Central Highlands
Topic: Structure and Physiography of India: Himalayas, Plains, Peninsula, Coasts and Islands · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 2 "Structure and Physiography"
Meaning
The Central Highlands are the northern part of the Peninsular plateau. They lie between the Aravalli range in the west and the Rajmahal hills in the east. They stand about 700-1,000 m high and slope gently to the north and northeast. That is why most of their rivers flow north into the Yamuna and Ganga. They are made of old metamorphic rocks (rocks changed by heat and pressure), such as marble, slate and gneiss. These rocks continue westwards under the sand dunes as far as Jaisalmer.
Example
The Central Highlands include the Malwa plateau and the Vindhyan and Kaimur ranges. Most tributaries of the Yamuna, such as the Betwa and Ken, rise in the Vindhyan and Kaimur ranges and flow north. The Banas is the Chambal's only big tributary, and it rises in the Aravallis.
Don't confuse with
- Deccan Plateau: it lies south of the Narmada and the Satpura range, and it slopes east towards the Bay of Bengal. The Central Highlands lie north of the Narmada and slope north.
Related concepts
- Peninsular Plateau
- Patland plateau
- Chambal ravines
- Aravalli Range
- Delhi ridge
- Malwa plateau
- Vindhyan range
- Satpura range
- Maikal range
- Gir range