Physiography

1. Aravalli Range
   1. The range runs across the state from the Southwest peak of Guru Shikhar (Mount Abu), which is 1,722 m in height, to Khetri(Jhunjhunu) in the Northeast.
   2. The range divides the state into two parts, 60% in the northwest and 40% in the southeast. 
2. Northwest tract 
   1. The tract is sandy and unproductive with little water present in the soil. 
   2. Still, it improves gradually from desert land in the far west and northwest to comparatively fertile and habitable land towards the east. The area includes the Thar Desert.
3. South-eastern area
   1. Higher in elevation and more productive has a much-diversified topography. 
4. South
   1. The hilly tract of Mewar

5. Southeast
   1.  A large area within the districts of Kota and Bundi forms a tableland. 
      1. To the northeast of these districts is a rugged region (badlands) following the Chambal River line. 

6. Northeastern
   1. Bharatpur district’s flat plains are part of an alluvial basin.

7. Merta City lies in the geographical centre of Rajasthan.

Western Sandy Plain/Desert Plain

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2. This region covers 61.11% area and 39% of the Rajasthan population, including Bikaner, Barmer, Churu, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Hanumangarh, Sriganganagar, Pali, Sirohi, Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts.
3. The annual rainfall is 20 – 50cm, which was very low as compared to other regions.
4. The Dry and Semi-Arid type of climatic condition occurs in this region.
5. Before the Indra Gandhi canal, Gang canal, Jawai canal and Narmada canal, this region was not suitable for living conditions. 
6. The west part of the sandy plain is known as the Thar Desert, perfectly dry and desolate with thin patches of prickly grass and other desert plants.
7. The Aravalli’s western submontane zone marks the eastern boundary of the region up to the Udaipur district’s northern point. Beyond which the border is characterised by a 50cm rainfall line and Great Indian Watershed.
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8. The region slopes, generally, from east to west and north to south. 
   1. The north-eastern part of the region has a general elevation of about 300meters. 
   2. Towards the south, the height is about 150 meters, excepting the Jalore-Siwana upland, which lies above 300 metres.
9. The main river in this region is Luni which rises in the Aravalli, south-west of Ajmer and flows towards the south-west.

1. Sandy Arid Plain

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2. Sandy Arid plain situated to the west of the 25 cm isohyet line is a desert plain. 
3. It encompasses Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur, and the western parts of Nagaur and Churu. 
4. In some parts of Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner, rocky projection intercepts with the dunes. This rocky projection consists of granite, limestone and sandstone.
5. This region also consists of shallow depressions of brackish water known as Rann.

Sandy Arid Plain subdivided into two parts

1. Marusthali
   1. This covers Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Churu, some western Nagaur and western two-thirds of Barmer and Jodhpur district. 
   2. The shifting sand, locally termed as “Dharians” are present in the west, near Shagarh village, where they extend many Km and continuously change their surface. 

The types of dunes present in this region are:

• Longitudinal dunes: These dunes formed parallel to the prevailing winds.
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• Barchans: These are the crescent-shaped dunes.
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• Transverse Dunes: These dunes formed at a right angle to the prevailing winds.
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2. Dune Free Tract
   1. The rocky, dune free tract of Jaisalmer-Barmer-Bikaner covers nearly 65sq. Km around the Jaisalmer town, half of Pokhran tehsil, western and southern parts of Phalodi tehsil of Jodhpur district.
   2. The limestone and sandstone rocks exposed here belong to Jurassic and Eocene formation.

2. Semi-Arid Plain or Rajasthan Bangar

Semi-Arid Plain/Rajasthan Bangar subdivided into:

1. Luni Basin
   1. The basin lies to the southwest of Aravallis between 25 to 50 centimetres isohyet lines. 
   2. The Luni basin covers Jodhpur, Pali, Jalore and the western part of the Sirohi districts. 
   3. The drainage area of the river Luni covers alluvial plains. The important tributaries of the river Luni are, Lilri, Sukari Jawai, Jojari and Bandi. These rivers are seasonal.
   4. Pachpadra a brackish saltwater lake present in Luni Basin.

2. Shekhawati region(Plain of Inland river)
   1. The Shekhawati covers Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Churu and the northern Nagaur district.
   2. This region has sand-dunes of medium and low height.
   3. There are many small rivers and nallas which disappear after flowing a short distance in the region. 
   4. The main rivers of the regions are Mendha and Kantli.
   5. There are several saltwater lakes and Ranns in this area. 
      1. Sambhar, Deedwana, Kuchaman, Sujangarh, Tal-Chhapar and Parihara (Churu) are the leading saltwater lakes.

3. Nagauri Upland
   1. The Nagauri Upland covers the area of Didwana, Nagaur and Jayal.
   2. There are no hills in this region except tehsil Parbatsar where the mountain ranges on the southern side are the off-shoots of Aravalli hills.
4. Ghaggar Plain
   1. It is the northern part of the desert which extends in districts of Ganganagar and Hanumangarh. 
   2. Ghaggar river is part of the inland drainage system of this area. 
   3. The dry bed of the streams of Ghaggar considered being part of the Saraswati river originating from the Himalayas as described in the Puranas. 
   4. Intensive agriculture is practised in this area due to the irrigation facility’s availability through Indira Gandhi Canal and Gang Canal.

Aravalli regions

1. 
2. Aravalli range is the main and the oldest mountain in Rajasthan. 
3. This range covers about 9.3% of the state. 
4. The range extends 550 kilometres from Khed Brahma (Gujarat border) to Khetri in Rajasthan. 
   1. It extends in a continuous chain from Sirohi to Khetri, but it develops in the form of small hills up to Delhi. 
5. It mainly extends in nine districts Sirohi, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Ajmer, Jaipur, Dausa, Alwar, Sikar and Jhunjhunu. 
6. The average height of this hilly region is 930 metres. 

  Aravalli hills divided into:

1. Southern Aravalli Area(from Abu to Ajmer)
   1. It includes Sirohi, Udaipur and Rajsamand. Here the Aravallis are very complex and high. 
   2. Bhorat plateau is situated between Kumbhalgarh and Gogunda to the north of Udaipur. 
      1. East-flowing rivers originate from the plateau.
   3. Mewar Rocky region and Bhorat Plateau:
      1. The Mewar hills cover the Udaipur district’s whole except these eastern tehsils(Maoli, Rajsamand and Vallabhnagar), the south-eastern margin of pali district and parts of Gujarat state situated between Banks Plain and Abu block.
      2. The westernmost ridge in east Sirohi, which has no great height, is steep and rugged, locally known as Bhakar.
      3. Some of the hill spurs girdle the saucer-shaped in Udaipur basin, locally known as Girwa(girdle of hills).
   4. Hill ranges
      1. Mewar hills & Bhorat Plateau
      2. Girwa Hills
      3. Merwara Hills
      4. Abu block & Oria plateau
   5. Peaks
      1. Guru Shikhar(Sirohi): 1722 m
      2. Ser (Sirohi): 1597 m
      3. Dilwara (Sirohi): 1442 m
      4. Jarga (Udaipur): 1431 m
      5. Achalgarh (Sirohi): 1380 m
      6. Kumbhalgarh (Rajsamand): 1224 m
      7. Dhoniya(Sirohi): 1183 m
      8. Hrishikesh(Sirohi): 1017 m
      9. Kamalnath (Udaipur): 1001 m
      10. Sajjangarh (Udaipur): 938 m
      11. Lilagarh: 874 m
      12. Roja Bhakar(Jalore): 730 m

2. Central Aravalli area (from Ajmer to Jaipur)
   1. It extends between Ajmer and Jaipur. 
   2. There is an alternate arrangement of ranges, narrow valleys and plains in this section. 
   3. Luni, the main river of western Rajasthan, originates from Nag Pahar lying in this section.
   4. Hill ranges:
      1. Shekhawati lower hills
      2. Marwar Hills
   5. Peaks(Ajmer)
      1. Goramji: 934 m
      2. Taragarh: 870 m
      3. Nag Pahar: 795 m
      4. Tatgarh

3. Northern Aravalli area (from Jaipur to Khetri)
   1. Northern Aravallis extends in the districts of Jaipur, Dausa, Alwar, Sikar and Jhunjhunu. 
   2. Aravallis spread in the form of scattered and isolated hills, instead of a continuous chain. 
   3. It includes the hills of Shekhawati, Torawati, Jaipur and Alwar. 
      1. These hills have an elevation ranging between 450 to 700 metres. 
   4. Hill Ranges
      1. Malkhet & Khetri Group of hills
      2. Torawati Hills
   5. Peaks
      1. Raghunathgarh (Sikar): 1055 m
      2. Kho (Jaipur): 920 m
      3. Bhairach (Alwar): 792 m
      4. Barwara (Jaipur): 786 m
      5. Babai (Jhunjhunu):780 m
      6. Bilali (Alwar): 775 m
      7. Manoharpura (Jaipur): 747 m
      8. Bairath (Jaipur): 704 m
      9. Sariska (Alwar): 677 m
      10. Siravas: 651 m
      11. Jaigarh(Jaipur)

Eastern Plain

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2. The region covers 23.9% area of Rajasthan.
3. It is a river basin area. 
4. It extends over the plains of Bharatpur, Alwar, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Jaipur, Tonk and Bhilwara in its northern section and over the plains of fifty-six villages of Dungarpur, Banswara and Chittorgarh districts in its southern area. 
5. The plain is made up of fertile alluvial soil and irrigated by several rivers. Situated between Aravallis and Hadauti plateau.

Eastern plain subdivided into

1. Chambal Basin
   1. The Chambal basin’s plain presents a homogeneous topography instead for hundreds of years characterised by flood plains, river bluffs, and ravines best developed in the region.

2. Banas-Banganga Basin
   1. The plain of Banas and its tributaries is known as the ‘Plain of Mewar’ in the south and the ‘Plain of Malpura Karauli’ in the north.
   2. This plain averages height between 280 to 500 metres. 
   3. Berach, Khasi, Mansi, Morel and Banganga etc. are the main tributaries of Banas river. 
   4. The Eastern bare slopes east and north-eastwards. 
   5. There are flat-topped isolated hills in the region.

3. Middle Mahi-Chhappan Basin
   1. It covers the southeastern part of Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara and Chittorgarh. 
   2. It averages in height from 200 to 400 metres. 
   3. Salumbar-Sarada area is locally known as Chhappan and Dungarpur-Banswara area as Vagad. 
   4. Banswara is also known as the Area of Hundred Islands due to the presence of several rivers. 
   5. The principal tributaries of the Mahi river are Som, Jakham, Kagdar, Jhamri etc.
   6. Bhils and Garasiyas are the local tribes who practice shifting cultivation, locally known as Walra. 

South-East Rajasthan Plateau

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2. The south-eastern plateau of Rajasthan is popularly known as Hadauti. 
3. It covers 7% area and 10% of the population of the state. 
4. It spreads over Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar and the eastern part of Chittorgarh. 
5. It is composed of lava mixed rocks and Vindhyan rocks. 
6. The average height of the plateau is 500 metres above mean sea level. 
7. Black and red soils found in this area. 
8. Major rivers of this area are Chambal, Parvati and Kali Sindh.
9. The physiography unit of south-east Rajasthan is also known as Uparmal(high or stony Plateau).

The plateau divided into two sub-physiographic regions.

1. Vindhyan Scrap
   1. The scarp mainly consists of sandstone and limestone. 
   2. It rises to an elevation ranging between 350 to 550 metres above MSL(mean sea level). 
   3. The scarp faces south-east and eastwards continuously between Banas and Chambal rivers. 
   4. The scarp extends northwards in Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Dholpur along the Chambal river.

2. Deccan Lava Plateau
   1. It is a wider and raised rocky feature of south-eastern Rajasthan.
   2. It is composed of sandstone and limestone rocks. 
   3. It’s eastern and southern part covered with lava. 
   4. Fertile black soil found here. 
   5. Chambal and its tributaries Kali Sindh and Parvati rivers have formed a triangular alluvial plain in Kota.