Why this matters now
Aravalli is tested for: Pre-Cambrian age (350 cr yrs); 670 km from Champaner Gujarat to Delhi Ridge; Mount Abu the only hill station in Rajasthan; Guru Shikhar 1,722 m highest; Dilwara Temples (11-13th c Solanki Jain marble); ecological role as barrier vs Thar Desert; mineral wealth (zinc, copper, lead, marble, sandstone); recent illegal mining + SC ban; Delhi Ridge as Aravalli’s northern tail; 30% of Aravallis already lost per ICFRE-FSI study.
Geography
Sections:
| Section | Location | Highest |
|---|---|---|
| Sirohi Range | Southern Rajasthan | Guru Shikhar 1,722 m Mt Abu (Sirohi district) |
| Mewar Hills | Udaipur-Rajsamand | Jarga Hill 1,431 m |
| Mewat / Alwar Hills | Alwar (Rajasthan-Haryana) | Raghunathgarh 1,055 m |
| Khetri Copper Belt | Rajasthan-Jhunjhunu | Significant copper deposits. |
| Delhi-Mewat | South Haryana + Delhi | Delhi Ridge (the “lungs of Delhi”). |
Mountain passes (gaps): Pir Panjal range (NA, Himalayas), but Aravallis have several passes used by railways.
Ecological + Cultural significance
- Thar Desert barrier: Aravalli is the primary geographic barrier preventing eastward spread of Thar. If degraded, the desert would advance into Indo-Gangetic plain — major climate risk.
- Tropical thorn + dry deciduous forests — Anogeissus + Dhok (Anogeissus pendula) + Khejri (Prosopis cineraria, Rajasthan state tree).
- Mineral wealth: Zinc (Zawar Mines Rajasthan, world’s 2nd largest), Copper (Khetri Belt), Lead, Silver, Marble (Makrana 16th-c Mughal source for Taj Mahal), Sandstone (Khora-Karauli pink and red), Granite, Soapstone.
- Religious + cultural: Mount Abu (Dilwara Jain temples 11-13th c marble; Achalgarh; Brahma Kumaris HQ). Pushkar Lake (Aravalli). Chittorgarh + Kumbhalgarh Forts (UNESCO 2013 Hill Forts of Rajasthan).
- Delhi Ridge: The Aravalli’s northern tail. 4 ridges in Delhi: Northern (DU North Campus), Central (Buddha Jayanti Park), South Central (Mehrauli to Tughlaqabad), Southern (Asola Bhati Sanctuary).
Degradation + protection
- 30% of Aravalli has been lost per Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) + Forest Survey of India 2019 study — due to illegal mining + encroachment + urban expansion.
- NCR + Rajasthan: Mining boom 1980s-2000s; SC banned mining in Aravallis 2002 (then partial).
- 2018 SC order: Restored 31 sq km of mining-affected areas to forest cover.
- Aravalli Green Wall Project announced 2023 — afforestation along 1,400 km from Gujarat to Delhi to halt desertification + restore ecology. 5 cr trees in 5 years.
- Punjab + Haryana Forest Sub-divisions enforce Aravalli protection.
- NGT (National Green Tribunal) repeatedly intervened.
UPSC angle
Know ARAVALLI RANGE — WORLD’S OLDEST FOLD MOUNTAIN SYSTEM PRE-CAMBRIAN 350 crore years; 670 km Champaner Gujarat (south) to Delhi Ridge (north); HIGHEST GURU SHIKHAR 1722 m MT ABU SIROHI district Rajasthan; SECTIONS: Sirohi Range (Mt Abu 1722 m), Mewar Hills Udaipur-Rajsamand (Jarga 1431 m), Mewat/Alwar Hills (Raghunathgarh 1055 m), Khetri Copper Belt Jhunjhunu, Delhi-Mewat (Delhi Ridge); ROLE BARRIER vs Thar Desert; tropical thorn+dry deciduous forests (Anogeissus pendula Dhok + KHEJRI Prosopis cineraria Rajasthan state tree); MINERAL WEALTH: ZAWAR MINES Rajasthan zinc world’s 2nd largest, KHETRI COPPER BELT, lead, silver, MAKRANA MARBLE 16th-c Mughal Taj Mahal source, Khora-Karauli pink-red sandstone, granite, soapstone; CULTURAL: MT ABU only Rajasthan hill station (DILWARA JAIN TEMPLES 11-13th c marble + Achalgarh + Brahma Kumaris HQ), Pushkar Lake, CHITTORGARH + KUMBHALGARH FORTS UNESCO 2013 Hill Forts of Rajasthan; DELHI RIDGE northern tail 4 ridges (Northern DU + Central Buddha Jayanti + South Central Mehrauli-Tughlaqabad + Southern Asola Bhati Sanctuary); 30% ARAVALLI LOST per ICFRE+FSI 2019 study illegal mining+encroachment+urban; SC BANNED mining 2002 then partial; 2018 SC order restored 31 sq km forest; ARAVALLI GREEN WALL PROJECT 2023 1400 km Gujarat-Delhi 5 cr trees in 5 yrs anti-desertification.
Frequently asked questions
Why are Aravallis called the oldest mountains?
Formed in the Pre-Cambrian era ~350 crore years ago — making them the oldest fold mountain system in the world. Much older than the Himalayas (~7 crore years).
What is the highest peak of the Aravallis?
Guru Shikhar at 1,722 m on Mount Abu (Sirohi district, Rajasthan) — the only hill station in Rajasthan. Site of Dilwara Jain Temples (11-13th c Solanki marble).
Why are Aravallis ecologically important?
They are the primary geographic barrier preventing the eastward spread of the Thar Desert into the Indo-Gangetic plain. Degradation directly drives desertification.
What is the Aravalli Green Wall Project?
Announced 2023 — an afforestation initiative along 1,400 km from Gujarat to Delhi to halt desertification and restore ecology. 5 crore trees to be planted in 5 years.