The vast floodplains of the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra river systems, commonly referred to as the Great Plains of India or the northern plains of India or the Indus-Ganga plains, stretch parallel to the Himalayan mountains. These plains extend from the western regions of Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the eastern state of Assam, encompassing a significant portion of Northern and Eastern India. These plains serve as the primary drainage area for the rivers, playing a crucial role in the region's hydrology.

The topic of the Great Plains of India is very important for UPSC as, repeatedly, questions have been asked from this section in UPSC Prelims and Mains examination.

Download the UPSC Practice Questions on the Great Northern Plains of India for Prelims & Mains!

About the Great Plains of India

The Great Plains of India have an incredibly flat topography with a barely visible slope. They are homogeneous surfaces with little variation in relief features. The Himalayan Rivers’ deposition process creates this region. In total, these Gangetic plains cover a distance of 3,200 kilometres from east to west. These plains range in breadth from 150 to 300 kilometres on average. Alluvium deposits can be found as deep as 1,000 to 2,000 metres. Due to their fertile features, they are ideal for farming, cultivation, crop production, and other agricultural pursuits.

Based on relief features, the Great Plains of India are divided into the following sub-regions. The names of plains in India are listed below.

• The Bhabar Plains
• The Tarai Tract
• The Bhangar Plains
• The Khadar Plains
• The Delta Plains 

Great Plains of India Map

Geographical Location of the Great Plains of India

The great northern plains of India lie to the south of the Shivaliks, separated by the Himalayan Frontal Fault (HFF) and north of the Peninsular Plateaus. These plains are located 200 m above mean sea level.

Based on the geo-climatic and topographical characteristics, the Northern Plains are divided into the following types of plains in India:

• The Plains of Rajasthan
• The Punjab Haryana Plains or North Central Plains
• The Ganga Plains
• The Brahmaputra Plains

Rajasthan Plains

• The Rajasthan plains lie west of the Aravalli hills and extend over the western parts of Rajasthan, covering an area of approximately 2 lakh square km.
• There are multiple brackish lakes like Sambhar Lake in this area because of the marine submergence that subsided during the uplift of the Himalayan phase.
• It has several dry beds of rivers, like Saraswati and Drishadvati, which indicate that the area of Rajasthan plains earlier was a fertile area. At present, Luni is the only flowing river. The rest are of inland drainage type.
• The greater part of the Rajasthan Plains is a desert covered with longitudinal and transverse sand dunes and barchans (Barkhans).
• The Rajasthan plains are separated from the Bagar region through 25cm Isohyet.

Read the Article West Flowing Rivers in India here!

North Central Plains (Punjab Haryana Plains)

• These plains cover areas of western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab. The stretch lying in Uttar Pradesh is referred to as Rohilkhand Plain, dissected by Gomati, Gandhak, Ganga, Ghaghra, and Yamuna rivers and covers an area of about 650 km from north-east to south-west and 300 km from west to east.
• The depositions of the Satluj, Beas, and Ravi rivers form these plains.
• The prominent topographic features of these plains are bluffs, locally called Dhaya, as high as three metres or more, and the Khadar belts known as Bet.
• The Punjab-Haryana Plains is subdivided into;
  • Bari-Doab: Between Beas and Ravi
  • Bist Doab: Between the Beas and Satluj
  • Malwa Plain: The central part of the Region
  • Haryana-Bhiwani Bagar in the Southern and Southeastern parts of the region.
• These highlands, known as Doabs, are very fertile regions.

Ganga Plains

The Ganga Plains lie between the Yamuna basin in the west and the Bangladesh border in the east. It is approximately 1400 km wide from west to east and 300 km wide on average from north to south.

Ganga Plains can be further subdivided into the following sub-regions:

The Upper Ganga Plain

• It covers portions of the Agra Division, the Rohilkhand Division, and the Ganga-Yamuna Doab.
• It is one of India’s most productive and fertile plains, and the Green Revolution has had great success here.
• The presence of Bhur (undulating, aeolian sand deposits) is a distinctive characteristic of the Upper Ganga Plain.

The Middle Ganga Plain

• It covers portions of the central and eastern Uttar Pradesh and the Bihar Plains up to Muzaffarpur and Patna.
• Rivers like Kosi frequently shift their courses in this area due to the low gradient of the plain.

The Lower Ganga Plain

• It covers portions from Patna in the west, the foot of Darjeeling Himalaya north, and the Bay of Bengal south.
• It is formed due to the subduction of the Rajmahal Garo gap and subsequent infilling by rivers.
• The main river streams and tributaries frequently cut through the plain’s monotonous surface.

Brahmaputra Plains

The Brahmaputra Plains lies in Assam, stretching over approximately 56,275 sq km. These plains are about 720 km long and about 80 km wide. These plains are surrounded by high mountains on all sides except the west.

As a result of the low gradient, numerous riverine Islands develop in these Brahmaputra plains. It is a type of depositional plain. So, they are rich in alluvial deposits. The Brahmaputra plains are often prone to massive and frequent floods.

Check the article on Coastal Plains in India here!

The relief features of the great northern plains of India are extremely consistent over distances of hundreds of kilometres. Bluffs, levees, ravines, and kohls break up the homogeneous monotony of these great plains. The Physiographic Division of Great Plains of India consists of:

• Bhabar Plains,
• Tarai Tract,
• Bhangar,
• Khadar, and
• Delta Plains.

Bhabar Plains

• The name Bhabar refers to a local tall-growing grass named Eulaliopsis binata, primarily used to manufacture paper and ropes.
• The Bhabar plains extend from Jammu to Assam to the south of Shiwalik, stretching 8-10 km parallel to the Shiwalik foothills.
• The western side of the Bhabar Plains is wider than the eastern side.
• In the Bhabar plains, rivers disappear because heavy materials of rocks and boulders are deposited by the streams and rivers coming from the mountains.
• The Bhabar plains are characterized by big trees with large roots.
• This region is not suitable for agriculture and farming.

Tarai Plains

• Tarai is an Urdu word that refers to “lands lying at the foot of a watershed,” i.e., land of low ground flooded with water, valley, basin, marshy ground, marsh, swamp, and meadow.
• Tarai Plains is a 10-20 km wide marshy region located south of the Bhabar plains.
• The eastern side of the Bhabar Plains is wider than the western side.
• In the Tarai plains, streams and rivers re-emerge without having any properly demarcated channel, thus creating marshy and swampy conditions known as the Tarai.
• Tarai plains are characterized by high rainfall, excessive humidity, thick forest cover, and rich flora and fauna.
• It is suitable for cultivating crops like wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, etc.

Read NCERT Notes on Geography for UPSC exams. Read it here.

Bhangar Plains

• Bhangar plains consist of the older alluvium along the river beds, which forms terraces higher than the floodplain.
• The Bhangar formations, located above the floodplains of the rivers, were formed during the middle Pleistocene period.
• The soil of Bhangar is dark in color, rich in humus content and lime, and productive.
• It has naturally impure calcium carbonate nodules known as “Kankars”.
• Saline and alkaline efflorescences are known as Reh and are present in dry areas.
• Fossils of elephants, horses, humans, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, etc., can also be found in the Bhangar plains.

Khadar Plains

• Khadar plains consist of new alluvial deposits along the course of the river.
• These plains are continually enriched by new silt deposits every year. Clay, muck, silt, and sand make up the Khadar terrain.
• These are the most fertile soil belts, especially around the Ganga region.
• Fossils of living species can be found in the Khadar strata, including humans, deer, oxen, buffaloes, horses, elephants, rhinoceroses, and more.
• In Punjab and adjoining areas, the Khadar-rich plains are locally known as ‘Betlands’ or ‘Bets.’

Delta Plains

• The delta plains is an extension of the Khadar plains, which covers approximately 1.9 lakh sq km of area in the lower reaches of the Ganga River.
• Uplands are called “Chars,” and marshy parts in the delta plains as “Bils.”
• The delta plains mainly consist of old mud, new mud, and marsh.
• This region is suitable for growing jute, tea, and paddy.

The Climate of the Great Plains of India

The great plains of India lie in the interior of the continent, i.e., far away from the influence of the sea. The Great Plains of India experience extreme climatic conditions, i.e., continental climate. Thus, summers are extremely hot in the northern plains, and winters are extremely cold. Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh are among the states of India with the hottest summers and the coldest winters.

Vegetation in the Great Plains of India

The Great plains of India have extensive vegetation due to fertile soil that is excellent for irrigation.

Many different types of plants and trees can be found on these plains. It includes some of the region’s most well-known vegetative growths: Sal Mangrove Trees, Hardwood Timber, etc. These great plains of India are ideal for cultivating food crops such as sugarcane, maize, rice, and wheat.

Also, Read about the Natural Vegetation in India here!

Soil of the Great Plains of India

Alluvial soil deposition is abundant and intense in the Northern Plains. Alluvial soil has potash, phosphorus, and lime in it. So, Paddy, sugarcane, wheat, rice, maize, and other pulse and cereal crops can all grow well there.

Biodiversity of the Great Plains of India

The great plains of India contain a considerable proportion of biodiversity in addition to greenery and nutrient-rich soil. Numerous herbivores, including all three Asian rhinoceros, lived in the wide plains (Indian rhinoceros, Javan rhinoceros, Sumatran rhinoceros). The plains include many spectacular birds like Great Indian Horned Owls, Sunbirds, Vultures, Partridges, etc.

Some of the common animals found in the Great Plains of India are:

• Indian rhinoceros
• Sumatran rhinoceros
• Indian elephants
• Antelope
• Gazelle
• White Pigs

Significance of the Great Northern Plains

The significance of the great northern plains can be understood in the following points discussed below:

• Demographic Significance: Most of the Great North Indian Plain is noted for having an extremely dense population. The fertility of the soil, the availability of water, the suitability of the climate, and the topography that encourages compact settlement are all contributing factors to this high density.
• Historical Significance: These plains are home to numerous ancient cities, like Patliputra, Patna, Ayodhya, Varanasi, etc.
• Cultural Significance: Most civilizations, including the Indus Valley civilization, which started close to these vast north Indian plains, emerged from river valleys.
• Industrial Significance: The Great North Indian Plains are home to various industries supported by labor demand and supply. All four modes of transportation(Road, Railway, Air, and water) can be developed because of the topography. Indian railways have a deep penetration, and the road network is extremely congested. Civil navigation has advanced greatly. Flow-through rivers allow for waterways
• Agricultural Significance: In these Great plains of India, there are different types of farming practices commonly practiced: Commercial farming, Subsistence farming, Cattle breeding, and Animal husbandry is practiced. It is also known as the Food Basket of India because of the crops grown on these plains, allowing us to feed 1.2 billion people.

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