Discover Western Ghats – the Hottest Biodiversity Hotspot of India
Here is a quick table that links to my experiences of the ‘Western Ghats – the hottest biodiversity hotspot of India’ and one of the world’s top ten biodiversity hotspots.
Sorted in alphabetical order. First, by ‘State’ and then by ‘Place of Interest’.
Sorted in alphabetical order. First, by ‘State’ and then by ‘Place of Interest’.
Goa
Place of Interest | Famous for… | Location | Links to my posts on this blog |
Mollem National Park | Wildlife, Dudhsagar Falls, Devil’s Canyon, Tamdi Surla Temple | Mollem (on the eastern border of Goa) | Goa’s wild side |
Panjim | Boat Cruises on Mandovi River, Churches, Goan Holiday | Panjim | Riding past the Cruise Boats on Mandovi River at Panjim, Goa, India |
Karnataka
Kerala
Place of Interest | Famous for… | Location | Links to my posts on this blog |
Banasura Sagar Dam | Photo Ops, Boating, Short Hikes, Dam | Near Kalpetta, Wayanad District | Photographing Yellow Flowers at Banasura Sagar Dam Banasura Sagar Dam – A Green Zone |
Chembra Peak | Trekking, Highest peak of Wayanad District | Near Meppady, Wayanad District | Monsoon Trek to Chembra Peak, Wayanad, Kerala, India Trek to Chembra Peak – FAQ Lovely Tea Plantations of Chembra Estate |
Eravikulam National Park | Nilgiri Tahr, Tea Estates, Elephant, Birds endemic to the Western Ghats, Kurinji Flower | Rajamallay (Near Munnar) in Idukki District | The Nilgiri Tahr lives on at Eravikulam National Park, Kerala |
Munnar | Tea Estates, Eravikulam National Park, Top Station, Echo Point, Kundala Dam, Mattupetty Dam, Devikulam, Pallivasal, Hill Station, Honeymooning | Munnar | Picture book tea town of Munnar! Waterfall amidst a Tea Estate Campsite amidst the tea estates of Munnar!! The sun is shining on Munnar Tea Estate!! Through the winding tea estate roads of Munnar!! |
Nilgiri Mountains | Trekking, Kodaikanal, Munnar, Ooty, Hill Stations | Tamil Nadu and Kerala | Trekking the Nilgiri Mountains from Kodaikanal to Munnar in Heavy Rains!! |
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve | Teak plantations, tiger, elephant, gaur, Birds endemic to the Western Ghats, Nilgiri Langaur, Evergreen Forests | Parambikulam, Palakkad District | On the jumbo trail at Parambikulam Tiger Reserve |
Periyar Tiger Reserve | Wildlife, Birds, Snakes, Shola Forests | Thekkady | Jungle Cruise at Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady, Kerala, India Ripples in GREEN!! Wildlife Sighting during a cruise at Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India!! |
Silent Valley National Park | Rare rainforest, Lion tailed macaque, Butterfiles, Orchids, Birds endemic to the Western Ghats | Mukkali, Palakkad district | Silent Valley National Park is not really silent |
Soochipara Falls | Thundering water, Short Hike | Near Meppady, Wayanad District | Soochipara Falls in the Monsoons Tropical Moss and the Enveloping Mist |
Vazhachal Forest | Tropical Rainforests, Athirapally Falls, Vazhachal Falls, Poringalputhu Reservoir | from Valparai in Tamil Nadu to Chalakudy in Kerala | Valparai to Athirapally: One of the top tropical motorcycle routes in India Poringalkuthu Reservoir: Nestled in the tropical rainforests of Vazhachal, Kerala Athirapally Falls: The Niagara of Kerala Vazhachal Forests: A fresh lease of oxygen in Kerala |
Maharashtra
Place of Interest | Famous for… | Location | Links to my posts on this blog |
Khandala | Hill Station, Breathtaking views, Hiking | Maharashtra | Pit Stop at Khandala in Maharashtra, India |
Sinhagad | Sinhagad Fort, Tanaji Madusare | Near Pune, Maharashtra | Imagining the glorious past amidst the ruins of Sinhagad Fort near Pune in Maharashtra, India |
Tamil Nadu
Place of Interest | Famous for… | Location | Links to my posts on this blog |
Anaimalai Tiger Reserve | Tigers, Gaurs, Elephants, Evergreen forests, Birds endemic to Western Ghats, Other Wildlife | Top Slip (Near Pollachi) | Anaimalai Tiger Reserve – of Elephants, Gaurs, Tigers and Hornbills Monica Garden Tea Bungalow: A Colonial Holiday House at Valparai Malabar Grey Hornbill at Monica Garden Tea Bungalow, Valparai |
Hogenakkal Falls | Hogenakkal Falls, Cauvery River, Oil Massages | Hogenakkal, Dharmapuri District | Hogenakkal Falls – A Mighty mass of water tumbling amidst rocky gorges!! |
Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve | Tigers, Courtallam Falls, Manimuthar Falls, Vana Theertham Falls, Agastyar Falls, Thamarabarani river, Papanasam Dam, Manimuthar Dam, Elephants | Tirunelvli district | Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and its mighty waterfalls |
Kallidaikurichi | Old Temples, Courtallam Falls, Agastyar Falls, Manimuthar Falls, Vana Theertham Falls, Papanasam Dam, Manimuthar Dam, Thamarabarani river | Tirunelveli district | Monsoon in the Western Ghats – My ancestral town “Kallidaikurichi” A Trip to India’s Deep South |
Kodaikanal | Kurinji Flower, Nilgiris, Hill Station, Berijam Lake, Kodaikanal Lake, Silver Cascade Waterfalls | Kodaikanal | Motorcycling through country roads to Kodaikanal and Kolli Hills in Tamil Nadu, India The Blue Mountains of Kodaikanal and its charming sights!! |
Kodanad | 220 Degree View, Moyar River Trek, Kotagiri, Tea Estates, Jayalalithaa’s House | Near Kotagiri | Kodanad’s 220 degree view of the Nilgiri Mountains Kodanad: Jayalalithaa’s Home in the Nilgiri Mountains |
Nilgiri Mountains | Trekking, Kodaikanal, Munnar, Ooty, Hill Stations | Tamil Nadu and Kerala | Trekking the Nilgiri Mountains from Kodaikanal to Munnar in Heavy Rains!! |
Ooty | Red Hills, Emerald Lake, Avalanche Lake, Pykara Lake, Kalhatti Falls, Hill Station, Mukurthi National Park, Nilgiri Mountain Railway | Ooty | Kalhatti Falls – A Sad Trickle this Monsoon! Nilgiri Mountain Railway – Go on a Joy Rife on this heritage train |
Red Hills | Niligiri Biosphere Reserve, Tea Gardens, Lake ecosystem of 8 lakes, Hill Station | Near Ooty | Camping in the lake ecosystem at Red Hills near Ooty in Tamil Nadu, India Tea Estates from the Lake District of Red Hills The Land of the Badagas Emerald Lake in the Monsoons Monsoon Camping by Emerald Lake in the Nilgiri Mountains |
Valparai | Aliyar Dam, Sholayar Dam, Nallamudi Poonjolai, Tea Estates, Anaimalai Tiger Reserve (Leopards, Lion Tailed Macaques, Elephant, Hornbill, Gaur) | Pollachi District | Valparai…the unsung hill station of India Monica Garden Tea Bungalow: A Colonial Holiday House at Valparai Malabar Grey Hornbill at Monica Garden Tea Bungalow, Valparai Exploring the Valparai hills on a Motorcycle Nallamudi Poonjolai: Velu saw God here!! Sholayar Dam nestled in the pristine Anaimalai hills of Tamil Nadu |