In Indian physical geography, what is the other commonly used name for the Sahyadri Range that runs parallel to the western coast?

Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on Indian physical geography and asks about a well known mountain chain along the western side of the Indian peninsula. The term Sahyadri is a traditional name used in many Indian languages for a particular range. Candidates are expected to connect this traditional name with the more commonly used English term in school atlases and competitive exam materials.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The mountain system referred to is the Sahyadri Range.
• The question asks for its other popular name used in geography textbooks.
• Options include Lesser Himalayas, Shivaliks, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, and Aravalli Range.
• We assume the standard naming conventions that link Sahyadri with the mountain chain that runs roughly parallel to the western coast of India.

Concept / Approach:
In Indian geography, the Western Ghats are a continuous chain of hills running from near the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra down to Tamil Nadu and Kerala, roughly parallel to the western coastline. In many Indian languages, this mountain chain is traditionally called the Sahyadri. The Lesser Himalayas and Shivaliks are parts of the Himalayan system in northern India, not in the peninsula. The Eastern Ghats lie along the eastern coast, and the Aravalli Range is in western and northwestern India, running south west to north east.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Sahyadri is a traditional term often associated with the mountains along the western coast of peninsular India. Step 2: Connect this with the better known textbook term Western Ghats, which describes the same range in English. Step 3: Recognise that Lesser Himalayas and Shivaliks are directly linked to the Himalayan system and do not apply to peninsular mountains. Step 4: Remember that Eastern Ghats lie along the eastern coast, which is on the opposite side of the peninsula from Sahyadri. Step 5: Select Western Ghats as the correct equivalent name for the Sahyadri Range.

Verification / Alternative check:
Any physical map of India in a school atlas will clearly show the Western Ghats and often mention in the text that they are also called the Sahyadri Range. Geography textbooks on Indian physiography explain that these hills have steep western slopes facing the Arabian Sea and gentler eastern slopes, and they frequently use both the terms Western Ghats and Sahyadris when describing rainfall, biodiversity, and river systems in the region.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Lesser Himalayas refers to a middle range of the Himalayas, also called Himachal, which runs parallel to the Greater Himalayas in northern India, not along the western coast. Shivaliks are the outermost foothills of the Himalayas and are again in the north. Eastern Ghats are fragmented hills along the eastern coast, intersected by rivers such as the Godavari and Krishna. Aravalli Range is an old fold mountain range mainly in Rajasthan and neighbouring areas. None of these matches the peninsular chain called Sahyadri.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse different regional names and think Sahyadri might refer to a Himalayan subrange due to lack of careful reading. Another pitfall is mixing up Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats because both are coastal ranges. You can avoid this by remembering that Sahyadri is strongly associated with the Western Ghats and the high rainfall regions of Konkan, Malnad, and the western side of the Deccan plateau.

Final Answer:
Western Ghats