DIY crafts for kids are a boon to the parents who struggle to keep their children occupied and away from the TV and mobile screens.
The craftworks keep them engaged fruitfully. The activities inspire them and expose them to facts visually. It also provides them with the space to be creative.
As for parents, DIY activities keep the children busy at home at a minimal cost. Recycled and unwanted materials can be used for these activities which will keep the costs low.
Buying new toys, which the kids tire out soon, and sending them to art schools are expensive propositions.
These expenses can be avoided and the parents get to spend quality time with the kids too.
We look at 17 awesome DIY crafts for kids that provide a fun-filled activity and a learning experience.
1. Handprint / Footprint Art
The paper or canvas is painted with washable paint. Once dried the child has his/her hand or foot painted.
They place their painted hand/foot carefully in the middle of the dried painted paper.
After the hand/footprint has dried the kids can draw on it according to their imagination. They can picture it to be butterflies, wasps, fishes, elephants etc.
2. Bubble Art
Bubble wrap paper is wrapped on a small cup.
The base of the cup is dipped in different color paints and stamped on art paper or canvas.
The prints look like beautiful flowers of different colors. Stalks can be painted by the kids.
3. Airplane Clothespin
This is very simple to make DIY crafts for kids under the ages of 6. Craft sticks are painted and cut into wing shapes.
These are then stuck onto the clothespin, the longer wings glued to the top and bottom of the clothespin and the shorter for the tail wings.
They can be made real colorful and attractive and hung on a clothesline.
4. Firework Paintings
Pipe cleaners, 4 to 5 of them are folded into half and the end twisted to make a handle.
The other end is fanned out in a circle. This is dipped in paint and stamped on paper giving it a slight twist.
The fan is then dipped in different color paints and stamped in the same place on the paper creating vibrant firework-like art.
5. Glow-in-the-dark Jellyfish
Paper bowls are painted inside out with acrylic glow-in-the-dark paints.
10 to 12 pieces of string of approximate length of 36 inches are squirted with glow paint and left to dry. Two small holes are punched in the center of the bowl.
The string pieces are then threaded through the holes so that both ends come out through the inside of the bowl. These form the tentacles of the jellyfish.
This is then hung in a bright room for about 30 minutes. Then the lights are turned off to see them glow in the dark.
6. Mini lid Banjos
This simple banjo can strum tunes. Four loom bands (rubber bands) are placed on over a bottle lid.
They are secured in place with tape. The end of a jumbo craft stick is cut. The craft stick is then painted or decorated.
The lid with loom bands is then stuck to the craft stick with tape. Tuning knobs can be drawn with a marker at the other ends or plastic buttons can be stuck on.
7. Marble Run
This tubular maze can be made from empty toilet roll tubes. A cardboard piece for a base, 5-10 toilet rolls, paint, glue, and marbles will suffice to make this a smooth marble run.
The rolls are painted different colors, some taped together, some connected together by splitting them halfway.
Holes are cut into the towers and the split halves are glued on in downward slants which will allow smooth flow of marbles.
This is a craft for older children as marbles will be dangerous for children under the age of 6. Sourdough balls can be used for younger children.
8. Race Track
Washi or masking tape can be stuck on the floor or a piece of cardboard big enough to house a race track for small cars.
The child can stick the tape according to his idea of a car racing track with parking spaces and repair stations. He can play with his small cars on this track.
Children tire of toys pretty easily. This DIY toy can be replaced anytime to the kids liking and interest. This saves on buying a race track toy.
9. Soap Boat
A rain gutter becomes a race track for soap boats in this DIY backyard craft.
Small bits of triangular fabric is stuck to toothpicks to look like sails. This toothpick is then stuck into small soap bars.
Water is hosed down one end of the rain gutter. The soap boat placed in the gutter then sail to the other end.
This activity will keep the kid running up and down with the boats.
10. Bookmarks
Older children can make bookmarks from different materials. Tassels attached to paper clips are simple to make.
Painting on craft sticks, cutting strips of rectangular pieces and painting them, see how the imagination of the kids are working.
Corner bookmarks from colored paper are very attractive.
11. Balloon Rocket
One end of a string is tied to the back of a chair. A drinking straw is threaded on the other end of the string and then tied to the back of another chair.
Two pieces of tapes about 2 inches in length are attached to the center of the straw. A balloon is inflated and the open end held onto to prevent the air escaping.
This is then stuck to the tapes on the straw. The balloon is pulled to one end of the string and let off. It shoots across the string to the other end. This activity is educative as real rockets functions in a similar way.
12. Marshmallow shooters
The bottom portion of a disposable cup is cut off. The top of a balloon is cut off and the balloon is stretched over the bottom of the cup.
The open end of the balloon is stuck to the edge of the cup using tape. The opposite end of the balloon is tied into a knot.
Marshmallows are placed in the cup and shot out by pulling the knotted end of the balloon.
The force applied in pulling determines the distance to which the marshmallows travel. This is a fun learning activity for children of all ages.
13. Paper Bracelets
Abstract shapes and colors are painted on paper. The paper is then cut into 16-22 strips and folded into wearable bracelets.
The strips are folded in halves. One strip is slipped into another to form a T.
The tail ends are folded at right angles over the outer strip. The paper strips are added on and attached by folding into each other until the bracelet is long enough to go around the wrist.
14. Paper Bead Necklaces
Strips of paper – wrapping, magazine clipping, newspaper – are rolled into beads. Paper is rolled on to toothpicks.
The tail is glued and the bread rolls are taken off the toothpicks and strung together.
Children can use their creative skills in shaping the bead rolls and placing them to their liking and taste while stringing.
15. Mini Volcanoes
This activity is a bit messy and has to be taken place in a safe area as kids can go berserk seeing the chemical reaction.
Vinegar and baking-soda together create a volcanic type reaction. 4-5 paper cups, cut in half and filled with vinegar, are seated in a large dish.
A few drops of food coloring are added to each cup. A scoop of baking soda is dropped into these cups causing it to fizz out.
This is the lava coming out of a volcano. This is a very simple and informative DIY craft.
16. Toy Parachute
A dinner napkin is reinforced with tape on all four corners. Four pieces of string, about a foot long, are tied into holes punched at the four corners.
Two strands on each side are tied together. A knot is made at the end of each strand to be arm-holes.
A light figure or a tiny soft toy is tied to the armholes. This parachute, when dropped from a small height, opens up, to the delight of the kids.
17. Paper flowers
These paper flowers are made from cupcake liners folded into quarters to look like a zigzag.
The liners are glued together in pairs. Two pairs are then glued together to form a full circle.
A jewel or button can be fixed to the center of the flower. A drinking straw can be attached to the flower as a stem. A group of these flowers can form a bouquet.
To Wrap it up
These simple and easy DYI crafts for kids to keep the children interested and motivated to do more of these activities.
The kids learn easily through activities. The parents and teachers can guide them so that they fully exploit their creativity.
The kids’ interests and aptitudes can also be assessed to an extent.
President of India is known as the first citizen of the country. He is the official head of the Indian state and the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces.
At the same time, vice-President is Rajya Sabha’s ex- officio chairman. India has 14 presidents and 13 Vice-presidents till now.
The president of India is elected by an electoral college that includes the members of both houses of the Parliament. Likewise, the vice president of India is also elected.
An interesting fact is that a person in presidential power can resign by submitting the resignation letter to the Vice-President.
Here’s a list of Presidents of India, starting from Dr. Rajendra Prasad to Ram Nath Kovind.
SL no
Name
Tenure Date
Description
1
Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1884 – 1963)
26 Jan 1950 – 13 May 1962
On December 3rd, 2019 India has celebrated the 135th birth anniversary of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of the country. In his life, he has played the role of a teacher and a lawyer. When India became a republic in 1950, he was elected as the first president by the Constituent Assembly.
2
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888 – 1975)
13 May 1962 – 13 May 1967
A well known Indian philosopher and professor, Dr. Radhakrishnan was the first vice-president and second president of India. His birthday is celebrated as Teachers’ Day every year on 5th September. In 1954, he was honored with Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in the country.
3
Dr. Zakir Husain (1897–1969)
13 May 1967 – 3 May 1969
He was a great educationist and was the founder of Jamia Milia Islamia.For his dedicated work in the education field, he was awarded Padma Vibhushan in the year 1954 and for his service for the nation, Bharat Ratna was awarded in 1963.It was in his office in 1969, he died of a sudden heart attack.
4
V. V. Giri (Varahagiri Venkata Giri) (1894–1980)
May 03, 1969 – July 20, 1969 August 24, 1969 – August 24, 1974
The only president to be elected as an independent nominee, V. V. Giri was born in Odisha. In 1969, after president Zakir Husain’s death in 1969, V.V. Giri became the acting president and then was elected for the position of President with a narrow majority.
5
Justice Mohammad Hidayatullah (1905–1992)
20 July 1969 – 24 August 1969 6 October 1982 – 31 October 1982
Mohammad Hidayatullah, who served as the 11 Indian Chief Justice and 6th Vice President was also the country’s acting President for two terms, following V.V. Giri’s resignation from the acting President position. In 2003, The Hidayatullah National Law University was established in Raipur in honor of Justice Hidayatullah
6
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (1905–1977)
24 August 1974 – 11 February 1977
An active participant of the Indian Freedom Movement, and a strong member of the Indian National Congress since 1925, Dr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was born in Delhi. On February 1977, just like Dr. Zakir Husain, he also died of a heart attack while being in the position.
7
Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy (1913–1996)
25 July 1977 – 25 July 1982
Known as the youngest Indian president ever, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was the CM of Andhra Pradesh, where he was born. He also served as the Lok Sabha Speaker twice in 1967 and 1977 respectively. He died due to pneumonia in Bengaluru (Bangalore) in the year 1996.
8
Giani Zail Singh (1916–1994)
25 July 1982- 25 July 1987
Zail Singh was the country’s first and only Sikh president. He got occupied in politics after being moved by Bhagat Singh’s execution. Later he became a part of the Indian freedom movement. In 1972, he became Punjab’s Chief Minister and Indian president in 1982.
9
Ramaswamy Venkataraman (1910–2009)
25 July 1987 – 25 July 1992
Born in Madras presidency, Ramaswamy Venkataraman was an Indian lawyer and he practiced law in the Madras High Court and the Indian Supreme Court. Eighth president and the seventh vice president of the country, he was also a participant in the historic Quit India Movement.
10
Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma (1918–1999)
25 July 1992 – 25 July 1997
Born in the state of Bhopal, Shankar Dayal Sharma served the presidential position from 1992 to 1997. His contribution to the legal profession has made him a recipient of the ‘Living Legends of Law Award of Recognition’ by the International Bar Association. In 1984, he was appointed as the governor of Andhra Pradesh state and then Punjab governor in 1985
Born in Kottayam district, Kerala, K.R. Narayanan was the first Dalit president of the country. He was also the first sitting president to vote in general elections (1998). A member of INC, he also served as India’s ambassador to the United States as well as China.
12
Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam (1931–2015)
25 July 2002 – 25 July 2007
A successful aerospace scientist known as the “Missile man of India”, who grow up from poverty. Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born in Tamil Nadu. His autobiography was the most inspiring Wings of Fire. The country honored him with Padma Vibhushan in 1990 and Bharat Ratna in 1997.
13
Pratibha Singh Patil (1934–)
25 July 2007 – 25 July 2012
The first and only woman to be the President of India, Pratibha Patil was a lawyer by profession. She also served as the Governor of Rajasthan from 2004 to 2007 and was also Cabinet minister under Maharashtra government diverse times. Also she represented the country in several international councils.
14
Pranab Mukherjee (1935–)
25 July 2012 – 25 July 2017
The 13th Indian president, Pranab Mukherjee became active in politics in 1969 under the guidance of Indira Gandhi. He has also served as minister in defence, commerce, foreign, and finance sector during his career. The country has honored him with the Padma Vibhushan in 2008
15
Ram Nath Kovind (1945–)
25 July 2017 – to date
The current president of India, Ram Nath Kovind is serving the position since 2017. A lawyer by profession, he has practiced in the High Court as well as the Supreme Court in Delhi. He also served as the Governor of Bihar in 2015.
Presidents of India – by Timeline
List of Vice Presidents of India
Sl No
Name
Tenure Date
1
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
13 May 1952 – 12 May 1957 13 May 1957 – 12 May 1962
2
Dr. Zakir Hussain
13 May 1962 – 12 May 1967
3
Dr. V.V Giri
13 May 1967 – 3 May 1969
4
Gopal Swarup Pathak
31 August 1969 – 30 August 1974
5
BD Jatti
31 August 1974 – 30 August 1979
6
Mohammad Hidayatullah
31 August 1979 – 30 August 1984
7
R. Venkataraman
31 August 1984 – 24 July 1987
8
Shankar Dayal Sharma
3 September 1987 – 24 July 1992
9
K R Narayanan
21 August 1992 – 24 July 1997
10
Krishan Kant
21 August 1997 – 27 July 2002
11
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
19 August 2002 – 21 July 2007
12
Mohammad Hamid Ansari
11 August 2007 – 11 August 2012
13
Venkaiah Naidu
11 August 2012 – 11 August 2017
12 August 2017 – Incumbent
Conclusion
India, with its varied and rich cultural heritage, has achieved all-round socio-economic progress since Independence.
Hope this blog helps you to identify the great personalities who occupied the positions of President and Vice-Presidents in India.
Tribes in India refer to a section of the population who are indigenous to the state or region and who live away from the main society. The 20 major tribes of India have been classified based on their geographical isolation, characteristics, features, culture and backwardness. The tribes in India are called by the collective term ‘Adivasis.’
The maximum population of tribes in India is in Orissa, Rajasthan, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The largest number of tribes in India is in Madhya Pradesh followed by Bihar. Delhi, Pondicherry, Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab are states where there are no tribes.
We give below an overview of the 20 major tribes of India.
1) Bhils Tribe
The Bhils are a tribe found mostly in the mountain ranges of Udaipur and in some districts of Rajasthan.
The Bhils are the largest tribes in India.
They speak the Bhili language. Their celebrations are the Ghoomar dance, Than Gair-a dance drama and the Baneshwar Fair.
2. Gonds Tribe
Found in the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh and in parts of Maharashtra, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, the Gonds are the second biggest tribe in India.
They are known for their valor and speak many Indian languages including the Dravidian Gondi language.
They have houses of mud walls and thatched roofs in the Gondi forests.
Agriculture is their main occupation. Keslapur Jathra and Madai are their festivals.
3. Munda Tribe
This tribe is found in Jharkhand and parts of Chattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal.
Their life is simple and basic. They speak the Mundari language. The Mundas were hunters in the past but now are laborers in farms.
They follow the Sarna religion owing allegiance to a God called Singbonga. Their language is Killi and Nupur dance is the main entertainment.
The Munda tribes celebrate the Mage, Karam, Sarhaul and Phagu festivals.
4.Santhal Tribes
The Santhal tribes are a major tribe of West Bengal. They are also seen in parts of Bihar, Odisha, and Assam and are the largest tribe in Jharkhand.
They depend on agriculture and livestock for their living and are great hunters. In addition to traditional festivals like Karam and Sahrai, Santhali dance and music is a major attraction.
5.Toto Tribe
Totapara village in Alipurdoar district of West Bengal is home to the Toto tribe.
Their language has no script and is influenced by Nepali and Bengali.
They trade vegetables and fruits to maintain their simple life. They believe in God Ishpa and Goddess Cheima, though they proclaim to be Hindus.
6. Bodo Tribe
The Bodo tribe is found in Assam and parts of West Bengal and Nagaland.
They are believed to be the early indigenous settlers of Assam. They speak a Tibetan-Burmese language, the Bodo.
The weaving of handloom products is an intrinsic part of their culture.
They celebrate the Baishagu festival in spring, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
7.Angami Tribe
The Angami Nagas is one of the major tribes found in the district of Kohima in Nagaland.
The men dress in white Mhoushu and black Lohe. The women wear Mechala and ornaments of beads, mask pendants, bracelets, etc.
The tribe is best known for the famed Hornbill Festival which attracts crowds from various parts of the world.
Their intricate art and woodwork and work in bamboo and cane are beautiful. They speak different dialects like Gnamei, Ngami, Tsoghami.
8.Bhutia Tribe
The Bhutias are mainly found in Sikkim and parts of West Bengal and Tripura.
They are of Tibetan ancestry and speak Lhopo or Sikkimese language.
They are known for their art and cuisine. The steamed meat dumplings called momos are their staple food.
Thukpa, noodles in a broth, is another of their dishes. Losar and Loosong are the festivals celebrated.
9. Khasi Tribe
This tribe is mainly spotted on the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya and in parts of Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and West Bengal.
The tribe plays plenty of music and a wide range of musical instruments like drums, guitars, flutes, cymbals, etc.
Their major festival, the Nongkrem festival is five days long when the women wear a dress called Jainsem and the men a Jymphong.
10. Garo Tribe
Garo tribes are mainly found in the hills of Meghalaya and parts of Assam, Nagaland and West Bengal.
The tribe is one of the few matrilineal societies in the world. Garo architecture is quite unique. Nokmong, Nokpante, Jamadaal and Jamsireng are some of them.
The tribal women wear a variety of traditional ornaments. The men wear their traditional dress with a turban with feathers stuck in them. The festival of Wangala is their celebration.
11. Nyishi Tribe
This tribe inhabits the mountains of Arunachal Pradesh with the majority of them from districts of Kurung Kumey, Papum Pare, Upper, and Lower Subansiri.
Nishi is the language spoken by them. A good majority of them have converted to Christianity.
The rest still follow a religion involving spirits associated with nature. The Nyokum festival, celebrated in February every year, is dedicated to the goddess Nyokum.
12. Warli Tribe
The tribe is found in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
This tribe is well known for the Warli Art, where a mixture of cow dung and earth, rice paste, bamboo stick, red ochre are used to create art, paintings and murals.
They conduct the Tarpa dance during the harvest season and the Warli Folk Art Dancing People Festival during March of every year.
13. Chenchu Tribe
This tribe is indigenous to Andhra Pradesh and inhabits the forests of Nallamala Hills.
They are also present in the districts of Kurnool, Nalgonda, Guntur.
They hunt and trade in jungle products like honey, roots, gums, fruits, and tubers. They speak a language with Telugu accent and are a very ritualistic lot.
14. Siddis Tribe
This tribe of Karnataka is believed to have descended from the Bantu people of Southeast Africa.
History says that the people were brought in as slaves by the Portuguese. They are found in various parts of Karnataka. The majority of them are Christians while others follow Hinduism and Islamism. They are fond of ritual practices, dance and music.
15.Soliga Tribe
The Soligas inhabit the dense forest areas of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
This indigenous group is comprised of five different groups namely Male Soliga, Kadu, Burude, Pujari, Urali Soliga.
The Soligas speak the Sholaga language, which has Kannada and Tamil influence.
Their main source of livelihood is the sale of Raggi, honey, wild turmeric, algae, bamboo, etc harvested by them.
16. Kodava Tribe
This tribe from Mysore, Karnataka is concentrated in Coorg. Well known for their bravery, the tribe is a patrilineal tribe from Kodagu or Coorg.
They speak the Kodava language.
They are basically agriculturists. The people of the tribe, both men and women, are very passionate about hockey.
In addition to the traditional festivals of Kailpodhu, Puttari and Kaveri Sankraman, they celebrate the Kodava Hockey festival every year.
17. Toda Tribe
The Todas are found in parts of the Nilgiris mountain in Tamil Nadu.
Their livelihood depends on cattle farming and dairy. Their skill in architecture is reflected in the oval and tent-shaped bamboo houses with thatched roofs.
Toda embroidery work, Pukhoor, is well acclaimed. Their most important festival is Modhweth.
18. Irular Tribe
The tribe inhabits areas of the Nilgiri mountain in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
They are the second-largest tribe in Kerala and are found mostly in the Palakkad region.
They are mainly farmers and dependent on the production of paddy, dhal, Raggi, chilies, turmeric, and plantains.
They are ritualistic, believe in their own Gods and are known for their skills in black magic.
19. Kurumba Tribe
This is a major tribe found in parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They are one of the earliest settlers of the Western Ghats.
They lead a simplistic lifestyle depending on agriculture and gathering of honey and wax.
They are adept at formulating traditional herbal medicines. They are well known in the region for their skills in witchcraft and magic.
20. Great Andamanese Tribe
This tribe includes the Jarawa, Jangil, Onge, and Sentinelese on the islands of Andaman and Nicobar.
They are known to be the first inhabitants of the island. They speak the Bo, Khora, Jeru and Sare languages.
They keep to themselves and refrain from interacting with outsiders.
India has about 645 tribes in total. The Government of India is keen on the development of these tribes and incorporating their contributions to mainstream society.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs plans and co-ordinates the development programs for the tribes
Technology is advancing, so are the methods in education.
We all depend on different apps for day-to-day activities. There are many apps that help in learning also. The teaching-learning process is made simpler with the emergence of apps, especially math apps.
For most of us, studying math is exhausting.
The advance of math apps has helped the students to make this process an easier one. These math apps will help students to reinforce basic arithmetic concepts and spark a love for learning math.
Let us have a look at the Top 15 free Math Apps for Kids.
1. DoodleMaths
Features
An award-winning math app for kids in kindergarten and elementary school
Suitable for the kids of age between 4 to 14
Helps in preparation of GCSEs
High impact and low-cost app
Provides personalized math problems
Aligns with math curriculum running in schools in the UK as well as the USA
Worked upon by teachers of thousands of schools
Finalist of UK Bett Awards 2020 and Education Awards 2020
Ratings
It has got 4 stars on Google Play and 4.4 stars on the App Store.
So, above are a total of 15 math apps that can change the way your kids see math problems. As you will download one of these apps on your smartphone, you will take one step forward to make your kids befriend with math.
Peer teaching is one of the best ways to master a particular subject. It is a method of teaching, where a student instructs another student, wherein the former will be an expert and the latter a novice.
This paves the learner student to learn without depending upon the teacher, and the teacher-student to revise the topic again, on the belief that “To teach is to learn twice”(Collins).
Through the direct interaction between students, peer teaching promotes active learning as well as participation within themselves. Student teachers enhance their own depth of knowledge in the topic by instructing others.
Benefits of Peer Teaching
Peer teaching is not a novel concept, as it was seen right from the time when the system of Gurukula education prevailed in our society.
Since then, it was an effective method of teaching as well as learning. And now, peer teaching is quite popular among students of all ages.
Here are some of the Main Benefits of Peer Teaching:
It enhances the student’s level of creativity in expressing ideas as well as in grabbing new concepts, as the student may not feel hesitant to clear his queries. This will also uplift his knowledge limit and thus allow a greater level of his understanding. Feeling at ease with a peer tutor, allows a student to concentrate better on the tasks of the lesson, which may transfer into higher achievements in the future. To an extent, the student will start questioning his own doubts, and will later find a way to resolve it himself, which will enable the student to improve his critical thinking.
Peer Teaching involves direct interaction between the learner student and the teacher-student, this will help them to promote the active learning along with interpersonal skills, with which they can actually bid adieu to the so-called boring lectures and classes.
It will ease the teacher’s burden of responsibility because she is sharing her duties with her kids which are beneficial to them. But on the other side, it will increase the teacher’s role in monitoring and administering the students.
Disadvantages of Peer teaching
1) Amateur student
In spite of the fact that the teacher shares her tips and guidelines with the students, it won’t build an expert teacher (student).
There are also chances of a communication gap within the student and the teacher, which may often lead to the failure of assigned activities.
2) The Reluctance of Students
The toughest responsibility that lies upon the shoulders of a teacher is the reluctance of students to initiate the assigned duty.
Just like the two sides of a coin, there may be students who are actually willing to teach and on the other side, there may be students who are hesitant to work out of their comfort zone. Hence, this becomes a challenge for the teacher.
3) Annoyed parents
When the parents come to know about peer teaching, there may be chances for them to misinterpret the concept of peer teaching.
Parents may take it in a derogative manner that their kid is being taught by some other kid of the same age and that the teacher is sitting idle.
So, there may be complaints from the side of the parents until and unless they are completely given the justification behind the concept of peer teaching.
Types of Peer Teaching
1) One way peer teaching
This way of peer teaching provides only the trained tutor to teach, whereas the child with some kind of disability will remain passive.
This method will be more useful for teaching students with severe disorders like autism, visual impairment or cerebral palsy.
The main merit of this method is that the teacher, as well as the student, will be well aware of their roles throughout the entire teaching and learning program
2) Duplex or reciprocal peer teaching
This is a two way or bidirectional teaching process where a student with a disability is paired with a student without disability to form a dyad (pair) and both of them will get chances to teach and learn.
This method is more useful to bring the activeness in children with moderate disabilities.
The main advantage of this method is that every individual will get a chance to play the role of a teacher as well as that of a student simultaneously.
3) Class-wide Peer Tutoring
This methodology of teaching involves grouping the entire class into pairs, and peers mentoring each other by giving prompts, error correction and helping each other.
This method is incomparable because every student is given cue cards for the task to keep them focused on the goal of the chapter and then the tutor takes the cue cards and marks the skills mastered by the particular student.
The main benefit of this approach is that no student is singled-out and that every student has to participate regardless of their disabilities
4) Crisscross or Cross-age peer tutoring
Cross-age peer teaching is a method of tutoring when children in different age groups and ability levels are paired together to work for a task.
The elder or the student with a higher level of intelligence will be assigned as the tutor whereas the other will be the tutee. This method will help them to improve their interpersonal skills too.
In short, peer teaching is all about teaching peers and learning from their peers, which involves learners and teachers of the same or different, age groups or levels of intelligence. This assisted teaching helps the students to enhance their teaching skills. In addition to this, they get a platform to perform what they know which will pave them to drive away from the stage fear within themselves.
UNESCO defines a Biosphere Reserve (BR) as a natural landscape that covers a large area of terrestrial, coastal, marine or a combination of these ecosystems. The purpose of creating biosphere reserves is to conserve biodiversity, protect the culture and tradition, and also maintain the economic development of the area. The establishment of biosphere reserves is guided by the Man and Biosphere (MAB) program of UNESCO. India has 18 Biosphere Reserves, which we will learn more in detail in this blog.
Criteria for Designation of Biosphere Reserves
An area that must possess viably conserved and minimally distributed core area of the esteem of nature conservation.
The core area ought to be of a bio-geographical unit and sufficient to support viable populaces representing all trophic levels within the ecosystem.
The managing authority needs to make sure of the cooperation/involvement of nearby communities to bring a lot of knowledge and experiences to interface biodiversity preservation and socio-economic improvements whereas overseeing and containing the conflicts.
Areas potential for preservation of conventional rural or tribal modes of living for harmonious utilization of nature.
Structure and functions of Biosphere Reserves
Core Zone
The core zone must include an appropriate environment for various plants and animals, including predators and endemism.
This zone often preserves economic species and also represents relevant genetic reservoirs wit exceptional scientific interest.
While realizing that perturbation is a key ingredient of the ecosystem, this area is to be protected from human innovation and pressures external to the system.
Buffer Zone
The buffer zone surrounds the core zone. The activities of this area are managed in a way to help the core zone to remain in its natural condition.
The activities include restoration, fishing, demonstration sites, tourism, grazing, recreation, etc which are permitted to decrease its impact on the core zone.
Educational activities and researches are to be carried out effectively. Human activities are likely to continue if it does not unfavorably influence biological diversity.
Transition Zone
The transition zone is the outermost portion of the biosphere reserve. It is a zone of cooperation where management and conservation skills are used and managed with concern to the biosphere reserve.
This includes croplands, recreation areas, settlements, managed forests and other economic uses specialized in this region.
Have a look at 18 World Famous Biosphere Reserves in our Country
Sl No
Name
Area (in km2)
Location (State)
1
Cold Desert
7770
Pin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh
2
Nanda Devi
5860.69
Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar districts (Uttarakhand).
3
Khangchendzonga
2619.92
Parts of Khangchendzonga hills and Sikkim.
4
Dehang-Dibang
5111.5
Part of Siang and Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh
5
Manas
2837
Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamprup and Darang districts (Assam)
6
Dibru-Saikhowa
765
Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts (Assam)
7
Nokrek
820
Part of Garo hills (Meghalaya).
8
Panna
2998.98
Part of Panna and Chhattarpur districts in Madhya Pradesh
9
Pachmarhi
4926
Parts of Betul, Hoshangabad and Chindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh.
10
Achanakamar – Amarkantak
3835.51
Covers parts of Anupur and Dindori districts of M.P. and parts of Bilaspur districts of Chhattishgarh State.
11
Kachchh
12,454 km2
Part of Kachchh, Rajkot, Surendra Nagar and Patan Civil Districts of Gujarat State
12
Simlipal
4374
Part of Mayurbhanj district (Orissa).
13
Sunderbans
9630
Part of delta of Ganges and Brahamaputra river system
14
Seshachalam Hills
4755.997
Seshachalam Hill Ranges covering parts of Chittoor and Kadapa districts of Andhra Pradesh
15
Agasthyamalai
1828
Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries and their adjoining areas in Kerala.
16
Nilgiri
5520
Part of Wayanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Madumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley and Siruvani hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka).
17
Gulf of Mannar
10,500 km2
The Indian part of the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka (Tamil Nadu).
18
Great Nicobar
885
Southern most islands of Andaman And Nicobar (A&N Islands).
1) Cold Desert, Himachal Pradesh
The Cold Desert is spread over 7,700 square kilometers and covers the Pin Valley National Park, Chandratal, Sarchu, and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.
It extends from Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir to Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh. This cold desert is located on the leeward side of the Himalayas and hence doesn’t receive any monsoon rain.
This region has a very harsh climatic condition with avalanches, snowstorms, and blizzards. The growing season is very short and water availability is minimal, with only runoffs from glaciers.
This cold dessert is home to the snow leopard, Tibetan Gazzle, Himalayan Black bear, Himalayan brown bear, golden eagle, Himalayan snowcock, Tibetan Wolf, and more.
In fact, this biosphere reserve has many rare species of flora and fauna that are not seen elsewhere.
2. Nanda Devi, Uttarakhand
The Nanda Devi National Park was established in 1982 and declared a biosphere reserve region by UNESCO in 1988. The biosphere reserve includes Nanda Devi National Park and the Valley of the Flowers National Park.
The inner part of the biosphere reserve comprises the Nanda Devi peak and the Rishi glacier (both north and south). This reserve forest area has 312 flowering plant species and 114 bird species.
The Himalayan musk deer, brown bear, snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, and langurs are seen here.
3) Khangchendzonga or Kangchenjunga, Sikkim
This biosphere reserve area located in the eastern Himalayan region includes three ecoregions, namely alpine shrub and meadows, broad-leaved and coniferous forests, and grasslands.
It is spread over an area of 6032 square kilometers and contains 14 protected areas, of which 1 is in Nepal, 1 in Bhutan, and the remaining 12 in India.
The protected areas in the Indian region are Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, Khangchendzonga National Park, Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, Jore Pokhri Wildlife Sanctuary, Neora Valley National Park, Singalila National Park, Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary, Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary, Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, and Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary.
4) Dihang-Dibang, Arunachal Pradesh
This biosphere reserve was established in 1998 and includes Dibang wildlife sanctuary and Mouling National Park in Arunachal Pradesh.
The biosphere reserve has sub-tropical forests, pine forests, temperate forests, coniferous forests, sub-alpine woody shrub, alpine meadow, grassland, and bamboo brakes. Such a wide variety of vegetation also means that this biosphere reserve is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.
Rare animals like the musk deer, red ghoral, red panda, Sclater’s monal, Blyth’s tragopan, and Mishmi takin are found here.
5) Manas, Assam
The Manas biosphere reserve area is located in the foothills of the Himalayas and comprises of grasslands and forest.
There are endemic and rare species such as the golden langur, pygmy hog, hispid hare, water buffalo, and Assam roofed turtle here. A major tributary of the Brahmaputra River flows through the dense forests of the Manas biosphere reserve.
6) Dibru-Saikhowa, Assam
The Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere reserve was established in 1997. It covers an area of 765 square kilometers in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam.
This biosphere reserve consists of semi-evergreen trees, mixed deciduous forests, salix swamp forests, grasslands, and canebrakes.
There are 35 species of epiphytic orchids and 8 species of terrestrial orchids in this reserve forest area. The biosphere reserve has 36 species of mammals, 18 species of reptiles, and nearly 50 species of birds.
7) Nokrek, Meghalaya
The Nokrek Biosphere Reserve located in the West Garo Hills in Meghalaya was added to UNESCO’s list of biosphere reserves in 2009.
It comprises of the Nokrek National Park and the Balpakram National Park. This biosphere reserve has eight species of cats, 7 species of primates and a large variety of birds.
8) Panna, Madhya Pradesh
The Panna National Park in Madhya Pradesh is spread over an area of 4300 hectares. It was declared as a tiger reserve in 1993. Apart from tigers, this national park is home to leopard, sloth bear, sambhar deer, nilgai, Indian vulture, chinkara, blossom-headed parakeet, and many other species.
The northernmost areas of this reserve have teak forests while the eastern region has Kardhai trees. The catchment area of the Ken River lies in the Panna National Park and the nearby Ken Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary.
This tiger reserve had a mere 40 tigers, which dwindled to zero because of poaching that was supported by the forest officers. In 2012, three tigers were brought from other tiger reserves. Now, there are about 10 tigers in this reserve.
9) Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh
The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve was established in 1999. It is located in the Satpura mountain range in Madhya Pradesh.
The unique feature of this biosphere reserve is that it has animals from the Himalayas and the Western Ghats. Spread over an area of 4926.28 square kilometers, this biosphere reserve covers Bori Sanctuary, Pachmarhi sanctuary, and Satpura national park.
One can see wild mango trees, silver fern, sal, and Arjun trees here. Animals in this reserve include nilgai, tiger, leopard, chital deer, sambhar deer, Indian giant squirrels, flying squirrels, wild bear, guar, Indian wolf, and wild dogs.
Located in Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh, the Achanakmar-Amarkantak biosphere reserve is spread across an area of 3835.51 square kilometers.
This biosphere reserve has three rivers – Narmada, Johilla, and Son and the mountain ranges – Vindya and Satpura. The forest has 1500 plant species that include deciduous trees, ferns, and angiosperms.
This reserve forest area has more than 105 medicinal species, of which 25 are very rare.
As for the animals, this biosphere reserve has blackbuck, wolves, tigers, jackals, foxes, and monkeys. There are more than 13 snake and lizard species, 170 bird species, and many frog species.
11) Kutch, Gujarat
The Rann of Kutch is spread over an area of 7500 kilometers in the Thar Desert, Gujarat which is India’s largest salt desert.
This biosphere reserve contains the Little Rann of Kutch, Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary, Chari-Dhand wildlife sanctuary, Kutch desert wildlife sanctuary, and the Banni grasslands.
This salt desert is home to the Indian wild ass and thorny scrub. During the flooding season, it becomes the breeding ground for greater and lesser flamingos.
12) Simlipal, Odisha
The Simlipal biosphere reserve area comprises of Similipal Tiger Reserve, Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, and Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary.
This biosphere reserve covers 2750 square kilometers. The forests have sal trees, champak trees, eucalyptus, and red silk cotton trees. Several varieties of orchids also grow here.
This biosphere reserve area has 1076 plant species, 42 mammal species, 242 bird species, and 30 reptile species.
13) Sundarban, West Bengal
The Sundarbans are in the delta region where the rivers Ganga, Megha, and the Brahmaputra flow into the Bay of Bengal.
This biosphere reserve has two eco-regions – freshwater swamp forests and mangroves and consists of open and closed mangrove forests, barren land, and agricultural land.
The mangrove forests of Sundarbans cover nearly 10,000 square kilometers, of which 4260 square kilometers area is in West Bengal, India, and the rest in Bangladesh.
The Bengal tiger, flying foxes, pangolins, spotted deer, wild boars, and fishing cats are some of the animals found in this reserve forest area.
14) Seshachalam, Andhra Pradesh
The Seshachalam biosphere reserve is located in the Tirumala Hills in the Eastern Ghats.
It is spread over an area of 4756 square kilometers. Geologists believe that these mountains were formed about 3.8 to 540 million of years ago in the Precambrian era.
This biosphere reserves in India includes Sri Venkateswara National Park and Idupulapaya.
There are nearly 178 species of birds including the white-backed vulture, Yellow-browed Bulbul, and Large Hawk-Cuckoo.
15) Agasthyamala, Karnataka-Tamil Nadu-Kerala
The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve is located in the Tamilnadu – Kerala border and covers an area of 3500.36 square kilometers.
It was established in 2001 and was added to the list of UNESCO’s biosphere reserves in the year 2016.
This biosphere reserve has more than 2000 species of medicinal plants, of which 50 are rare herbs. Elephant, tiger and Nilgiri Thar can be seen in the forests.
16) Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu-Kerala
The Nilgiri biosphere reserve covers an area of 5000 square kilometers. It includes Waynad, Mudumalai, Bandipur, Nagarhole, Mukurti, Silent Valley, Aralam, and Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.
It is the first biosphere reserves in India established in India and covers Kerala, Tamilnadu, and Karnataka.
There are over 370 bird species, 39 fish species, 31 amphibian species, 316 butterfly species, 100 mammal species, and 80 reptile species in this biosphere reserve.
As for the flora, there are nearly 3300 species of plants and 175 species of orchids that grow in this region.
17) Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu
This shallow bay in the Indian Ocean that lies between the southern tip of India and the west coast of Sri Lanka. There are more than 3600 species of flora and fauna as well as 117 species of corals in this coastal region. This biosphere reserves in India cover 10,500 square feet of area, which comprises of 21 islands and islets in the Gulf of Mannar region. The animals found here are dugong (sea cow), sharks, dolphins, sea cucumbers, pearl oysters and many varieties of fishes.
18) Great Nicobar, Andaman & Nicobar Island
The Great Nicobar biosphere reserve covers almost the entire area of the Nicobar Island.
This biosphere reserves in India have many endemic species that aren’t seen elsewhere. Some of the species found on this island are Nicobar scrubfowl, giant robber crab, saltwater crocodile, giant leatherback sea turtle, Nicobar long-tailed Macaque, and reticulated python.
UNESCO introduced the concept of biosphere reserves to establish a strong ecological foundation and create a protective network for natural resources.
These biosphere reserves in India not just protect the flora and fauna but also people who are dependent on these natural resources.
India is a land of huge natural diversity. From snow-capped mountains to dry deserts and sandy coastlines, the natural landscape is as diverse as the culture and tradition of the nation.
There are many mountain ranges in India, including the longest and oldest mountain ranges in the world.
All these mountain ranges in India have a profound impact on the weather conditions, lifestyle, religious beliefs, and economic development of the country.
In this blog, we will explore the 15 major mountain ranges in India.
The Himalayan Mountain Ranges is 2,400 kilometers long and traverses through five countries – India, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and Pakistan.
It begins near the Indus River in Pakistan and ends near the Brahmaputra River in India.
The Himalayan states of India are Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.
When you look at the top view of this mountain range from space, it looks like an arch.
In terms of age, the Himalayas is quite a young mountain range as it was formed around 40 to 50 million years ago.
The word “Himalayas” is derived from Sanskrit and means “The Land of Snow.”
This huge mountain range consists of three parallel ranges, which are known as the Outer Himalayas (Shivalik range), the Greater Himalayas, and the Lesser Himalayas.
The Kali Gandaki Gorge is located at around 8000 kilometers distance from the start of the range. This gorge divides the mountain range into the Eastern and Western sections.
The world’s highest peak – Mount Everest as well as three of the six highest peaks of the world is in the east of the Himalayas, in the Mahalangur Himal region.
The other three peaks are Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Makalu.
It is believed that the Himalayas have more than 1500 glaciers and hundreds of lakes that form the biggest source of freshwater for the Himalayan nations.
The rivers that originate in this mountain range are Ganges, Indus, Saraswathi, Yamuna, Yangtze, Ganga-Brahmaputra, Yarlung, and Nujiang.
The Western Ghats is 1600 kilometers long, and extends from Gujarat to Tamilnadu, traveling through Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala.
Geographical evidence shows that these mountain ranges are older than the Himalayas.
The Western Ghats are believed to have been formed about 150 million years ago.
These mountain ranges have been declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site for their biodiversity.
These Ghats are home to 7402 species of flowering plants, 6000 species of insects, 1814 species of non-flowering plants, 508 species of birds, 179 species of amphibians, 290 species of freshwater fishes, and 139 species of mammals.
Of these 325 species are in globally threatened status. There are 39 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the Western Ghats region.
The Western Ghats are not just protected for their biodiversity, but also because of their strategic influence on the monsoon rains.
These huge mountains act as a barrier to the south-west monsoon winds and divert the rain-laden winds towards the Indian subcontinent.
The major rivers that originate from the Western Ghats are Cauvery, Godavari, Krishna, Tungabadra, and Tamirabarani.
The Eastern Ghats start from Odissa in the North and travel down to Tamilnadu, parallel to the Bay of Bengal. They pass through certain areas in Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.
Unlike the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats are not a continuous mountain range.
Rivers flowing through the range have eroded the mountains creating huge gaps between stretches of undulating hills.
The four major rivers that flow through the Eastern Ghats are Cauvery, Godavari, Mahanadi, and Krishna. The rivers that originate in the Eastern Ghats are Rushikulya, Vamsadhara, Sarada, Sabari, Nagavalli, Palar, Champavathi, Gosthani, Sileru, Tammileru, Pennai, Swarnamukhi, Penna, Gundlakamma, Kundu, and Vellar.
This discontinuous mountain range is called by different names in different parts. In Odissa, these stretches are known as the Chandragiri-Pottangi mountain system and Garhjat Hills.
In Tamilnadu, these discontinuous stretches are known as Karanthamalai Hills, Sirumalai Hills, Pachamalai, Kollimalai, Kalrayan hills, Palani hills, Mettur hills, Servarayan hills, Javadhu Hills, and Shevaroy Hills.
The Biligiriranga Hills and the Nilgiris Hills form the corridor between the Eastern and Western Ghats. In Karnataka, the mountain stretches are known as Male Mahadeshwara Hills.
In Andhra, they are known as the Seshachalam-Velikonda Range, Palikonda-Lankamalla-Nallamala Ranges, Kondapalli Hills, Papi Hills, Maliya Range, and Madugula Konda range.
The Aravalli Mountain ranges are one of the oldest ranges in the world. Geologists believe that these fold mountains existed even when the Indian subcontinent separated from the Eurasian plate.
Archeological excavations have found Harappa and Indus Valley Civilization sites in these mountain ranges.
The Aravalli Range extends from Delhi and travels in the south-western direction toward Gujarat, passing through South Haryana and Rajasthan.
A major portion of this mountain range lies in Rajasthan. Some parts of this mountain range contain thick forests and in other places have only sand and stone.
These mountains are a rich source of minerals such as rock phosphate, asbestos, talc, apatite, beryl, kyanite, lead, silver, and zinc.
The rich mineral deposits have to lead to excessive mining in this mountain region. Many naturalists are lobbying for the protection of these oldest fold mountains to prevent them from becoming completely destroyed.
These mountain ranges are the natural habitat of many flora and fauna. Plus, they create a natural barrier between eastern Rajasthan and the Thar Desert. The rivers that originate in the Aravalli hills are Sabarmati, Luni, Sakhi, Sahibi, and Banas.
These mountain ranges lie to the south and north-west of the Himalayas. A major part of the Karakoram Range lies in the disputed region between India and Pakistan.
This mountain range also passes through Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Actually, the Pir Panjal range is a part of the Lesser Himalayas Mountain Range.
These mountains start from the Himalayas and separate from the range near the River Sutlej. From there, this range travels separately with Ravi and Beas rivers on one side and the Chenab River on the other side.
This mountain range boasts of the largest glacier outside the poles – The Siachen Glacier. The second highest peak in India and the third highest peak in the world – K2 is also in this mountain range.
There are many passes and tunnels in this mountain range. The Haji Pir Pass located in the western part of this mountain range connects Poonch and Uri.
The other passes are Rohtang Pass, Sinthan Pass, Banihall Pass, and Pir Panjal Pass.
Tunnels such as Jawahar Tunnel, Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel, Atal Tunnel, and Banihal Railway Tunnel have improved accessibility to the villages and towns nestled in the Karakoram and Pir Panjal mountain range.
The Purvanchal mountain range extends from the Himalayas toward the northeastern region of India, south of the Brahmaputra valley.
It travels through Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland.
The hills in this mountain range are Kohima, Patkai, Barail, Khasi–Jaintia, Naga Hills, Lushai, Manipur, and Mizoram Mizo. This mountain range has the wettest place on earth – Cherrapunji.
The Satpura mountain range is triangle shaped. The tip of the triangle is at Ratnapuri and the other two sides run parallel to the Tapti and Narmada Rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea.
This mountain range travels through Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra.
The Vindhya mountain range is one of the oldest mountain ranges in India and is a discontinuous range of mountains. It travels from East to West through Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
The Vindhya hills near Champaneer end in a series of hills, which connect this mountain range with the Aravalli mountain range.
Tributaries of Ganga and Yamuna flow into the Vindhya mountain ranges. The tributaries are Ken, Chambal, Betwa, Kali Sindh, Parbati, and Dhasan.
The Zabarwan Range is situated between Pir Panjal and Great Himalayan Range. It comes in the central part of the Kashmir valley in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The north part of Zabarwan range lies in Ganderbal and the south end lies in Pampore.
Madhav peak is the highest peak of this range.
This mountain range possesses rich wildlife and is a home to animals including jackal, leopard cat, musk deer, Himalayan brown bear, red fox, langur, Himalayan weasel, long-tailed marmot, serow, Indian porcupine etc.
9) Eastern Himalaya
Best season to visit: Late October until early May
The Eastern Himalayas comprise the tracts of the Darjeeling Hills of North Bengal, eastern Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.
The Eastern Himalayas can be divided into different climatic regions such as subtropical, sub-arctic, artic, and temperate.
The forests here are evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist, dense, or temperate. The subtropical forests cover the hills to an extent of about 2000m.
This place is home to a huge diversity of animals including clouded leopard, slow loris, the Indian civet, the golden languor, the golden cat, rhinoceros, etc.
Besides, it is also home to birds such as the snowcock, heron, the white-winged wood duck, and more.
According to reports, Eastern Himalayas is home to :
977 birds
269 freshwater fish
977 birds
10,000 types of plants
176 reptiles
300 mammals
105 amphibians
In Eastern Himalayas, a number of wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves have been set up to protect the species from human encroachments and poachers.
This place harbors an amazing diversity of life.
10) Western Himalaya
Best season to visit: Late October until early May
Western Himalayas or Punjab Himalayas are the westernmost part of the vast Himalayan Mountains. It lies in the regions of Kashmir,in the portions administered by India and Pakistan, and also in the northwestern part of Himachal Pradesh.
The Western Himalayas extend to the southeast region for 560 kilometers from Indus River to Sutlej River.
The five tributaries of Indus River from the Punjabi region originate from the Western Himalayas namely Beas, Chenab, Jhelum, Sutlej, and Ravi.
The Sivalik Range, Great Himalayas, Zanskar Range, the Pir Panjal Range, and the Dhola Dhar Range are included within Western Himalayas.
The Panchamalai Hills are a low mountain range in the Eastern Ghats System, also known as Pacha is. They lie in the state of Tamil Nadu, 80 km north of Tiruchirapalli, in the parts of southeastern India.
As the name denotes, ‘Pachai’ means ‘green’ in Tamil, the mountain range’s vegetation is greener than some of the other hills.
Pachaimalai hills have an altitude of about 500 m to 1000 meters above sea level.
Major rivers in this range are Kallar River and Sweata Nadi and waterfalls include Mayil Uthu falls, Mangalam Aruvi falls, Koraiyar Falls etc. The mountain ranges consist of small regions like Kombainadu, Athinadu, Thenparanadu.
Kudremukh is a mountain range and the name of a peak situated in Karnataka, India. It is the third highest peak in Karnataka. The mountain is named “Kudremukh because one side of this mountain resembles the face of a horse and hence the name. Kudremukh in Kannada means “horse-faced”.
This mountain range is covered by lush green forests, hills, lakes, and valleys, so is a paradise for the nature lover. It is the second-highest peak after Mullayanagiri.
Literally, ‘Sivalik’ means’ tresses of Shiva’. Sivalik Hills or Churia Hills are part of the outer Himalayas that extends from Indus River about 1500 miles eastwards to Bharathapuzha River. Though only 10 miles wide in places, Sivalik Hills have an average elevation of 3,000 to 4,000 feet. These ranges are the southern- most hills of the Himalayas. There exists a regular course from River Yamuna and River Ravi on the south of Western Himalaya.
Kaimur Range , also known as Kaimur Hills is the eastern portion of the Vindhya Range. It is a hill range running across Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It is about 483 kilometers long extending from Madhya Pradesh to Bihar.
The width of this range is about 50 miles. It is one of the most important spot of cultural and archaeological point of view. Antiquarian remains such as coins, potteries, prehistoric rock paintings, inscriptions etc have also been found here.
15) Lower Himalayan Range
Best season to visit: late October until early May
Lower Himalayan Range is also known as Mahabharata Range, Lesser Himalaya, or the Himachal, with an elevation of about 3,700 – 4,500 m. The largest range of this major east-west mountain range is Pir Panjal
The Lower Himalayan Range parallels the much higher High Himalayan range from Indus in Pakistan to Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal, and India. It also parallels the Outer Himalayas to the south.
Oldest Mountain Range in India
Aravalli Range
Literally Aravalli means, ‘line of peaks’. Eroded by the ancient mountains, Aravalli Ranges are the oldest range of fold mountains in India. The origin can be traced back to times when the Indian Plate was separated from the Eurasian Plate by an ocean.
Youngest Mountain range in India & Longest Mountain Range in India
Himalayan Range
The most famous Himalayan ranges are the youngest and longest mountain ranges in India. It also has almost every largest peak of the world.
The Himalayan mountain ranges are the primary source of many mighty rivers in India.
So that’s about the major mountain ranges in India. Hope you all have got a clear vision about the major mountain ranges in India, after reading this blog.
So finally,
These mountain ranges in India are treasure troves of natural resources. They travel through the entire length and breadth of the Indian subcontinent.
These are not just homes to the numerous flora and fauna but have also played a vital role in shaping the culture, tradition, and economy of the regions surrounding them.
