Nilgiri Hills (India)

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 Mountain Railway in 1899 further improved connectivity, and the Nilgiris District was established in 1868 to administer the region. In the 20th century, conservation efforts were undertaken in the Nilgiri Mountains, and several protected areas were established. The Nilgiris forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the country's first biosphere reserve, and was included in UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2000 in recognition of its biodiversity and ecological importance. The mountains experience a temperate climate, and supports a wide variety of vegetation. The vegetation includes tropical evergreen forests on the western slopes, and deciduous forests on the eastern slopes and at lower altitudes. The native vegetation consisted of grasslands interspersed with shola forests at high altitudes, which were threatened by introduced species and plantations in the 19th century. The region has several animal and bird species, including several endemic species.