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’.
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
| Place of Interest | Famous for… | Location | Links to my posts on this blog |
| Agumbe | Sunset Point, Kundadri Sunrise, Vanakebe Falls, Koodlu Theertha Falls, Barakona Falls, Jogigundi Falls, Hebri, Sita Nadi Rafting, Rainfall Research Station, King Cobra Sanctuary | Agumbe (Near Sringeri) | Famous Sunset of Agumbe Crazy Roads of Someshwar Ghats Dodda Mane at Agumbe – Great Hospitality with a rustic homely experience Elderly Couple from Malnad: Some Portrait Shots! Surya Namaskar Sunset Moments from Agumbe |
| Baba Budangiri Hills | High wind speeds during the Monsoons, Inam Dattatreya Baba Budan Swamy Dargah, Coffee Plantations | Near Chickmagalur | Backpacking through the Western Ghats – Day 2: Mulaiyangiri to Baba Budangiri |
| Barakona Falls | Barakona Falls, Narasimha Parvatha, Tropical Trek | Near Agumbe | Trekking Guide: Narasimha Parvatha, Karnataka, India Tropical Trek to Barakona Falls near Agumbe, Karnataka, India |
| Bheemeshwari Jungle | Camping by the Cauvery, Mahseer Fish, Fishing/Angling, Treks, Fresh water Crocodile | Mandya District near Bangalore, Karnataka | Weekend Camping by the River Cauvery at Bheemeshwari in Karnataka, India |
| BR Hills | Tiger, Biligiri Ranganatha Temple, Western Ghats | Near Charmarajnagar | Enroute Biligiri Ranganatha (BR) Hills, Karnataka, India |
| Coorg | Tropical Rainforests, Coffee Estates, Mountain Peaks, Birdwatching, Kodava Culture, Tropical Treks, Hill Stations | Coorg | Coffee Country of Coorg |
| Dubare Reserve Forest | Elephants, Mahseer Fish, Fishing in the Cauvery | Coorg | Camping by the River Cauvery at Dubare in Coorg, Karnataka, India |
| Honey Valley Estate | Thadiyendamol Trek, Coffee Plantations, Honey, Bird watching, Nilakandi Falls, Kakkabe, Chingara Falls | Near Virajpet and Kakkabe, Coorg | Weekend Getaway to Honey Valley Estate in Coorg, Karnataka, India Honey Valley Estate: A Peaceful Homestay in Coorg Coffee in Coorg Monsoon Trek to Thadiyendamol Peak, Coorg, Karnataka, India Colourful Plants from Coorg Aura of Coorg’s Coffee Estates Tropical Trek to Chingara Falls, Coorg |
| Jogigundi Falls | Cave Waterfall, Trekking | Near Agumbe | Trek to Jogigundi Falls – The Cave Waterfall! |
| Kakkabe | Thadiyendamol Peak, Nalnad Palace, Padi Igguthuppa Temple, Kapala village, Chelavara Falls | Near Virajpet, Coorg | Nalnad Palace near Kakkabe in Coorg |
| Kemmangundi | Hill Station, Coffee Plantations, Trekking, Hebbe Falls | Kemmangundi | Backpacking through the Western Ghats – Day 3: Baba Budangiri to Kemmangundi Backpacking through the Western Ghats – Day 4: Kemmangundi – Hebbe Falls – Kemmangundi Backpacking through the Western Ghats – Day 5: Kemmangundi – Kalahatti Falls – Mangalore Monsoon Trek to Hebbe Falls, Karnataka, India Kemmangundi in the Monsoons!! |
| Kodachadri Hills | Kollur Mookambika Temple, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Sarvajna Peetha, Agastyar Teertha Falls, Linganamakki reservoir views, Trekking | Bordering the Shimoga and Udupi districts | Backpacking through the Western Ghats – Day 6: Mangalore – Kollur – Kodachadri Forests Backpacking through the Western Ghats – Day 7 and 8: Kodachadri Hills Backpacking through the Western Ghats – Day 9 (the last day): Kodachadri Hills to Maravanthe Beach to Kundapur |
| Koodlu Theertha Falls | Steep tropical trek, Magical place | Near Agumbe, Someshwar and Hebri | Tropical Trek to Koodlu Theertha Falls – A Mystical Experience!! |
| Kumaraparvatha | Kumaraparvatha Trek, Kukke Subramanya Temple | Near Kukke Subramanya | Kumaraparvatha Trek, Karnataka, India |
| Kundadri | Sunrise Point | Near Agumbe | Kundadri: The Sunrise Point near Agumbe |
| Kutta | Coffee Plantations, Irpu Falls, Cauvery River, Nagarhole National Park | Coorg | Cafe Mocha – A stroll in a coffee estate at Kutta in Coorg, Karnataka, India |
| Madikeri (aka Mercera) | Hill Station, Madikeri Fort, Abbey Falls, Coffee Estates | Coorg | Abbey Falls near Madikeri in Coorg |
| Male Mahadeshwara Hills | Male Mahadeshwara Temple, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary | Chamarajnagar District | Camping Trip – Male Mahadeshwara (MM) Hills, Karnataka, India |
| Mulaiyangiri Peak | Karnataka’s highest peak, coffee plantations, Shiva temple on the top | Near Chickmagalur | Backpacking through the Western Ghats – Day 1: Chickmagalur to Mulaiyangiri Peak |
| Nagarhole National Park/Kabini National Park | Leopard, Tiger, Elephant, Birding | Near Hunsur | Hanuman Langaur from Nagarhole National Park Wildlife Photography: Spotted Deer at Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka, India Black Crowned Night Heron at Kabini National Park Jungle Overdrive Weekend Getaway – Kabini National Park, Karnataka, India Wildlife Photography: Wild Dogs (Dhole) from Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka, India Reflections in the Wild |
| Nilakandi Falls | Tropical Trek, Thadiyendamol Range | Near Honey Valley, Kakkabe, Coorg | Monsoon Trek to Nilakandi Falls, Coorg, Karnataka, India |
| Sharavati River Valley | Sharavati River Valley View | Shimoga District | Pit Stop on NH 206 @ Sharavati River Valley, Karnataka, India |
| Vanakebe Falls | 600 foot waterfall drop. Trek to the top of the waterfall | Near Agumbe | Trek to Vanakebe Falls – A sight to behold! |
| Yaana Hills | Twin limestone hills, Cave Temples | Near Gokarna | Yaana Hills – Towering Black Beauties in Karnataka, India |
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 |
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” |
| 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 |
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