Western Ghats is also known as:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

The correct name for the Western Ghats is **Sahyadri**. The Western Ghats is a mountain range that runs parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula. Extending from the Tapti River in the north down to Kanyakumari in the south, this range is recognized globally as one of the world's major biodiversity hotspots. The name Sahyadri is the local and traditional term used particularly in the northern part of the range, covering the states of Maharashtra and Goa, but it is often used interchangeably with Western Ghats to refer to the entire range. Therefore, Sahyadri is the established alternative name for this crucial geographical feature, which acts as a major watershed for India's perennial rivers like the Godavari and Krishna.

The incorrect options are:

The incorrect option is 2 (Himadri): Himadri is the northernmost range of the Himalayas, known for housing the highest peaks in the world, such as Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga, and is characterized by perpetual snow and glaciers. It is entirely geographically distinct from the peninsular Western Ghats, which are located along the coast of Southern and Western India.

The incorrect option is 3 (Aravalli): The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest fold mountains in the world and is located in the northwestern part of India, running primarily through Rajasthan. Geographically, this range is separate from the Western Ghats and has a different geological history and structure, primarily consisting of residual mountains.

The incorrect option is 4 (Shiwalik): The Shiwalik or Outer Himalayas is the southernmost and youngest chain of the Himalayan mountain system. It lies between the Great Plains of India and the Lesser Himalayas. Like Himadri, it is part of the northern mountain system and has no geographical connection to the Western Ghats mountain range in the Deccan Plateau.