The topology of West Bengal: The Northern Hilly Regions Pt. 1

In this context, we will talk about West Bengal's topology. We know the topology of India, but west Bengal's topology is unknown to us. So let's discuss the topology of the state of West Bengal. 

Topology of West Bengal

The topology of the West Bengal state is varied. In the Northern part of West Bengal, there we can high-fold fold mountains. In the southern part of West Bengal, there is a sea coast. We can see the ancient plateau of Chotonagpur and a wide plain area in the western part of West Bengal. We divided the West Bengal state into three main geographical regions based on geological formations and topographical variations. 

Geological Zone of West Bengal

1. The Northern highlands

• West side of Teesta
• East side of Teesta

2. The Western Plateau Region

• Barabhum Highlands
• Purulia Highlands
• Shusunia Highlands

3. The South-eastern plains

• Plains of Nort Bengal

      1. Terai region

      2. Ganga-Brahmaputra Doab region

           * Mahananda Plains

           * Tal Region 

           * Barendra Bhumi/ Bandir

           * Diyala 

• Plans for South Bengal 

      1. Rarh Region

      2. Coastal plain region

      3. Gangetic Delta plain region

           * Dead delta plains

           * Mature delta plains

           * Active delta plains

       4. Sundarban region

(a) Northern Hilly Region : 

Location of the northern hilly region : 

The northern Helly region is situated in the Northwestern part of West Bengal State. The northern Helly region of West Bengal lies in the paof rt the whole long Darjeeling district, Kalimpong district, Kumar gram kalchini police station areas of West Bengal except Siliguri sub-division in the northwestern tip of West Bengal. About four percent of The total part of West Bengal is covered withbys the Northern heli region. 

How the northern Hilly region's name was created:

As the northern Helly region is situated in the Darjeeling district and the lower side of the Himalayan mountain, so it is called the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region.

Origin of North then region:

In the tertiary period (60-70 million years before), a great collision between the Indian and Tibet plates resulted in the folding of Tethys geosyncline sediments. For this reason, the Himalayan fold mountain rises up. In the next step, the continuous erosion and erosion of glaciers and rivers resulted in the development of high and rugged hilly landforms.

Geographic Features: 

1) It is the highlands of West Bengal. The typical height is 600-300 meters. Suddenly the slope increase from the south to the north.

2)In the terai region, the plain land rises abruptly from the plains to the north.

3) The slope increase from the north to the south.

4) It is part of the fold mountain of the Eastern Himalayas. Tethys, Himadri, and Himachal are the mountain ranges of the Himalayan. But Shivalik is absent there.

5) Geographically, it is the youngest region of West Bengal.

6) The region mainly consists of numerous folds formed in Darjeeling, like gneiss, Nyika schist, and dolomite rocks.

7) Terrain, steep slopes, deep gorges, and sharp ridges are the main topographical features of the region.

MountainMountain RangeHeight

Singalila Ridge Sandakphu 3630m

Darjeeling Falut 3596m

Darjeeling-Lebong Sabargram 3543m

Takda-Peshak Rishila 3131m

Dagaro-Daohil Tanglu 3036m

Ghum Tiger Hill 2567m

Monibhanjan Sinchal 2615m

Durbindara Ghum Hill 2400m

Chola Sangchuli 1928m

Singchula Renigango 1885m

Geographic Division: The Teesta river runs in the land. It divides the region into two parts. 

1) Western part of the Teesta

2) Eastern part of Teesta 

So let's discuss the western part.

(1) Western part of the Teesta:

 It is the highest and the extended part of the Darjeeling hills. The region extends from the Nepal border to the Teesta River. There are two ranges—Singalila and Darjeeling range with an average height of 2600m.

→Singalila Range: It runs south of the western border of Sikkim to Darjeeling. It enters and extends north-south, separating Bengal from Nepal. There are four peaks over three thousand meters high. Namely — Sandakphu (the highest peak in the statFaultalut, Sabargram, and Tanglu.

→Darjeeling or Dongkiang Range: It rises steeply northward from the Terai region in the south. In the middle of the Darjeeling ridge lies the Tiger Hill peak, from which three ridges extend on three sides. In the north of Darjeeling, Lebong is Takda Peshak to the northeast and the Bagora-Dawhill range to the south. Near Tiger Hill, there are Ghum and Manibhanjan ridges. Tiger Hill is the highest peak of the Darjeeling Range.

(2) Eastern part of Teesta :

It is a relatively less elevated and less extended area. It extends from the m Teesta river to the northern end of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar. There are two ridges—Durbindara and Chola. The highest peak of Durbindara mountain is Rishila, the eastern part of Teesta, and the highest part of the Darjeeling Himalayas. To the north of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar are the Sinchula mountains. Reni Ganga is the highest peak. Delo Hill is the highest peak of the Chola Mountains. The remaining hills of Shivalik are Baksha and Jayanthi. Sangchuli is the highest peak of Buxa Hills.

Know more? :

★ In Ghum Range, Ghum station is India's highest (2247m) railway station.

★ Above the Bagora-Dowhill Ridge, Heritage-Troytrain was expended

In the next, we will discuss the Western Plateau Region of West Bengal. The link to the post will be generated soon.

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