CDS Geography · Indian Geography — Physical Features
Mountains, Plateaus and Plains
The Himalayan ranges and passes, the hills and plateaus of the peninsula, the belts of the northern plains, the Thar desert and the two coasts.
Why this matters
Sixteen CDS questions from 2017 to 2026, and the hardest page of the chapter: 7 HARD, 8 MODERATE, 1 EASY. Most are match-the-list or north-to-south items, so a table in your head is the whole skill.
Concept 1 of 4: Ranges of the north, peaks and glaciers
North of the plains, the mountains stand in rows like steps. Beyond the Great Himalaya lie the Trans-Himalayan ranges of Ladakh, and beyond those the Karakoram and the Kunlun. Learn the rows from north to south and every ordering question is a look-up.
Definition
From north to south:
- Kunlun, then Karakoram, then the Ladakh range, then the Zaskar range (the Trans-Himalaya).
- Then the Great Himalaya (Himadri), the Lesser Himalaya (with the Pir Panjal), and the Shiwaliks at the edge of the plains.
In Kashmir:
- The Karewas are thick lake deposits of glacial clay with moraines, laid down in the Pleistocene on the lower slopes of the Pir Panjal. They grow saffron, almond and walnut.
- The Jhelum meanders across the flat floor of the Kashmir valley.
- Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri in Ladakh are salt-water lakes.
| Range or feature | What to remember |
|---|---|
| Kunlun | The farthest north, on the edge of the Tibetan plateau |
| Karakoram | Siachen glacier, at the head of the Nubra valleyQ CDS 2024 (II): Siachen and the Nubra valley was the one correct pair. |
| Ladakh range | North of the Indus in Ladakh |
| Zaskar range | South of the Indus, in front of the Great Himalaya |
| Great Himalaya | Kanchenjunga with the Zemu glacier (Sikkim); Nanda Devi (Uttarakhand) |
| Pir Panjal | Karewa deposits on its lower slopes, in the Kashmir valleyQ CDS 2022 (II): all three statements on the Karewas were true. |
| Kashmir valley | The Jhelum meanders; Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri (Ladakh) are salt-water lakesQ CDS 2026 (I): the statement calling them freshwater lakes was the false one. |
| Shiwaliks | The outermost foothills, next to the plains |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2025 · CDS (I) 2025 — General Knowledge · Q16Hard
Example 1 · Indian Geography — Physical Features · Mountains, Plateaus and Plains
What is the correct sequence of the following mountain ranges as one moves from North towards South ?
1. Karakoram
2. Kunlun
3. Ladakh
4. Zaskar
Select the answer using the code given below :
The Kunlun is north of the Karakoram
Going south from Tibet the order is Kunlun, Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar. The Karakoram is not the farthest north; the Kunlun is.
Pangong Tso is salty
Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri are high lakes in Ladakh with salt water. Dal and Wular in Kashmir are the freshwater lakes.
Concept 2 of 4: Himalayan passes
A pass is a low gap in a mountain wall that a road can use. Tie each pass to its state and to the two places it joins, going west to east along the Himalaya.
Definition
West to east:
- Ladakh: Zoji La (from Kashmir), Khardung La, Lanak La.
- Himachal Pradesh: Rohtang, Shipki La (where the Satluj enters India).
- Uttarakhand: Lipulekh (Kailash Mansarovar route).
- Sikkim: Nathu La and Jelep La (to the Chumbi valley of Tibet).
- Arunachal Pradesh: Bomdi La.
- Bolan and Khyber are passes of Pakistan and Afghanistan, not of the Indian Himalaya.
| Pass | Where | What it joins |
|---|---|---|
| Zoji La | Between Kashmir and Ladakh | Srinagar and Leh |
| Khardung La | Ladakh | Leh and the Nubra valley |
| Lanak La | Ladakh (Aksai Chin) | The old route from Ladakh to LhasaQ |
| Rohtang | Himachal Pradesh | Kullu and Lahaul |
| Shipki La | Himachal Pradesh (Kinnaur) | The Satluj valley and TibetQ CDS 2026 (I): Shipki La is in the Satluj valley, not the Chumbi or Teesta valley. |
| Lipulekh | Uttarakhand (Pithoragarh) | India and Tibet, on the Kailash Mansarovar route |
| Nathu La | Sikkim | Gangtok and the Chumbi valley |
| Jelep La | Sikkim | Sikkim and the Chumbi valley |
| Bomdi La | Arunachal Pradesh | The road to Tawang |
| Bolan | Pakistan (Balochistan) | Not a Himalayan passQ CDS 2023 (II): the odd one out against Zojila, Shipkila and Lipulekh. |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2017 · CDS (II) 2017 — General Knowledge · Q50Moderate
Example 2 · Indian Geography — Physical Features · Mountains, Plateaus and Plains
Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :
Code :
| List-I (Pass) | List-II (Place) |
|---|---|
| A. Zoji La | 1. Himachal Pradesh |
| B. Shipki La | 2. Uttarakhand |
| C. Lipulekh | 3. Jammu and Kashmir |
| D. Nathu La | 4. Sikkim |
Shipki La and Lipulekh are next door, not the same state
Shipki La is in Himachal Pradesh, on the Satluj. Lipulekh is in Uttarakhand, on the Kailash Mansarovar route. CDS swaps them in the options.
Bolan and Khyber are not Indian
The Bolan (Pakistan) and the Khyber (Pakistan and Afghanistan) cross the western mountains, not the Indian Himalaya.
Concept 3 of 4: Hills and plateaus of the peninsula
The peninsula is an old, hard block of rock worn down into plateaus and hill ranges. Each range has one peak or one fact CDS asks about. Learn the range, its top and its state together.
Definition
The ranges, north to south:
- Aravalli (Rajasthan): highest point Guru Shikhar on Mount Abu.
- Vindhya: just north of the Narmada.
- Satpura: between the Narmada and the Tapi; highest point Dhupgarh near Pachmarhi. The Mahadeo hills are its eastern part.
- Nilgiri (Tamil Nadu): Doddabetta.
- Anaimalai (Kerala): Anaimudi, the highest peak of peninsular India.
Plateaus: Malwa (western Madhya Pradesh, black soil, Indore) and Chota Nagpur (Jharkhand, old Archaean granite and gneiss, rich in minerals).
| Hills or plateau | Peak or fact | State |
|---|---|---|
| Aravalli | Guru Shikhar, Mount Abu | Rajasthan |
| Vindhya | The northern wall of the Narmada valley | Madhya Pradesh |
| Satpura | Dhupgarh; lies between the Narmada and the Tapi | Madhya Pradesh |
| Mahadeo hills | Eastern part of the Satpura system | Madhya Pradesh |
| Nilgiri | Doddabetta | Tamil Nadu |
| Anaimalai | Anaimudi, the highest peak of the peninsula | Kerala |
| Malwa plateau | Black soil; Indore stands on it | Madhya PradeshQ CDS 2025 (II): Indore is on the Malwa plateau, not in Nimar, Bundelkhand or Mahakoshal. |
| Chota Nagpur plateau | Archaean granite and gneiss; rich in minerals | Jharkhand |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2019 · CDS (II) 2019 — General Knowledge · Q66Moderate
Example 3 · Indian Geography — Physical Features · Mountains, Plateaus and Plains
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists :
Code :
| List I (Peak) | List II (Name of Hill) |
|---|---|
| A. Anaimudi | 1. Nilgiri |
| B. Doddabetta | 2. Satpura |
| C. Dhupgarh | 3. Aravali |
| D. Guru Shikhar | 4. Annamalai |
Anaimudi beats Doddabetta
Doddabetta is the top of the Nilgiris, but the highest peak of the whole peninsula is Anaimudi in the Anaimalai hills of Kerala.
Dhupgarh is Satpura, Guru Shikhar is Aravalli
Dhupgarh (near Pachmarhi) crowns the Satpura; Guru Shikhar (Mount Abu) crowns the Aravalli. The Vindhya has no peak CDS has asked about.
Concept 4 of 4: Plains, desert and coasts
When a river leaves the mountains it slows down and drops its load: the heavy boulders first, at the foot of the hills, and the fine silt far out on the plain. That one idea explains the belts of the northern plains. The Thar and the two coasts each have one fact CDS asks.
Definition
The northern plains, from the hills outwards:
- Bhabar: a narrow belt of pebbles and boulders at the foot of the Shiwaliks; streams sink under it.
- Terai: a wet, marshy belt south of the bhabar where the streams come back up.
- Bhangar: older alluvium, above flood level, with lime nodules (kankar).
- Khadar: newer alluvium on the floodplains, renewed by floods every year.
The Thar (Marusthali) lay under the sea in the Mesozoic era; fossils at Aakal and marine deposits near Brahmsar (Jaisalmer) show it. The west coast is high, rocky and retreating, with erosional forms. The east coast is low and sedimentary, with depositional forms such as deltas.
| Feature | What it is |
|---|---|
| Bhabar | Boulders and pebbles at the foot of the Shiwaliks |
| Terai | Marshy belt south of the bhabar |
| Bhangar | Older alluvium, above flood level |
| Khadar | Newer alluvium on the floodplains |
| Thar (Marusthali) | Under the sea in the Mesozoic eraQ CDS 2022 (II): Mesozoic, not Palaeozoic or Cenozoic. |
| West coast | High, rocky, retreating; erosional landformsQ CDS 2022 (II): all three statements on the two coasts were true. |
| East coast | Low, sedimentary; depositional landforms such as deltas |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2021 · CDS (II) 2021 — General Knowledge · Q98Moderate
Example 4 · Indian Geography — Physical Features · Mountains, Plateaus and Plains
Streams and rivers coming from the mountains deposit heavy materials of rocks and boulders in
Bhabar is dry, terai is wet
The bhabar is a dry belt of boulders where streams disappear underground. The terai below it is marshy, because the streams come up again there.
Khadar is new, bhangar is old
Khadar is the new alluvium laid down by floods each year. Bhangar is the old alluvium on higher ground. Students often swap them.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Reference tables (4)
Ranges of the north, peaks and glaciers8 rows
| Range or feature | What to remember |
|---|---|
| Kunlun | The farthest north, on the edge of the Tibetan plateau |
| Karakoram | Siachen glacier, at the head of the Nubra valleyQ CDS 2024 (II): Siachen and the Nubra valley was the one correct pair. |
| Ladakh range | North of the Indus in Ladakh |
| Zaskar range | South of the Indus, in front of the Great Himalaya |
| Great Himalaya | Kanchenjunga with the Zemu glacier (Sikkim); Nanda Devi (Uttarakhand) |
| Pir Panjal | Karewa deposits on its lower slopes, in the Kashmir valleyQ CDS 2022 (II): all three statements on the Karewas were true. |
| Kashmir valley | The Jhelum meanders; Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri (Ladakh) are salt-water lakesQ CDS 2026 (I): the statement calling them freshwater lakes was the false one. |
| Shiwaliks | The outermost foothills, next to the plains |
Himalayan passes10 rows
| Pass | Where | What it joins |
|---|---|---|
| Zoji La | Between Kashmir and Ladakh | Srinagar and Leh |
| Khardung La | Ladakh | Leh and the Nubra valley |
| Lanak La | Ladakh (Aksai Chin) | The old route from Ladakh to LhasaQ |
| Rohtang | Himachal Pradesh | Kullu and Lahaul |
| Shipki La | Himachal Pradesh (Kinnaur) | The Satluj valley and TibetQ CDS 2026 (I): Shipki La is in the Satluj valley, not the Chumbi or Teesta valley. |
| Lipulekh | Uttarakhand (Pithoragarh) | India and Tibet, on the Kailash Mansarovar route |
| Nathu La | Sikkim | Gangtok and the Chumbi valley |
| Jelep La | Sikkim | Sikkim and the Chumbi valley |
| Bomdi La | Arunachal Pradesh | The road to Tawang |
| Bolan | Pakistan (Balochistan) | Not a Himalayan passQ CDS 2023 (II): the odd one out against Zojila, Shipkila and Lipulekh. |
Hills and plateaus of the peninsula8 rows
| Hills or plateau | Peak or fact | State |
|---|---|---|
| Aravalli | Guru Shikhar, Mount Abu | Rajasthan |
| Vindhya | The northern wall of the Narmada valley | Madhya Pradesh |
| Satpura | Dhupgarh; lies between the Narmada and the Tapi | Madhya Pradesh |
| Mahadeo hills | Eastern part of the Satpura system | Madhya Pradesh |
| Nilgiri | Doddabetta | Tamil Nadu |
| Anaimalai | Anaimudi, the highest peak of the peninsula | Kerala |
| Malwa plateau | Black soil; Indore stands on it | Madhya PradeshQ CDS 2025 (II): Indore is on the Malwa plateau, not in Nimar, Bundelkhand or Mahakoshal. |
| Chota Nagpur plateau | Archaean granite and gneiss; rich in minerals | Jharkhand |
Plains, desert and coasts7 rows
| Feature | What it is |
|---|---|
| Bhabar | Boulders and pebbles at the foot of the Shiwaliks |
| Terai | Marshy belt south of the bhabar |
| Bhangar | Older alluvium, above flood level |
| Khadar | Newer alluvium on the floodplains |
| Thar (Marusthali) | Under the sea in the Mesozoic eraQ CDS 2022 (II): Mesozoic, not Palaeozoic or Cenozoic. |
| West coast | High, rocky, retreating; erosional landformsQ CDS 2022 (II): all three statements on the two coasts were true. |
| East coast | Low, sedimentary; depositional landforms such as deltas |
Watch out for (8)
- The Kunlun is north of the Karakoram→ Ranges of the north, peaks and glaciers
- Pangong Tso is salty→ Ranges of the north, peaks and glaciers
- Shipki La and Lipulekh are next door, not the same state→ Himalayan passes
- Bolan and Khyber are not Indian→ Himalayan passes
- Anaimudi beats Doddabetta→ Hills and plateaus of the peninsula
- Dhupgarh is Satpura, Guru Shikhar is Aravalli→ Hills and plateaus of the peninsula
- Bhabar is dry, terai is wet→ Plains, desert and coasts
- Khadar is new, bhangar is old→ Plains, desert and coasts
Test yourself on Indian Geography — Physical Features
20 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 20 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.