Mountains and Hills in India

India is home to some of the world’s most majestic and diverse mountain ranges and hills, stretching from the towering Himalayas in the north to the ancient Western and Eastern Ghats in the south.

These ranges not only shape the country’s geography but also influence its climate, biodiversity, and river systems.

Understanding India’s mountain and hill systems is essential for students and aspirants preparing for competitive exams, as questions related to physical geography frequently appear in Static GK sections of exams like UPSC, SSC, Banking, and Railways.

This article presents a comprehensive list of all the major mountains and hills across India, along with their location and key features.

Major Mountain Ranges & Hill Systems of India

Mountain Range / Hill SystemStates CoveredHighest Peak / Notes
Himalayas (Greater, Lesser, Shivalik)J&K, HP, UK, Sikkim, ArunachalKanchenjunga (8,586 m), Nanda Devi (7,816 m)
Karakoram RangeNorthern J&K, LadakhK2 (8,611 m) – 2nd highest globally
Zanskar RangeLadakhPart of Trans-Himalaya
Pir Panjal RangeHP, J&KPasses like Rohtang in Lesser Himalaya
Dhauladhar RangeHPOver 4,800 m; near Dharamshala
Shivalik HillsHP, UK, Punjab, HaryanaSouthernmost Himalayan foothills
Purvanchal Hills (Patkai, Naga, Mizo)NE India’s Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, MizoramApprox. 4,570 m peak
Aravalli RangeGujarat, Rajasthan, HaryanaGuru Shikhar (1,722 m)
Vindhya RangeMP, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat~1,350 m; divides North & South India
Satpura RangeMP, Maharashtra, ChhattisgarhDhupgarh (1,350 m)
Maikal RangeMP / ChhattisgarhEastern part of Satpuras
Kaimur RangeMP / UP / BiharEastern Vindhya spur
Western Ghats (Sahyadri)Gujarat → Kerala via Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, TNAnamudi (2,695 m) – highest in South India
Anaimalai (Elephant) HillsKerala / TNAnamudi part; biodiversity hotspot
Nilgiri HillsTN / Kerala / KarnatakaDoddabetta (2,637 m)
Cardamom HillsKerala (Idukki district)~2,695 m elevation, spice region
Eastern GhatsOdisha → TN via APArma Konda (1,690 m), scattered hills
Nallamala HillsAndhra Pradesh / TelanganaApollo temples in hills
Mahendragiri HillsOdisha / APCoastal Eastern Ghats segment
Chota Nagpur Plateau (Rajmahal, Hazaribagh)Jharkhand, Odisha, MPMineral-rich plateau zone
Bailadila HillsDantewada, Chhattisgarh1,276 m; highest point in CH
Biligiriranga (BR Hills)Karnataka / Tamil Nadu border1,707 m; corridor between Eastern & Western Ghats
Solah Singhi DharHP (Sub-Himalayas)Up to ~1,200 m; Beas valley boundary
Garhwal & Kumaon HimalayasUttarakhandPeaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet

Key Facts

  1. India has five major mountain ranges:
    • The Himalayas (North)
    • The Aravalli Range (Northwest)
    • The Western Ghats (West Coast)
    • The Eastern Ghats (East Coast)
    • The Vindhya & Satpura Ranges (Central India)
  2. The Himalayas are the youngest and highest mountain range in the world.
    • Contains India’s highest peak: Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) in Sikkim.
  3. The Aravalli Range is the oldest fold mountain range in India and one of the oldest in the world.
    • Highest peak: Guru Shikhar (1,722 m) in Rajasthan.
  4. Western Ghats are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    • Rich in biodiversity and source of many peninsular rivers.
    • Highest peak: Anamudi (2,695 m), Kerala.
  5. Eastern Ghats are discontinuous and lower in elevation compared to the Western Ghats.
    • Highest peak: Mahendragiri (1,501 m), Odisha.
  6. The Vindhya and Satpura ranges lie in central India, forming the boundary between North and South India.
  7. Important Hills in India:
    • Nilgiri Hills: Meet Western and Eastern Ghats; famous for tea plantations.
    • Shivalik Hills: Outermost range of the Himalayas.
    • Lushai Hills: Found in Mizoram; part of the Patkai range.
  8. Mountain ranges influence monsoon patterns, create rain shadows, and serve as natural barriers.
  9. Several hill stations (e.g., Shimla, Darjeeling, Ooty) are located in these ranges, making them major tourist and strategic military zones.
  10. Many Indian rivers originate in the Himalayas, Western Ghats, and Central Highlands.