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⛰ Eastern Mountain Range · Discontinuous Ghats

Eastern Ghats

पूर्वी घाट · Purva Kondalu

Ancient, broken, and deeply carved by rivers — the Eastern Ghats stretch 1,750 km along India's eastern coast, holding the oldest rocks, unique red-sanders forests, and the critically endangered Jerdon's Courser.

1,750 km
Length
4 states
Coverage
1,690 m
Highest Peak
Precambrian
Rock Age
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Explore the Eastern Ghats

Click markers to discover peaks, parks, waterfalls, sacred sites and more across the discontinuous mountain range

Eastern Ghats Atlas

Stretching discontinuously 1,750 km through 4 states, cut by major rivers, home to ancient Precambrian rocks.

Filter by Type
Peaks
National Parks / Sanctuaries
Waterfalls
Sacred Sites
Hill Ranges
River Gorges

Click a marker

Select any marker on the map to see detailed information about that location.

Total Length1,750 km
NatureDiscontinuous
Avg Height~600 m
Rock TypePrecambrian Gneiss
UNESCO StatusNot Listed

Names Across Languages

The Eastern Ghats are known by different names across the linguistic tapestry of eastern and southern India

Telugu
పూర్వ కొండలు
Tamil
கிழக்கு தொடர்ச்சி மலை
Odia
ପୂର୍ବ ଘାଟ
Hindi
पूर्वी घाट
English
Eastern Ghats
Sanskrit
पूर्व घाटाः

North to South

Three broad geographic divisions from West Bengal-Odisha in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south

Northern Section
Odisha Hills
West Bengal · Odisha
Major Ranges
Simlipal Range
Malayagiri Range
Mahendragiri Range
Major Peaks
Mahendragiri – 1,501 m (Odisha's highest)
Malayagiri – 1,187 m
Meghasani – 1,165 m
Key Features
Chilika Lake – largest brackish water
Simlipal Biosphere Reserve
Rivers: Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani
Central Section
Andhra Hills
Andhra Pradesh · Telangana
Major Ranges
Nallamala Hills
Velikonda Range
Palakonda Range
Seshachalam Hills
Major Peaks
Arma Konda – 1,690 m (Highest in EG)
Gali Konda – 1,643 m
Sinkaram Gutta – 1,620 m
Key Features
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve
Red sanders forests (unique)
Rivers: Godavari, Krishna, Pennar
Southern Section
Tamil Hills
Tamil Nadu
Major Ranges
Javadi Hills
Shevaroy Hills
Pachaimalai Hills
Kolli Hills
Sirumalai Hills
Major Peaks
Servarayan – 1,623 m
Kolli Hills – 1,300 m
Key Features
Hill station: Yercaud
Meets Western Ghats at Nilgiris
Coffee & orange cultivation

Summits of the East

Lower than the Western Ghats but rich in character — the Eastern Ghats peaks hold distinct ecosystems and unique biodiversity

The Broken Mountain Chains

Each isolated hill range of the Eastern Ghats has its own character, forests, and cultural significance

Rivers That Divide

Unlike the Western Ghats which birth rivers, the Eastern Ghats are cut through by major Peninsular rivers — making them discontinuous

Cascades of the East

The river gorges cutting through the Eastern Ghats create spectacular waterfalls, many in remote tribal territories

Wildlife & Endemism

While not a global hotspot like the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats harbor several unique and critically endangered species found nowhere else

🐦
300+
Bird Species
Jerdon's Courser endemic
🌲
2,000+
Plant Species
Red sanders unique here
🐅
50+
Tiger Population
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam
🦎
3
Endemic Species
Golden Gecko notable

Forest Cover

Drier than the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats are dominated by tropical dry deciduous forests with pockets of moist forest in river valleys

Dominant Type
Tropical Dry Deciduous
Covers most of the Eastern Ghats. Trees shed leaves in summer. Teak and sal dominate.
TeakSalMahua
River Valleys
Moist Deciduous
Along river valleys with higher moisture. Richer biodiversity than dry zones.
BambooEbonyRosewood
Rain Shadow Areas
Thorn Forests
In areas receiving very low rainfall. Thorny shrubs, cacti, and stunted trees.
AcaciaCactusEuphorbia
Unique to Eastern Ghats
Red Sanders Forest
Found only in Seshachalam Hills. Critically endangered. Heavily smuggled internationally.
Red SandersSandalwoodEndangered

Sanctuaries of the East

A network of national parks, tiger reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries protecting the Eastern Ghats' fragile ecosystems

Mineral Wealth

The Eastern Ghats are among India's richest mineral zones — a blessing and a bane for conservation

Tribal Heritage

The Eastern Ghats have been home to indigenous communities for millennia, with rich cultures, languages, and ecological knowledge

Mountains of Faith

The Eastern Ghats hold some of India's most revered pilgrimage destinations, with temples perched on ancient hills

Eastern vs Western Ghats

A detailed comparison of India's two great escarpment ranges — contrasting in almost every characteristic

Feature ⛰ Eastern Ghats 🌲 Western Ghats
ContinuityDiscontinuous (broken by rivers)Continuous
Length~1,750 km1,600 km
Average Height~600 m~1,500 m
Highest PeakArma Konda (1,690 m)Anamudi (2,695 m)
Annual Rainfall1,000–1,500 mm2,000–8,000 mm
Dominant MonsoonNortheast (Oct–Dec)Southwest (Jun–Sep)
RiversCut through (Godavari, Krishna…)Originate from here
BiodiversityModerateGlobal Hotspot
UNESCO Status✗ Not listed✓ Yes (2012)
EndemismLowerVery High
Rock AgePrecambrian (Archaean)Cretaceous (150 Ma)
Rock TypeGranites, GneissesBasalt (Deccan Traps)
MineralsBauxite, Iron, Mica, ManganeseLaterite, Bauxite
CoastBay of Bengal (East)Arabian Sea (West)
Unique FeatureRed Sanders, Jerdon's CourserShola Forests, Purple Frog

Threats & Protection

The Eastern Ghats face severe pressures from mining, deforestation, and smuggling — while conservation efforts slowly grow

⚠ Major Threats

Ongoing pressures on the ecosystem

  • Bauxite & Iron Ore Mining
    Extensive open-cast mining in Odisha & AP — major habitat destruction
  • 🪓
    Deforestation
    Forest loss for agriculture, timber and development projects
  • 🌲
    Red Sanders Smuggling
    High-value wood illegally exported to East Asia; critically threatened
  • 🏘
    Encroachment
    Expanding settlements into tribal forest areas
  • 🐅
    Human-Wildlife Conflict
    Tiger, elephant and leopard conflicts with farming communities
  • 💧
    Dam Construction
    River gorges submerged by hydroelectric projects

🛡 Conservation Efforts

Steps taken to protect the ecosystem

  • 🐯
    Tiger Reserve Network
    Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam is India's largest Tiger Reserve (3,568 km²)
  • 🌲
    Red Sanders Protection
    AP Forest Dept special task force; CITES Appendix II listing
  • 🗺
    Protected Area Expansion
    New sanctuaries and national parks in biodiversity-rich zones
  • 👥
    Eco-Restoration
    Community-based restoration programs with tribal involvement
  • 🔬
    Research Stations
    Jerdon's Courser monitoring; endemic species surveys
  • Mining Regulation
    Supreme Court orders; environmental impact assessments

Unique Features

Despite being overshadowed by its western counterpart, the Eastern Ghats hold several irreplaceable ecological and cultural treasures

🌲
Red Sanders Forests
Pterocarpus santalinus grows only in Seshachalam Hills of AP. Its deep red wood is among the world's most expensive. Listed under CITES Appendix II. Heavily smuggled to China and Japan.
🐦
Jerdon's Courser
Critically Endangered nocturnal bird found only in rocky ravines of Nallamala Hills (AP). Thought extinct for 86 years, rediscovered in 1986. Fewer than 50 individuals estimated to survive.
🪨
Oldest Rock Formations
Precambrian Archaean gneisses — among the oldest rocks in India at 2–3 billion years. Rich in minerals like bauxite, chromite, mica and iron ore due to ancient weathering cycles.
🦎
Golden Gecko
Calodactylodes aureus — a rare, large golden-yellow gecko found only in Eastern Ghats rocks. Listed as Vulnerable by IUCN. Shelters in rock crevices and temple walls.
🏛
Rich Tribal Culture
Home to Kondh, Savara, Yanadi, Malayali and other ancient tribes with unique languages, art forms, medicinal plant knowledge and traditions dating back thousands of years.
🌊
River Gorge Ecosystems
Papi Hills gorge on Godavari, Nallamala gorges on Krishna — dramatic river-cut passages through mountains creating unique riparian ecosystems with high fish diversity.
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