Indo-Gangetic Plains

Physiographic division of Indo-Gangetic plains, also referred as the Great Plains is the most densely populated area of the country. This region run parallel to the Himalaya Mountains and stretches from Jammu and Kashmir in the west to Assam in the east and drains most of northern and eastern India covering an area of 700,000 Sq Km.

These Great Plains are considered large floodplains of the Indus and the Ganga-Brahmaputra river systems covering major rivers namely the Ganges and the Indus along with their tributaries–Beas, Yamuna, Gomti, Ravi, Chambal, Sutlej and Chenab. The region holds great importance socially and economically.

The Indo-Gangetic plain stretches from the Indus River system in Pakistan to the Punjab Plain (in both Pakistan and India) and the Haryana Plain to the delta of the Ganga in Bangladesh. The region forms the most densely populated area in the country.

The Central Highlands are divided into northern and southern parts.

•    Northern part          Aravalli Range of eastern Rajasthan.
•    Southern part          Malwa Plateau of northern  Madhya Pradesh

The Indo – Gangetic Plains can be further classified into 4 categories as Bhabar Belt, Terai Belt, Bangar Belt and Khaddar Belt.

•    Bhabar Belt

Bhabar Belt is adjoining to the foothills of the Himalayas and comprises of boulders and pebbles which have been carried down by the river streams. The streams flow underground due to high porosity and have narrow width ranging from 7 to 15 km.

•    Terai Belt

Terai Belt is present next to Bhabar Belt and covers the northern boundary of Indo – Gangetic Plain. The region is rich in new alluvial soil content so thickly forested and densely populated by different species of wild animals. The region gets heavy rainfall through out the year.

•    Bangar Belt

Bangar belt is a low upland covered by laterite deposits and consists of older alluvium forming the alluvial terrace of the flood plains.

•    Khadar Belt

Khadar Belt lies downward to Bangar Belt and comprises new alluvium soil which is deposited by the rivers flowing down the plain.

Some geographers subdivide the Indo-Gangetic Plain on the basis of the availability of water into following categories:

•    Indus Valley (mostly in Pakistan)
•    Punjab (divided between India and Pakistan)
•    Haryana plains
•    Middle and lower Ganga.

While others divide the region of Indo-Gangetic Plain into two drainage basins by the Delhi Ridge as following:

•    Western part consists of the Punjab Plain and the Haryana Plain
•    Eastern part consists of the Ganga-Brahmaputra drainage systems.

The region of Indo–Gangetic plain is rich in ground water and world’s most wide spread of alluvium formed by the deposition of silt by the numerous rivers so suitable for farming. Mainly rice and wheat crops are grown in rotation along with few other crops as maize, sugarcane and cotton.

Other Physiographic Regions of India.

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