The Western and Eastern Ghats of India are a series of mountain ranges that are present along the western and eastern coasts of India, respectively. The Western Ghats are way older than the Eastern Ghats of India. The mountain ranges in the Western Ghats are continuous. The mountain ranges in the Eastern Ghats are discontinuous due to the erosion caused by rivers flowing between them.

This topic on the Western and Eastern Ghats of India is one of the important topics for the UPSC IAS Exam. 

In this article, we have covered the facts, hills & peaks, and water bodies related to the Western and Eastern Ghats of India. For effectively preparing the geography subject, don’t forget to check the UPSC Geography Syllabus and UPSC Geography Previous Year Papers here!

Western Ghats Of India

• The Western Ghats of India, also known as the Sahyadri Hills, is a range of mountains that runs parallel to the western coast of the Indian Peninsular region.
• The Western Ghats stretch for about 1600 km from the Tapi River in the north to Kanyakumari in the south, and their width varies from 50 to 80 km.
• The entire stretch of Western Ghats is interrupted majorly by the Palghat Gap, a low mountain pass between Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Palakkad in Kerala. The other major gap in the Western Ghats is the Goa Gap, which runs between the Maharashtra and Karnataka sections of the range.
• It passes through the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• The Western Ghats of India is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the World.
• It is one of the 8 hottest hotspots of biological diversity in the world.
• It receives heavy rainfall from the southwest monsoon. Among the states through which Western Ghats traverse, Karnataka receives the maximum rainfall. Thirthahalli town in Karnataka is the wettest place in this region.

Hills & Peaks In The Western Ghats

• Anamudi, which is about 2695m in elevation, is the highest mountain peak in the Western Ghats of India. It is located in the state of Kerala.
• The Sahyadri Hills are the major hill range located in the Western Ghats of India. This range is also known as Sahya parvatam in the state of Kerala. Hill stations such as Matheran, Mahabaleshwar, Amboli Ghat, Panchgani, Kudremukh, Kodagu, and Lonavala-Khandala are located in this hill range.
• Nilgiri Hills, which form a part of the Western Ghats, is located in Tamil Nadu. It is the home to the fourth highest peak in the Western Ghats, Doddabetta.
• The list of the five highest peaks of Western Ghats is as follows:

Coasts Of Western Ghats

The narrow coastal plain between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea is divided into three parts or coasts.

• The Northern region is called Konkan Coast – This coast stretches North to South from Mumbai to Goa.
• The middle region is known as Kanara Coast – This coast stretches along the length of the Karnataka state. It’s a part of the Malabar coast.
• The Southern region is known as Malabar Coast – This coast lies between Mangalore and Kanyakumari.

Check the NCERT Notes on Physical weathering here.

Water Bodies Of The Western Ghats

• The five major river systems that originate in the Western Ghats of India are
  • Godavari
  • Kaveri
  • Krishna
  • Tungabhadra
  • Thamirabharani.
• Due to the gradient of the land, these rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal in the East.
• Several dams are constructed across these rivers for irrigation and hydroelectric projects. Examples: Koyna dam (Maharashtra), Mettur dam (Tamil Nadu), Idukki dam (Kerala), etc.
• Hogenakkal, Jog Falls, Kutralam, Dudhsagar, Athirapalli, Kunchikal, and Meenmutty are some of the famous waterfalls present in the Western Ghats.

Check the NCERT notes on Earth – origin and evolution here.

Flora And Fauna

• The Western Ghats is home to several thousand species of animals and plants. Around 325 globally threatened animal species are present there.
• About one-third of the plants, half the reptiles, and more than three-fourths of the amphibians known in India are present in the Northern region of the Western Ghats.
• The Southern Western Ghats, which cover Kerala and Tamil Nadu, have a rich plant and animal biodiversity. The largest populations of Asian elephants (around 30% of the world’s population) and Bengal tigers are present here in the country. Nilgiri tahr, Malabar civet, lion-tailed macaques, mugger crocodiles, and so on are present significantly in this region.
• Around 4000 to 5000 native plant species are found in the Western Ghats.
• The Western Ghats is identified as an endemic bird area since it is home to 16 endemic breeding species.
• Around 48 biodiversity-protected areas in the Western Ghats have been declared World Heritage sites. The contiguous area of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Mukurthi National Park, and the Mudumalai National Park is the largest protected area in the Western Ghats.

Learn more about the Hindu-Kush Mountain Range!

Eastern Ghats Of India

• The Eastern Ghats of India is the discontinuous mountain range that runs along the Eastern coast of India. These are a series of low-range mountains.
• It passes through the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
• The Eastern Ghats stretch for about 1131 km from the Mahanadi River in the North (Odisha) to the Vaigai River in the South (Tamil Nadu), and their width varies from 100 to 200 km.
• These ranges of mountains are discontinuous because they are interrupted, eroded, and cut by the four major Peninsular rivers, namely Mahanadi, Krishna, Kaveri, and Godavari.
• The Eastern Ghats are also known as Purva Ghat Mahendra Parvatam or Kizahakku Thodarchi Malai in the south.
• They are way older than the Western Ghats.
• Since they lie parallel to the monsoon originating from the Bay of Bengal, they receive less rainfall compared to the Western Ghats.

Hills & Peaks In The Eastern Ghats

• The northern part of the Eastern Ghats, i.e., the region between the Mahanadi and the Godavari rivers, exhibits true mountain characteristics. The Maliya and Madugula Konda are the two ranges present in this region.
• The elevation of the Maliya range ranges between 900 – 1200 m, and the highest peak in this range is Mahendragiri Peak (1501 m).
• The elevation of the Madugula Konda range ranges between 1100 to 1200 m, and the highest peak in this range is the Jindhagada peak (1690m).

Read the NCERT Notes on biological weathering here.

Water Bodies Of The Eastern Ghats

• Some of the rivers that originate in the Eastern Ghats of India are River Baitarani, river Palar, river Sarada, river Sileru, river Penna, river Vellar, and so on. These rivers irrigate lakhs of hectares at the foothills and nearby plains.
• The major rivers that flow through the Eastern Ghats are as follows,
  • Brahmani
  • Tungabhadra
  • Godavari
  • Mahanadi
  • Kaveri
  • Subarnarekha
  • Krishna
• Waterfalls such as the Periyar Falls, Jalagam Parai, Beeman Falls, Megam Falls, Hogenakkal, Killiyur Falls, Agaya Gangai, etc, are present here.
• Some of the dams, such as Krishnagiri, Sathanur, Shenbagathoppu, Kuppanatham, Varattaaru-Vallimadurai, Kariyalur, Gomuki, Andiyappanur, Mriganda, Chengam, etc., are present in the Eastern Ghats. They play an important role in irrigation and hydroelectric projects.

Study the important lakes of India here.

Flora And Fauna

• Fauna such as Indian elephants, sambar deer, Asian palm civet, Bengal tiger, mongoose, wild dogs, porcupines, golden jackal, jungle cat, Indian boar, mugger crocodile, Indian black turtle, spot-billed pelican, Malabar pied hornbills and so on are present predominantly in the Eastern Ghats.
• Eastern Ghats of India is home to nearly 2500 flowering plants, which is about 13% of India’s total flowering plant species.
• Endangered plant species such as Mara Uri and Hildegardia populifolia and valuable trees like Eetti (Dalbergia latifolia), Semmaram (Pterocarpus santalinus), Vengai (Pterocarpus marsupium), Pala (Artocarpus heterophyllus), etc are present here.
• Coffee, tea, silver oak, and orchards are grown on large-scale plantations.

Mining, population pressure, encroachment, and extraction of non-timber forest products and fuel woods are some of the major threats to the Western and Eastern Ghats of India. As a result of mankind's endless quests, these regions are slowly turning into barren lands. The flora, fauna, and natural resources of these regions can be protected only by enforcing strict laws and effective strategies for their eco-development.

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