The formation of the Himalayan mountain range began about 50 million years ago when the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate. This collision caused the Tethys Ocean between them to close and initiated the uplift that formed the Himalayas, a process that continues today. The sediment scraped off from the Indian continental margin during this collision now forms the bulk of the Himalayan mountains. Recent research suggests that some parts of the region might have had elevated topography even earlier, around 60 million years ago, before the main continental collision. The mountain-building activity significantly accelerated about 20 million years ago during the early Miocene, with intensive uplift continuing into the Pleistocene Epoch (roughly the last 2.6 million years), which shaped the Himalayas into their present towering heights. In summary:
- Initial collision and formation started around 50 million years ago.
- Elevated regions may have existed around 60 million years ago.
- Main mountain-building tempo increased about 20 million years ago.
- Ongoing uplift continues to this day.
