Western Ghats: Difference between revisions

Western Ghats
Western Ghats
Sahyadri
	Anamudi, the highest peak in the Western Ghats
Highest point
Peak	Anamudi, Eravikulam National Park
Elevation	2,695 m (8,842 ft)
Coordinates	10°10′11″N 77°03′40″E / 10.16972°N 77.06111°E
Dimensions
Length	1,600 km (990 mi) N–S
Width	100 km (62 mi) E–W
Area	160,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi)
Geography
	Satellite imagery showing the Western Ghats running parallel to the west coast of India
Country	India
Regions	Western and Southern India
States	Gujarat; Maharashtra; Goa; Karnataka; Kerala; Tamil Nadu;
Biome	Tropical rainforests; Marsh;
Geology
Age of rock	Cenozoic
Type of rock	Basalt; Laterite; Limestone;
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria	Natural: ix, x
Reference	1342
Inscription	2012 (36th session)
Area	795,315 ha

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Latest revision as of 18:55, 19 March 2026

The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri, is a mountain range that stretches 1,600 km (990 mi) along the western coast of the Indian peninsula. Covering an area of 160,000 km² (62,000 sq mi), it traverses the Indian states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. The range forms an almost continuous chain of mountains along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, from the Tapti River to Swamithoppe in Kanyakumari district at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula. The Western Ghats meet with the Eastern Ghats at Nilgiris before continuing south.

Geologic evidence indicates that the mountains were formed during the break-up of the supercontinent of Gondwana. The mountains arose along the west coast of India somewhere in the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods when India separated from the African continent. The mountains can be roughly divided into three parts: the northern section with an elevation ranging from 900–1,500 m (3,000–4,900 ft), the middle section starting south of Goa with a lower elevation of less than 900 m (3,000 ft), and the southern section where the altitude rises again. The Western Ghats have several peaks that rise above 2,000 m (6,600 ft), with Anamudi (2,695 m (8,842 ft)) being the highest peak. The average elevation is around 1,200 m (3,900 ft).

The Western Ghats form one of the major watersheds of India, feeding many perennial river systems that drain almost 40% of the land area of the country. Because of the higher elevation of the Deccan Plateau on the west, most rivers flow eastwards towards the Bay of Bengal, resulting in chiselled eastern slopes and steeper western slopes facing the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats play an important role in determining the climate and seasons in India. It blocks the rain-bearing monsoon winds flowing eastward from the Arabian Sea, resulting in rainfall along the western coast. By the time the air rises above the mountains it is dry, forming a rain shadow region with very little rainfall on the leeward side towards the interior of the Deccan Plateau.

The Western Ghats region is a biodiversity hotspot. It contains a large number of different species of flora and fauna, most of which are endemic to this region. At least 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats. The region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The name Western Ghats derives from the word ghat and the cardinal direction in which it is located with respect to the Indian mainland. Ghat, a term used in the Indian subcontinent, depending on the context, could either refer to a range of stepped hills such as the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats, or a series of steps leading down to a body of water or wharf.^[1]^[2] As per linguist Thomas Burrow, the word Ghat was derived from similar words used in various Dravidian languages such as kattu (mountain side, ridge, or dam) in Tamil, katte (dam), gatta (mountain), and gattu (bank or shore) in Kannada, and katta (dam), and gatte (shore or embankment) in Telugu.^[3] The mountain range is also known as Sahyadri, derived from Sanskrit, meaning benevolent or tolerant mountain.^[4]

Geology[edit | edit source]

The Western Ghats are the mountainous faulted, and eroded edge of the Deccan Plateau. Geologic evidence indicates that they were formed during the break-up of the super-continent of Gondwana. After the break-up, the Deccan Plateau was formed by basalt rocks, which caused the western side to rise at an elevation.^[5]

Geophysical evidence indicates that the mountains arose along the west coast of India somewhere in the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods when India separated from the African continent.^[6] Several faults triggered the formation of Western Ghats, then interspersed with valleys and river gorges. Because of the elevation of the Deccan Plateau on the west, most rivers flow from west to east, resulting in chiselled eastern slopes and steeper western slopes facing the sea.^[6]

Geography[edit | edit source]

The Western Ghats form a continuous chain of mountains.

The Western Ghats extend from the Satpura Range south of the Tapti River in the north and runs approximately 1,600 km (990 mi) to the southern tip of the Indian peninsula, where it ends at the Marunthuvazh Malai at Swamithoppe in Kanyakumari district.^[7]^[8] It covers an area of 160,000 km² (62,000 sq mi), traversing the Indian states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.^[9]

Topography[edit | edit source]

Mountain ranges of India, including the Western Ghats

The Western Ghats form an almost continuous chain of mountains running parallel to the western coast of India along the Arabian Sea.^[10] The average elevation is around 1,200 m (3,900 ft).^[11] There are three gaps in the mountain range: the northernmost Goa Gap, formed 65–80 million years ago (Mya), the oldest and widest Palghat Gap, formed 500 Mya, and the southernmost, narrowest Shencottah Gap.^[12] The narrow coastal plain between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea is known as the Western Coastal Plains.^[13]

The mountains can be roughly divided into three parts: the northern section with an elevation ranging from 900–1,500 m (3,000–4,900 ft), the middle section starting from the south of Goa with a lower elevation of less than 900 m (3,000 ft), and the southern section where the altitude rises again.^[10] The Western Ghats meet with the Eastern Ghats in the Moyar River valley in the Nilgiris before continuing south.^[14]^[15] The Western Ghats have many peaks that rise above 2,000 m (6,600 ft), with Anamudi (2,695 m (8,842 ft)) being the highest peak.^[16]

Hydrography[edit | edit source]

The Western Ghats form one of the major watersheds of India, feeding many perennial rivers. These major river systems drain almost 40% of the land area of the country.^[17] The major river systems originating in the Western Ghats are the Godavari, Kaveri, and Krishna.^[10]^[18] Most rivers flow eastwards towards the Bay of Bengal owing to the steeper gradient moving from east to west, and many smaller streams drain the region, often carrying a large volume of water during the monsoon months.^[17] The streams and rivers give rise to numerous waterfalls in the region.^[19] The rivers have been dammed for hydroelectric and irrigation purposes, with major reservoirs spread across the region.^[20]^[21]

Climate[edit | edit source]

The Western Ghats play an important role in determining the climate and seasons in India. During the dry summer months of April – May, heat builds up on the land, which draws air from the sea. The air, which picks up moisture along the way and flows eastward from the Arabian Sea, is blocked by the Western Ghats.^[22] The rising air cools and brings about orographic precipitation along the western coast.^[23] This signifies the onset of the monsoon season in June. By the time the air rises above the mountains, it becomes dry, resulting in a rain shadow region with very little rainfall on the leeward side towards the interior of the Deccan plateau. The monsoon winds rounding up the peninsula and moving from the east from the Bay of Bengal pass over the Eastern Ghats and bring the majority of the rainfall to the plains up north.^[24]

Climate in the mountains shows variations with altitude across the range. Due to its physical proximity to the equator and the Arabian Sea, the region experiences a warm and humid tropical climate throughout the year. Mean temperatures range from 20 °C (68 °F) in the south to 24 °C (75 °F) in the north. Subtropical or temperate climates, and occasional near-zero temperatures during winter are experienced in regions with higher elevations. The coldest period in the region are the wettest monsoon period in the southern part of the mountain range.^[25] Annual rainfall in this region averages 100 cm (39 in) to 900 cm (350 in), with an average rainfall of 250 cm (98 in). The total amount of rain does not depend on the spread of the area; areas in northern Maharashtra receive heavy rainfall followed by long dry spells, while regions closer to the equator receive lower annual rainfall and have rain spells lasting several months in a year.^[25]

Biodiversity[edit | edit source]

The Western Ghats region is a biodiversity hotspot.^[26]^[27] It consists of nearly 30% of all the species of flora and fauna found in India, most of which are endemic to this region.^[28]^[29] At least 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats.^[9]

Flora[edit | edit source]

The Western Ghats consist of four tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf terrestrial ecoregions of the Indomalayan realm, with the northern portion of the range generally drier than the southern portion.^[30] These include the following:

Sholas, a unique type of stunted tropical montane forest found in the valleys

Terrestrial ecoregions of Western Ghats
Region	Area	Areas covered
North Western Ghats montane rain forests^[31]	11,900 sq mi (31,000 km²)	Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu
South Western Ghats montane rain forests^[32]	8,700 sq mi (23,000 km²)	Kerala, Tamil Nadu
North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests^[33]	4,831 sq mi (12,510 km²)	Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra
South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests^[34]	2,382 sq mi (6,170 km²)	Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu

Other types of ecosystems include dry deciduous forests on the leeward rain shadow region, scrub forests at the foothills, peat bogs, and swamps.^[35] Montane grasslands are found in high altitude locations in the south Western Ghats interspersed with sholas, a unique type of stunted tropical montane forest found in the valleys between the mountains.^[36]

Earlier sources indicated about four to five thousand vascular plant species of which nearly one-third was endemic to the region.^[37] Later studies and publications have recorded 7,402 species of flowering plants occurring in the Western Ghats of which 5,588 were described as indigenous, 376 are naturalized exotics, and 1,438 species are cultivated or planted.^[38] Among the indigenous species, 2,253 species are endemic to India and of them, 1,273 species are exclusively confined to the Western Ghats. 645 tree species were recorded with a high endemic ratio of 56%. There are 850 to 1,000 species of bryophytes, including 682 species of mosses (28% endemic) and 280 species of liverworts (43% endemic), 277 species of pteridophytes and 949 species of lichens (26.7% endemic).^[39]

Fauna[edit | edit source]

The Western Ghats are home to thousands of species of fauna, including at least 325 globally threatened species.^[40] As per a 2010 report, following is the distribution of faunal species in the Western Ghats apart from more than 6,000 insect species.^[35]^[41]

Fauna of Western Ghats (2010)
Taxonomic group	Species	Endemic	% Endemic	Endangered
Mammals	120	14	12%	31
Birds	508	19	4%	15
Amphibians	121	94	78%	43
Reptiles	156	97	62%	5
Fishes	218	116	53%	1

The Western Ghats region has one of the highest tiger populations, estimated at 985 in 2022.^[42] The Western Ghats ecoregion has the largest Indian elephant population in the wild, with an estimated 11,000 individuals across eight distinct populations.^[43]^[44] Other mammals include endangered and vulnerable species such as the lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr, leopard, Nilgiri langur, dhole, and gaur.^[45]^[46]^[47] The endemic Nilgiri tahr, which was on the brink of extinction, has recovered and had an estimated 3,122 individuals in 2015.^[48]^[49] Smaller endemic species include the Malabar large-spotted civet, Nilgiri marten, brown palm civet, stripe-necked mongoose, Indian brown mongoose, small Indian civet, and leopard cat.^[50]^[51]

Bicolored frog is endemic to the region^[52]

There are at least 19 species of birds endemic to the Western Ghats, including the endangered rufous-breasted laughingthrush, the vulnerable Nilgiri wood-pigeon, white-bellied shortwing, and broad-tailed grassbird, the near threatened grey-breasted laughingthrush, black-and-rufous flycatcher, Nilgiri flycatcher, and Nilgiri pipit, and the least concern Malabar (blue-winged) parakeet, Malabar grey hornbill, white-bellied treepie, grey-headed bulbul, rufous babbler, Wayanad laughingthrush, white-bellied blue-flycatcher, and the crimson-backed sunbird.^[53]

As per a 2014 report, at least 227 species of reptiles are found in the Western Ghats.^[54] The major population of the snake family Uropeltidae is restricted to the region.^[55] Several endemic reptile genera and species occur here, with the region having a significant population of mugger crocodiles.^[56] The amphibians of the Western Ghats are diverse and unique, with a high proportion of species being endemic to the tropical rainforests of India.^[57] New frog species have continued to be discovered in the 21st century.^[58] Frogs of the genera Indirana, Micrixalus, and Nyctibatrachus, toads like Pedostibes, Ghatophryne, and Xanthophryne, arboreal frogs like Ghatixalus, Mercurana, and Beddomixalus, and microhylids like Melanobatrachus are endemic to this region.^[59]

Fishes and molluscs

The southern region of the Western Ghats exhibits greater fish species richness. There are 13 genera entirely restricted to the Western Ghats (Betadevario, Dayella, Haludaria, Horabagrus, Horalabiosa, Hypselobarbus, Indoreonectes, Lepidopygopsis, Longischistura, Mesonoemacheilus, Parapsilorhynchus, Rohtee, and Travancoria).^[60] The most species-rich families are the Cyprinids (72 species), hillstream loaches (34 species; including stone loaches, now regarded a separate family), Bagrid catfishes (19 species), and Sisorid catfishes (12 species).^[61] The region is home to several ornamental fishes including the endemic Denison barb,^[62] melon barb, several species of Dawkinsia barbs, zebra loach, Horabagrus catfish, dwarf pufferfish and dwarf Malabar pufferfish.^[63] The rivers are also home to Osteobrama bakeri, and larger species such as the Malabar snakehead, and Malabar mahseer.^[64] A few are adapted to an underground life, including some Rakthamichthys swamp eels,^[65] and the catfish Horaglanis and Kryptoglanis.^[66] 97 freshwater fish species were considered threatened in 2011, including 12 critically endangered, 54 endangered, and 31 vulnerable.^[60] The reservoirs in the region are important for their commercial and sport fisheries of rainbow trout, mahseer, and common carp.^[67] There are more than 200 freshwater fish species including 35 also known from brackish or marine water.^[68] Several new species have been described from the region since the last decade (e.g., Dario urops and S. sharavathiensis).^[69]^[70]

Tamil lacewing, a butterfly found in the region^[71]

Seasonal rainfall patterns in the Western Ghats necessitate a period of dormancy for its land snails, resulting in their high abundance and diversity, including at least 258 species of gastropods from 57 genera and 24 families.^[72] A total of 77 species of freshwater molluscs (52 gastropods and 25 bivalves) have been recorded from the Western Ghats, but the actual number is likely higher.^[60] This includes 28 endemics. Among the threatened freshwater molluscs are the mussel species Pseudomulleria dalyi, which is a Gondwanan relict, and the snail Cremnoconchus, which is restricted to the spray zone of waterfalls.^[60] According to the IUCN, four species of freshwater molluscs are considered endangered and three are vulnerable. An additional 19 species are considered data deficient.^[60]

Insects

There are roughly 6,000 insect species.^[73] Of the 334 Western Ghats butterfly species, 316 species have been reported to occur in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.^[74] The Western Ghats are home to 174 species of odonates (107 dragonflies and 67 damselflies), including 69 endemics.^[60] Most of the endemic odonate are closely associated with rivers and streams, while the non-endemics are typically generalists.^[60] There are several species of leeches found all along the Western Ghats.^[75]

Threats and conservation[edit | edit source]

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the largest contiguous protected area in the Western Ghats

Historically, the Western Ghats were covered in dense forests, which formed the natural habitat for wildlife along with the native tribal people. Its inaccessibility made it difficult for people from the plains to cultivate the land and build settlements. After the establishment of British colonial rule in the region, large swathes of territory were cleared for agricultural plantations and timber. The forests in the Western Ghats were severely fragmented due to clear-felling for plantations.^[76] The introduction of non-native species threatened the rare endemic species and habitat specialists, which depleted faster than other species.^[77] Complex and species-rich habitats like the tropical rainforests are much more adversely affected than other habitats.^[78] The primary threats to fauna were not only from habitat loss, but also from overexploitation, illicit grazing, mining, poaching, and introduced species.^[60]^[35]

The Government of India has established many protected areas, including two biosphere reserves, 13 national parks to restrict human access, several wildlife sanctuaries to protect specific endangered species, and many reserve forests.^[79] The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, comprising 5,500 km² (2,100 sq mi) of the forests, forms the largest contiguous protected area in the Western Ghats.^[80] In August 2011, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), appointed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to assess the biodiversity and environmental issues of the Western Ghats, designated the entire region as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and assigned three levels of Ecological Sensitivity to its different regions.^[81]^[82] Subsequent committees formed have recommended various suggestions to protect the region.^[83] In 2006, India applied to the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) for the Western Ghats to be listed as a protected World Heritage Site.^[84] In 2012, 39 sites divided into seven clusters across the Western Ghats, were declared as World Heritage Sites.^[85]^[86]

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↑ Radhakrishnan, C.; Gopi, K.C. & Dinesh, K.P. (2007). "Zoogeography of Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis Biju and Bossuyt (Amphibia: Anura; Nasikabatrachidae) in the Western Ghats, India". Records of the Zoological Survey of India. 107 (4): 115–121. doi:10.26515/rzsi/v107/i4/2007/159116. S2CID 251728922.
↑ An evaluation of the endemism of the amphibian assemblages from the Western Ghats using molecular techniques (PDF) (Report). Dehra Dun: WII. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2008.
↑ ^60.0 ^60.1 ^60.2 ^60.3 ^60.4 ^60.5 ^60.6 ^60.7 Molur, M.; Smith, K.G.; Daniel, B.A. & Darwall, W.R.T. (2011). The status and distribution of freshwater biodiversity in the Western Ghats, India (PDF). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – Regional Assessment. ISBN 978-2-8317-1381-6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 April 2015.
↑ Raghavan; Prasad; Ali; Pereira (2008). "Fish fauna of Chalakudy River, part of Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, Kerala, India: patterns of distribution, threats and conservation needs". Biodiversity and Conservation. 17 (13): 3119–3131. Bibcode:2008BiCon..17.3119R. doi:10.1007/s10531-007-9293-0. S2CID 7563806.
↑ Raghavan, R.; Philip, S.; Ali, A. & Dahanukar, N. (2013). "Sahyadria, a new genus of barbs (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from Western Ghats of India". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 5 (15): 4932–4938. doi:10.11609/JoTT.o3673.4932-8.
↑ "Zoologica" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2004. Retrieved 18 December 2006.
↑ Benziger, A.; Philip, S.; Raghavan, R.; Ali, P.H.A.; Sukumaran, M.; Tharian, J.C.; Dahanukar, N.; Baby, F.; Peter, R.; Devi, K.R.; Radhakrishnan, K.V.; Haniffa, M.A.; Britz, R.; Antunes, A. (2011). "Unraveling a 146 years old taxonomic puzzle: Validation of Malabar Snakehead, species-status and its relevance for channid systematics and evolution". PLOS ONE. 6 (6) e21272. Bibcode:2011PLoSO...621272B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0021272. PMC 3123301. PMID 21731689.
↑ Gobi, K.C. (2002). "A new synbranchid fish, Monopterus digressus from Kersla, Peninsular India". Rec. Zool. Surv. India. 100 (1–2): 137–143. doi:10.26515/rzsi/v100/i1-2/2002/159618. S2CID 87291325.
↑ Vincent, M.; Thomas, J. (2011). "Kryptoglanis shajii, an enigmatic subterranean-spring catfish (Siluriformes, Incertae sedis) from Kerala, India". Ichthyological Research. 58 (2): 161–165. Bibcode:2011IchtR..58..161V. doi:10.1007/s10228-011-0206-6. S2CID 39313203.
↑ Sehgal, K. L. "Coldwater fish and fisheries in the Western Ghats, India". FAO. Archived from the original on 22 October 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
↑ Dahanukar, N.; Raut, R.; Bhat, A. (2004). "Distribution, endemism and threat status of freshwater fishes in the Western Ghats of India". Journal of Biogeography. 31 (1): 123–136. Bibcode:2004JBiog..31..123D. doi:10.1046/j.0305-0270.2003.01016.x. S2CID 83574801.
↑ Britz, A.; Philip (2012). "Dariourops, a new species of badid fish from the Western Ghats, southern India" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3348: 63–68. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3348.1.5. S2CID 87261596. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2020.
↑ Sreekantha; Gururaja, K.V.; Remadevi, K.; Indra, T.J.; Ramachandra, T.V. (2006). "Two new species of the genus Schistura McClell and (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae) from Western Ghats, India". Zoos' Print Journal. 21 (4): 2211–2216. doi:10.11609/jott.zpj.1386.2211-6.
↑ R.K., Varshney; Smetacek, Peter (2015). A Synoptic Catalogue of the Butterflies of India. New Delhi: Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal & Indinov Publishing. p. 223. doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.3966.2164. ISBN 978-8-192-98264-9.
↑ Madhyastha N. A.; Rajendra; Mavinkurve G. & Shanbhag Sandhya P. Land Snails of Western Ghats (Report). WII.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
↑ George, M. & Binoy, C.F., An Overview of Insect Diversity of Western Ghats with Special Reference to Kerala State, Dehra Dun: WII, retrieved 24 July 2007{{citation}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
↑ George, M. & Kumar, M.M. State of the Art Knowledge on the Butterflies of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Report). Dehra Dun: WII.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
↑ Chandra, M. (1976). "On a Small Collection of leeches from Maharashtra State, India" (PDF). Records of the Zoological Survey of India. 69 (1–4): 325–328. doi:10.26515/rzsi/v69/i1-4/1971/161420. S2CID 251700847. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
↑ "Colonisers ruined Western Ghats, says study". The Times of India. 28 November 2018. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
↑ "Alien, Invasive and thriving: Native plants choked in Western Ghats". The Hindu. 9 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
↑ Kumar, Ajith. Impact of rainforest fragmentation on small mammals and herpetofauna in the Western Ghats, South India (PDF) (Report). Salim Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2008.
↑ "Protected areas". Government of India. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
↑ "The Nilgiri Bio-sphere Reserve". Archived from the original on 28 September 2006.
↑ Gadgil, M. (31 August 2012). "Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel" (PDF). Westernghatindia.org. Part 1. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India: summary XIX. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
↑ "Vested interests in Western Ghats". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
↑ "Report is anti environmental". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 January 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
↑ "World Heritage sites, Tentative lists, Western Ghats sub cluster". UNESCO. 2007. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2007.
↑ "UNESCO heritage sites". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2007.
↑ "UN designates Western Ghats as world heritage site". Times of India. 2 July 2012. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2013.

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v t e Geography of South Asia
Mountains	Himalayas Mount Everest Western Ghats Eastern Ghats Aravalli Range Nilgiris Vindhya Range Satpura Range Garo Hills Shivalik Hills Himachal Range Khasi Hills Anaimalai Hills Cardamom Hills Sulaiman Mountains Toba Kakar Range Karakoram Hindu Kush Chittagong Hill Tracts Naga Hills Gandhamardan Hills Lushai Hills
Plateaus	Deccan Plateau Chota Nagpur Ladakh Plateau Mysore Plateau Malwa
Deserts	Thar Desert
Lowlands	Indo-Gangetic plain Doab Indus Valley Indus River Delta Ganges Basin Ganges Delta Terai Coromandel Coast Konkan Sundarbans Rann of Kutch Protected areas in Tamil Nadu Makran
Islands	Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lakshadweep Atolls of the Maldives
By country	India Pakistan Nepal Bhutan Sri Lanka Bangladesh Maldives Afghanistan

v t e Western Ghats
Rivers	Bhadra Bhavani Bhima Chalakudy Chittar Godavari Gurupura Kabini Kali Kallayi Kaveri Koyna Krishna Kundali Malaprabha Manimuthar Netravati Pachaiyar Parambikulam Saraswati Savitri Sharavati Tambaraparani Tapti Tunga Venna
Regions	Desh Goa Gap Konkan Malabar Malenadu North Malabar Kongu Nadu Palakkad Gap Tulu Nadu
Peaks	Agastya Mala Anamudi Anginda Anjaneri Banasura Biligirirangana Betta Brahmagiri Chembra Dhodap Doddabetta Gangamoola Harishchandragad Kalsubai Kemmangundi Kudremukh Kumarikkal Mala Kodachadri Kumara Parvata Meesapulimala Mullayana Giri Marunthuvazh Malai Nedumpara Peak Ponmudi Pushpagiri Paithalmala Raigad Salher Saptashrungi Sispara Sonsogor Tadiandamol Taramati Vavul Mala Vellarimala Ranipuram Vagamon
Hills	Ambanad Hills Anaimalai Hills Biligiriranga Hills Cardamom Hills Nilgiri Mountains Satmala Range Selbari Range Palani Hills Trimbakeshwar Range
Waterfalls	Abbey Chunchanakatte Dudhsagar Falls Gokak Irupu Jog Kalhatti Mallalli Falls Sathodi Lushington Sivasamudram Athirapally Falls Vazhachal Falls Hogenakkal
States	Tamil Nadu Gujarat Karnataka Kerala Maharashtra Goa
Parks & Reserves	Annekal Reserved Forest Aralam Reserved Forest Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve Agasthyavanam Biological Park Bandipur National Park Bannerghatta National Park Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary Chandoli National Park Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Dandeli National Park Eravikulam National Park Grass Hills National Park Kali Tiger Reserve Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve Karian Shola National Park Karnala Bird Sanctuary Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary Kudremukh National Park Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary Mudumalai National Park Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Mukurthi National Park Nagarhole Rajiv Gandhi National Park New Amarambalam Reserved Forest Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Palani Hills National Park Parambikulam Tiger Reserve Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary Periyar National Park Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary SAI Sanctuary Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary Silent Valley National Park Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Places	Bhivpuri Chiplun Chiplun Kalsubai Khandala Kudremukh Kodagu Karjat Kasara Lonavala Lavasa Mahabaleshwar Malshej Ghat Matheran Panchgani Raigad Fort Rajgad Fort Shivneri Fort Tamhini Ghat
Ghats	Amboli Ghat Bhor Ghat Tamhini Ghat Amba Ghat Bhor Road Ghat Chorla Ghat Goa Gap Kasara Road Ghat Kumbharli Ghat Malshej Ghat Naneghat Charmadi ghat Shiraadi ghat Bisle ghat Sampaje ghat Palakkad Gap Varandha Ghat
Related	Mountains of Kerala Mountains of Maharashtra

v t e World Heritage Sites in India
North	Agra Fort The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier Complexe du Capitole Fatehpur Sikri Great Himalayan National Park Humayun's Tomb Keoladeo National Park Kalka–Shimla railway Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks Qutub Minar and its Monuments Red Fort Complex Taj Mahal	Flag of India
East	Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Mahabodhi Temple Complex Nalanda Sun Temple at Konark Sundarbans National Park
Northeast	Kaziranga National Park Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Khangchendzonga National Park
South	Great Living Chola Temples Group of Monuments at Hampi Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram Group of Monuments at Pattadakal Nilgiri Mountain Railway Western Ghats
Central	Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka Khajuraho Group of Monuments Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi
West	Historic City of Ahmadabad Ajanta Caves Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Churches and convents of Goa Elephanta Caves Ellora Caves Hill Forts of Rajasthan Chittor Fort Kumbhalgarh Ranthambore Fort Gagron Fort Amer Fort Jaisalmer Fort Jaipur Jantar Mantar of Jaipur Rani ki vav Western Ghats Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai