Nilgiri Mountains

The Nilgiri Mountains, also known as the Nilgiris, are a mountain range at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats ranges in South India. Spanning the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala, the range forms part of a 56 km (35 mi)-long and 32 km (20 mi)-wide plateau. The mountains are bounded by the Moyar River to the north, the Wayanad Plateau to the west, the Coimbatore plains to the east, and the Bhavani River and Palakkad Gap to the south. The range has an average elevation of 2,000 m (6, 600 ft), with Doddabetta being the highest at 2,637 m (8, 652 ft). Several rivers and streams drain the mountains, forming numerous waterfalls along their course. The name Nilgiri, meaning "Blue Mountains" in Sanskrit, is associated with the kurinji flower, which once gave the hills a bluish hue. Archaeological evidence indicates that the region has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The Nilgiris have long been home to indigenous communities such as the Badagas, Todas, Kotas, Irulas and Kurumbas. Although the region came under the influence of several dynasties that ruled over South India, it remained relatively isolated until the eighteenth century, when it became part of the Kingdom of Mysore before passing to the British East India Company. During the nineteenth century, the British developed infrastructure in the Nilgiris. Ooty became a principal hill station, and subsequently became the summer headquarters of the Madras Presidency. The completion of the Nilgiri Mounta

Location: India.

Mountain range data from Wikidata (CC0). Elevation is the height of the highest peak.