The Western Ghats
The Western Ghats (also Sahyadri) run parallel to the west coast from the Tapi valley (Gujarat-Maharashtra border) to Kanyakumari for about 1,600 km.
Features
- Continuous, high scarp (escarpment) on the seaward side and gentle slope inland; crossed only by passes (ghats); average height about 900-1,200 m.
- Orographic rainfall: windward side gets 250-500 cm, the leeward side is a rain-shadow.
- UNESCO World Heritage (2012): 39 sites in four states: Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra; one of the eight hottest hotspots of biodiversity in the world.
- Source of many west-flowing and east-flowing rivers: Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri begin here.
Three sections
| Section | Region | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Northern (Sahyadri) | Maharashtra | Basalt; Kalsubai (1,646 m) highest in Maharashtra; Mahabaleshwar (1,438 m), Harishchandragad; Thal Ghat, Bhor Ghat |
| Central | Karnataka-Goa | Granite-gneiss; Kudremukh (1,894 m), Mullayanagiri (1,930 m, in the Baba Budan range, highest in Karnataka), Tadiandamol (1,745 m, Kodagu); Jog Falls |
| Southern | Kerala-TN | Nilgiris, Anamalai, Cardamom, Palani, Agasthyamalai; Anamudi (2,695 m): highest peak in South India and in the Peninsula |
Key hills and peaks
| Hill / range | Peak | Height (m) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anamalai | Anamudi | 2,695 | Highest peak of the Western Ghats and South India; Kerala |
| Nilgiris | Doddabetta | 2,637 | Tamil Nadu; Ooty; where Western and Eastern Ghats meet |
| Palani hills | Vandaravu | 2,533 | Kodaikanal (TN) |
| Cardamom (Elaimalai) | - | 1,500-2,000 | Spices; Kerala-TN |
| Agasthyamalai | Agasthyakoodam | 1,868 | Kerala-TN; biosphere reserve |
| Baba Budan | Mullayanagiri | 1,930 | Coffee; Chikmagalur |
| Sahyadri | Kalsubai | 1,646 | Maharashtra highest |
Ghats (passes)
| Ghat | Connects |
|---|---|
| Thal Ghat | Mumbai-Nashik (Kasara) |
| Bhor Ghat | Mumbai-Pune (Khopoli-Khandala) |
| Pal (Palakkad) Ghat / Gap | Kochi-Coimbatore-Chennai; a 25-30 km wide break between Nilgiris and Anamalai; busiest gap |
| Shencottah (Senkottai) Gap | Kollam-Tenkasi (Kerala-TN) |
| Amboli, Kumbharli, Kasara | Konkan routes |
Keep practising
Notes are only half the work. Test yourself with questions and discuss doubts with other aspirants.
Prepared for exam revision from NCERT, standard geography textbooks, the Census of India 2011, the India State of Forest Report, IMD, Ministry of Agriculture and other official sources. Maps are schematic teaching maps, not Survey of India maps, and zone boundaries are approximate. Figures such as production, capacity, counts of parks and ports, and census status change, so check the latest official source before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.