Mountain Peaks in India – Static GK / General Awareness for Competitive Exams (with Memory Tricks)

INTRODUCTION

Mountains and peaks form a core part of Indian Geography Static GK. Questions are commonly asked as:

• Highest peak, match the following, statement-based, or map-based
• Appears in SSC CGL, CHSL, UPSC Prelims, IBPS, RRB NTPC, CDS, CAPF, State PCS

Understanding peaks state-wise + range-wise helps eliminate options quickly in exams.

State-Wise Mountains & Peaks in India – Static GK / General Awareness

Why this section is IMPORTANT for Competitive Exams

• Frequently asked in Match the Following, Highest/Lowest, and Map-based questions
• Appears regularly in SSC CGL, CHSL, RRB NTPC, UPSC Prelims, IBPS, CDS, CAPF
• Helps eliminate options quickly using state–range–peak linkage

STATE-WISE MOUNTAINS & PEAKS (North to South)

Jammu & Kashmir / Ladakh

• Major Ranges: Karakoram, Zanskar, Ladakh
• Important Peaks:
  • K2 (8611 m) – Karakoram (Highest in India)
  • Saltoro Kangri
  • Saser Kangri
  • Mamostong Kangri
• Exam Angle: Karakoram = Trans-Himalayas

Himachal Pradesh

• Ranges: Western Himalayas, Dhauladhar, Pir Panjal
• Peaks:
  • Reo Purgyil (6816 m)
  • Hanuman Tibba
• Exam Angle: Part of Middle Himalayas

Uttarakhand

• Ranges: Garhwal & Kumaon Himalayas
• Peaks:
  • Nanda Devi (7816 m) – highest fully in India
  • Kamet
  • Abi Gamin
  • Hardeol
• Exam Angle: Source region of Ganga & Yamuna

Sikkim

• Range: Eastern Himalayas
• Peak:
  • Kangchenjunga (8586 m)
• Exam Angle: Highest peak within Indian political boundary

Arunachal Pradesh

• Ranges: Eastern Himalayas, Mishmi Hills
• Peak:
  • Kangto (7060 m)
• Exam Angle: Eastern extension of Himalayas

Nagaland

• Range: Purvanchal
• Peak:
  • Mount Saramati (3841 m)
• Exam Angle: India–Myanmar border peak

Manipur

• Range: Purvanchal
• Peak:
  • Mount Tempu
• Exam Angle: Extension of Himalayan system

Mizoram

• Range: Purvanchal (Lushai Hills)
• Peak:
  • Phawngpui (Blue Mountain)
• Exam Angle: Highest in Mizoram

Tripura

• Range: Purvanchal
• Peak:
  • Betlingchhip
• Exam Angle: Smallest NE hill state peak

Meghalaya

• Ranges: Khasi, Garo, Jaintia Hills
• Peak:
  • Shillong Peak
• Exam Angle: Plateau, not Himalayan

West Bengal

• Range: Eastern Himalayas
• Peak:
  • Sandakphu (3636 m)
• Exam Angle: Highest peak of West Bengal

Bihar

• Range: Shivalik Hills
• Peak:
  • Someshwar Fort
• Exam Angle: Outer Himalayas

Uttar Pradesh

• Range: Shivalik Hills
• Peak:
  • Amsot Peak
• Exam Angle: Southernmost Himalayas

Rajasthan

• Range: Aravalli Range
• Peak:
  • Guru Shikhar (1722 m)
• Exam Angle: Oldest fold mountains

Gujarat

• Range: Girnar Range
• Peak:
  • Girnar
• Exam Angle: Western India hills

Madhya Pradesh

• Range: Satpura
• Peak:
  • Dhupgarh
• Exam Angle: Near Narmada origin

Jharkhand

• Range: Parasnath Hills
• Peak:
  • Parasnath
• Exam Angle: Highest in Jharkhand

Odisha

• Range: Eastern Ghats
• Peak:
  • Deomali
• Exam Angle: Eastern Ghats highest in Odisha

Andhra Pradesh

• Range: Eastern Ghats
• Peaks:
  • Arma Konda / Sitamma Konda
  • Jindhagada Peak (Highest Eastern Ghats)
• Exam Angle: Recently confirmed highest Eastern Ghats peak

Telangana

• Range: Deccan Plateau
• Peak:
  • Doli Gutta
• Exam Angle: Plateau, not Ghats

Maharashtra

• Range: Western Ghats (Sahyadri)
• Peak:
  • Kalsubai
• Exam Angle: Highest peak of Maharashtra

Goa

• Range: Western Ghats
• Peak:
  • Sonsogor
• Exam Angle: Small state, Western Ghats

Karnataka

• Range: Western Ghats
• Peak:
  • Mullayanagiri
• Exam Angle: Coffee-growing region

Tamil Nadu

• Ranges: Western Ghats, Nilgiri Hills
• Peak:
  • Doddabetta
• Exam Angle: Nilgiri tri-junction state

Kerala

• Range: Western Ghats (Anaimalai Hills)
• Peak:
  • Anamudi (2695 m)
• Exam Angle: Highest in South India

HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAKS IN INDIA – STATE-WISE (North to South)

Why asked in exams?
Frequently used in match-the-following and state–peak mapping questions.

TOP 10 HIGHEST PEAKS IN INDIA (EXAM FAVORITES)

1. K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen)

• 8611 m | Karakoram Range
• Highest peak in India (geographically)
• Second highest in the world

2. Kangchenjunga

• 8586 m | Eastern Himalayas
• Highest peak within Indian territory

3. Nanda Devi

• 7816 m | Uttarakhand
• Highest peak completely in India

4. Kamet – 7756 m | Garhwal Himalayas

5. Saltoro Kangri – 7742 m | Karakoram

6. Saser Kangri – 7672 m | Karakoram

7. Mamostong Kangri – 7516 m | Karakoram

8. Rimo Kangri I – 7385 m | Karakoram

9. Abi Gamin – 7355 m | Uttarakhand

10. Hardeol – 7151 m | Kumaon Himalayas

HIGHEST PEAKS BY MAJOR MOUNTAIN SYSTEMS

Himalayas

• Young fold mountains
• Highest peaks: Kangchenjunga, Nanda Devi
• Divisions: Greater, Middle, Outer Himalayas

Trans-Himalayas

• Include Karakoram, Ladakh, Zanskar
• Highest Peak: K2

Western Ghats

• Highest Peak: Anamudi (2695 m)
• Highest in South India

Eastern Ghats

• Highest Peak: Jindhagada Peak (1690 m)

Aravalli Range

• Oldest fold mountains
• Highest Peak: Guru Shikhar

STICKY MEMORY ZONE (MNEMONICS)

Top 3 Indian Peaks:
👉 K–K–N → K2 – Kangchenjunga – Nanda Devi

Western Ghats States (North–South):
👉 G M G K K T
Gujarat – Maharashtra – Goa – Karnataka – Kerala – Tamil Nadu

Purvanchal Hills:
👉 P-N-M-M → Patkai – Naga – Mizo – Manipur

JK-HUS-AP-NE-WG-EG”

• JK – Karakoram
• HUS – Himalayas (HP, UK, Sikkim)
• AP – Aravalli & Plateau
• NE – Purvanchal
• WG – Western Ghats
• EG – Eastern Ghats

DON’T CONFUSE THESE (EXAM TRAPS)

• Don’t confuse K2 (Karakoram) with Kangchenjunga (Himalayas)
• Don’t confuse Anamudi (Western Ghats) with Doddabetta (Nilgiris only)
• Don’t confuse Eastern Ghats (discontinuous) with Western Ghats (continuous)
• Don’t confuse Aravalli (oldest) with Himalayas (youngest)

IMPORTANT ONE-LINERS FOR SSC / BANKING / UPSC PRELIMS

• K2 lies in the Karakoram Range
• Kangchenjunga is sacred to Lepcha tribe
• Anamudi lies in Eravikulam National Park
• Aravalli Range runs Delhi to Gujarat
• Himalayas formed due to Indian–Eurasian plate collision
• Eastern Ghats are highly eroded
• Western Ghats are a UNESCO World Heritage Site

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS (PYQ) ANALYSIS

• SSC CGL: Match the peak with the state
• UPSC Prelims: Statement-based questions on mountain ranges
• RRB NTPC: Highest peak of Eastern/Western Ghats
• State PCS: Map-based identification

QUICK-SUMMARY TABLE (Fast Revision)