The correct option is
1, 2 and 3 only
.Explanation
The "Great Indian Water Divide" is a line that separates the river systems flowing into the Arabian Sea from those flowing into the Bay of Bengal. This divide determines the direction of flow for the major river systems in the Indian subcontinent.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- 1. Delhi Ridge (Correct): The Delhi Ridge acts as a water divide between the Indus drainage system (flowing into the Arabian Sea) and the Ganga drainage system (flowing into the Bay of Bengal). It is the northernmost extension of the divide.
- 2. Aravalis (Correct): The Aravali range runs southwest from Delhi. It separates the drainage of rivers like the Luni (flowing towards the Rann of Kutch/Arabian Sea) from the tributaries of the Yamuna/Ganga system (like the Banas) which flow towards the Bay of Bengal.
- 3. Sahyadris (Correct): Also known as the Western Ghats, the Sahyadris form the major water divide in Peninsular India. They run parallel to the western coast. Most major peninsular rivers (Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri) rise here and flow east into the Bay of Bengal, while numerous small, swift rivers flow west into the Arabian Sea.
- 4. Vindhyas (Incorrect): While the Vindhyas separate the drainage of the Ganga basin (North) from the drainage of the Deccan (South), they are not typically classified as part of the primary continuous "Great Indian Water Divide" line in standard physiographic definitions. The standard definition traces the line through the Delhi Ridge, the Aravalis, and the Sahyadris. The Narmada and Tapi rivers, which flow into the Arabian Sea, flow through rift valleys south of the Vindhyas, making the divide in this central region more complex than a single range.
Key Takeaway:
The water divide between the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal drainage is defined by the line traversing the Delhi Ridge, the Aravalis, and the Sahyadris (Western Ghats).