BharatNotes What is Western and Eastern Ghats?
The Western and Eastern Ghats are the two escarpment-like hill ranges that border the Deccan Plateau of peninsular India. The Western Ghats (locally the Sahyadris) stretch about 1,600 km along the Arabian Sea coast through six states — Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Eastern Ghats form a discontinuous chain along the Bay of Bengal coast across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The two ranges meet at the Nilgiri Hills.
Comparative features
| Feature | Western Ghats | Eastern Ghats |
|---|---|---|
| Continuity | Continuous, unbroken wall | Discontinuous, eroded by rivers |
| Length | ~1,600 km | ~1,750 km (broken segments) |
| Average elevation | ~1,200 m | ~600 m |
| Highest peak | Anamudi, 2,695 m (Kerala) | Arma Konda/Jindhagada, 1,680 m (Andhra Pradesh) |
| Rainfall role | Windward; heavy orographic rain | Leeward/lower; minor influence |
| Biodiversity status | UNESCO World Heritage hotspot | Not a recognised hotspot |
Significance
The Western Ghats intercept the south-west monsoon, giving their windward (western) slopes very heavy rainfall while casting a rain shadow over the Deccan interior. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 2012) comprising 39 serial component sites in seven sub-clusters, and host nearly 30% of India's plant and animal species, with very high endemism and at least 325 globally threatened species. The Ghats are also the source region of major peninsular rivers — the Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri rise in the Western Ghats and flow eastward, crossing the Eastern Ghats to reach the Bay of Bengal, which is why the Eastern Ghats are dissected into segments.
The Palghat (Palakkad) Gap is the most important break in the Western Ghats — a major lowland corridor for road, rail and movement of biota; it is also the widest and oldest of the gaps. Other gaps include the Thal Ghat and Bhor Ghat in the north.
Current status and conservation
The Western Ghats face pressure from mining, hydropower, plantations, urbanisation and tourism. The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (Gadgil Committee, report submitted 2011) recommended treating much of the Ghats as ecologically sensitive; the subsequent High Level Working Group (Kasturirangan Committee, report submitted 2013) proposed a smaller Ecologically Sensitive Area covering roughly 37% of the Western Ghats. Implementation of an Ecologically Sensitive Area notification by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has remained contested among the six states for over a decade (status as of mid-2026).
UPSC angle
Aspirants should fix the contrasts: continuity, height, peaks, and rainfall role. Remember the convergence point (Nilgiris), the highest peaks (Anamudi in the west, Arma Konda in the east), the Palghat Gap, and that east-flowing peninsular rivers slice the Eastern Ghats. Link the Western Ghats to biodiversity-conservation debates (Gadgil vs Kasturirangan) for GS3.
