India has a very mountainous area called the Himalaya. For centuries, the mountains have acted as a barrier to trading or travelling. But in some ways it provided a great obstacle to opposing armies, and blocks harsh winter winds and weather from Asia. Some of the mountains also have ice/snow on the top of them and in summer the ice provides water to two of India's major lakes. The water is used for many things that help the people of India, e.g Washing clothes, Washing your body, agriculture, helps with trading and transport.