Two most important geographical features are:

• The Himalayas – They act as a natural barrier, stop cold winds from Central Asia, cause monsoon rainfall, and are the source of major rivers.
• The Northern Plains – Extremely fertile due to alluvial soil brought by rivers; known as the “food bowl of India”; support dense population and agriculture.

These features are important because they protect India, provide water and fertile land, and support life for millions of people.

If the Himalayas did not exist:

• Cold winds from Central Asia would blow freely → very cold winters in northern India.
• No barrier → monsoon winds would pass without heavy rainfall → northern India would be dry or desert-like.
• Rivers like Ganga, Indus would not get snow-melt water → less water, less fertile plains.
• More invasions from the north → history would be different.

Imagination: Northern India would look like a cold desert similar to Mongolia or Central Asia, with very less greenery and population.

India is called a ‘mini-continent’ because it has almost all types of landforms and climates found on a continent:

• Highest mountains (Himalayas)
• Fertile plains (Ganga-Indus)
• Hot desert (Thar)
• Ancient plateau (Deccan)
• Long coastline and islands
• All types of climate – cold, hot, rainy, dry

Just like a continent has everything, India also has huge variety within one country.

Example: River Ganga

• Starts: Gangotri glacier (Himalayas) → used for religious bathing, hydroelectricity
• Mountains: Water for drinking, irrigation in Uttarakhand
• Plains (UP, Bihar): Irrigation (canals), farming, fishing, transport
• Cities (Kanpur, Patna, Kolkata): Drinking water, factories, sewage disposal
• Delta (West Bengal): Rice farming, fishing, ports
• Meets ocean: Sundarbans – mangrove forest, tourism

Southern India is called a peninsular plateau because:

• It is surrounded by water on three sides → Arabian Sea (west), Bay of Bengal (east), Indian Ocean (south) → peninsula
• The land is a large, flat, elevated area with steep sides → plateau (Deccan Plateau)

So it is a plateau that is also a peninsula.

Western Ghats (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is the most interesting because:

It is one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity. It has evergreen forests, rare animals like lion-tailed macaque, and many medicinal plants. Heavy rainfall creates beautiful waterfalls like Jog Falls. It is older than the Himalayas and runs parallel to the western coast. Its rich biodiversity and natural beauty make it very special.

Example Answer (for Delhi):
I live in Delhi. On the physical map, Delhi is located in the Northern Plains (Indo-Gangetic Plain). It is situated on the banks of river Yamuna, south of the Himalayas and north of the Aravalli hills.

(Students should write their own city/town and identify the correct physical feature)

Examples of regional food preservation:

• Rajasthan (desert): Drying vegetables (ker-sangri), making papad, achar with lots of salt and oil
• Kerala (humid): Using coconut oil, vinegar, sun-drying fish (karuvadu)
• Himachal (cold): Drying fruits (apricots), making pickles in mustard oil
• Northeast: Smoking meat and fish, fermenting bamboo shoot
• Coastal areas: Salting and drying fish (bombay duck)

Our geography has united us in many ways:

• Rivers: Ganga, Brahmaputra connect north to east, used for trade and pilgrimage
• Himalayas: Sacred for all religions (Kailash, Amarnath, Badrinath)
• Monsoon: Brings rain to whole country → same festivals (Onam, Baisakhi)
• Coasts: Trade and cultural exchange for centuries
• Plains: Easy movement of people, spread of languages and culture

Geography gave natural boundaries but also connected people through rivers, mountains as holy places, and shared monsoon → Unity in Diversity.

(a) India is the seventh largest country in the world.

(b) The Himalayas act as a natural barrier in the north.

(c) The Deccan Plateau is rich in minerals.

(d) The Thar is the largest desert in India.

(e) Jog Falls is located in Karnataka.

(i) The Himalayas are the oldest mountains in India. → False (They are the youngest fold mountains)

(ii) The Northern Plains are formed by the rivers Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra. → True

(iii) The Western Ghats receive more rainfall than the Eastern Ghats. → True

(iv) Lakshadweep islands are of volcanic origin. → False (They are coral islands)

(v) India has geographical diversity. → True

(i) Land surrounded by water on three sides → Peninsula

(ii) Flat elevated land → Plateau

(iii) India and its neighbouring countries together → Indian Subcontinent

(iv) The desert in western India → Thar

(v) Highest mountain range in the world → Himalayas

(a) Name the major physical divisions of India.
The five major physical divisions of India are:
1. The Great Mountain Zone (Himalayas)
2. The Northern Plains (Indo-Gangetic Plains)
3. The Great Indian Desert (Thar)
4. The Southern Peninsula (Deccan Plateau)
5. The Coastal Plains and Islands

(b) Why is southern India called a peninsula?
Because it is surrounded by water on three sides — Arabian Sea in the west, Bay of Bengal in the east, and Indian Ocean in the south.

(c) How do the Himalayas influence the climate of India?
The Himalayas act as a barrier and stop cold winds from Central Asia. They also stop the monsoon winds, causing heavy rainfall in northern India.

(a) Describe any three physical features of India.
1. Himalayas: World’s highest mountains, act as natural barrier, source of rivers, snow-covered.
2. Northern Plains: Very fertile, formed by rivers, densely populated, main agricultural area.
3. Deccan Plateau: Ancient hard rocks, black soil, rich in minerals, many waterfalls (Jog Falls).

(b) How does geographical diversity lead to diversity in food, clothing and housing in India? Give examples.
→ Food: Wheat-roti in north (Punjab), rice in south/east (Kerala, West Bengal), fish in coastal areas.
→ Clothing: Woollen clothes in Himalayas, cotton sarees in south, turbans in Rajasthan.
→ Housing: Sloping roofs in heavy rainfall areas (Kerala), flat roofs in desert (Rajasthan), houses on stilts in flood-prone areas (Assam).
This shows how geography shapes lifestyle.

(i) Himalayas (ii) Thar Desert (iii) Deccan Plateau (iv) Western Ghats (v) Bay of Bengal (vi) Andaman & Nicobar Islands

(Students should practice marking these on blank India map – very common in exams!)

Collect pictures of different landforms of India and make a collage. Write two lines about each landform.
(Example: Himalayas – highest mountains, snow, rivers start here. Thar – hot desert, sand dunes, camel.)