Western Ghats

The Western Ghats are a UNESCO-listed biodiversity hotspot shaping peninsular India’s climate, rivers, and ecology.

Western Ghats: Ecology, Geography, and Conservation

Syllabus: Indian Geography (UPSC Prelims)

Overview

The Western Ghats, or Sahyadri Hills, form a major mountain chain running parallel to India’s western coast from the Satpura Range to Kanyakumari. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s eight biodiversity hotspots, known for exceptional endemism and ecological value.

Geographical Extent

Stretch approx. 1600 km across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Lie 30–50 km inland from the Arabian Sea.
Divide the Konkan, Kanara, and Malabar coastal plains from the interior Deccan plateau.
Link to Eastern Ghats through the Nilgiris.

Highest Peak

Anamudi (Kerala) is the highest peak of the Western Ghats and the tallest in India outside the Himalayas.
Anai Mudi (2,695 m) is the highest peak in the whole of southern India.
Kalsubai¹ is the highest peak of the northern Western Ghats and the highest point in Maharashtra.

Geology

Considered a faulted edge of the Deccan Plateau.
Composed of basalt, gneiss, charnockite, khondalite, granite, and associated metamorphic rocks.

Major Rivers

West-flowing: Periyar, Sharavathi, Netravati, Mandovi, etc.
East-flowing: Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, and tributaries such as Bhima, Tunga, Bhadra, Malaprabha, Kabini.

Climate & Vegetation

Western slopes: tropical evergreen & semi-evergreen forests.
Eastern slopes: dry & moist deciduous forests with teak, sal, sandalwood.
Act as a major barrier to southwest monsoon, causing heavy rainfall on western side.

Biodiversity

Home to 325+ globally threatened species (IUCN).
Notable fauna: Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque, brown palm civet, leopard, Nilgiri marten.
Significant protected areas: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Silent Valley NP, Periyar NP, Kudremukh NP, Nagarahole & Bandipur.

Significance

Hydrological:

Source of most peninsular rivers; lifeline for Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu.

Climatic:

Strong influence on Indian monsoon; large carbon sink and climate regulator.

Economic:

Rich in iron, manganese, bauxite.
Supports plantation crops: tea, coffee, pepper, cardamom, rubber, oil palm.
Important for tourism and pilgrimage (Ooty, Kodagu, Sabarimala).

Cultural & Tribal:

Home to many tribal communities including PVTGs in Karnataka and Kerala.

Threats

Mining, sand extraction, deforestation.
Plantations replacing natural forests.
Hydropower projects, land conversion, unplanned tourism.
Human-wildlife conflict, poaching, grazing pressure.
Climate change and erratic monsoons.

Conservation Efforts

Gadgil Committee (2011): Proposed full Western Ghats as ESA with graded restrictions.
Kasturirangan Committee (2013): Recommended 37% of Ghats as ESA; complete ban on mining in ESA zones.
Expansion of biosphere reserves, wildlife corridors, and ecological restoration programs.