Britannica
Sources used in this answer
When did India begin colliding with Asia?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Cenozoic Era
Principal Cenozoic faunal migration routes and barriers.
The collision between the Indian subcontinent and Asia began during the Eocene Epoch, approximately 50 to 40 million years ago.123
This tectonic event, which is considered the most significant of the Cenozoic Era in Asia, initiated the formation of the Himalayas and the Plateau of Tibet. Following the initial impact, India continued to move northward, effectively "bulldozing" the southern margin of Asia and causing extensive crustal shortening and thickening. This process of collision and subduction remains active today, with India continuing to move northward at a rate of approximately 2.4 inches (6 cm) per year.2345