In Indian and regional physical geography, Arakan Yoma is considered an extension of the Himalayan mountain system located in which neighbouring country?

Introduction / Context:
Arakan Yoma is an important mountain range that often appears in Indian and world geography questions because it shows how the Himalayan system extends beyond India into neighbouring countries. Understanding the link between the Himalayas and Arakan Yoma helps learners visualise the continuity of folded mountain chains created by plate tectonics across South and Southeast Asia. This question therefore checks basic map reading skills and knowledge of political as well as physical geography together.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Arakan Yoma is a mountain range mentioned in standard Indian geography textbooks. - It is described as an extension of the Himalayan mountain system. - The question asks in which neighbouring country this extension is located. - Options include locations in India, Pakistan and Myanmar.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept here is the geographical continuity of major fold mountain chains formed by the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate. The Himalayas do not end abruptly at the eastern border of India; instead, the ranges curve southward through the Patkai, Naga Hills and related ranges and finally extend into the Arakan Yoma in present day Myanmar. The correct approach is to recall standard school atlas maps and note where Arakan Yoma is labelled and how it aligns with Myanmar territory on the eastern side of the Bay of Bengal.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification approach is to recall that the Bay of Bengal is bordered by India and Myanmar, and Arakan Yoma forms the rugged coast and inland highlands of western Myanmar. Many atlases and exam guidebooks explicitly state that Arakan Yoma in Myanmar is an extension of the Eastern Himalayas. No similar statement is made for the other listed regions, which confirms the choice of Myanmar as correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
West Bengal, India, although touched by parts of the Eastern Himalayas, is not where Arakan Yoma is located. Nagaland contains Naga Hills that are related to the Himalayan system, but they are distinct from Arakan Yoma. The Balochistan region of Pakistan is on the western side of the subcontinent and belongs to a different tectonic and mountain system, not the eastern extension of the Himalayas. None of the above is unnecessary because one clearly correct option exists in the list.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse different hill ranges in the North East, such as Naga Hills, Patkai, Lushai and Arakan Yoma, and may incorrectly place Arakan Yoma in an Indian state. Another common mistake is to assume that all Himalayan extensions lie only in India or Nepal and to ignore Myanmar altogether. Forgetting to visualise a political map alongside a physical map can also lead to confusion among states, regions and neighbouring countries.

Final Answer:
The mountain range Arakan Yoma, regarded as an extension of the Himalayan system, is located in the neighbouring country of Myanmar.