The Geographical Setting of India

The geographical setting of India is diverse and dynamic, featuring vast mountains, fertile plains, deserts, and extensive coastlines. Located in South Asia, it is surrounded by the Himalayas, the Indian Ocean, and neighboring countries. Its varied landscape influences its climate, agriculture, biodiversity, and cultural diversity.

The Geographical Setting of India

Introduction

The history of any country or region cannot be understood without some knowledge of its geography. The history of the people is greatly conditioned by the geography and environment of the region in which they live. The physical geography and environmental conditions of a region include climate, soil types, water resources and other topographical features. These determine the settlement pattern, population spread, food products, human behaviour and dietary habits of a region. The Indian subcontinent is gifted with different regions with their distinct geographical features which have greatly affected the course of its history.

Geographical divission

Geographically speaking the Indian subcontinent in ancient times included the present day India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. On the basis of geographical diversities the subcontinent can be broadly divided into the following main regions. These are:
(i) The Himalayas
(ii) The River Plains of North India
(iii) The Peninsular India

The Himalayas

• (1) The Himalayas are the world’s largest and the highest mountain ranges. These are approximately 2,400 kilometers long. These ranges have not only checked invasions but have also protected us from the cold winds coming from north. They also stop the monsoon winds from the seas which results in rainfall in the northern plains.
• (2) However, there are some mountain passes which, though difficult, have provided access to determined invaders, traders, missionaries. These have helped in developing cultural contacts with Central Asia, China and Tibet in ancient times.
• (3) In the north-western direction the broken Himalayan ranges contain the major routes linking the Indian plains with Iran and Central Asia through Afghanistan. These pass through the Gomal, Bolan and Khyber passes.
• (4) The Greeks, Shakas, Kushanas, Hunas and other foreign tribes reached India following these routes. Likewise, Buddhism and other Indian elements were carried out to Afghanistan and Central Asia through these mountain passes.

The River Plains of North India

• (1) The Himalayas also provide India with three river systems dominated by the Indus, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. These rivers made their respective regions fertile and attracted both settlers and invaders.
• (2) The Indus plains include the regions of Punjab and Sind. Irrigated by the tributaries of the river Indus, they form a vast fertile plain which have made the region the ‘breadbasket’ of the subcontinent. It is called so because this region is very important for wheat cultivation.
• (3) The strategic location and richness of the Punjab region has attracted foreign invaders since ancient past. The Sind region includes the lower Indus Valley and the delta. It is the Indus plains which witnessed the development of an urbanized culture called the Harappan culture for the first time in the subcontinent.
• (4) The Gangetic basin receives more rainfall and is more humid than the Indus region. The Gangetic plains is divided into three sub-regions: Upper, Middle and Lower. The Upper plains of the river Ganges constitute the western and southern parts of Uttar Pradesh.
• (5) This region has seen active cultural developments since the ancient period. This was in habited by the Aryans in the Later Vedic period, during which they practised agriculture.
• (6) The Middle Gangetic plains, which is more fertile and has more rainfall, include eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It is the region where mahajanpadas (territorial states) like Kosala, Kasi and Magadha were established in the 6th century BC. The two main religions of India, Jainism and Buddhism, also took their birth here.
• (7) The lower Gangetic plains constitute the Bengal region. Its northern part is irrigated by the Brahmputra. The high rainfall in this region created dense forest and marshy land which made it difficult for the development of settlements in the beginning.
• (8) But its coastal areas served as important channels of communication with other regions of the subcontinent and also with the South-east Asian countries. Tamralipti or Tamluk was an important seaport of this region which played a significant role in commercial activities.
• (9) The Eastern India normally refers to the coastal plains formed by the river Mahanadi and other streams. The fertile coastal plains of this region helped in the development of agriculture, society and culture. This came into contact with the Gangetic culture from the time of the Nandas and the Mauryas (4th century BC).
• (10) Around AD 1000 Orissa began to develop her distinct linguistic and cultural identity. The Western India refers to the regions of the modern states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is known for its black soil which is good for cotton cultivitation.
• (11) The Thar desert of Rajasthan, surrounded by the semi-arid regions, was not as fertile as the Gangetic plains. As a result, this region was not much favourable for cultivation. However, later in the 8th century AD, with the growth of irrigation mechanism in the form of Persian wheel (rehat), many settlements emerged here. Rajasthan is also the home of the Rajput clans.
• (12) In Gujarat the fertile plains of the rivers Sabarmati, Mahi, Narmada and Tapti brought prosperity. A very long coastal line too helped Gujarat to develop contacts with other countries through its ports. The most important sea port of this region has been Brigukaccha or Bharuch (Broach).

The Peninsular India

• (1) Peninsular India includes the Deccan plateau and the coastal plains of South India. The plateau is situated to the south of the Vindhya mountains. It is divided into three major regions which largely correspond to the modern states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
• (2) The northern Deccan plateau comprises of a part of Maharashtra. A number of Chalcolithic sites inhabited by people using copper and stone tools have been found in this region.
• (3) Karnataka includes the southwestern Deccan. This region with the availability of water and other resources had been more suitable for human settlements than the northern part. The Raichur doab for its rice cultivation has been known as the ‘rice-bowl’ of South India. It has been the bone of contention between different kingdoms. These regions were inhabited right from the prehistoric times.
• (4) The plateau region also has hilly terrains in the Western and Eastern Ghats. The Western Ghats rise sharply close to the western coast, tapering eastwards into the plateau. They are cut by a series of passes at Junnar, Kanheri and Karle. These served as trade routes connecting the ports along the west coast.
• (5) At the southern end of the Western Ghats is the Palghat pass which linked the west coast to the Kaveri valley and played an important role in the Indo-Roman trade in ancient period. The Eastern Ghats merge more gradually into the plateau and the coastal plain.
• (6) The coastal plains constitute the states of Tamil Nadu in east and Kerala on west. In Tamil Nadu the rivers are seasonal. As a result, the people of this region have depended more on the tank irrigation since the early times.
• (7) However, Kaveri delta has been the major region of human attraction. It provided opportunity for the cultivation of rice and witnessed the flourishing of the Sangam culture in the early historical period.
• (8) The ports such as Arikamedu and Kaveripattinam gave impetus to the Indo-Roman Trade in early centuries of Christian era. The Tamil region evolved a distinct linguistic and cultural identity of its own.

Conclusion

India’s geographical setting is incredibly diverse and plays a crucial role in shaping the country’s climate, natural resources, culture, and economy. Located in South Asia, India benefits from a strategic position with access to the Indian Ocean, while being surrounded by a variety of landscapes, including the towering Himalayas, the vast Indo-Gangetic plains, the arid Thar Desert, and the rich coastal regions. The country’s physical features such as mountains, rivers, and plateaus influence agricultural practices, biodiversity, and weather patterns.

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