The Peninsular Plateau

Formation & The Deccan Traps- Arianna

The Peninsular plateau is a tableland composed of the old crystalline, igneous and
metamorphic rocks. It formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land which
makes it a part of the oldest landmass and repeated lava flows that spilled from cracks in the
crust and spread over a large distance. It has gently rising hills, wide and shallow valleys and is
supposed to be one of the most stable land blocks.

The Deccan Traps- (Called ‘traps’ due to step-like rock

formations)
● They are the black soil areas of the Peninsular Plateau
formed from rocks weathered over time.
● They are of volcanic origin and form a large igneous
province in west-central India.
● One of the largest volcanic features on the planet and consist of multiple layers of
solidified flood basalt.

Extent and Geography- Rudra

● Continental plateau bordered by plains or oceans on all sides. Therefore, these plateaus
are away from the mountains.
● Located between the Ghats, Separated from the Gangetic plains, the Satpura and
Vindhya Ranges, which form its northern boundary.
● Lies between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal with average elevation- about
2,000 feet (600 m).
● Receives very little rainfall and is drier than the coasts and is arid in places.
● The rivers that flow through it are the Godavri, Krishna and the Kaveri river.
 Broad Divisions-
1) Central Highlands- Trish
● The Central highlands are the northern part of the Indian peninsular plateau lying to the
north of the Narmada river, covering a major area of the Malwa Plateau.

● Wider in the west and narrower in the east. Further westward extension merges with
the desert of Rajasthan and eastward extensions are locally known as Bundelkhand and
Baghelkhand. Further eastward extension marked by Chota Nagpur Plateau (drained by
Damodar River)

● The Vindhyan Range is bounded by the Aravalli range in North West and the Satpura
range in the south with the Maikal Hills as their connecting link.

● Flow of Rivers draining this region- Chambal, Sind, Betwa and Ken is from southwest to
northeast indicating the slope.

2) Deccan Plateau- Anahita

● The Deccan Plateau is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river Narmada.
The Satpura range lines its broad base in the north, while the Mahadev, the Kaimur hills
and the Maikal range form its eastern extensions.

● Higher in the west and slopes gently eastwards. An extension in the northeast, is locally
known as Meghalaya, Karbi-Anglong Plateau and North Cachar Hills.
 ● Separated by a fault(discontinuity from a volume of rock) from the Chotanagpur
Plateau.

● 3 prominent hill ranges from the west to the east are the Garo, the Khasi and the Jaintia
Hills.

Western Ghats Eastern Ghats

Lie parallel to the western coast and mark Run along eastern coast of India and mark
the western edges of the plateau. eastern edges of the plateau.

Continuous formation. Can be crossed Discontinuous, irregular formation.

through passes only. Elevation increases Dissected by rivers draining into Bay of
from north to south. Bengal.

Higher. Average Elevation- 900-1600 metres. Less altitude. Average Elevation-about 600m

Stretch from south of the Tapti River to the Stretch from Mahanadi Valley in the east to
southern tip of India in Tamil Nadu. Nilgiri Hills in the south.

Highest Peaks- Anamudi- about 2,700 m, the Highest Peak- Mahendragiri- about 1,500 m
Doddabetta- 2,637 m

Causes orographic rainfall. The unbroken Shevroy Hills and the Javadi Hills are located
Western Ghats chain acts as a barrier. to the southeast of the Eastern Ghats.