Lush surroundings glistening with dew drops at the break of dawn and tropical humidity giving way to showers at dusk… The echoing sounds of crickets, cicadas, and katydids for lullaby at nighttime… That’s the mesmerizing beauty of Western Ghats. Recognized as one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity, Western Ghats are home to endemic species including the Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, and the Malabar Gliding Frog. Their unique microclimates make them prime hubs for spices and coffee cultivation.
You wake up to this stunning sight of lush misty greenery early morning. By noon you are walking down a humid hilly slope under clear, sun-kissed sky. And that very evening you are sipping by the window your favourite coffee, smelling the moist earth soaked in rains… Well, this isn’t a beautiful dream! It’s absolutely real – yes that’s the uniqueness of Western Ghats of India.
Nestled away in these tropical evergreen forests, one gets to experience rain and shine just like that on any given day. Lush surroundings glistening with dew drops at the break of dawn and the humidity of the daylight giving way to showers at dusk are completely mesmerizing. The echoing sounds of crickets, cicadas, and katydids for lullaby to put you to sleep.
These mountains are recognized as one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Did you know the Western Ghats are older than the mighty Himalayas? Yup, these mountains were formed 65 – 150 million years back, much before the great Himalayan ranges. They span across 140,000 sq km, running through the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Ghats are also the monsoon regulators. They act as a giant barrier that intercepts heavy, moisture-laden southwest monsoon winds.
Spice Trove of India
Their distinctive altitude variations, soil quality, and tropical microclimate climate produce some of the rich and aromatic spices in the world. These include green cardamom (queen of spices), black pepper (King of Spices), cinnamon and cloves.
Leading Coffee Producing Region
Cultivating shade-grown Arabica and Robusta beans, the cool climate, mist, and high altitudes of the region make it ideal for growing coffee, primarily concentrated in Karnataka (Chikmagalur, Coorg and Sakleshpur), Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Hotspot of Biodiversity
The Ghats are famous for endemic species including the Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, and the Malabar Gliding Frog.
