Purvachal
Also called: Eastern hills, Northeastern hills · Topic: Structure and Physiography of India: Himalayas, Plains, Peninsula, Coasts and Islands · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 1 "India - Location"; Class 11, Ch 2 "Structure and Physiography"
Meaning
Purvachal (the Eastern or North-eastern hills) is the part of the Himalayan system that bends south after the Brahmaputra's gorge. These hills run north to south along India's border with Myanmar. They are made mostly of sedimentary rocks (rocks formed from layers of deposited sand and mud). The main hills are the Patkai Bum, the Naga hills, the Manipur hills and the Mizo (Lushai) hills, with the Barail range between them. Mizoram's "Molassis basin" is made of soft, loose deposits.
Example
Loktak lake in Manipur lies among the Purvachal hills. The Pangsau pass in Arunachal Pradesh, on the Stilwell (Ledo) road, crosses the Patkai Bum into Myanmar.
Don't confuse with
- Meghalaya plateau: this lies close to Purvachal, but it is a detached piece of the old Peninsular plateau. Purvachal is made of young folded hills that belong to the Himalayan system.