Aravalli Range (Aravali) literally meaning 'line of peaks', is

a range of mountains in western India running about 800 km in

a northeastern direction across Indian states of Gujarat,

Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi.It is also called Mewat hills

locally.<br>

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The Aravalli range are the oldest fold mountains in India. At

present The Aravali range is only a reminiscent of the

gigantic system that existed in the prehistoric times with

several of its summits rising above the snow line and

nutritious glaciers of awesome magnitude which in turn fed

many great glaciers. The Aravalis now exhibit a wonderful

Semi-Dry Deciduous Forest.<br>

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The Aravalli Range is the tough end of a range of ancient

folded mountains.The range rose in a Precambrian event called

the Aravalli-Delhi orogen. The range joins two of the ancient

segments that make up the Indian craton, the Marwarsegment to

the northwest of the range, and the Bundelkhand segment to the

southeast. Undulating hills of Aravali, supporting the dry deciduous

forests, provide an unbelievable wonderful ambience. The area is

rich in floral diversity- mainly medicinal plants. It has

several floral and faunal species of global conservation

importance. The rare flora comprises Kadaya (giving medicinal

gum), Gugal, amla and Moosli etc. The main trees are- Khair,

Salai, Modad, Dhavada, Khakhara, Timru. During late winters

(February-March) Khakhara-the flame of the forests- known by

many different names such as- Palash, Tesu, Kesudo, Dhak etc. is

generally in bloom with its prominent red color resembling

flames in the forests. The rare animals comprise sloth bear,

striped hyena, leopard, bluebull, porcupine, fox, small Indian

civet, Indian pangolin and a number of reptiles including

venomous and non-venomous snakes, monitor lizards, star tortoise

etc. The rare birds of this area are adjutant Stork, spoonbill,

osprey, white backed Vulture and black vultures. <br>

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The northern end of the range continues as isolated hills and

rocky ridges into Haryana state, ending in Delhi. The well-known

Delhi Ridge is the last leg of the Aravalli Range, which cross

through South Delhi and terminates into Central Delhi where

Raisina hill is its last extension. It is one of the world's

oldest mountain ranges. It dates back to a pre-Indian

subcontinental collision with the mainland Eurasian Plate. The

southern end is at Palanpur close to Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The

highest peak is Guru Shikhar in Mount Abu in Rajasthan. Rising

to 5650 feet (1722 meters), it lies near the south-western

extremity of the range, nereby the border with Gujarat District.

The city of Udaipur with its lakes lies on the south slope of

the range in Rajasthan. Numerous rivers rise amidst the ranges

together with the Luni River, the Banas River, the Sakhi ,Sabarmati,

and the Sahibi River.<br>

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Old fold mountains are portrayed by having stopped growing

higher due to the cessation of upward thrust caused by the

stopping of movement of the tectonic plates in the Earth's crust

below them. In ancient times they were extremely high but since

have worn down almost completely by millions of years of

weathering. In contrast, the Himalayas are continuously rising

young fold mountains of today. Being rich in mineral resources, the Aravalli hills have

witnessed years of illegal mining, which have led to their

fast erosion in Rajasthan and Haryana. This also causes a

serious environmental concern as the ranges form a natural

barrier against the spread of the Thar desert northwards

into the Gangetic plains in the Gangetic basin and

Gujarat.<br>

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In May 2009, after months of media and public protests,

along with several environmental groups, the Supreme Court

banned mining in an area of 448 km2 across Faridabad,

Gurgaon and Mewat districts in Haryana, that was once

supposed to be set aside for a national park. This comes

after the earlier court judgment in 1994 that allowed

limited mining on the basis of the sustainable development

principle under strict guidelines. Violation of the

guidelines by local miners led to the court ban ruling.

However, there are many illegal mines in Rajasthan, some

of them operating at the edges of the Sariska Tiger

Reserve.