The opening of the Indian ocean carried the Indian continent northwards, closing up another ocean (now gone, called Tethys). The preserved record of sea-floor spreading charted by patterns of magnetic anomalies and transform faults in the Indian ocean can be used to chart the northward drift of the Indian continent.
See the results in an animation which charts 70 million years of northward drift. The key time is 50 million years ago - when India collides with Eurasia. Notice that the game doesn't stop there as India continues to plough on northwards. To find out how this ploughing is accommodated - click here.
Data after Patriat & Achache (1984).
