Western Ghats Are Older than the Himalayas: Photo Story

India’s Western Ghats, also called the Sahyadri, is a north-south chain of mountains or hills that mark the western edge of the Deccan plateau region. It runs parallel to India’s western coast, approximately 30–50 km inland, the Ghats traverse the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it ranks among the top eight biodiversity hotspots in the world. It is home for some 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species and 250 reptile species.

Western Ghats: Photo story

It is well known for its majestic beauty. It holds a range of peaks, valleys, waterfalls, and wild life reserves; some celebrated ones are, Munnar, Vagaman, and Thekkady Wildlife Reserve in Kerala, Nilgiri hill stations (Ooty, Coonoor etc.) in Tamil Nadu; Dandeli, Coorg, and Chikmangalur in Karnataka; Mollem National Park in Goa; and Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra. The highest peak in this range is Anaimalai hills in Kerala, which has an elevation of 2,695 metres.

Though the Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas, it is not the oldest mountain range in India. The entire mountain range is blessed with plenty of rain fall. Most mountains have many streams and numerous waterfalls. Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri are the main rivers originating from the Western Ghats.

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