GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

There are two great river systems in north India, namely, the Indus River and the Ganges River.  The Indus, originating in the high Himalaya mountains in the far north finally turns south and eventually empties into the Arabian Sea.  The Indus River together with its five tributaries (the Jhelam, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) came to be known as the "land of the five rivers" or the "Punjab," and the region as a whole was the site of the first major civilization in South Asia known as the Indus Valley Civilization.

The other river system in the north, the Ganges, is further to the east of the Indus, also originating in the Himalayas in the far north, then flowing south and east through the States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal and finally emptying into the Bay of Bengal.  The vast northern plain of India, known as the Gangetic plain or the Gangetic river basin, is the other major site for the development of civilization in northern India.  This eventually became what is called today the "Hindi Heartland."  It is also the region in which classical Indic culture took shape.  Both river systems, the Indus and the Ganges, provide much of the water that is essential for survival in India.   There are, of course, other great river systems in north and south India, but the Indus and Ganges are the primary systems.

In addition to the two great river systems, the peoples of the subcontinent are also dependent on the monsoon, the "winds" that bring the season of rains.  From late September or early October through May, there is very little rainfall in most parts of northern and central India.  Then, in June the winds blow from the Indian ocean in the south, gradually forming rain clouds that issue in the heavy monsoon rains that fall from June through September.  There are basically three seasons: (a) the dry season culminating in the heat of May (March through May), (b) the rainy season of the monsoon (June through September), and (c) a cooler autumn or winter season (October or November through February).  The natural environment of the subcontinent, though characterized by extremes of temperature and a contrasting variety of climatic features, is nevertheless lush and fertile overall, so long as the monsoon makes its annual appearance.

South India is separated from north India in the middle of the subcontinent by the Vindhya mountains, not as high as the Himalayas, but nevertheless a significant barrier that has been partly responsible for some of the historical differences between the cultures of north and south India.  South of the Vindhyas is the Deccan ("south") plateau and further to the south, the Tamil plain and the region of Kerala.  Climate on the Deccan plateau is generally moderate and comfortable.  The Tamil country, on the other hand, as well as the region of Maharashtra and further south is largely subtropical.

Two other mountain systems should also be mentioned, the Western Ghats ("steps") which border the west coast of India from south of the Vindhyas to Cape Comorin and provide the backdrop for the narrow and fertile coastal region known as the Malabar coast (famous for its spices), and the Eastern Ghats which border the east coast of south India and provide the backdrop for the coastal region known as the Coromandal coast.

*JUSTIN'S NOTE: We should include the map with the best representation of the river systems here.*

*JUSTIN'S NOTE: Perhaps a link to a related web site, or a climate map, would be appropriate here. Or pictures of the same location taken during different seasons. Some picture of monsoon weather.*

*JUSTIN'S NOTE: A map that shows the Vindhyas, the Deccan, the Malabar coast, etc?*