NCERT Solutions for Class 7th Social Science Chapter 1 The hills of the Northeast — In-text Questions

Book page 23 Updated on2026-09-19

Q1.
Stay on the map as we move towards the hills of the Northeast, our final destination for now. Can you see Garo, Khasi, and Jantia marked on the map?
Tropic of Cancer (23½° N)NGaro HillsKhasi HillsJaintia HillsK2KanchenjungaMt AbuAnai MudiH I M A L A Y A SLADAKHTHAR DESERTNORTHERN PLAINSARAVALLI HILLSVINDHYA RANGESATPURA RANGEWESTERN GHATSEASTERN GHATSDECCAN PLATEAUCHOTA NAGPURPLATEAURann of KachchhWestern Coastal PlainEastern Coastal PlainSundarbansARABIAN SEABAY OF BENGALINDIAN OCEANPAKISTANAFGHANISTANC H I N ANEPALBHUTANBANGLADESHMYANMARSRI LANKAIndusSutlejGangaYamunaChambalBrahmaputraNarmadaTapiMahanadiGodavariKrishnaKaveriLAKSHADWEEPANDAMAN ISLANDSNICOBAR ISLANDS70° E75° E80° E85° E90° E95° E10° N15° N20° N25° N30° N35° NLEGENDHeight above sea level (metres)0 – 150150 – 300300 – 600600 – 15001500 – 30003000 – 5000Above 5000River (arrow = direction of flow)International boundaryMountain peak
The physical map of India that this chapter asks you to keep beside you — redrawn here with its legend and its latitude and longitude lines.
Answer

Yes. Look east of Bangladesh, just below the Brahmaputra valley, and you will find three hill blocks marked side by side from west to east:

Garo Hills  →  Khasi Hills  →  Jaintia Hills

All three lie in the State of Meghalaya and together they make up the Meghalaya Plateau. The name Meghalaya itself means ‘abode of the clouds’.

Feature of these hillsDetail
RainfallAmong the highest in the world — Cherrapunjee (Sohra) and Mawsynram are here
VegetationLush greenery, dense forest, fertile land, unique wildlife
WaterfallsBreathtaking — the Seven Sisters Waterfalls (Fig. 1.41)
People and cultureThe Khasi festival Shad Suk Mynsiem, celebrated as gratitude towards nature; the living root bridges near Nongriat village
Why the rain is so heavy: moist winds sweep north from the Bay of Bengal and run straight into this steep wall of hills. They are forced to rise, cool down, and drop their moisture as rain — right here.
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