Anaimalai Hills
The Anaimalai Hills (Tamil: ஆனைமலை) or Anamala Hills (in Malayalam) is a range of mountains in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala states of South India. The name "Anaimalai" derives from the Tamil word 'Anai' meaning elephant[1] and 'Malai' meaning hill, thus Elephant Hill. The highest peak of the Anaimalai Hills is Anamudi, 2,695 metres (8,842 ft), located in the Idukki district of Kerala. It is the highest peak in India, south of the Himalayas.
The Western Ghats, Anamalai Sub-Cluster, including the Anaimalai Hills, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.[2]
Geography
These hills are located between 10° 13' and 10° 31' N. and 76° 52' and 77° 23' E., central point: 10°22′N 77°07.5′E / 10.367°N 77.1250°E, forming a portion of the Western Ghats, south of where this range is broken by the Palghat Gap, south of the Nilgiri Hills. They constitute the meeting point of the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats. They border the state of Kerala on the Southwest and the Cardamom Hills to the southeast. To the east are the Palni Hills. Their geological formation is metamorphic gneiss, veined with felspar and quartz, and interspersed with reddish porphyrite.[3] Twelve Major forest types are found in the area which are now fragmented by many coffee and tea plantations on the lower slopes and teak plantations higher up. Monsoon rains are heavy. Annual rainfall varies from 2,000 mm to 5,000 mm in the area.[4] There are several large dams are in the area including: Aliayar Dam, Amaravathi Dam, Kaddambarrai dam, Neerar Dam, Sholayar Dam (one of the biggest of its kinds in Asia) Mannambhally Dam, and the largest capacity dam in India, the Parambikulam Dam.
Fauna
Anaimalai hills are known for their abundant wildlife. Eravikulam National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary and the adjacent The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in these hills are well known for elephants. Numerous wildlife species can be seen including elephants, gaur, water buffaloes, tigers, panthers, sloth bears, pangolins, Black-headed Orioles, crocodiles, Green Pigeons, civet cats, Dhole, Sambar and 31 groups of endangered lion-tailed macaques.[5],[6] Birds seen include Pied hornbill, Red Whiskered Bulbul and Drongo.
Visitor information
Anaimalai hills are a trekking destination in the Western Ghats. The best time to visit this place is during November to mid May. The nearest airport is in Coimbatore and the nearest railway station is in the nearest city,Pollachi.
See also
See Annamalai Hill for the hill and temple at Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu
References
- ^ Fabricius, Johann Philipp. (1972) J. P. Fabricius's Tamil and English dictionary, 4th ed., rev. and enl. Tranquebar: Evangelical Lutheran Mission Pub. House, retrieved 6/18/2007 anai (āṉai), an elephant
- ^ UNESCO, World Heritage sites, Tentative lists, Western Ghats sub cluster, Niligiris. retrieved 4/20/2007 World Heritage sites, Tentative lists
- ^ 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica ANAMALAI HILLS
- ^ Sajeev T.K. et.al., Management of Forests in India for Biological Diversity and Forest Productivity- A New Perspective, WII-USDA Forest Service Collaborative Project Grant No. FG-In-780 (In-FS-120), Volume III (ACA) Anaimalai Conservation Area.
- ^ Singh M, Singh M, Kumar MA, Kumara HN, Sharma AK, Kaumanns W. (2002) Distribution, population structure, and conservation of lion-tailed macarques (Macaca silenus) in the Anaimalai Hills, Western Ghats, India, Am J Primatol, Jun;57(2):91-102.Abstract
- ^ H. N. Kumara, M. Ananda Kumar, A. K. Sharma, H. S. Sushma, Mridula Singh and Mewa Singh (11/10/2004) Diversity and management of wild mammals in tea gardens in the rainforest regions of the Western Ghats, India: A case study from a tea estate in the Anaimalai Hills CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 87, NO. 9, retrieved 6/18/2007 PDF