The Central Highlands

The Central Highlands form the northern and larger division of the Peninsular Plateau. They lie to the north of the Narmada river, which separates them from the Deccan Plateau to the south. This entire region is an ancient landmass, made of hard, crystalline rocks, and it stands as a broad, uneven tableland that slopes gently towards the east and the north-east.

The western edge of the Central Highlands is marked by the Aravali range, which runs roughly from the south-west to the north-east. The Aravalis are highly eroded and worn-down mountains, and they form a natural boundary for the region. To the east of the Aravalis, the highlands are broadly divided into two main parts based on the direction of their drainage. The part lying to the west of the Aravalis is called the Marwar upland, while the part lying to the east of the Aravalis is known as the Bundelkhand region. Further east, the highlands continue into the Baghelkhand region, which extends towards the Chotanagpur plateau.

The drainage of the Central Highlands is not uniform. The rivers that flow towards the west, such as the Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa and the Ken, drain into the Yamuna and eventually into the Ganga system. These rivers have carved out wide and shallow valleys in the region. In contrast, the rivers that flow towards the south, such as the Chambal and its tributaries, drain into the Narmada. This difference in drainage direction gives the region its distinctive character.

The Central Highlands are not a single, flat surface. They are broken up by several hill ranges and plateaus. The most prominent of these is the Vindhyan range, which runs roughly parallel to the Narmada river and forms the southern boundary of the highlands. To the north of the Vindhyas, the region is further divided by the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand uplands. The western part of the highlands, near the Aravalis, is drier and more barren, while the eastern part receives more rainfall and is more fertile.

A significant feature of the Central Highlands is the presence of lava flows, which have created a rugged, black soil region known as the Deccan trap. This black soil, also called regur soil, is highly fertile and is particularly suited for growing cotton. The region is also rich in mineral resources, especially in the eastern parts, where the Chotanagpur plateau is located. This plateau is one of the most important mineral-bearing regions of India, with large deposits of coal, iron ore and other minerals. …