Exploring India’s Western Ghats
All the way from the tip, of Tamilnadu to Kerala and right up to goa and then there was western ghat as well.
160 km long unbroken chain of mountain occupies an area of 160000 sqm. There are about 39 individual sites that make western ghat world heritage site including reserve forest and national parks. Many mountains and western ghat makes UNESCO world heritage site. I love western ghat very much and you can not understand why it is favorite for me until you visit western ghat of India.
The trees converge around you. Some of the flora and the fauna here is endemic to the mountains and it is believed that a lot of them are yet to be discovered.
Though the Ghats on average reach 915m, in Tamil Nadu they tower over 2500m high in the Nilgiri Hills – where you’ll meet Ooty, ‘Queen of Hill Stations’ – and the Palani Hills near Kodaikanal. Across the border in Kerala, some of the world’s highest-altitude tea plantations sprawl around Munnar. In between, tigers, elephants, langur monkeys, chital deer, and gaur (Indian bison) flit through the unspoiled wilderness of several contiguous protected parks.
Every year a huge number of tourists came here to make a memorable day, hill stations like Ooty, Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala, Khandala, Munnar, Ponmudi, Coonoor and Vythiri are all situated in the Western Ghats. You can also visite Meghamalai and Valparai in this region.
The Ghats are home to nearly 325 globally threatened species, including 229 plant species, 15 bird species, 31 mammal species, five reptile species, 43 amphibian species, and one fish species, more than 5000 species of flowering plants, 139 of mammal species, 79 of amphibians and 508 of birds are known to exist in the hills. Here are my favorite popular destinations that you must head to this summer in the Western Ghats.
Valparai, Tamil Nadu :
Lost in the Analmalai mountains and surrounded by evergreen tropical forests and tea plantations, Valparai is a hill station and the 7th heaven in Tamil Nadu, a biodiversity hotspot and a plantation town – all rolled into one. it is mid elevated hill station. It takes a drive through lush jungles with 40 hairpin bends to get here.
While the elephants, tigers, and leopards roam around in these mountains, look out for lion tailed macaques, Nilgiri tahr, giant squirrels and great Indian hornbills as well. visit Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey fall and Aliyar falls which fall on the way when you drive from Pollachi to Valparai. There are several wildlife destinations around Valparai the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Kodaikanal, princess of the Palani Hills :
Kodhai lake One of the best-known attractions in Kodai is the star-shaped glittering man-made lake. The sun was gleaming down into the green lake that we almost drove straight into it. Riff-raff tourist and a one-hour waiting period to get a boat notwithstanding.
Both bicycles and tandem cycles can be hired at Rs 50 per hour. And now coming to one of the must-sees in the hill station.
Dolphin’s nose :
When you exploring forest you must visit Dolphin’s nose, which is one of the most important tourist spots in Coonoor, The Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu.
After a real tough leg work on the hilly terrain, one can reach to a rock that appears to be in shape of nose resembling Dolphin’s. But the trek takes to worthy sites in the lap of green depths of divinity.
Dolphin’s Nose is well over 1,550 Meters above sea level, 10 km from Coonoor and is a spectacular spot to visit. The tip of the peak resembles a dolphin’s nose, hence the name Dolphin’s Nose.
