Which one among the following is the highest peak?

1. Physiographic Divisions of India: The Northern Mountains (basic)

Welcome to your first step in mastering world physical mapping! To understand the geography of India, we must start with its most iconic feature: the Northern Mountains. These are not just a single row of mountains but a massive system of young fold mountains that stretch across the northern borders of India. Stretching about 2,500 km from the Indus River in the west to the Brahmaputra in the east, they act as a giant climatic and physical barrier for the subcontinent INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Structure and Physiography, p.11.

To study them systematically, we look at the Himalayas through their latitudinal (north-to-south) divisions. This is crucial because each layer has a distinct personality, height, and rock composition:

• The Trans-Himalayas: Located to the north of the Great Himalayan range, including ranges like the Karakoram and Ladakh Geography of India, Physiography, p.10.
• The Great or Inner Himalayas (Himadri): This is the most continuous and loftiest range. It has an average height of 6,000 metres and contains all the world-famous peaks like Mt. Everest and Kanchenjunga CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Chapter 2, p.7.
• The Lesser Himalayas (Himachal): Located south of the Himadri, these are rugged mountains with altitudes between 3,700 and 4,500 metres. This is where you find famous hill stations and ranges like the Pir Panjal and Dhaula Dhar CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Chapter 2, p.8.
• The Shiwaliks (Outer Himalayas): The southernmost layer, composed of unconsolidated sediments, forming the foothills.

Geographically, the orientation of these ranges changes as you move across India. While they generally run from northwest to southeast in the western part, they shift to an east-west direction in Sikkim and even turn sharply north-south in the northeastern states (forming the Purvanchal hills) INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Structure and Physiography, p.11. Within the Great Himalayas, specific peaks serve as "anchors." For instance, Nanga Parbat (8,126m) stands as the western anchor of the Great Himalayan range, significantly taller than other regional giants like Nanda Devi (7,817m) or Kamet (7,756m) Geography of India, Physiography, p.15.

Range Division	Average Altitude	Key Characteristics
Great Himalayas (Himadri)	6,000m	Contains the highest peaks; composed of granite cores.
Lesser Himalayas (Himachal)	3,700m - 4,500m	Famous for hill stations and the Pir Panjal range.
Shiwaliks	900m - 1,100m	Outer-most foothills; made of loose sediments.

Sources: INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), Structure and Physiography, p.11; Geography of India, Majid Husain (McGrawHill 9th ed.), Physiography, p.10, 15; CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Geography, Class IX. NCERT (Revised ed 2025), Physical Features of India, p.7-8

2. Regional Classification of the Himalayas (basic)

Welcome back! In our previous step, we looked at the vertical structure of the Himalayas. Now, let's shift our perspective. Geographers also classify the Himalayas from West to East. This is known as the Regional Classification, and instead of looking at height or age, we use major river valleys as natural boundaries to mark these divisions. The entire stretch spans about 2,500 km, varying in width as it moves from the western frontiers toward the east Geography of India, Physiography, p.1.

Think of these divisions as segments carved out by the great rivers of the subcontinent. The classification follows a logical sequence from the Indus River in the west to the Brahmaputra in the east. The first segment, between the Indus and Satluj, is traditionally called the Punjab Himalaya (though parts are locally known as Kashmir and Himachal Himalaya). Moving eastward, we encounter the Kumaon Himalayas, the Nepal Himalayas, and finally the Assam Himalayas Contemporary India-I, Physical Features of India, p.10. Each region has a distinct cultural and geographical identity based on these river boundaries.

Region	Western Boundary	Eastern Boundary
Punjab Himalayas	Indus River	Satluj River
Kumaon Himalayas	Satluj River	Kali River
Nepal Himalayas	Kali River	Teesta River
Assam Himalayas	Teesta River	Dihang (Brahmaputra) River

At the easternmost edge, the Brahmaputra marks the final boundary. Beyond the Dihang gorge, the mountains take a dramatic, sharp turn to the south. These are the Purvachal or Eastern hills, which run through the north-eastern states and are primarily composed of strong sedimentary sandstones Contemporary India-I, Physical Features of India, p.10. Understanding these river markers is essential because they define the political and ecological zones of the entire mountain system.

Sources: Contemporary India-I, Class IX NCERT, Physical Features of India, p.10; Geography of India, Majid Husain, Physiography, p.1

3. The Trans-Himalayan and Adjacent Systems (intermediate)

To master the geography of Northern India, we must distinguish between the Himalayas proper and the Trans-Himalayan systems. While the Himalayas were formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, the Trans-Himalayas (meaning "beyond the Himalayas") are primarily composed of older sedimentary rocks and are situated north of the Great Himalayan Range. This system consists of four major ranges: the Karakoram, the Ladakh, the Zanskar, and the Kailash. Understanding their relative positions is a fundamental requirement for any mapping exercise.

The Karakoram Range acts as the northernmost frontier, often called the "backbone of High Asia." Just south of it lies the Ladakh Range, and further south is the Zanskar Range. A crucial geographical feature to remember is the Indus River; it originates near the Bokhar Glacier on the slopes of Mount Kailash and flows northwest, carving a spectacular course specifically between the Ladakh and Zanskar ranges Geography of India, The Drainage System of India, p.9. This region, particularly the Ladakh plateau, is a cold desert. Because it lies in the rain-shadow of the Great Himalayas, it receives as little as 10 cm of annual rainfall, leading to thin air and extreme temperature fluctuations from 0°C in summer to –40°C in winter Geography of India, Physiography, p.48.

When looking at the peaks of this region, the scale is staggering. The Great Himalayan Range begins in the west at Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), which serves as its western anchor NCERT Class IX, Physical Features of India, p.8. While the Trans-Himalayan ranges like the Kunlun Mountains (located further north in Tibet/China) have high peaks such as Liushi Shan (7,167 m), they generally do not reach the extreme altitudes of the Great Himalayan giants like Nanga Parbat or K2.

Range	Key Characteristics	Significant Peaks/Features
Karakoram	Northernmost; contains the most glaciers outside polar regions.	K2 (Godwin-Austen), Siachen Glacier.
Ladakh	Located between the Indus and Shyok rivers.	Leh is located at its foot; home to the Ladakh Plateau.
Zanskar	Acts as the boundary between the Ladakh region and the Great Himalayas.	Mt. Kamet (7,756 m) lies near this transition zone.

Sources: Geography of India, Majid Husain, The Drainage System of India, p.9; Geography of India, Majid Husain, Physiography, p.48; NCERT Class IX, Contemporary India-I, Physical Features of India, p.8

4. Himalayan Drainage: Antecedent Rivers and Gorges (intermediate)

When we look at the mighty Himalayas, it is natural to assume that the mountains came first and the rivers simply found a way around them. However, in physical geography, some of the most spectacular features tell a different story. These are the Antecedent Rivers—rivers that are actually older than the mountains they flow through. Imagine a giant saw cutting through a piece of wood as the wood is being pushed upward; the river acts as the saw, and the rising Himalayas are the wood. As the Earth's crust buckled and rose to form the Himalayan peaks, these powerful rivers maintained their original courses by vertical erosion, cutting deep, narrow valleys with steep walls known as gorges Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Fluvial Landforms and Cycle of Erosion, p.211.

This process has created some of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth. For instance, the Indus River, which originates in Tibet near Lake Mansarowar, crosses the Great Himalayan Range through a massive synclinal gorge. The most famous of these is the Gilgit Gorge, which reaches an incredible depth of approximately 5,200 metres—the deepest in the world Geography of India, Majid Husain, The Drainage System of India, p.9. Similarly, the Satluj (known as Langchen Khambab in Tibet) cuts through the Himalayan ranges at Shipki La before entering the Punjab plains INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), Drainage System, p.21.

The existence of these antecedent rivers—including the Indus, Satluj, Brahmaputra, Ganga, and Subansiri—proves that these drainage systems were established long before the final upheaval of the Himalayas. These rivers originate from the Tibetan side (Trans-Himalayas) and pierce through the Greater Himalayas to reach the Indian plains Geography of India, Majid Husain, The Drainage System of India, p.1. Their ability to maintain their paths despite the tectonic uplift is a testament to the immense erosive power of flowing water over millions of years.

River	Key Feature / Location	Significance
Indus	Gilgit Gorge (5,200m depth)	Deepest gorge in the world; cuts through the Nanga Parbat region.
Satluj	Shipki La Pass	An antecedent tributary that feeds the Bhakra Nangal project.
Brahmaputra	Dihang Gorge	Cuts a deep U-turn through the eastern syntaxial bend of the Himalayas.

Sources: Geography of India, Majid Husain, The Drainage System of India, p.1, 9; INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), Drainage System, p.21; Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Fluvial Landforms and Cycle of Erosion, p.211

5. Geopolitics of the High Peaks (intermediate)

In the study of world physical mapping, the High Peaks are not just geographic landmarks; they are the 'sentinels' of national sovereignty and regional stability. Geologically, the Himalayan mountain system represents a youthful topography characterized by high peaks and deep valleys. Because these mountains form a geologically unstable zone, the borders they define are often as volatile as the terrain itself NCERT Class IX, Chapter 2: Physical Features of India, p.7. Understanding the 'Great Himalayan Range' (the Himadri) is essential because it contains the world's highest peaks, which act as natural barriers and strategic high-ground in the geopolitical landscape of South Asia.

One of the most significant peaks in this context is Nanga Parbat. Standing at 8,126 metres, it serves as the western anchor of the Great Himalayan range. Its location is strategically sensitive, situated in the Kashmir Himalaya, a region marked by the Line of Control (LoC). This line demarcates the ceasefire position between India and Pakistan following the 1947 conflict Majid Husain, India–Political Aspects, p.61. While India identifies the territory under illegal occupation as Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK), the geography of the peaks remains a constant factor in the external and internal political discourse of the region NCERT Class XII, Regional Aspirations, p.119.

When comparing these giants, it is helpful to look at their relative elevations to understand their dominance in the skyline and their role in regional drainage and climate. While peaks like Nanda Devi and Kamet are central to the Indian Himalayan identity, Nanga Parbat's height places it in a different tier globally.

Mountain Peak	Elevation (m)	Significance
Nanga Parbat	8,126 m	9th highest in the world; Western anchor of the Great Himalayas.
Nanda Devi	7,817 m	Highest peak located entirely within India (Uttarakhand).
Kamet (Kamath)	7,756 m	Significant peak in the Garhwal region, near the Tibetan border.
Liushi Shan	7,167 m	Highest peak of the Kunlun Mountains (Kunlun Goddess).

Sources: Contemporary India-I, Geography, Class IX, NCERT (2025), Chapter 2: Physical Features of India, p.7-8; Geography of India, Majid Husain (9th ed.), Chapter 2: Physiography, p.15, 61; Politics in India since Independence, Class XII, NCERT (2025), Regional Aspirations, p.119

6. Orogeny and Tectonics of the Himalayas (exam-level)

The formation of the Himalayas, or its orogeny, is one of the most dramatic geological events in Earth's history. It began with the northward drift of the Indian Plate after it broke away from the supercontinent Gondwana. About 140 million years ago, the subcontinent was located as far south as 50°S latitude, separated from the Eurasian plate by the vast Tethys Sea NCERT Class XI Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Distribution of Oceans and Continents, p.34. As the Indian plate raced northward at a speed of 5-6 cm per year, it eventually collided with the Eurasian plate approximately 40-50 million years ago. This continental-continental collision closed the Tethys Sea and caused the sediments on the ocean floor to fold and lift, creating the highest mountain range on Earth PMF IAS Physical Geography, Convergent Boundary, p.121. This tectonic process is still active today, causing a crustal shortening of about 500 km in the region and making the Himalayas a hotbed for seismic activity PMF IAS Physical Geography, Earthquakes, p.185. Physiographically, the Great Himalayan range is anchored by massive peaks at its ends. To the west stands Nanga Parbat (8,126 metres), which serves as the western anchor of the range Majid Husain, Geography of India, Physiography, p.15. These mountains are often called the 'Water Tower of Asia' because their massive glaciers feed perennial rivers like the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra, sustaining millions of lives NCERT Class VII Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Geographical Diversity of India, p.4.

Peak	Elevation (m)	Significance
Mount Everest	8,848m	Highest in the world (Nepal/China border)
Kanchenjunga	8,586m	Highest in India (Sikkim/Nepal border)
Nanga Parbat	8,126m	Western anchor of the Great Himalayas
Nanda Devi	7,817m	Highest peak entirely within India (Uttarakhand)

Sources: NCERT Class XI Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Distribution of Oceans and Continents, p.34; PMF IAS Physical Geography, Convergent Boundary, p.121; PMF IAS Physical Geography, Earthquakes, p.185; Majid Husain, Geography of India, Physiography, p.15; NCERT Class VII Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Geographical Diversity of India, p.4

7. Significant Peaks of the Indian Himalayas (exam-level)

The Great Himalayas, also known as the Himadri, constitute the most continuous and loftiest range on Earth. These mountains are characterized by an asymmetrical fold structure and a core composed primarily of granite. Because of their extreme elevation, the peaks of the Himadri remain perpetually snow-covered, giving rise to numerous massive glaciers Contemporary India-I, NCERT Class IX, Chapter 2, p.8. While Mount Everest (8848m) in Nepal is the world's highest, India is home to several of the most significant peaks in this system, starting with Kanchenjunga (8598m) in Sikkim, which is the highest peak in India within its administrative control Exploring Society: India and Beyond, NCERT Class VII, Chapter: Geographical Diversity of India, p.6. Moving from west to east, the Great Himalayan range is anchored by two massive peaks. In the far west, Nanga Parbat (8126m) stands as a formidable sentinel in the Kashmir region Geography of India, Majid Husain, Chapter 2, p.15. In the east, the range terminates abruptly at Namcha Barwa (7756m), where the Brahmaputra River takes a sharp 'U-turn' to enter India. Between these two anchors lie the peaks of Uttarakhand, such as Nanda Devi (7817m), Kamet (7756m), and Trisul (7140m). These are often referred to as the 'Abode of Gods' due to their immense spiritual and geographical significance Geography of India, Majid Husain, Chapter 2, p.15.

To keep these heights and locations clear for the exam, it is helpful to compare the major Indian Himalayan peaks:

Peak	Height (metres)	Region/Location
Kanchenjunga	8,598 m	Sikkim (Indo-Nepal border)
Nanga Parbat	8,126 m	Jammu & Kashmir / Ladakh
Nanda Devi	7,817 m	Uttarakhand
Kamet	7,756 m	Uttarakhand
Namcha Barwa	7,756 m	Arunachal Pradesh border

Sources: Contemporary India-I, NCERT Class IX, Chapter 2: Physical Features of India, p.8; Geography of India, Majid Husain, Chapter 2: Physiography, p.15; Exploring Society: India and Beyond, NCERT Class VII, Geographical Diversity of India, p.6

8. The 8,000-Metre Peaks (Eight-Thousanders) (exam-level)

In the world of physical geography, the 'Eight-Thousanders' refer to an elite group of 14 independent mountains that rise more than 8,000 metres (26,247 ft) above sea level. All fourteen of these giants are located in south and central Asia, specifically within the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges. These peaks are often referred to as the 'death zone' because the oxygen levels at such altitudes are insufficient to sustain human life for long periods. As noted in Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Geographical Diversity of India, p.4, the Himalayas are sometimes called the 'Water Tower of Asia' because the massive glaciers clinging to these high peaks feed life-sustaining rivers like the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra. While many peaks in the Himalayas are majestic, not all reach the 8,000-metre mark. For example, Nanda Devi (7,817 m) and Kamet (7,756 m) are incredibly high but fall just short of this specific classification Contemporary India-I, Physical Features of India, p.8. One of the most significant Eight-Thousanders for your mapping studies is Nanga Parbat (8,126 m). It serves as the western anchor of the Great Himalayan Range, while Namcha Barwa (7,756 m) acts as the eastern anchor Geography of India, Physiography, p.11. Nanga Parbat is also famously known by its local name 'Diamir', which means 'King of Mountains' Geography of India, Physiography, p.25. To master world physical mapping, you must distinguish between the 'Eight-Thousanders' and other high-altitude peaks. Use the table below to compare some of the most prominent peaks mentioned in standard geography texts:

Peak Name	Height (Metres)	Status	Significance
Mt. Everest	8,848	Eight-Thousander	Highest in the world (Nepal/China)
Kanchenjunga	8,598	Eight-Thousander	Highest in India (Sikkim/Nepal)
Nanga Parbat	8,126	Eight-Thousander	Western anchor of Great Himalayas
Nanda Devi	7,817	Sub-8,000m	Located in Uttarakhand, India

Sources: Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Social Science-Class VII, Geographical Diversity of India, p.4; Contemporary India-I, Geography, Class IX, Physical Features of India, p.8; Geography of India, Majid Husain, Physiography, p.11; Geography of India, Majid Husain, Physiography, p.25

9. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Now that you have mastered the physiographic divisions of India, you can see how the building blocks of the Great Himalayan Range come together. This question tests your ability to distinguish between the global giants—the 'eight-thousanders'—and the significant, yet lower, regional peaks. By identifying Nanga Parbat as the western anchor of the Himalayas, you apply your knowledge of the range's horizontal extent. The core concept here is the hierarchy of elevation: while many peaks are prominent, only a select few belong to the elite group of the world's highest mountains.

To arrive at the correct answer, (C) Nanga Parbat, your reasoning should focus on its status as the ninth-highest peak in the world, standing at 8,126 metres. As noted in CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Geography, Class IX (NCERT), it marks the extreme western point where the Himalayas turn sharply. In contrast, Nanda Devi (7,817m) and Kamet (7,756m) are formidable peaks within the Garhwal Himalayas, but they do not reach the 8,000-metre threshold. Always look for the 'eight-thousander' first when comparing Himalayan peaks, as they will almost certainly be the highest options provided.

UPSC often uses traps like Kun Lun to test your precision; here, the name refers to an entire mountain range rather than a single peak, and even its highest point (Liushi Shan) is significantly lower at approximately 7,167 metres. Another common pitfall is the prominence of Nanda Devi; because it is the highest peak located entirely within India's current administrative borders, students often reflexively choose it without considering peaks like Nanga Parbat that sit in the broader Himalayan context. As highlighted in Geography of India by Majid Husain, understanding the relative altitudes of the Kashmir and Uttarakhand Himalayas is essential for navigating these comparative questions.