Geography of Indian Subcontinent

Geography of Indian Subcontinent

Location of the Subcontinent

• The mainland of the Indian subcontinent, comprising India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, extends between 8°4'N and 37°6'N latitudes and between 68°7'E and 97°25'E longitudes.

• If the sixth country of this subcontinent, Sri Lanka, is included, then it starts from 6°N latitude.

• The Tropic of Cancer (23½°N) passes through the middle of India.

Size and Extent of Subcontinent

The total area of the Indian subcontinent is 44.9 lakh sq. km, i.e.

• India: 32,87,263 sq. km

• Pakistan: 7,96,095 sq. km

• Bangladesh: 1,48,393 sq. km

• Nepal: 1,47,181 sq. km

• Bhutan: 46,500 sq. km

• Sri Lanka: 65,610 sq. km

From North to South, this subcontinent stretches over 3,200 km, and from East to West, it is 2,933 km.

82°30'E longitude, also known as the 'Standard Meridian of India', helps in calculating the Indian Standard Time (IST), which is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

This very meridian (82½° E) dictates time in Sri Lanka and Nepal also.

Position and Extent of India and its Locational Advantage

• India forms part of the large continental land mass of Eurasia.

• It is located on one of the peninsulas of Southern Asia.

• The country extends from Kashmir in the north to Kanyakumari in the south.

• The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are situated on the western and eastern sides of peninsular India, respectively.

• The latitudinal extent of the country is from 8°4' North to 37°6' North.

• The Tropic of Cancer (23½° N) which passes through the middle of the country measures from 68° 7' 68°7'E to 97°25'E.

• The location of the country is in the northern and eastern hemispheres.

Locational Importance of India

• India is located on the world's major sea routes.

• Due to its location, India has maritime contacts with southwest Asia and Africa to the west and southeast Asia to the east.

• Its location has given India an advantage of the route of the Suez Canal for trade with North America and Europe.

Size of India (in terms of area and population)

• India is the seventh-largest country (in terms of area) in the world.

• The total area is about 3.28 million sq. km.

• The area of India is nearly equal to the area of the continent of Europe, excluding Russia.

• India is eight times as large as Japan.

• India ranks as the second-largest country in terms of population (next to China only).

• No continent of the world except Asia has a larger population than that of India.

• India contains about one-sixth of the total population of the world.

Physical Divisions of the Indian Subcontinent

A chain of high mountains radiates from the Pamir Knot, which lies just north of India.

In these mountains, the Hindukush, the Sulaiman, and the Kirthar in the west and the Himalayas in the east separate the Indian subcontinent from the rest of Asia.

Pir Panjal Range

• Pir Panjal mountain range, in the Northern Indian subcontinent, is part of the western (Middle) Himalayas, the western outlier of the vast Himalayas system.

Indian Subcontinent Physical Divisions

The Indian subcontinent can be divided into the following physical divisions:

1. The Great Mountain Wall of the North

2. The Great Northern Plains

3. The Great Peninsular Plateau

4. The Coastal Plains

5. The Great Indian Desert

6. The Island Groups

The Great Mountain Wall of the North / Himalayas

• The Himalayas, the highest mountain the world, are situated on the northern boundary of India like an arc.

• From west to east, the Himalayas are 2500 km long.

• The average breadth of the Himalayas is between 250 to 400 km.

• Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, lies in the Himalayas and is in Nepal.

Division of the Himalayas

The Himalayas consist of three parallel mountain ranges:

(i) The Greater Himalayas

(ii) The Lesser Himalayas

(iii) The Outer Himalayas

(i) The Greater Himalayas (or Himadri)

• This is the loftiest of the three ranges of the Himalayas.

• Mount Everest lies in this range.

• These snow-covered mountains give birth to many glaciers.

• The Ganga originates from this glacier.

Major Passes of India

(ii) The Lesser Himalayas (or the Himachal Himalayas)

• South of the Greater Himalayas, the range also lies parallel to it from west to east.

• This range is 60 to 80 km wide, and its average height ranges between 3500 to 4500 metres.

• Tourist centres like Shimla, Mussorie, and Nainital are situated in this range.

Heights of Major Mountain Peaks in India

• Height in metres above mean sea level

• Situated in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)

• Masher Brum is also known as K-1 [Source: World Atlas]

(iii) The Outer Himalayas (or Shiwaliks)

• This is the southernmost and the third parallel range of the Himalayas, with an average height of 900 to 1200 metres.

• Its breadth is only 10 to 50 km.

• Shivalik range is broader in the west.

Local Division of the Himalayas

Final Thoughts

The Indian subcontinent stands as one of the most diverse and geographically significant regions of the world. Its strategic location between major sea routes, vast size, and unique physical features such as the towering Himalayas, fertile plains, and extensive coastlines give it a distinctive identity.

The subcontinent’s natural boundaries, the mountain ranges, not only protect it but also shape its climate, rivers, and culture. With India being the seventh largest country in terms of area and the second most populated, this region is both historically and economically vital.

From the snow-clad peaks of the Himalayas to the arid Thar Desert, every part of this subcontinent tells a story of nature’s grandeur and human civilization.