The physical features of India can be divided into 6 parts based on physiographic features:

(i) The Himalayan Mountains

(ii) The northern Plains

(iii)The Peninsular Plateau

(iv)The Indian Desert

(v) The Coastal Plains

(vi)The Islands

The contrast between the Himalayan region and Peninsular Plateau: Himalayan Region:

• Mountains of the Himalayas stretch over the northern borders of India. These mountain ranges cover the west-east direction from the Indus to the Brahmaputra.

• The Himalayas represent the most elevated and one of the roughest mountain barriers in the world.

• They cover a distance of about 2400 km and form an arc. Their width varies from 400 Km in Kashmir to 150 Km in Arunachal Pradesh.

• In its longitudinal extent, the Himalayas consists of 3 parallel ranges. Between these ranges, several valleys lie.

• This range consists of the most elevated peaks with an average height of 6,000 metres.
• These mountain ranges of the Himalayas are always covered with snow. That's why this mountain range is called the Himalayas.

Peninsular Plateau:

• The Peninsular plateau is a high-level flat plateau composed of the old crystalline, igneous and metamorphic rocks.

• It was formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land and making it a part of the oldest landmass.

• This plateau is spread over an area of 16 lakh sq. km. The plateau consists of broad and shallow valleys and rounded hills.

• In the north of this plateau, Satluj- Brahmaputra plains and the Arabian sea are located.

• This Plateau can be divided into two parts: the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau.