Garhjat Range
View of the range in Binikeyee,Athmallik,Angul district
Highest point
Peak	Malayagiri
Elevation	1,187 m (3,894 ft)
Dimensions
Length	382 km (237 mi) SW-NE
Width	100 km (62 mi)
Geography
Garhjat Range Location of the Garhjat Range
Country	India
States	Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha
Rivers	Brahmani,Mahanadi,Baitarani andSubarnarekha
Range coordinates	21°22′N85°16′E / 21.367°N 85.267°E /21.367; 85.267

TheGarhjat Hills is amountain range formed by a series low-lying hills,plateaux,ridges andmeadows that stretch intoOdisha from theUtkal Plains in theChotanagpur region ofJharkhand and the Chhattisgarh Plains. The range, also known as the Odisha Highlands, runs in a north east to south west direction for about 382 km along the Odisha coast, covering 76,800 km² (29,700 sq mi).^[1]

The range rises abruptly and steeply in the east and slopes gently to a dissected plateau in the west running from north-east (Mayurbhanj) to south-west (Malkangiri). The whole area is also marked byintermontane basins which cut across the region in a number of broad and narrow river valleys and flood plains. The average height of the range is about 900 metres above mean sea level.

Geographically the Garhjat Range is a northward prolongation of theEastern Ghats. It derives its name from the Hindi term for 'fort',garh. The region was named by theMughals who conqueredOdisha underAkbar.^[2] Under theMarathas too Odisha was divided into the Mughalbandhi and Garhjat provinces and the latter was ruled by 24 vassal chiefs who paid tribute to the Marathas. These states, theOrissa Tributary States, later came to be known as the Garhjat states^[3] or theGarhjats because they were located in the region of the range.^[4]

These hills cover the present day districts ofSundargarh,Sambalpur,Deogarh,Jharsuguda,Baragarh,Angul andKendujhar in northern Odisha.^[5]Rourkela in Sundargarh district is a major industrial town.

The Garhjat hills are bounded by theChotanagpur Plateau in the north, the Utkal plains in the east, theMahanadi basin or the Chhattisgarh plains in the west and the Eastern Ghats to the south. Geologically, the region comprises crystalline rocks such asgranites andgneisses that belong to theArchaean period. TheTalcher,Barakar andKamathi series of rocks containingshales andsandstones occur in theSambalpur and Dhei districts.^[1][6]

The northern Garhjat hills are a part of the Chotanagpur plateau while the southern part is an extension of the Eastern Ghats and can be divided into three - the northern uplands, theMahanadi valley, and the south-western hills.^[1] The important rivers that drain the Garhjat hills are theBrahmani, theMahanadi, theBaitarani and theSubarnarekha. The Odisha Highlands are densely forested withtropical semi-evergreen andtropical dry andmoist deciduous forests. TheScheduled Tribes account for as much as 37% of the region's population and theGonds are a major tribal group of this region.^[7]Malaria is a major public health concern in these hills.^[8]

Some of the important peaks of the Garhjat Hills include theMalayagiri,Manakamacha andMeghasani. The Mahanadi river bisects these hills and to its south, the hills tend to gain elevation. The highest peak to the south is theMahendragiri inGajapati district.^[1]

• Mountain ranges of India
• Hills of Jharkhand
• Hills of Odisha
• Eastern Ghats
• Odisha semi-evergreen forests

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