The plateau is marked by rocky terrain with an average of about 600 m (2,000 ft). It is subdivided into Maharashtra Plateau, Karnataka Plateau, and Rayalaseema & Telangana Plateau. TheDeccan Traps in the north west were formed by multiple layers ofigneous rocks laid down bybasalticlava flows following a massivevolcanic eruption that occurred during the end of thecretaceous period (66mya). The underlying bed consists ofgranite andsedimentary rocks formed during theprecambrian era and the formation ofGondwana.
The region forms one of the major watersheds of India, with many perennial river systems such asGodavari,Krishna, andKaveri flowing through the region. The plateau slopes gently from the west to east, resulting in most of the principal rivers flowing eastwards towards theBay of Bengal. As theWestern Ghats blocks the rain bearing winds, the plateau region is drier than the coastal region and has a semi-arid climate.
Carbon dating shows that ash mounds associated withNeolithic cultures in region date back to 8000 BCE. Towards the beginning of 1000 BCE,iron technology spread through the region though geological evidence does not point to a fully developedBronze Age in existence prior to the Iron Age.[4] Since at least the 1st century BCE, the region was connected to theSilk Road and was involved in trade with theMediterranean andEast Asia.[5][6][7]
The Deccan Plateau is one of the oldest and most stable land formations in theIndian subcontinent.[28] The plateau is marked by rocky terrain with an average of about 600 m (2,000 ft).[9] TheDeccan Traps consist of multiple layers ofigneous rocks, which are more than 2 km (1.2 mi) in thickness. These rocks were laid down bybasalticlava flows which emerged from deep inside theEarth's crust following a massivevolcanic eruption.[28][29]
The eruption event occurred during the end of theCretaceous period (66mya) and is the second largest volcanic eruption ever recorded on land. Scientists state that the volcanic event would have released large amounts ofash, dust andcarbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The release would have blockedsunlight resulting in lower temperatures and caused major climatic changes on Earth. The eruption would have resulted in high levels ofsulfur,chlorine and other toxic gases in theatmosphere. Researchers argue that the volcanic event would have contributed to theextinction of various species including some of thedinosaurs.[29]
The Deccan Plateau region is rich in mineral deposits likeiron ore,coal, andmica.Precious andsemi precious stones have also been mined from the region.[28][33] Largeuranium deposits have been discovered in the region in the 21st century.[34][35][36] There are two major soil types, forming distinct sub-regions of the plateau. Most of the region with igneous basaltic rock consists ofblack soil. These soils have a high clay content, retain moisture and are resistant to erosion, but develop cracks during the dry season. The gneisspeneplain region in the low rainfall areas in the eastern vicinity of theWestern Ghats consist of infertilered soil.[32][37]
Regions of India, showing the Deccan Plateau surrounded by the various mountain ranges.
Historians have used the term Deccan differently across various time periods.Firishta (16th century),R. G. Bhandarkar (1920), andRichard Eaton (2005) demarcate the region based on linguistic lines.[38][37]K. M. Panikkar (1969) defines it as the entire Indian peninsula south of the Vindhyas.[37]Stewart Gordon (1998) notes that Deccan is a "relational term" and historically the border of Deccan has varied fromTapti River to theGodavari River, depending on the southern boundary of the northern empires and is used to denote "the area beyond the southern border of a northern-based kingdom" of India.[39]
Geographers have defined the extent of Deccan region using various physical features and indices such as rainfall, vegetation, or soil type.[38] As per a broader geographical definition, the region consists of the peninsulartableland lying to the south of theTropic of Cancer, marked by theVindhya-Satpura ranges in the north.[37] The Deccan is a plateau region extending over an area of 422,000 km2 (163,000 sq mi) and occupies the majority of theIndian peninsula. It is shaped like an inverted triangle with its upper boundary at theNarmada River basin near the Vindhya-Satpura ranges and the lower boundary at the northern fringes ofTamil Nadu in the south.[9][28]
Average rainfall Map showing the low rainfall areas in the interior of the plateau.
The Deccan forms one of the majorwatersheds of India, feeding many perennial rivers.[44] The major river systems originating in the Western Ghats are theGodavari,Kaveri, andKrishna.[32][45] Most rivers flow eastwards towards theBay of Bengal owing to the steeper gradient moving from east to west, with only smaller streams flowing in the opposite direction.[44] The streams and rivers give rise to numerous waterfalls in the region.[46] The rivers have been dammed forhydroelectric andirrigation purposes, with major reservoirs spread across the region.[47][48]
The region has largelysemi-arid climate in the northern parts andtropical climate in most of the other areas. The summer months of April – May are dry and hot with maximum temperatures often rising more than 40 °C (104 °F).[28] During the dry summer months of April – May, heat builds up on the interior of the Deccan Plaeau, which draws air from the sea. The air, which picks up moisture along the way and flows eastward from theArabian Sea, is blocked by theWestern Ghats.[49] The rising air cools and brings aboutorographic precipitation along the western coast, which signifies the onset of themonsoon season in June.[50]
By the time the air rises above the mountains, it becomes dry, resulting in arain shadow region with very little rainfall on theleeward side towards the interior of the Deccan plateau. The monsoon winds rounding up the peninsula and moving from the east from theBay of Bengal pass over the Eastern Ghats and bring some rainfall to the eastern region of the plateau.[51] The region receives most of the rainfall during the months of July to September and the rains feed the rivers that flow into basins and then into the Bay of Bengal.[52][53]
Thetotal fertility rate in the region was less than thepopulation replacement level and as a result, the proportion of the population of the region to India's total population has declined in the last four decades.[66][67][68][69] The economies of the states in the region registered a growth higher than the national average over the past three decades. While the states have improved in some of thesocio-economic metrics, there is wide disparity within the region.[70][71][72]
Agriculture is often difficult in low rainfall areas, which require additional irrigation facilities while it is more feasible in the river valleys.[73] Agriculture is still the primary occupation in the region.[74][75]Rice is the staple food and major crop in the region.[76] Others crops cultivated includesugarcane,banana,cotton,turmeric,millets,pulses, andspices.[77][78][79] The urban centres are significant contributors to the Indian and globalInformation Technology economy.[80][81][82] The presence of these hubs has spurred economic growth and attracted foreign investments and job seekers from other parts of the country.[83] Manufacturing and textiles are other major industries in the region.[84][85][86][87]
As defined byMinistry of Culture of the Government of India to promote and preserve thecultural heritage, the region falls under the purview ofWest and South Zone Cultural Centers.[88] The women traditionally wear asari, a garment that consists of a drape varying from 5 yards (4.6 m) to 9 yards (8.2 m) in length and 2 feet (0.61 m) to 4 feet (1.2 m) in breadth that is typically wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, baring the midriff, as according to Indian philosophy, the navel is considered as the source of life and creativity.[89][90][91] The men wear adhoti, a 4.5 m (15 ft) long, white rectangular piece of non-stitched cloth often bordered in brightly coloured stripes. It is usually wrapped around the waist and the legs and knotted at the waist.[92] A colourfullungi with typicalbatik patterns is the most common form of male attire in the countryside. People in urban areas generally wear tailored clothing, and western dress is popular. Western-style school uniforms are worn by both boys and girls in schools, even in rural areas.[93]
The region has a rich cuisine involving both traditional non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes.[94][95] The traditional way of eating a meal involves eating food served on abanana leaf using the right hand.[96][97]Rice is the staple food in meals of the region.[98]Bhakri made ofmillets androti orchapathi made ofwheat served withdal are popular in the north and western parts of the region.[99]Idli anddosa served withsambar andchutney for breakfast and rice served withsambar andrasam for lunch are popular in the eastern and southern parts of the region.[100][101][102]Hyderabadi cuisine is popular for itsbiryani.[103]
The region is home to various music and dance forms such asKuchipudi,Lavani,Yakshagana, andBharatanatyam.[104][105][106] There are three distinct styles of rock architecture, theDravidian style of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, theVesara style of Karnataka, Telangana, and theNagara style of Maharashtra.[107] In Dravidian architecture, the temples considered of large gate-pyramids orGopurams in quadrangular enclosures that surround the temple with large pillared halls.[108][109][110]Vimanam are similar structures built over thegarbhagriha or inner sanctum of the temple but are usually smaller than the gopurams in the Dravidian architecture.[111][112] In the Nagara style, the temples had one or moreshikharas, which are towers similar to the vimanas.[113] The Vesara style is a hybrid of both these architectural styles.[114][115]
There is an extensive road network composed ofNational Highways,State Highways and other roads in the region. TheGolden Quadrilateral connecting the major cities in the country traverses across the region.[116] Public bus services are mostly provided by state-run transport corporations.[117][118][119][120]
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