Western Ghats

Western Ghats are the mountain ranges that cover the length of the western side of the Deccan Plateau in India. Older than the Himalayas, the mountain ranges are known to be the eight hot spot of biological diversity in the world. It houses more than 5000 species of birds, reptiles, amphibians and more, out of which about 325 are globally endangered species.

Not truly mountains, the Western Ghats are more like faulty edges of the Deccan Plateau. They run down from the Satprua Ranges in Gujarat, through Sahyadhris in Maharashtra, the Nilgiri Hills in the Tamil Nadu and the Anaimalai Hills in the Kereal and Tamil Nadu. With various break ups in its path down south, the biggest gap is the Goa Gap.

Famous rivers like Krishna, Kaveri and Godavari run through these mountains before they flow into the Bay of Bengal. The climate here mostly remains humid. They barricade the monsoon winds from entering into the mainland. This along with high rates of precipitation brings heavy rains in the region.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012, 39 places have been included in this list. Among which most of them are famous wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. These sanctuaries are protected regions looked after by the forest departments of various states they run through.

For those who enjoy the rains, there are plenty of hill stations in the Western Ghats where you can enjoy a recluse holiday in the monsoons. Some of these include Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar, Khandala, Lonavala, and others that spread through the region. These hill stations are famous weekend getaways and also people who come from far of places enjoy the natural beauty and quiet of small town life, most of which remains covered in dancing clouds that circle close to the surface of the mountains.