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{{Short description|Mountain range in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{About|a mountain range in India|other uses|Nilgiri (disambiguation){{!}}Nilgiri}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Nilgiri Mountains
| photo = Nilgiris Range Bokkapuram Sep22 R16 06380.jpg
| photo_caption = View of Nilgiri Mountains from the north
| elevation_m = 2637
| elevation_ref =
| prominence_m =
| prominence_ref =
| range = [[Western Ghats]] [[Eastern Ghats]]
| listing = [[Ultra prominent peak|Ultra]] <br/> [[List of Indian states and territories by highest point]]
| translation = Blue Mountains in [[Kannada language|Kannada]] and many [[Languages of India|Indian languages]]
| language =
| location = [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|11.375|76.75833|display=title}}
| topo =
| type = [[Fault (geology)|Fault]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gisdevelopment.net/events/mapindia/mapindia2000/c_m_doss.htm|title=Application of GPS and GIS for the detailed Development planning|publisher=Map India 2000|date=10 April 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603023512/http://www.gisdevelopment.net/events/mapindia/mapindia2000/c_m_doss.htm|archive-date=2008-06-03|access-date=2011-06-05}}</ref>
| age = [[Archean Eon]], 3000 to 500 [[mya (unit)|mya]]
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route = NH 67 or [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]]
| highest = [[Doddabetta]]
| highest_location = [[Tamil Nadu]]
}}
The '''Nilgiri Mountains''' ({{IPA|ta|n̪iːlɐɡiɾi|lang}}, {{IPA|en|ˈniːlgɪri|lang}}) form a part of the [[Western Ghats]] in northwestern [[Tamil Nadu]], southern [[Karnataka]] and eastern [[Kerala]] in [[South India]]. They are located at the trijunction of the three states and connect the Western Ghats to the [[Eastern Ghats]]. The range consists of at least 24 peaks above {{cvt|2000|m}}, with [[Doddabetta]] being the highest at {{cvt|2637|m}}.

==Etymology==
The word Nilgiri is derived from the [[Sanskrit]] words ''nīla'' (blue) and ''giri'' (mountain).<ref> {{cite book|title=The Missionary Herald of the Baptist Missionary Society|date=1886|publisher=Baptist Mission House|page=398|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6xNAAQAAMAAJ|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Nilgiri Guide and Directory: A Handbook of General Information Upon the Nilgiris for Visitors and Residents|author=J. S. C. Eagan|year=1916|publisher=[[University of Wisconsin]]|page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Lengerke|first1=Hans J. von|title=The Nilgiris: Weather and Climate of a Mountain Area in South India|date=1977|publisher=Steiner|isbn=9783515026406|page=5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i1YlAAAAMAAJ|language=en}}</ref> It is thought that the bluish flowers of [[kurinji]] shrubs gave rise to the name.<ref>{{cite web|title=Decline of a Montane Ecosystem|url=http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/kartik/res4.htm|publisher=Kartik Shanker Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science|date=February 1997}}</ref>

A non-consensual identification of the Nilgiris with the ''Iraniyamuttam'' mentioned in [[Tamil literature]] exist{{Citation needed|date=June 2025|reason=Originally quoted references dont mention at all the name "Iraṇiyamuṭṭam", which is, after some research, a location found notably in the Sangam-era Tamil literary work ''Malaipaṭukaṭām'' (according to Nilakantha Sastri in his "Sangam Literature: Its Cults and Cultures"); the exact location is, however, ambiguous (the Wikipedia article of the poem makes a link with the Northern Tamil Nadu Eastern Ghats, but the context of the poem and some modern literary commentaries point out the Northern Kerala Western Ghats (close to the Nilgiris)).}}.

==Location==
[[File:Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve.jpg|thumb|left|Map of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve]]

The Nilgiri Mountains are separated from the [[Mysore Plateau|Karnataka Plateau]] to the north by the [[Moyar River]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Nilgiri Hills |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Nilgiri-Hills |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=25 April 2019}}</ref>

Three national parks border portions of the Nilgiri mountains. [[Mudumalai National Park]] lies in the northern part of the range where Kerala, Karnataka, and [[Tamil Nadu]] meet, covering an area of {{cvt|321|km2}}. [[Mukurthi National Park]] lies in the southwest part of the range, in Kerala, covering an area of {{cvt|78.5|km2}}, which includes intact shola-grassland mosaic, habitat for the Nilgiri tahr. [[Silent Valley National Park]] lies just to the south and contiguous with those two parks, covering an area of {{cvt|89.52|km2}}.{{cn|date=April 2019}}

==History==
[[File:Etched carnelian beads and gold jewelry, Nilgiri Hills culture, 1st millennium CE, Asia, G33 South Asia (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Gold jewelry and [[etched carnelian beads]], Nilgiri Hills culture, 1st millennium CE. British Museum]]

The high steppes of the Nilgiri Hills have been inhabited since [[Prehistory|prehistoric]] times, as demonstrated by a large number of artifacts unearthed by excavators. A particularly important collection from the region can be seen in the [[British Museum]], including those assembled by [[British Raj|colonial]] officers [[James Wilkinson Breeks]], Major M. J. Walhouse and [[Walter Elliot (Scottish naturalist)|Sir Walter Elliot]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?place=Nilgiri%20Hills|title=Collection search: You searched for Nilgiri|website=British Museum|access-date=2016-08-09}}</ref>

The first recorded use of the word ''Nila'' applied to this region can be traced back to 1117 CE. In the report of a general of [[Vishnuvardhana]], King of [[Hoysala]]s, who in reference to his enemies, claimed to have "frightened the [[Toda people|Todas]], driven the Kongas underground, slaughtered the Poluvas, put to death the Maleyalas, terrified Chieftain Kala Nirpala, and then proceeded to offer the peak of Nila Mountain.(presumably Doddabetta or Rangaswami peak of Peranganad in East Nilgiris) to [[Lakshmi]], Goddess of Wealth.

A [[hero stone]] (''Veeragallu'') with a Kannada inscription at Vazhaithottam (Bale thota) in the Nilgiri District, dated to 10th century CE, has been discovered.<ref name="TNKannada"/> A Kannada inscription of Hoysala king [[Veera Ballala III|Ballala III]] (or his subordinate Madhava Dannayaka's son) from the 14th century CE has been discovered at the Siva (or Vishnu) temple at Nilagiri Sadarana Kote (present-day Dannayakana Kote), near the junction of Moyar and Bhavani rivers, but the temple has since been submerged by the [[Bhavanisagar dam|Bhavani Sagar dam]].<ref name="TNKannada">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tnarch.gov.in/epi/kan.htm|title=Kannada script (10600)|website=Department of Archaeology - Tamil Nadu|publisher=Tamil Nadu Government|access-date=25 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301220013/http://www.tnarch.gov.in/epi/kan.htm|archive-date=1 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=francis>{{cite book|last1=Francis|first1=Walter|title=Madras District Gazetteers: The Nilgiris|volume=1|year=1908|publisher=Asian Educational Services|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-2060-546-6 |pages=90–94, 102–105}}</ref>

[[File:Aerial East Nilgiris Coimbatore Jul17 DSC04214.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the east face of the Nilgiris towards [[Coimbatore]]]]

In 1814, as part of the [[Great Trigonometrical Survey]], a sub-assistant named Keys and an apprentice named McMahon ascended the hills by the Danaynkeucottah (Dannayakana Kote) Pass, penetrated into the remotest parts, made plans, and sent in reports of their discoveries. As a result of these accounts, Messrs. Whish and Kindersley, two young Madras civilians, ventured up in pursuit of some criminals taking refuge in the mountains, and proceeded to observe the interior. They soon saw and felt enough favorable climate and terrain to excite their own curiosity, and that of others.<ref name="Burton">{{cite book|last=Burton|first=Richard Francis|title=Goa, and the Blue Mountains, or, Six months of sick leave |publisher=R. Bentley|location=London|year=1851|chapter=Nilgiri Hills (India), Description and travel; Nilgiri Hills (India), Social life and customs|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/goabluemountains00burtrich}}</ref>

After the early 1820s, the hills were developed rapidly under the [[British Raj]], because most of the land was already privately owned by British citizens. It was a popular summer and weekend getaway for the British during the colonial days. In 1827, [[Ooty]] became the official [[sanatorium]] and the summer capital of the [[Madras Presidency]]. Many winding hill roads were built. In 1899, the [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]] was completed by influential and enterprising British citizens, with venture capital from the Madras government.<ref name="Ooty">{{cite web|url=http://www.ooty.com/|title=Ooty Queen of hill stations|publisher=www.ooty.com|access-date=2011-06-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railtourismindia.com/Trains/HillCharters/neelgiri.html|title=Nilgiri Mountain Railway|publisher=railtourismindia.com|access-date=8 March 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114624/http://www.railtourismindia.com/Trains/HillCharters/neelgiri.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the 19th century, when the British [[Straits Settlement]] shipped Chinese convicts to be jailed in India, the Chinese men settled in the Nilgiri mountains near [[Naduvattam]] after their release and married [[Tamil people|Tamil]] [[Paraiyan]] women, having mixed Chinese-Tamil children with them. They were documented by [[Edgar Thurston]].<ref>{{cite book|page=309|year=1959|access-date=2 March 2012|publisher=A. K. Bose|quote=d: Tamil-Chinese Crosses in the Nilgiris, Madras. S. S. Sarkar* (Received on 21 September 1959) During May 1959, while working on the blood groups of the Kotas of the Nilgiri Hills in the village of Kokal in Gudalur, inquiries were made regarding the present position of the Tamil-Chinese cross described by Thurston (1909). It may be recalled here that Thurston reported the above cross resulting from the union of some Chinese convicts, deported from the Straits Settlement, and local Tamil Paraiyan|title=Man in India, Volume 39|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UkwLAAAAIAAJ&q=enquiries+union+deported+local|editor=Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai Bahadur)}}</ref>

==Peaks in the Nilgiris==
[[File:Nilgiri Hills Topo.jpg|thumb|upright|Topographic map of Nilgiri Hills showing some peaks]]
[[File:Mukurthi Peak Nilgiris India Jan18 D72 5120.jpg|thumb|[[Mukurthi|Mukurthi Peak]] viewed from Ooty]]
The highest point in the Nilgiris and the southern extent of the range is [[Doddabetta]] Peak ({{convert|2637|m|ft|0}}),<ref name="readersnatural">{{Cite book|title=Natural Wonders of the World|url=https://archive.org/details/naturalwondersof00sche|url-access=registration|publisher=Reader's Digest Association, Inc|year=1980|isbn=0-89577-087-3|editor-last=Scheffel|editor-first=Richard L.|location=United States of America|pages=[https://archive.org/details/naturalwondersof00sche/page/271 271]|editor-last2=Wernet|editor-first2=Susan J.}}</ref> 4 km east southeast of [[Udhagamandalam]], {{coord|11|24|10|N|76|44|14|E|region:IN_type:mountain|name=Doddabetta Peak}}.

Closely linked peaks in the west of Doddabetta range and nearby Udhagamandalam include:{{cn|date=August 2017}}
* [[Kolaribetta]]: height: {{convert|2630|m|ft|0}}
* Makurni: {{convert|2594|m|ft|0}}
* [[Mukurthi]]: {{convert|2554|m|ft|0}}
* Hecuba: {{convert|2375|m|ft|0}}
* Kattadadu: {{convert|2418|m|ft|0}}
* Kulkudi: {{convert|2439|m|ft|0}}

Snowdon (height: ({{convert|2530|m|ft|0}}) {{coord|11|26|N|76|46|E|region:IN_type:mountain|name=Snowdon}} is the northern extent of the range. Club Hill ({{convert|2448|m|ft|0}}) {{coord|11|25|18.255|N|76|41|51.9374|E|region:IN_type:mountain|name=Club Hill}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 August 2025 |title=Club Hill |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/13075347178 |access-date=17 August 2025 |website=[[OpenStreetMap]]}}</ref> and Elk Hill ({{convert|2466|m|ft|0}}) {{coord|11|23|55|N|76|42|39|E|region:IN_type:mountain|name=Elk Hill}} are significant elevations in this range. Four peaks of the Doddabetta range in a semi-circle form the eastern side of the impressive Ooty (Udhagamandalam) Valley. From north clockwise to south, these are Club Hill, Snowdon, Doddabetta and Elk Hill.

Devashola (height: {{convert|2261|m|ft|0}}), notable for its [[blue gum]] trees, is in the south of Doddabetta range.

Kulakombai ({{convert|1707|m|ft|0}}) is east of the Devashola. The Bhavani Valley and the Lambton's peak range of [[Coimbatore district]] stretch from here.

Muttunadu Betta (height: {{convert|2323|m|ft|0}}) {{coord|11|27|N|76|43|E|region:IN_type:mountain|name=Muttunadu Betta}} is about 5 km, north northwest of Udhagamandalam. Tamrabetta (Coppery Hill) (height: {{convert|2120|m|ft|0}}) {{coord|11|22|N|76|48|E|region:IN_type:mountain|name=Tamrabetta}} is about 8 km southeast of Udhagamandalam. Vellangiri (Silvery Hill) ({{convert|2120|m|ft|0}}) is 16 km west-northwest of Udhagamandalam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hills and Peaks |url=http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in/newpages/hills_and__peaks.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927092521/http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in/newpages/hills_and__peaks.htm |archive-date=27 September 2011 |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Waterfalls==
[[File:St Catherine Falls.jpg|thumb|Catherine falls]]
The highest waterfall, Kullakamby Fall, north of Kolakambai hill, has an unbroken fall of {{convert|400|ft|m|abbr=on}}. Nearby is the {{convert|150|ft|m|abbr=on}} Halashana falls. The second highest is [[Catherine Falls]], near [[Kotagiri]], with a {{convert|250|ft|m|abbr=on|adj=on}} fall, named after the wife of [[M.D. Cockburn]], believed to have introduced coffee plantations to the Nilgiri Hills. The Upper and Lower [[Pykara#Pykara Falls|Pykara falls]] have falls of {{convert|180|ft|m|abbr=on}}, and {{convert|200|ft|m|abbr=on}}, respectively. The {{convert|170|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Kalhatti Falls]] is off the Segur Peak. The Karteri Fall, near [[Aruvankadu]] had the first power station which supplied the original Cordite Factory with electricity. Law's Fall, near [[Coonoor]], is interesting due to its association with the engineer Major G. C. Law who supervised building of the [[Nilgiri Ghat Roads#Coonoor Ghat .28National Highway 67.29|Coonoor Ghat road]].<ref name="Eagan">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/nilgiriguideandd031416mbp|title=The Nilgiri Guide And Directory|last=Eagan|first=J. S. C|publisher=S.P.C.K. Press|year=1916|location=Vepery}}</ref>

==Flora and fauna==
[[File:Tiger Drinking Pond Mudumalai Mar21 DSC01310.jpg|thumb|A [[Bengal tiger]] in [[Mudumalai National Park]]]]
[[File:Tea Rows Monarch Ooty Nilgiris Mar21 A7C 00291.jpg|thumb|Tea plantation in Ooty]]
Over 2,800 species of flowering plants, 160 species of [[fern]] and fern allies, countless types of flowerless plants, mosses, fungi, algae, and land lichens are found in the ''sholas'' of the Nilgiris. No other [[hill station]] has as many species.<ref>The District Collector, Collector's Office, Udhagamandalam, The Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, ''General Information'', [http://nilgiris.nic.in/ Rare Trees, Fruits, Flowers & Animals] retrieved 9/2/2007.</ref> It is also home to mammals like the [[Bengal tiger]], [[Indian elephant]], [[Indian leopard]], [[chital deer]], [[gaur]], [[sambar deer]], [[dhole]], [[golden jackal]], [[Indian boar]], [[Nilgiri tahr]], [[Indian spotted chevrotain]], [[black buck]], [[Asian palm civet]], [[sloth bear]], [[four-horned antelope]], [[Nilgiri marten]], [[Indian crested porcupine]], [[Malabar giant squirrel]], [[honey badger]], [[Indian grey mongoose]], [[Indian pangolin]], [[Indian fox]], [[smooth coated otter]], and [[painted bat]]. The [[Indian python]], [[king cobra]], [[common krait]], [[Indian cobra]], [[Malabar pit viper]], [[Nilgiri keelback]], [[Oriental garden lizard]], ''[[Eryx whitakeri]]'' and [[mugger crocodile]] are reptiles found here. Primates include the [[lion tailed macaque]], [[Nilgiri langur]], [[gray langur]] and [[bonnet macaque]]. The birds found here are [[Indian peacock]], [[Nilgiri laughing thrush]], [[Nilgiri flycatcher]], [[grey junglefowl]], [[Malabar pied hornbill]], [[Malabar parakeet]], [[great hornbill]], [[Nilgiri wood pigeon]], [[Indian vulture]], [[black-hooded oriole]], [[grey-headed bulbul]] and [[Malabar grey hornbill]]. Amphibians on the list are the [[purple frog]], [[Raorchestes silentvalley| Silent valley brush frog]], [[Malabar gliding frog]], [[Beddomixalus]] and many more. It is the only place in South India to have the [[white tiger]].

The dominant type of habitat is [[tropical rainforest]]. [[Montane forest]]s and [[tropical moist forest]]s are also found here. Much of the forest habitats have been much disturbed or destroyed by extensive tea plantations, easy motor-vehicle access, extensive commercial planting and harvesting of non-native [[eucalyptus]] and [[acacia|wattle]] (''[[Acacia dealbata]]'', ''[[Acacia mearnsii]]'') plantations, and cattle grazing.<ref>Davidar, E. R. C. 1978. ''Distribution and status of the Nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius) 1975-1978''. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society; 75: 815-844.</ref> The area also features one large and several smaller [[hydro-electric]] impoundments.<ref>Rice, C G Dr (1984) US Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, USA, "''[http://www.tahrfoundation.org/html/cl1.htm The behaviour and ecology of Nilgiri Tahr]''", Tahr Foundation, retrieved 4/17/2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928155241/http://www.tahrfoundation.org/html/cl1.htm |date=28 September 2006 }}</ref> [[Scotch broom]] has become an ecologically damaging [[invasive species]].<ref>Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 103 (2-3), May-Dec 2006 356-365 [http://www.bnhs.org/bo/documents/JBNHS_103_2_3/ASHFAQ_AHMED.pdf Habitat Modifications By Scotch Broom Cytisus scoparius Invasion of Grasslands of the Upper Nilgiris in India], Ashfaq Ahmed Zarr, Asad R. Rahmani, and Mark J. Behan {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219183235/http://www.bnhs.org/bo/documents/JBNHS_103_2_3/ASHFAQ_AHMED.pdf |date=19 December 2008 }}</ref>

Threatened plants of the Nilgiris include:
* [[Vulnerable species]]: ''[[Miliusa nilagirica]]'', ''Nothapodytes foetida'', ''[[Commiphora wightii|Commelina wightii]]''
* [[Rare species]]: ''[[Ceropegia#Selected species|Ceropegia decaisneana]]'' ''[[Ceropegia#Selected species|Ceropegia pusilla]]'', ''[[Senecio#Selected species|Senecio kundaicus]]''
* [[Endangered|Endangered species]]: ''[[Youngia nilgiriensis]]'', ''[[Impatiens#Selected species|Impatiens neo-barnesii]]'', ''[[Impatiens#Selected species|Impatiens nilagirica]]'', ''[[Euonymus angulatus]]'' and ''[[Euonymus serratifolius]]''.<ref>
Nayar & Sastry (1987-88) Red Data Book, Plants of India [https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20081219184346/http://www.wii.gov.in/nwdc/threatened_plants_tamil_nadu.pdf Threatened Plants of Tamil Nadu]
</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association]]
*''[[Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness]]'' (2024 film)
*[[Kurumba painting]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Nilgiri Mountains}}

{{Western Ghats}}
{{Tourism in The Nilgiris}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mountains of the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Nilgiris district]]
[[Category:Landforms of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Geography of Coimbatore]]

Nilgiri Mountains - Revision history

S7singh: stub