Erramala Hills, Location, Rivers, Valleys, Geographical Features

The Erramala Hills are a low hill range located in the Kurnool and Nandyal districts of Andhra Pradesh State. These hills form an important physical feature of the Deccan Plateau and separate the Penna River basin in the south from the Krishna River basin in the north. The range also extends towards the Penna basin in Kadapa district. Their geological structure, river valleys and plateau location make them an important landform in southern India.

Erramala Hills Features

The Erramala Hills are known for their plateau landscape, ancient rock formations, river basins and valley systems that shape the physical geography of western Andhra Pradesh.

• Location: The Erramala Hills are situated in Kurnool and Nandyal districts of Andhra Pradesh. 
• Extent: The hill range stretches across the Deccan Plateau and extends further towards the Penna River basin in Kadapa district.
• Geographical Position: The hills occupy the eastern margin of the Deccan Plateau. They act as a natural divide between the Krishna River basin and the Penna (Penneru) River basin.
• Orientation: The range is described as extending east to west across southern India, while its general alignment in western Andhra Pradesh follows a northeast to southwest trend along the plateau.
• River Systems: The Erramala Hills separate two major drainage basins. The Krishna River basin lies on the northern side, while the Penna River basin is located to the south, giving the hills significant hydrological importance.
• Kunderu River Valleys: Tributaries of the Kunderu River, itself a tributary of the Penneru River, have cut through the range over time, creating a series of longitudinal hills and narrow valleys.
• Geological Formation: The hills mainly consist of quartzites and slates belonging to the Cambrian Period, dating approximately 540 to 490 million years ago, along with younger interbedded lava formations.
• Relief and Landforms: The Erramala Hills are classified as low hills rather than high mountains. Their landscape is marked by elongated ridges, valleys and plateau features shaped through long term geological and river erosion processes.

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