland

(b) Deccan Lava Plateau

1. WESTERN SANDY PLAINS

The western Plain covers a large part of Rajasthan in the west and the

northwest of the Aravalli axis. Its northern boundary is marked by Punjab and the

southwest by Gujarat and the western boundary is the international boundary

between India and Pakistan. The eastern boundary of the western sandy plain is

marked by the Aravalli range’s western sub-montane zone up to the northern point

of Udaipur district. Beyond which the boundary is marked by the great Indian

watershed and 50 cm isohyte.

The surface of western Rajasthan is covered with vast stretches of sand

occasionally interrupted by rocky protruding right up to the Pakistan border. The

Northwestern division is sandy, poorly watered and sterile. The Rajasthan desert in

the west has been subdivided into several natural regions because of the Aravalli

hills and the rocky terrain of Barmer-Jaisalmer-Bikaner tract.

The Western Sandy Plains are subdivided into two units:

(a) Sandy Arid Plains (Marushthali), and

(b) Semi-Arid Transitional Plain (Rajajsthan Bagar) divided into

(i) Luni Basin (Godwar Tract)

(ii) Plain of Interior Drainage (Shekhawati Tract) and

(iii) Ghaggar Plain

The line dividing the Sandy Arid Plains and the Semi-Arid Transitional Plain

is climatic, i.e. 25 cm isohyte. The western-most belt which is ‘The Great Desert’ is

covered by sand dunes, stretches from the Great Rann along the Pakistan border to

Punjab. The degree and extent of sand dunes greatly influence the economic activity

in this area. 63 per cent sand dune area of Rajasthan is concentrated in the desert

districts of Barmer, Jaisalmer and Bikaner.

2. ARAVALLI RANGE AND HILLY REGION

The principal and most dominant mountain range of Rajasthan is the Aravalli

range. The geological history of the Aravalli range can be traced back probably close

of the dharwar times. This range runs diagonally across the State from northeast near

Delhi and extends to southwest up to the Plains of Gujarat, for a distance of about

692 kilometers., the range runs from Khetri in the northeast to Khed Brahma in the

southwest Within Rajasthan for a length of about 550 kilometers. It is composed of

rocks belonging originally to the Delhi system, folded in a synclinorium occupying

the site of the geosynclines which have been deeply eroded.

The whole of this Aravalli range and Hilly Region has been further sub-

divided into two smaller physiographic units:

(a) ARAVALLI RANGE AND BHORAT PLATEAU

This division constitutes east Sirohi, nearly the whole of Udaipur except a

narrow belt in the east and whole of Durgarpur district.

The highest section of the Aravalli range known as ‘Bhorat’ Plateau lies

northwest of Udaipur between Kumbhalgarh - Gogunda and the average elevation of

this plateau is 1,225 metres.

(b) NORTH-EASTERN HILLY TRACT

Northern edge of Bhorat Plateau marks the boundary of north eastern hilly

tract in the southwest. North of Kumbhalgarh, especially at the Alwar hills the elevation

varies between 550 m to 670 m. Further north and northeast, the hills are broken and

their elevation decreases in the final extension of hills south of Delhi to about 306 m

above sea level. This level is about 60 m to 90 m above the surrounding plain.

3. EASTERN PLAINS

The area on the northeast, east and southeast of the Aravalli range is known

as the Eastern Plain. The Vindhyan Plateau marks the southeastern limit of the Plain.

The western boundary is demarcated by the eastern edge of the Aravalli up to north

of Udaipur. This Plain is further subdivided into two physiographic units-

(i) The Banas Basin

(ii) The Chappan Plain

(i) BANAS BASIN

The great watershed of India runs in an easterly direction starting From Udai

Sagar, east of Udaipur. The watershed acts as the southern boundary of the Mewar

Plains and south of this watershed is the Chappan Plain. The region is marked by

various types of erosional features, produced in the granite and gneiss rocks mark

the topography of the area. The soil is stony and the annual rainfall is about 73 cm.

From the foot of the Aravalli range the plain slopes gradually towards northeast.

River Banas and its tributaries drain the Mewar plain.

(ii) THE CHAPPAN PLAINS

This plain drained by the tributaries of the Mahi River lies south of the great

Indian watershed in southeastern Udaipur, Banswara and the southern part of

Chittorgarh district.

The Chappan area is deeply and intricately eroded resulting in the formation

of separate hillocks, which is not identical to the Mewar plain in the north. This

deeply dissected area is locally known as ‘Begaar’ and includes the hilly tracts of

Banswara and Dungarpur.

4. SOUTHEASTERN RAJASTHAN PATHAR (HADOTI PLATEAU)

The eastern part along the Chambal River is covered by the Hadoti Plateau.

The Great Boundary Fault of the Aravallis forms its northwest boundary which

extends eastward across the Rajasthan border. River Chambal drains the large part of

this area. The Plateau has been divided into two smaller units:

(a) VINDHYAN SCARP LAND

The scarp lands formed by massive sandstones separated by shale have an

average elevation between 350m to 580m. The scarps are facing towards the south-

southeast between the Banas and the Chambal and extend towards the east over

Bundelkhand. A scarp block occupies the areas of Dholpur and Karauli.

(b) DECCAN LAVA PLATEAU

The Deccan Lava Plateau is also known as ‘pathar (stony) or ‘uparmal’ plateau.

It is a wide stony upland, including Kota-Bundi plateau section. The Chambal along

with its tributaries Kali Sindh and Parbati form a triangular alluvial basin of 210m-

275m at Kota.