Difference between Himalayan and Peninsular Plateau

India’s geographical landscape features two major landforms, the Himalayan Region and the Peninsular Plateau, each distinct in origin, structure, and physical characteristics. The Himalayan Region, formed by tectonic collisions, consists of young fold mountains with high peaks, deep valleys, and swift rivers, representing an active and evolving terrain. 

In contrast, the Peninsular Plateau is a geologically stable, ancient landmass composed primarily of igneous and metamorphic rocks, featuring gently sloping hills and broad valleys. These two regions significantly contribute to India’s physiographic diversity. The following article highlights the fundamental Difference between Himalayan and Peninsular Plateau across key geographic parameters.

Himalayan Region

The Himalayas are the youngest and highest mountain range in the world, stretching across the northern boundary of the Indian subcontinent. Spanning over 2,400 km from Jammu & Kashmir in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east, the Himalayas act as a natural barrier, guarding India from the harsh winds of Central Asia and playing a major role in determining India’s monsoon patterns.

Formation and Origin

The Himalayas were formed around 50 million years ago due to the collision of the Indian tectonic plate with the Eurasian plate. This ongoing tectonic activity makes the region geologically unstable, prone to frequent earthquakes and landslides.

Structure and Composition

The Himalayan range is divided into three parallel sub-ranges:

• Himadri (Greater Himalayas): Contains the highest peaks like Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, and others. It’s mostly covered with snow and glaciers.
• Himachal (Lesser Himalayas): Known for hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, and Darjeeling; composed of highly compressed and altered rocks.
• Shivalik (Outer Himalayas): The youngest range, composed of unconsolidated sediments brought down by rivers from the higher ranges.

Geographical and Climatic Importance

• Acts as a climatic barrier, blocking cold winds and attracting monsoons.
• Source of perennial rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra.
• Rich in biodiversity, forests, medicinal plants, and glaciers.
• Provides natural defense and is home to significant tourism and pilgrimage sites.

Peninsular Plateau

The Peninsular Plateau lies to the south of the Indo-Gangetic plains and occupies a large portion of the Indian subcontinent. It is a geologically stable, ancient landmass formed during the Precambrian era, making it one of the oldest surfaces on Earth, over 2.5 billion years old.

Formation and Structure

Unlike the Himalayan region, the Peninsular Plateau is a craton, a stable part of the Earth’s crust that hasn’t been affected by significant tectonic activity in recent geological times. It was once part of the supercontinent Gondwanaland and drifted to its current position millions of years ago.

The Plateau is broadly divided into:

• Central Highlands: Located north of the Narmada River, comprising the Malwa Plateau and Bundelkhand.
• Deccan Plateau: Triangular in shape, lies between the Western and Eastern Ghats, and covers most of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

Geological Composition

• Made up of igneous and metamorphic rocks such as granite and basalt.
• Rich in mineral deposits including coal, iron ore, mica, manganese, and bauxite.
• Features black soil (regur), making it suitable for cotton cultivation.

Significance

• Source of seasonal rivers like Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.
• Economically important due to mining, agriculture, and forestry.
• Less prone to earthquakes due to its stable geological structure.

Difference between Himalayan and Peninsular Plateau

The Himalayas and the Peninsular Plateau are two major physiographic divisions of India, each with unique characteristics shaped by distinct geological processes. In contrast, the Peninsular Plateau is an ancient, stable landmass composed of hard igneous and metamorphic rocks, with a relatively flat and elevated terrain marked by rounded hills and broad river basins. The table below outlines the key Difference between Himalayan and Peninsular Plateau based on their physical and structural attributes.

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