India’s landscape is very mixed and features everything from mountains covered with snow to deserts, hills, and plateaus. Most of India resides on the Indian Plate, which is a portion of the extensive Indo-Australian tectonic area. The country is located on a peninsula in southern Asia that extends out into the Indian Ocean. To the southwest, it is covered by the Arabian Sea, while the Bay of Bengal lies to the southeast. This gives a brief overview of India’s geography.
Geographical Situation of India:
The Republic of India is a large country situated completely in the northern hemisphere. Its mainland stretches from 8°4′ to 37°6′ north latitude and 68°7′ to 97°25′ east longitude. India is one of the largest peninsulas in southern Asia which makes it a strategic location for international trade. The country measures 3,214 kilometers from north to south and 2,933 kilometers from east to west. It has a land border of 15,200 kilometers and a coastline of around 6,100 kilometers. When including the coasts of the Lakshadweep Islands and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the total coastline reaches about 7,516.6 kilometers. The Tropic of Cancer divides India into two parts, the northern half is in the temperate zone, while the southern half lies in the tropics.
India’s States And Territories
- Himachal Pradesh
- Jharkhand
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Bihar
- Chhattisgarh
- Goa
- Uttar Pradesh
- Gujarat
- Haryana
- Nagaland
- Orissa
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Sikkim
- Tamil Nadu
- Kerala
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Tripura
- Uttaranchal
- State of Uttar Pradesh
- Bengal, West Bengal
Territories of the Union include
- The islands of Andaman and Nicobar
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu
- Chandigarh
- Lakshadweep
- Delhi
- Puducherry
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Ladakh
Geographical Areas
- The northern mountain ranges include the Himalayas and the mountain ranges of the northeast.
- Plains of Indo-Gangetic
- The Thar Desert,
- East Coast & West Coast
- Seas and islands on the horizon
Temperature in India
Peninsular India is located in the tropics which gives it a tropical climate with only small differences in temperature between summer and winter. During winter, temperatures typically range from 18°C to 22°C, influenced by the nearby Equator and the oceans. In summer, temperatures can soar over 14°C near the tropics. Coastal areas usually have a milder climate and often experience cloudy weather. For example, in Malabar, temperatures vary about 15°C, while in southeastern Tamil Nadu, the range is around 3°C.
In comparison, Northern India, which is north of the Tropic of Cancer, has more complex climate conditions. The temperatures can vary significantly between states and seasons. For instance, Punjab and Western Rajasthan experience very cold winters and extremely hot summers, with low humidity levels.
Mountains Map of India’s Hilly Areas
India is home to a vast range of mountains, including the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, and Patkai ranges. These mountains were formed about 50 million years ago due to the ongoing collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. They include some of the tallest peaks in the world and serve as a barrier against cold Arctic winds. Additionally, these ranges play a crucial role in influencing the monsoon rains that shape India’s climate. This protective and climate-regulating geography has helped establish India as a significant power on the global stage.
India’s landscape is diverse, ranging from the Thar Desert in the west to lush rainforests in the northeast. A large part of northern India features the Ganges Plain, a fertile region created by sediment deposited by rivers flowing from the Himalayas.
