{"id":2258,"date":"2026-10-13T20:56:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T15:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tiwaripedia.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/13\/western-ghats-guide\/"},"modified":"2026-10-13T21:18:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T15:48:32","slug":"western-ghats-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tiwaripedia.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/13\/western-ghats-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The Western Ghats: India’s Biodiversity Hotspot Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated: October 2026 \u00b7 3 min read<\/em><\/p>\n

Stretching about 1,600 km along India’s west coast, the Western Ghats<\/b> (Sahyadri) are a chain of mountains and forests older than the Himalayas. They catch the monsoon, feed major rivers and are one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots.<\/p>\n

\"Infographic:
The Western Ghats: India’s Biodiversity Hotspot Explained \u2013 infographic by Tiwaripedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where are the Western Ghats?<\/h2>\n

The range runs parallel to the Arabian Sea coast through six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu<\/b>, from the Tapi river in the north to near Kanyakumari in the south.<\/p>\n

Key facts<\/h2>\n
Feature<\/th>Detail<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Length<\/td>About 1,600 km<\/td><\/tr>
Highest peak<\/td>Anamudi, Kerala (2,695 m), the highest in peninsular India<\/td><\/tr>
Other peaks<\/td>Doddabetta (Nilgiris), Kalsubai (Maharashtra)<\/td><\/tr>
Famous passes<\/td>Palghat Gap, Thal Ghat, Bhor Ghat<\/td><\/tr>
UNESCO status<\/td>World Heritage Site since 2012<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n

Rivers born in the Western Ghats<\/h2>\n

Many great peninsular rivers begin here and flow east to the Bay of Bengal, including the Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri<\/b>. Short, fast west-flowing rivers like the Sharavathi create waterfalls such as Jog Falls.<\/p>\n

Biodiversity<\/h2>\n

The Ghats cover under 6% of India’s land yet hold a large share of its plant and animal species, many found nowhere else (endemic).