Geography, Rivers & Mountains
MP GK · भूगोल, नदियां और पर्वत · 18 facts
Madhya Pradesh area: 308,252 sq km — was the largest state until 2000, now 2nd largest after Rajasthan
Chhattisgarh was carved out of MP on 1 November 2000, reducing MP from largest to 2nd largest state
Vindhya Range: East-west trending mountain range forming the northern boundary of the Deccan Plateau
Satpura Range: Runs parallel to Vindhyas; highest peak is Dhupgarh (1,350 m) near Pachmarhi
Pachmarhi: Only hill station of MP, altitude 1,067 m, located in Satpura range — 'Queen of Satpura'
Tropic of Cancer passes through MP — through districts Ratlam, Ujjain, Sehore, Bhopal, Raisen, Shahdol
Narmada River: Originates at Amarkantak (Anuppur district), flows 1,312 km westward into Gulf of Khambhat
Narmada is the only major east-west flowing river of India; it flows between Vindhya and Satpura ranges
Chambal River: Originates in Vindhyas (Mhow), forms MP-Rajasthan border, flows into Yamuna in UP
Betwa River: Originates in Raisen district, flows northeast to join Yamuna; Ken-Betwa Link is India's first river link project
Son River: Originates at Amarkantak (same as Narmada), flows east to join Ganga in Bihar
Tapti (Tapi) River: Originates near Multai (Betul), flows westward parallel to Narmada, reaches Gulf of Khambhat
Ken River: Originates in Katni district; Ken-Betwa inter-linking project approved 2021, will benefit Bundelkhand
Malwa Plateau: Central MP, elevation 450-600 m, fertile black soil, major agricultural zone
MP has 52 districts (post-2018 reorganization); Bhopal is the capital, Indore is the largest city
MP shares borders with 5 states: UP (north), Chhattisgarh (east), Maharashtra (south), Gujarat (west), Rajasthan (northwest)
Upper Lake (Bhojtal) Bhopal: Largest man-made lake in Asia when built in 11th century by Raja Bhoj
MP has 30% forest cover — teak (sagar), sal, bamboo forests; part of Central Indian Tiger landscape