The Vindhyan Range extending from Jobat (22° 27’N, 74° 35’E) in Gujarat to Sasaram (25° 57’N , 84°02’E) in Bihar runs for about 1,050 kms with general elevation between 450-600 m. Flank­ing the Narmada-Son rift on its north it forms an important watershed and constitutes the northern boundary of the Deccan. It has a gentle slope to­wards the north but rises abruptly from the Narmada valley in the south.

It is a relict mountain whose rock formations date back to the pre-Cambrian period. The western part of the range, to the west of Jabalpur, forms the northern boundary of the Narmada valley and is buried under the Deccan lava (upto Hoshangabad). East ofHoshangabad sandstones and shales are more exposed.

The rock sequence is limestone, shale and sandstone in horizontal strata with quartzites and marbles at isolated places in the Kaimur hills; its eastern most extension. The Maikal range, forming aconnecting link between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras, is a large plateau.

The Vindhyan range together with Satpura form the watershed of central India from which rise the Narmada, Chambal, Betwa, Tons, Ken, Son and other rivers some of which flow into the Ganga and others into the Godavari and Mahanadi. The height of the range is above 500 m in the western and eastern sections, but above 6(X) m in the central part.