The two physical divisions of the peninsular plateau are the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau. The characteristics of each of them are given below.

Central Highlands: It lies to the north of the river Narmada. The slope of the gradient is towards north and the main

rivers, Chambal, Ken, Betwa and Son flow from southwest to northeast.

The eastward extensions are marked by Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand and Chhota Nagpur plateau.

It is wider in west and narrower in east and merges with the desert region in the west.

Deccan Plateau: It lies to the south of river Narmada. The northern boundary is marked by the Satpura range

while eastern boundaries are marked by Mahadev, Maikal and Kaimur hills.

It is higher in the west and gently slopes eastwards. Its extension in the northeast is known as the Meghalaya

and Karbi-Anglong plateau and is separated by a fault from Chhota Nagpur plateau.

Brief Introduction to Deccan Plateau

The Deccan Plateau or the Peninusular India is a triangular table and separated from the Indo-Gangetic plain by Vindhya and Satapura ranges and impenetrable forests known as Dandakaranya and Mahakantaravana.

The Deccan (meaning south) is flanked by the

Eastern Ghats (Mahendra) and the Western Ghats (Sahyadri), which meet at Nilgiris (Blue mountain) with Dodo Betta peak at a height of 2,637 metres.

Beyond it lie the Cardamom Hills, which may be regarded as the continuation of the Western Ghats.

There is a small gap about 35 kilometers wide, between the Nilgiri and Cardamom Hills, which provides an easy access from Coromondel coast to Malabar Coast i.e. from east to west which is known as the Coimbatore or Palaghat gap.

Geologically the Deccan Plateau is older than the Himalayas and the Gangetic plain.

The nucleus of the Peninsula is a triangular block of very old rock that cover its greater part from the Satmala - Ajanta ranges to the Nilgiris.

Elevation of Deccan Plateau The Deccan plateau has a general elevation

of 600 mtrs. and the general slope is towards south-east.

The Peninsula narrows down towards the south and at last meet at Cape Camorin of Kanyakumari, the southernmost point of India.

The Western Ghats is a continuous steep mountain wall running parallel to the shore of Arabian Sea for about 1140 kilometers and is 925 to 2475 meters high above sea level.

The Peninsular River SystemThese are seasonal

rivers, as their flow depends mainly on rainfall.They carry

about 30% of the total discharge. These can be divided

Into following characteristics: 1.East-Flowing rivers

2. West-Flowing rivers

East-Flowing RiversEast-Flowing Rivers•Most Deccan plateau rivers flow south. Most Deccan plateau rivers flow south. •Most of the northern part of the plateau Most of the northern part of the plateau

is drained by the Godavari River and its is drained by the Godavari River and its tributaries, including the Indravati River, tributaries, including the Indravati River, starting from the Western Ghats and starting from the Western Ghats and flowing east towards the Bay of Bengal.flowing east towards the Bay of Bengal.

• Most of the central plateau is drained Most of the central plateau is drained by the Tungabhadra River, Krishna by the Tungabhadra River, Krishna River and its tributaries, including River and its tributaries, including the Bhima River, which also run east. the Bhima River, which also run east.

•The southernmost part of the plateau The southernmost part of the plateau is drained by the Kaveri River, which is drained by the Kaveri River, which rises in the Western Ghats of rises in the Western Ghats of Karnataka and bends south to break Karnataka and bends south to break through the Nilgiri Hills at the island through the Nilgiri Hills at the island town of Shivanasamudra and then falls town of Shivanasamudra and then falls into Tamil Nadu at Hogenakal into Tamil Nadu at Hogenakal Falls before flowing into the Stanley Falls before flowing into the Stanley Reservoir and the Mettur Dam that Reservoir and the Mettur Dam that created the reservoir, and finally created the reservoir, and finally emptying into the Bay of Bengal.emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

West-Flowing Rivers

Narmada rises from the Amarkantak plateau (north-west of Deccan plateau) and enters into the Gulf of Khambat.

Tapi river rises from north-west of Deccan plateau and flows into Arabian sea.

Periyar rises from Western Ghats and enters into Arabian Sea.

Saravati rises from Sahyadri hills. It forms the famous Jog or Gersoppa falls (289m).

Lengths of riversLength of Mahanadi: 890 kmLength of Godavari: 1450 kmLength of Krishna: 1290 kmLength of Cavery: 760 kmLength of Periyar: 560 kmLength of Narmada: 1290 kmLength of Tapi: 724km

ClimateClimate The climate of the region varies from semi-arid in The climate of the region varies from semi-arid in

the north to tropical in most of the region with the north to tropical in most of the region with distinct wet and dry seasons. distinct wet and dry seasons.

Rain falls during the monsoon season from about Rain falls during the monsoon season from about June to October. March to June can be very dry and June to October. March to June can be very dry and hot, with temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C. hot, with temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C.

The Deccan plateau is a topographically The Deccan plateau is a topographically variegated region located south of the Gangetic variegated region located south of the Gangetic plains-the portion lying between the Arabian Sea plains-the portion lying between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal-and includes a substantial and the Bay of Bengal-and includes a substantial area to the north of the Vindhya Range, which has area to the north of the Vindhya Range, which has popularly been regarded as the divide between popularly been regarded as the divide between northern India and the Deccan. northern India and the Deccan.

The plateau is bounded on the The plateau is bounded on the east and west by the Ghats, east and west by the Ghats, while its northern extremity is while its northern extremity is the Satpura Range. the Satpura Range. 

The Deccan plateau consists of The Deccan plateau consists of dry tropical forests that dry tropical forests that experiences only seasonal experiences only seasonal rainfall.rainfall.

Topography The Deccan's average elevation is about 2,000

feet (600 m), sloping generally eastward; its principal rivers, the Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery, flow from the Western Ghats eastward to the Bay of Bengal.

The plateau's climate is drier than that on the coasts and is arid in places. Although sometimes used to mean all of India south of the Narmada River, the word Deccan relates more specifically to that area of rich volcanic soils and lava-covered plateaus in the northern part of the peninsula between the Narmada and Krishna rivers.

Topography On the western edge of the plateau lie

the Sahyadri, the Nilgiri, the Annamalai and the Cardamon Hills, commonly known as Western Ghats.

The average height of the Western Ghats, which run along the Arabian Sea, goes on increasing towards the south. Anamudi Peak in Kerala, with a height of 2,695 m above sea level, is the highest peak of peninsular India.

The eastern Deccan plateau, called Telangana, is made of vast sheets of massive granite rock, which effectively traps rainwater. Under the thin surface layer of soil is the impervious gray granite bedrock. It rains here only during some months.

Comprising the northeastern part of the Deccan Plateau, the Telangana Plateau has an area of about 148,000 km2, a north-south length of about 770 km, and an east-west width of about 515 km.

Nilgiri Hills

Sahyadri Hills

Anamalai Hills

Cardamom Hills

The Deccan TrapThe northwestern part of the plateau is made up of

lava flows or igneous rocks known as the Deccan Trap.

The rocks are spread over the whole of Maharashtra and parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, thereby making it one of the largest volcanic provinces in the world.

It consists of more than 2,000 m of flat-lying basalt lava flows and covers an area of nearly 500,000 km2 in west-central India.

Estimates of the original area covered by the lava flows are as high as 1.5 million km2.

The volume of basalt is estimated to be 512,000 cubic km. The thick dark soil (called regur) found here is suitable for cotton cultivation.

Geology• The Deccan Plateau is made up

of basalt extending up to Bhor Ghat near Karjat. This is an extrusive igneous rock.

• Also in certain sections of the region, we

can find granite, which is an intrusive igneous rock . Granite is rich in potassium feldspar andquartz. This composition is the primary composition of the continental crust. Since it cooled relatively slowly, it has large visible crystals. Basalt is rich in pyroxene and, in some cases, olivine, both of which are Mg-Fe rich minerals.

• Basalt is similar in composition to mantle rocks, indicating that it came from the mantle and did not mix with continental rocks. Basalt forms in areas that are spreading, whereas granite forms mostly in areas that are colliding. Since both rocks are found in the Deccan Plateau, it indicates two different environments of formation.

• The Deccan is rich in minerals. Primary mineral ores found in this region are mica and iron ore in the Chota Nagpur region, and diamonds, gold and other metals in the Golconda region.

Potassium Feldspar

Quartz

BasaltMica

Anai Mudi- Highest peak in the Western Ghats Anamudi is located in the Indian

state Kerala. It is the highest peak in

the Western Ghats and South India, at an elevation of 2,695 metres (8,842 ft), and a topographic prominence of 2,479 metres (8,133 ft).

The name Anamudi literally translates to "elephant's forehead," a reference to the resemblance of the mountain to an elephant's head. It is located in the southern region of Eravikulam National Park at the junction of the Cardamom Hills, the Anaimalai Hills and the Palani Hills. 

The peak is the highest point of the Periyar river basin.

Anaimudi Highest Point seen from an aircraft

Anamudi, as seen from Eravikulam National Park

Anamudi from Eravikulam National Park

Palani HillsPalani Hills The The Palani HillsPalani Hills  are a mountain range   are a mountain range

in Tamil Nadu state of South India. The in Tamil Nadu state of South India. The Palani Hills are an eastward extension of Palani Hills are an eastward extension of the Western Ghats ranges, which run the Western Ghats ranges, which run parallel to the west coast of India. parallel to the west coast of India.

The Palani Hills adjoin the The Palani Hills adjoin the high Anamalai range on the west, and high Anamalai range on the west, and extend east into the plains of Tamil Nadu, extend east into the plains of Tamil Nadu, covering an area of 2,068 square covering an area of 2,068 square kilometres .kilometres .

The highest part of the range is in The highest part of the range is in the southwest, and reaches 1,800-the southwest, and reaches 1,800-2,500 metres (5,906-8,202 feet) 2,500 metres (5,906-8,202 feet) elevation; the eastern extension of elevation; the eastern extension of the range is made up of hills 1,000-the range is made up of hills 1,000-1,500 m (3,281-4,921 ft) high.1,500 m (3,281-4,921 ft) high.

It is also home to one of the shrines It is also home to one of the shrines of Lord Karthikeyan or Murugan, who of Lord Karthikeyan or Murugan, who is worshipped as the primary god in is worshipped as the primary god in Tamil Nadu.Tamil Nadu.

List of Flora in Deccan Plateau: Anogeissus latifolia Boswellia serrata Terminalia tomentosa Acacia catechu Terminalia belirica Terminalia paniculata Albizzia amara Chloroxylon swietenia Hardwickia binata

•Anogeissus latifolia

•Boswellia serrata •Terminalia

tomentosa •Acacia catechu

•Terminalia belirica

•Terminalia paniculata

•Albizzia amara

•Chloroxylon swietenia

The History• Of the early history, the main facts established are

the growth of the Mauryan empire (250 BC) and the invasion (AD 100) of the Scythictribes known as the Sakas, Pahlavas and Yavanas, which led to the establishment of the power of the Kshaharata satraps in western India.

• Prominent dynasties of this time include the Cholas (3rd century BC to 12th century AD), Chalukyas (6th to 12th centuries),Rashtrakutas (753–982), Hoysalas (10th to 14th centuries), Kakatiya (1083 to 1323 AD) and Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646). 

• Ahir Kings once ruled over the Deccan. A cave inscription at Nasik refers to the reign of an Abhira prince named Ishwarsena, son of Shivadatta

• In 1294, Alauddin Khilji, emperor of Delhi, invaded the Deccan, stormed Devagiri, and reduced the Yadava rajas of Maharashtra to the position of tributary princes (see Daulatabad), then proceeding southward to conquer the Telangana and Carnatic.

• In 1307, a fresh series of Muslim incursions led by Malik Kafur began in response to unpaid tributes, resulting in the final ruin of the Yadava power; and in 1338 the conquest of the Deccan was completed by Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq.

• The imperial hegemony was brief, as soon Telingana andKarnataka reverted to their former masters. These defections by the Hindu states was soon followed by a general revolt of the Muslim,governors, resulting in the establishment in 1347 of the independent Muslim dynasty of Bahmani. The power of the Delhi sultanate evaporated south of the Narmada River.

Jahangir receives Prince Khurram on his return from the Deccan (10 October 1617)

Royal emblem of Kalachurya

Shiva sculpture at Ellora Caves.

9th century Old Kannadainscription at Durga Devi temple built by the Rashtrakutas in Hampi, Karnataka

India. Bahmani Sulatanate of the Deccan. Ahmad Shah II A.H. 839 - 862 / A.D. 1436 - 1458.

Abul Hasan Qutb Shah

Bibliography Macmillan’s General Knowledge Manuel 2013- Muktikanta MohantyIndia Physiography – S.M. Shantanu

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