The Northeastern Plateau

The northeastern corner of the peninsula is not a separate landmass but a detached piece of the main Peninsular Plateau, pushed away by the same forces that built the Himalayas. Understanding why it stands isolated today requires looking at the geological event that split it from the rest of the block.

When the Indian plate moved northeastward during the formation of the Himalayas, the immense force created a huge fault between the Rajmahal hills and the Meghalaya plateau. This depression was later filled by sediment deposited by numerous rivers. As a result, the Meghalaya and Karbi Anglong plateaus now stand completely detached from the main Peninsular Block, separated by the alluvial plains of the Brahmaputra valley.

The Meghalaya plateau itself is sub-divided into three distinct hill ranges, each named after the tribal groups that inhabit the region:

• The Garo Hills
• The Khasi Hills
• The Jaintia Hills

An extension of this plateau is also visible in the Karbi Anglong hills of Assam, which share the same geological character.

In terms of mineral wealth, the Meghalaya plateau closely resembles the Chotanagpur plateau. It is rich in coal, iron ore, sillimanite, limestone and uranium — a resource profile that makes this small region economically significant. …