Eastern Ghats
Loading map…
Overview
The Eastern Ghats are a broken chain of hills along the east coast of the Peninsula, running through Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu. The Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri cut through them on their way to the Bay of Bengal.
They form the eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau, which is bounded by the Satpura in the north and the Western Ghats in the west. Unlike the continuous and higher Western Ghats, they are low and broken; the two ranges meet at the Nilgiri Hills, whose highest peak is Doddabetta.
Geography and key facts
- A broken chain of hills, cut by the big east-flowing rivers
- Eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau
- Meets the Western Ghats at the Nilgiri Hills (Doddabetta)
- Part of the old Peninsular (Gondwana) landmass
Why it matters for UPSC
Asked on rivers that rise in the Eastern Ghats (2021), where the Eastern and Western Ghats meet (2008), wildlife–region pairs (2019) and ecological hotspots (2017, 1996).
Note for UPSC
A broken chain of hills along the east coast, cut through by the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri.
Questions test the order of ranges, the states they cover and the rivers and passes linked with them.
Asked in PYQs
- UPSC Prelims 2021 · Q55Consider the following rivers : Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats?…
- UPSC Prelims 2019 · Q29Consider the following pairs : Wildlife Naturally found in Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?…
- UPSC Prelims 2017 · Q4From the ecological point of view, which one of the following assumes importance in being a good link between the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats ?…
- UPSC Prelims 2008 · Q23Which of the following hills are found where the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats meet?…
- UPSC Prelims 1996 · Q39Which one of the following regions of India is now regarded as an 'ecological hot spot'?…
Questions from our Prelims bank whose text names Eastern Ghats.
Key facts
- Type
- Mountain range
- States / UTs
- Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Telangana
- Extent on map
- 11.3°–20.7°N, 77.7°–85.2°E
- Asked in Prelims
- 5 questions · 2021, 2019, 2017, 2008, 1996
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.
In the lessons
- Physical Features and Drainage of India
- Physiographic Divisions of India in Depth
- Soils of India: Types, Degradation and Conservation
- Climate, Soils and Natural Vegetation (map lesson)
- Natural Vegetation and Biogeography of India (map lesson)
- Biodiversity: Levels, Hotspots, Threats and Global Frameworks (map lesson)