High Range Photography » Western Ghats

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Agasthyamalai & the Ashambu Hills: The Ashambu hills form the southernmost ranges of the Western Ghats. Split between Kerala and Tamil Nadu they include the protected areas of the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve as well as Neyyar and Pepara Wildlife Sanctuaries. There are also several reserved forests that are contiguous with these more formally protected areas. The Ashambu’ have some the highest levels of diversity of flora and fauna in the entire Western Ghats. Agasthyamalai, a dramatic cone shaped mountain is the highest point in these hills (1,866 m). It is associated with several myths and is a minor religious pilgrimage point (mainly from the Kerala) side. It is the focal point so the amazing biodiversity of these hills.

Eravikulam & the Anaimalais: The High Ranges of the Western Ghats are a lofty collection of plateaus that contain the tallest mountains in the Western Ghats. They fall in Kerala’s Idukki district but are contiguous with the Anaimalai and Palni Hills of Tamil Nadu. To their south lie the lower Cardamom Hills while in the north the Palgat Gap sepertes this block of mountains from the Nilgiri Hills. For the most part the High Range has been converted to sprawling tea estates with the settlement of Munnar being the focal point. The most notable protected area in the High Range is Eravikulam National Park. It contains the best-preserved and largest undisturbed shola/grasslands habitat left in the Western Ghats. The park surrounds the awesome Anai Mudi peak (2,695m), peninsular India’s highest peak south of the Himalaya. Eravikulam was established as a national park in 1978 to protect the endangered Nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius), the endemic cloud goats of southern India. Chinnar is another notable wildlife sanctuary on the north-eastern slopes of the High Range. It hosts dry deciduous forest and has a significant population of Giant Grizzled Squirrels (Ratufa macroura). The Anaimalai Hills host one of the largest protected areas in Tamil Nadu (now called Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary) but are also home to tea plantations and several huge hydroelectric reservoirs.

Karnataka Ghats: The state of Karnataka hosts the 320 km long portion of the Western Ghats stretching north from the lower slopes of the Nilgiri Hills to the Goa and Maharasthra tri-border. The hills are generally lower and gentler (average elevation 1,220 m) than the southern Western Ghats. The Karnataka Ghats hosts some of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in the Western Ghats, notably Nagarhole and Bandipur National Parks. Several well-known hills areas, such as Coorg and the Brahmagiris are part of this geographic area. Notable protected areas such as Kudremukh National Park, Bhadra Tiger Reserve and the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary all fall within the Karnataka Ghats. The highest peak in Karnataka is Mullanaiigiri (1,918 m), overlooking Bhadra Tiger Reserve as well as the settlement of Chikmagalur. Mining, expanding agriculture and development plans (dams, new highways, waterways etc.) are significant threats to the forests and species of these hills.

Kodaikanal & the Palni Hills: The Palni Hills are an eastern spur of the southern Western Ghats located in Tamil Nadu. They are named for the temple town of Palni, which is home to the most important Murugan temple in India. The hills form a lofty plateau averaging about 2000 meters. The slopes are covered in a variety of scrub, deciduous and evergreen forests. The higher hills once hosted large areas of the shola/grasslands. Most of this has been converted to monoculture plantations of eucalyptus, pinus and acacia species. There are notable bird watching sites in the Palnis and there are also significant populations of gaur, Nilgiri langur, Malabar giant squirrels and other mammals.
The south Indian hill-station of Kodaikanal, the main settlement in the Palnis, has long attracted an eclectic variety of visitors looking for something out of the ordinary in a hill sojourn. Founded in 1845 by Yankee missionaries drawn from a generation that produced Thoreau and Emerson, Kodai was not your typical imperialist summer retreat. In the decades after independence, Kodai blissfully stayed in the shadows of its northern neighbor Ooty. Alas, the days in which Kodai was a well-kept secret of honeymooners and hippies is now long gone. Today it suffers the usual malaise of hill-stations: crowded roads, vehicular pollution, noisy people, scant water supplies etc. Despite this, Kodai still offers something unusual not often highlighted in tourist brochures. The lake, vistas and viewpoints are well known. Less recognized are the unique shola forests, their endemic plants and bird life. Reassuringly, a colorful collection of Kodai citizens has been active on environmental issues in the township and hills. There are campaigns against plastic, efforts to restore native vegetation, farmers selling organic vegetables, widespread use of water harvesting and a growing awareness of the fragility of this magical place called Kodai.

Nilgiri Hills: The Nilgiri Hills are the largest elevated area of the Western Ghats and are the northernmost limits of the biodiversity rich southern Western Ghats. Although they lie in Tamil Nadu there are significant slopes in Kerala and Karnataka. Their varied formations and habitats contain a number of notable protected areas. Silent Valley National Park in Kerala lies on the western slopes of the Nilgiri Hills and was the site of the landmark anti-dam movement in the late 1970s. The upper hills host Mukkurthy National Park, a remote area composed of cliffs and the shola/grasslands ecosystem. On the northern boundaries lie Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagarhole and Bandipur National Parks and Wynaad Wildlife Sanctuary. The large settlement of Ooty (Udagamandalam) is located at the center of the hills at approximately 2,200 meters. Dodabetta the highest mountain in the Nilgiris (2,623m) overlooks the town and has a commanding view of the whole hill range.

Periyar & Sabarimala: Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of the best-known protected areas in the Western Ghats. It is a large 777 square kilometer sanctuary surrounding a large artificial lake in Kerala’s Idukki district. Blessed with excellent management Periyar has been on the forefront of ecodevelopment initiatives that have empowered tribals to be forest caretakers. The sanctuary is also home to Sabarimala, a large sacred temple dedicated to Lord Ayappa. Traditionally pilgrims trekked through long distance of tropical rainforest to pay homage to this forest deity. Today modern roads and amenities have changed that experience although several trails are still used by devout pilgrims. Balancing the needs of religious pilgrims and rare wildlife has been a tricky challenge for Periyar’s first class forest officials.

Sahyadris: East of Mumbai and a lifetime away from the mega city’s hustle and bustle is a natural treasure that was once visible on clear days at Colaba. A thick cocktail of industrial smog now obscures the range of mountains known as the Sahyadris. There was a time when these rugged mountains played a vital role in history of the Marathas. The forts that still crown some of the most remote hilltops bear testimony to Chatrapati Shivaji and his remarkable understanding of the Sahyadri. In modern times they have become the refuge of remnant wildlife populations as well as naturalists, rock climbers and trekkers seeking respite from urban life. The Sahyadris make up the northern portions of the Western Ghats. The name “Sahyadri” is sometime used to describe the entire Western Ghats. However it is more accurate to associate the Sahyadris with the hills running from the tri-junction of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra northwards to the Tapi River near the Gujarat border. The eastern face of the Sahyadris rises dramatically from the moist Konkan Coast while in the east they fall more gently into the expansive and arid Deccan Plateau.

Western Ghats Color Diversity: The Western Ghats hosts an impressive number of species that are found no where else in the world. Conservation International has notified the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka as a “biodiversity hotspot,” a designation given to areas with high endemism under threat from anthropomorphic sources. This album highlights a selection of color pictures of some of those species. Most of the plants, birds, mammals and reptiles here are endemic while others are notable.

I have focused my images and writing on the geographic areas that I know intimately. Initially I focused my work on Bangladesh's forests and India's Western Ghats. I am now starting to build a portfolio on Sri Lanka's landscapes, cultural sites and biodiversity. I look forward to getting to know India's North East better.