Beyond which famous gorge do the Himalayas bend sharply to the south and then extend along the eastern boundary of India?

Introduction / Context:
The Himalayan mountain system does not run in a perfectly straight line. In the eastern part of India, it shows a dramatic bend where the ranges curve from a west east direction to a north south direction. This question tests your knowledge of the specific location where this sharp bend occurs and helps you understand the overall shape of the Himalayas and how they link with the eastern hills of India and neighbouring countries.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to the Himalayas bending sharply to the south.
• This bend occurs in the eastern part of India.
• We are asked to name the feature beyond which this bend takes place.
• We assume basic familiarity with Indian physical maps that show rivers and gorges.

Concept / Approach:
In the eastern region, the mighty Brahmaputra river cuts through the Himalayas in a deep gorge known as the Dihang gorge when it enters India from Tibet, where it is called Yarlung Zangbo. After this point, the Himalayas sharply turn to the south and then extend along the eastern boundary of India through Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and other hill ranges. This distinctive bend is associated with the Dihang gorge, a key landmark in Indian physical geography. Other options like Zoji La Pass, the Bhutan border, or the Nepal border are important, but they are not the specific turning point described.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Visualise the Himalayas stretching from Jammu and Kashmir in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east. Step 2: Recall that in the north east, the Brahmaputra river cuts a deep gorge as it enters India. This gorge is called the Dihang gorge in Arunachal Pradesh. Step 3: Understand that beyond this gorge, the Himalayan ranges curve southward and continue as the Purvanchal hills along the eastern boundary of India. Step 4: Compare this with the locations of Zoji La Pass, the Bhutan border, and the Nepal border, which do not match the description of a sharp bend followed by a southern extension. Step 5: Conclude that Dihang gorge is the correct feature mentioned in the question.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you refer to a physical map of India or a diagram of the Himalayas in a standard geography textbook, you will see the Brahmaputra carving through the mountains near the eastern extremity, labelled as Dihang or Dihang gorge. Right after this point, the alignment of the ranges clearly changes direction, curving southwards. This visual confirmation supports Dihang gorge as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Zoji La Pass: This is a high mountain pass in the western Himalayas on the Srinagar Leh road and is not related to the eastern bend.
• Bhutan border: Although the Himalayas run along parts of the Bhutan border, it is not the specific point of the sharp southward bend.
• Nepal border: The Himalayas run along Nepal, but the bend towards the east and south occurs further east near Arunachal Pradesh.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students tend to memorise names of passes and borders without linking them to a mental map. This can lead to confusion between features in the western Himalayas and those in the eastern Himalayas. To avoid mistakes, always associate Dihang gorge with the entry of the Brahmaputra into India and the turning of the Himalayas toward the south east.

Final Answer:
Beyond the Dihang gorge, the Himalayas bend sharply to the south and spread along the eastern boundary of India as the Purvanchal hills.