Peninsular PlateauPeninsular Plateau

The Peninsular Plateau is roughly triangular in shape, marked by distinct physical boundaries on all sides.

• Triangular Shape & Apex: The northern apex is formed by the Delhi Ridge (continuation of Aravallis), while the base is anchored by the Kanyakumari at the southern tip.
• Northern Boundaries: Bounded by the Aravalli range in the northwest, and a series of scrap lands like the Bundelkhand, Vindhyan, and Kaimur ranges along the Gangetic plain.
• Eastern and Western Limits: Flanked by the Western Ghats (Sahyadri) on the west and the discontinuous, lower-elevation Eastern Ghats on the east.
• General Slope: The overall general slope of the plateau is from west to east, which is clearly demonstrated by the eastward flow of major rivers like Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery.
• Geological Stability: Being part of the ancient Gondwanaland, it is largely immune to severe tectonic folding, though minor faulting and seismic events (like Koyna and Latur) do occur.

The Peninsular Plateau can be divided into several distinct sub-plateaus and highland zones based on relief and structure.

• The Central Highlands: Situated north of the Narmada river, covering major parts of the Malwa plateau, Vindhyan range, and Bundelkhand upland.
• Malwa Plateau: Bounded by the Aravalli hills in the west and the Vindhyas in the south. It is drained by the Chambal, Betwa, and Ken rivers flowing northwards.
• Chotanagpur Plateau: Located in the north-eastern part of the peninsula, rich in minerals, often called the 'Ruhr of India'. The Damodar river flows through a rift valley here.
• Deccan Plateau: A large triangular plateau south of the Narmada river, bordered by the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, and Satpura/Maikal ranges.
• Meghalaya Plateau (Shillong Plateau): An extension of the main peninsular block separated by the Malda Gap from the Rajmahal Hills. Comprises Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia hills.

The plateau hosts both east-flowing peninsular rivers and significant west-flowing rift valley rivers.

• East-Flowing Rivers: Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery originate in the Western Ghats and empty into the Bay of Bengal, forming large deltas.
• West-Flowing Rivers: Narmada and Tapti flow through structural rift valleys from east to west and drain into the Arabian Sea, forming estuaries instead of deltas.
• Godavari River System: Largest river of Peninsular India, also known as 'Dakshina Ganga', originating from Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district, Maharashtra.
• Damodar Rift Valley: Famous for Gondwana coal deposits and serves as the lifeblood of the industrial belt across Jharkhand and West Bengal.

The Peninsular Plateau is the storehouse of minerals in India, particularly concentrated in the Chotanagpur plateau and the Dharwar rock systems.

• Dharwar Rock System: Highly metamorphosed sedimentary-volcanic rocks containing rich deposits of iron ore, manganese, copper, gold (Kolar), and mica.
• Gondwana Coal Basins: Accounts for nearly 98% of India's total coal reserves, located primarily in the Damodar, Mahanadi, Godavari, and Son river valleys.
• Deccan Trap Soils (Regur): Weathered basaltic lava produces black cotton soil (Regur), which is moisture-retentive and highly fertile for cotton, sugarcane, and citrus cultivation.
• Mica Belt of Jharkhand: Extends from Gaya through Hazaribagh to Koderma, historically known as the mica capital of the world.