Western and Eastern Ghats of India

Western and Eastern Ghats of India: In India, you’ll find two distinct mountain ranges— the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats—separated by the vast Deccan Plateau. The Western Ghats run parallel to the west coast, and the Eastern Ghats parallel to the east coast. Both areas are rich in plant and animal life and are visited by many tourists. The mountain ranges in the Western Ghats are continuous and in the Eastern Ghats the mountain ranges are discontinuous due to erosion which is caused by rivers flowing in between.

Let us Discuss this in detail below!

Western and Eastern Ghats of India

Difference Between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats

Western Ghats

The Western Ghats is a mountain chain along the west coast of India. From Gujarat in the north to Kerala in the south it runs over some 160,000 sq. km. A number of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries can be found in the range, not least of all the renowned Kaziranga National Park in Assam. In some parts of India, the Western Ghats are also called Sahyadri. They run parallel to the west coast of India.

Hence they are continuous, without any major breaks. It is extremely hard to get through them. In the present times, thanks to the development of transport technology, this problem has been largely solved. Nevertheless, in the olden days, it was still an enormous undertaking to get across the ghats and onto the other side.

Feature	Description
Location	Parallel to the west coast of India, stretching from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu
Length	Approximately 1,600 kilometers (990 miles)
Elevation	Average height of 900-1600 meters (3000-5250 feet), with peaks exceeding 2,600 meters (8500 feet)
Climate	Varies depending on altitude and location, but generally tropical and humid with high rainfall
Geology	Predominantly Deccan Traps basalt, formed by ancient volcanic activity
Biodiversity	One of the most biodiverse regions in the world, with over 30% of India’s plant and animal species
Flora	Diverse vegetation, including evergreen, deciduous, and scrub forests, grasslands, and shola grasslands
Fauna	Wide variety of animals, including tigers, elephants, leopards, primates, birds, amphibians, and reptiles
Rivers	Source of several major rivers, including the Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, and Narmada
Economy	Supports agriculture, tourism, hydropower generation, mining, and timber industry
Culture	Home to diverse indigenous communities with rich traditions and languages
Conservation	Facing threats from deforestation, habitat loss, and climate change, with numerous protected areas established for conservation
Significance	UNESCO World Heritage Site, crucial for India’s climate, biodiversity, and cultural heritage

Eastern Ghats

The Eastern Ghats are a range of discontinuous mountains along India’s eastern coast. They run parallel to the eastern coastal plains of India and span from the southernmost part of the Bay of Bengal to central Odisha and eastward to Andhra Pradesh. While the Western Ghats are taller and more continuous, the Eastern Ghats make up for it in terms of linear extent.

The Eastern Ghats are also a refuge for several endemic species, such as the Nilgiri langur, which is found nowhere else in the world. Tigers, leopards and elephants also live in the area.

Feature	Description
Location	Parallel to the east coast of India, stretching from Odisha to Tamil Nadu
Length	Approximately 1,500 kilometers (930 miles)
Elevation	Average height of 600 meters (2000 feet), with peaks exceeding 1,680 meters (5500 feet) (highest: Arma Konda)
Climate	Tropical and sub-tropical, with moderate rainfall compared to Western Ghats
Geology	Diverse, including ancient metamorphic rocks, Eastern Ghats Granitoids, and Gondwana sediments
Biodiversity	Rich in plant and animal diversity, but less than Western Ghats
Flora	Mainly dry deciduous forests, with some evergreen patches, scrublands, and grasslands
Fauna	Various animals, including elephants, tigers, gaurs, primates, birds, amphibians, and reptiles
Rivers	No major rivers originate here, but several rivers cut through the range, including Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri
Economy	Supports agriculture, mining (iron ore, manganese), timber industry, and tourism (though less developed than Western Ghats)
Culture	Home to diverse indigenous communities with unique traditions and languages
Conservation	Facing threats from deforestation, habitat loss, and mining activity, with protected areas like Simlipal National Park and Papikonda National Park
Significance	Important for biodiversity, providing minerals, influencing local climate, and harboring historical and cultural sites

Meeting Point of Western and Eastern Ghats

• At the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats come together. The Nilgiri Hills are a mountain range which forms part of both the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.
• The Nilgiri Hills are one of the highest points in India, with an elevation over 2000 metres. There are all kinds of plants and animals outside the range. Many are unique to the world.
• With several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, the Nilgiri Hills are one of the most important tourist destinations. The range is also the home of a number of tribal peoples, who have for a long time relied on the forest for their living.

Western Ghats Vs Eastern Ghats

Feature	Western Ghats	Eastern Ghats
Location	West coast of India, parallel to Arabian Sea	East coast of India, parallel to Bay of Bengal
Formation	Uplifted block mountains	Fold mountains
Average Elevation	Higher (900 – 1600 meters)	Lower (300 – 900 meters)
Continuity	Continuous range with few passes	Discontinuous range, dissected by rivers
Rainfall	Receives high rainfall due to monsoon intercepting	Receives less rainfall
Vegetation	Dense forests with high biodiversity	Sparse vegetation with patches of dry deciduous forests
Rivers	Most major rivers of peninsular India originate here (Krishna, Godavari, Kaveri, Narmada)	No major rivers originate here; main rivers flow east into Bay of Bengal
Soil Fertility	Highly fertile due to heavy rainfall and organic matter	Less fertile due to lower rainfall and erosion
Economic Importance	Rich in minerals, hydroelectric potential, tourism	Known for mineral deposits like mica and bauxite; less tourism potential
Cultural Significance	Home to many pilgrimage centers and hill stations	Less culturally significant due to lower elevation and fragmented nature

Important Facts about the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats

The Western Ghats

• There are four different local names of Western Ghats in India (chronologically from North to South):
  • Sahyadri in Maharashtra
  • Nilgiri hills in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
  • Anaimalai Hills and Cardamom hills in Kerala
• The Western Ghats is an elevated and continuous range of mountains; runs parallel to the west coast of India.
• The average elevation of Western Ghats is about 1,500 meters.
• The Western Ghat is the origin of various Peninsular rivers of India.

The Eastern Ghats

• A series of disconnected and relatively low mountain ranges make up the Eastern Ghat.
• The Eastern Ghats undergo erosion due to rivers like Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi, and Godavari.
• The Eastern Ghats boast significant mountainous hills such as Javadi Hills, Palconda Range, Nallamala Hills, and Mahendragiri Hills.

Flora and Fauna in Western and Eastern Ghats

Western Ghats

• The Western Ghats is home to tens of thousands species of animals and plants. There are some 325 globally threatened animal species.
• A third of the plants, half the reptiles, and more than three-fourths of the amphibians known in India are found in the Northern region of the Western Ghats.
• The Southern Western Ghats which cover Kerala and Tamil Nadu are rich in plant and animal biodiversity. Its 35 million hectares host the biggest expanses of Asian elephants ( about 30 % of the world’s population) and Bengal tigers (about 4 % of the world’s tigers). A large number of animals–including Nilgiri tahr, Malabar civet, lion-tailed macaques and mugger crocodiles–are found here.
• There are something like 4000 to 5000 native plant species in the Western Ghats.
• Because it houses 16 endemic breedic species, the Western Ghats has been designated an endemic bird area.
• Some 48 biodi-versityprotected areas in the Western Ghats are named World heritage sites. The largest protected area in the Western Ghats is the contiguous stretch of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve, the Mukurthi national park and the Mudumalai National park.

Eastern Ghats

• Indian elephants, sambar deer, Asian palm civet, Bengal tiger, mongoose, wild dogs, porcupines, golden jackal, jungle cat, Indian boar, mugger crocodile, Indian meerkat, Indian black turtle, spot-billed pelican and Malabar pied hornbills are found chiefly in the
• The forests of the Eastern Ghats of India have very nearly 2500 species of flowering plants, about 13 % of India’s total.
• You can also find many threatened plant species here, such as Mara Uri, Hildegardia populifolia, and valuable trees such as Eetti (Dalbergia latifolia), Semmaram (Pterocarpus santalinus), Vengai (Pterocarpus marsupium), Pala (Artocarpus heterophyllus
• Large-scale plantations grow coffee, tea, silver oak and orchards.

Significance of the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats

• With such a diverse environment, different types of medicinal plants and vital genetic resources such as wild relatives of cereals, fruit and spices occur throughout the Western Ghats.
• They also enjoy a unique shola habitat, a highland meadow intersprinkled with patches of evergreen forest.
• Hydrological and watershed roles are played by the Western Ghats.
• Thus the land and water of the region provide the base for the lives of millions of people. Besides the Indo-Malayan hotspot, there is no other one which affects the lives of so many people.
• The Eastern Ghats include Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
• It is important for climate change, biodiversity, food production, and energy storage in trees.
• They have a key role in both the North-East and South-West Monsoons.
• The discontinuous woods, which are scattered throughout the area, support thousands of animals, ranging from tigers and elephants to 2600 plant species and 400 birds.

Conclusion

India’s two most important mountain ranges are the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats. On both ranges, all kinds of plants and animals live. Many exist nowhere else. The Western Ghats are older and more thoroughly eroded than the Eastern Ghats. The result is a diversity of landscapes within the Western Ghats, from tall peaks to rolling hills. The Eastern Ghats are lower and narrower than the Western Ghats, while their vegetation is less varied. But the Eastern Ghats are actually one of India’s most biodiverse areas, with rain forests, dry deciduous forests, and grasslands.

FAQs on Western and Eastern Ghats

What is the difference between Western and Eastern Ghats?

The Western Ghats being a mountain range run along the western coast of India, while the Eastern Ghats run along the eastern coast.

Which states are in the Western and Eastern Ghats?

Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala

How many states are there in the Eastern Ghats?

Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana.

Which state of India has both the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats?

Tamil Nadu – The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats meet at the Nilgiri Hills

Which is taller, Western or Eastern Ghats?

Western Ghats are taller than the Eastern Ghats.

What is the climate in Western and Eastern Ghats?

The Western Ghats are more tropical, and the Eastern Ghats are more temperate.

Which type of vegetation is found in the Western and Eastern Ghats?

The Western Ghats have tropical evergreen forests; the Eastern Ghats have dry deciduous forests.