2. The South Central Highlands

The Vindhyan Range extends from Jobat (Gujarat) and Chittorgarh (Rajasthan) to Sasaram in Bihar. It extends for about 1050 km with general elevation between 450 to 600 metres. Apart from the Kai mu r Hills in the east, the Maikal Range forms a connecting link between the Vindhyans and the Satpura mountains.

(i) The Bundelkhand (Vindhyachal Plateau): It is bounded by the Yamuna river in the north, the Vindhyans in the south, the Chambal in the north- west and Panna-Ajaigarh Range in the south-east. The Bundclkhand upland stretches over the districts of Banda, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi, and Lalitpur (U.P.), and Datia, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur and Panna (M.P.). The region is characterised by senile topography. The rivers like Betwa, Dhasan and Ken have carved out steep gorges, rapids, cataracts and waterfalls.

(ii) The Vindhyachal-Bagh elkhand or Vindhyachal Plateau: It includes the plateaux of Satna, Rewa (M.P.) and Mirzapur (U.P.). Its elevation varies between 150 to 1200 metres with uneven relief. To the south of this lies the Narmada-Son trough (rift valley) characterised by the Archaeans and Bijwar series. South of this trough is the eastward extension of the Satpura which is an area of radial drainage. Among the basins, Singrauli and Dudhi (150- 300 M) are Upper Gondwana basins, which are rich in coal deposits. Besides the Narmada and Son, this region is drained by the Kar man as a, Tons, Ken and Belandare rivers.

Parallel to the Vindhyas between the Narmada and the Tapi rivers is the Satpura Range. Satpura consists of Rajpipla Hills, Mahadev Hills and the Maikal Range. Dhupgarh (1350 m, near Pachmarhi) is the highest peak of Satpura. Amarkantak (1064 metres) is another important peak of the Satpura mountains.