Top 10 Western/ Eastern ghats treks, south India

Here is the list of the top Western ghats treks that can be covered from Bangalore or Chennai. The following list contains long treks as well as short treks

Top Western Ghats Treks from Bangalore & Chennai

The Western Ghats hills run parallel to the west coast of India and are a major hub for the flora and fauna. It is also a part of the UNESCO world heritage sites. Below are the amazing facts about western Ghats:-

Western Ghats facts:

  • The Western Ghats are the range of mountains which run along the west coast of India. They cover almost four major states of India and are the second-most highest mountain ranges of India after the Himalayas. 1600 km in length, they measure 2/3rd of the Himalayan arc but are 1.25 times the length of the Alps range in Europe.

While Karnataka and Maharastra share the most of the parts of the Western Ghats still they do not have top 10% of the highest peaks. On the other Hand, Kerala and Tamilnadu share the lesser area of the Western Ghats yet the top 10% of the highest peaks. But the sad part is very few of them have permission for trekking.

Even the town of hill station Kodaikanal in Tamilnadu is situated at a higher altitude than the highest peak of the Karnataka.

Nishani Betta Jeep trail, Nilgiris

Nishani Betta Jeep trail, Nilgiris

  • The Western Ghats can be characterized as dense forest and the grasslands. Dense forests are always found at the foot and base of the hills. While grasslands start at around 3500 feet.

The Average elevation of the Western Ghats is 4000 feet. That means most of the peaks lie in the open grasslands and There is no obstructions in viewing the panoramic view of the chain of the mountains from thousands of feet.

Western Ghats clouds

Western Ghats clouds

  • In Karnataka, most of the famous treks start with the English letter ‘K’ like Kumara Parvatha, Kodachadri, Kudremukh, Kote betta same as the letter Karnataka begins with etc.
  • The Western Ghats are the main reason for the monsoon in the western coast of India and they receive a heavy amount of rainfall for more than half a year and these rainfall give birth to many famous rivers and waterfalls like river Kaveri, Periyar, Tungabhadra, Jog falls, Dudhsagar falls etc. These rivers alone combines drain to 40% of India alone.
Dudhsagar waterfalls, Goa

Dudhsagar waterfalls, Goa

  • By trekking, most of the western Ghats peaks can be trekked in a single day; followed by night camping, and descending the next day. Average trek length of the western Ghats peaks is around just 10-11 kms much lesser when compared to the Himalayan treks.

Kodachadri trek through forest

  • Chikmagalur district of Karnataka has the highest number of trekking spots, around 10-12 treks alone in this district. Apart from 4-5 reserve forest range bordering this district.
  • Due to heavy rainfall, it becomes harder to trek through the thick forests in the monsoon. On an average, a brisk trek walk of around one hour in during the monsoon can attract around 15-20 leeches.
  • It becomes harder to take a long break during the trekking in the dense forests of the Western Ghats during monsoon and post-monsoon. As a simple quick fact, just 5 minutes of break during monsoon and after monsoon can attract around 15-20 leeches to our body.

leech bites trekking india south (2)

  • If taken area wise, Western ghat is bigger than most of the Indian state and countries like England, Costa rica, Denmark, Bangladesh etc.
  • Kerala is the most beautiful state in India which is a part of the Western Ghats

Western Ghats reminds me of the different shades of Green: light and dark green mosses grown over dark woods; yellowish palm fields in the valleys; Tea green covering the slopes of the hills; green grasses along every path that you see & dark green forests of the western Ghats.

When it rains in Kerala (6)

Other than these different shades of color, rain is what that catches up my fascination. A couples of days before going for the Brahmagiri peak trek, I was watching a Discovery episode. Luckily, that episode was over monsoon in Western Ghats. Geography being one of my most enjoyed subject, it was fun to learn a lot from that episode. It was even more fun to realize the whole process of rainfall on almost everyday basis in Western Ghats during monsoon. I was knowing that I was going to Kerala for two day trek but I did not know that I would see the whole process of rainfall live infront of my eyes. So here is how I experienced the, what I would call, pre-rain and the rain phenomena.

Pre-rain (Morning to Afternoon):

Rains are brought by the easterly winds in the western Ghats. The Easterly winds from the west carry the moisture from Arabian sea and hence, form a cloud which bring the relief rain.

What is relief rain?

Relief rainfall or relief precipitation is one of the three kinds of precipitation. When masses of air carrying moisture rise along the slopes of high rising hills they get condensed and form clouds. These clouds bring rain.

When it rains in Kerala (7)Masses of air rising along the slope of the hill to form rainy clouds

I was still lying in my bed and looking outside the window out of my blanket overlooking yellowish green palm ranges. Morning in Kerala would mostly be cold because of the last day rain. Last night it has rained. We were to start out trek to the Brahmagiri.

Around 9ó clock we started our ascent to Brahmagiri peak. One has to follow Thirunelli-Pakshipathalam Trail for 4 kilometers and take a deviation midway towards Brahmagiri. Though the weather was very pleasant in the forest stay but, inside the forests, it would mostly be damp and humid. One sweats a lot and on top of that, has to face leeches through out the forest.

When it rains in Kerala (10)Dense forests of kerala during monsoon

Its very hard not to relish the beauty of the nature while trekking through the forest. That again reminds of the different shades of greenish Kerala. Dark green forests; a few leaves olive green in color; new light green mosses hanging onto the fallen tree branches and old dark mosses settled over the rocks. Lime green bamboos and spring bud leaves all paint the whole canvas in greens.

When it rains in Kerala (8)Mosses over woods

Just before noon. we reached open grasslands. In western Ghats, grasslands begins around 3500-4000 feet. These open grasslands would burgeon a varieties of wild flowers. The grasses would be around 3-4 feet tall. Pre-noon time in Kerala would be little sunny and the sun will also keep on playing hide & seek with the clouds. It usually would be warmer but not hot.

To reach to the Brahmagiri peak, we were walking straight along the ridges of the hills. One has to cross 3 hills to reach at the peak. There is no shortcut here. One has to walk along the ridge and cross the hills to reach at the peak. Walking at the ridge gives you maximum local elevation. You can feel the wind blowing and low clouds rising along the slope of the Ghats.

These phenomena were the precursors that rainfall would soon be happening. You can see large masses of low clouds rising along the slopes. You can even feel them if you are walking along the ridge, the white masses approaching you. Look at a distant hill, you can clearly see the rising along the slopes clouds merging with the clouds above you. Along the slope side, the valley depressions are full of fogs and clouds. The more or less looks like a great oval depression filled with smokes.

When it rains in Kerala (5)Clouds rising along the valley and slopes of the hills

In the afternoon, we were at the peak. There were no trees. The sun was shining directly over our head. This shining of sun makes the air warmer and thinner. Thus, low lying clouds start rising and merging into heavy clouds lying not much above western Ghats.

By the afternoon, even the hills get warmer. The surrounding gets thinner. That was our time to return to base camp because we knew that it would rain a lot. Around four in the evening, we were back at the base. Climbing might take hours but descent seldom.

By the time, we reached at our base house, it certainly had become darker but, pleasant. There were no more silvery or low lying white below azure sky in the background. Just in last 10 hours, color of the Kerala has changed from vivid green to gloomy green. High winds had abated. Only cool breezes were there in the air.

When it rains in Kerala (4)Its almost gonna rain over another hill

During rain:

I was standing at the balcony of the KTDC forest house. Houses in those parts of Kerala were slopy. That must have been because of there rains almost throughout a year. There was a pigeon sitting at the red-painted sloppy roof of the house. In front of me, were the dark clouds hanging over to the magnificent hills of the silent Western Ghats. It had started raining. That was a thick and heavy rainfall.

The falling rain creates a flimsy white foreground before the dark hills. As darker and scarier the hills looks like, the white film looks serene the same. Drops falling on the slopes and water falling down from the roof looks like a cold and wet firework.
The pigeon was still sitting there.

When it rains in Kerala (1)Rain and fog together

Unlike Northern plain, I could not feel any terrestrial heat radiating out of heart after the rain fall. But that was there. Far in the distant hills, when water falls on the warm surface of the hills, it evaporates. That would look like another clouds is taking birth out of the earth. Neither the base not the top of the hill is visible. The top of the hills is not visible because that is covered with the clouds and base of the hills is not visible because of the evaporated water forming another cloud.

Everything was told in that Discovery episode and witnessing each phenomenon in front of my eyes was a refreshing experience.

While on the earth around me, all the dust were settled down. All the drain, ditches and drains were filling up with water.
While the pigeon was still sitting over there un-moving like a saint lost in trans. I looked around. Rain drops were hanging onto the needles of Araucanian conifers. That more looked like a plain yet vivid Christmas tree.

When it rains in Kerala (3)Rain drops hanging onto the needle like leaves of conifers

People are so much used to the rain that they still wear the same white Dhoti and Shirt and take black umbrella with them. The white flimsy rain, black umbrella, people in white dresses, grey and dark clouds almost make the whole world look like a black and white world yet more beautiful.

I kept standing there for long time. The wind would bend the direction of falling drops like someone has just swayed them with a giant blow. Its graceful to watch pristine water flowing just in front of your house; conifers holding on the water droplets; clouds kissing the high hills; white curtain forming in the air; the sway of wind and your mind subconsciously lost in thought of someone.

When it rains in Kerala (9)Heat getting dissipated out of hot earth in rain

 

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11 Replies to “Top 10 Western/ Eastern ghats treks, south India”

  1. Rajesh

    Hi, I will be visiting bangalore next month for 3-4 days. Could you recommend me some trekking place that wouldn’t be too much crowded during the weekends?

    I’m looking for a place that has a rich diversity of plants, is at a high altitude and cool climate preferably

  2. Ravi

    Im from Tamil Nadu. we planned for trekking in western ghats but cant find which one is good. maximum 9 members. pls do need full things.

      • B V Murali

        which is best truking place in western ghats ,stay upto 4 to 5 days in the forest its like very adventures .to stay in tents in the forests .within forest no vilages there .

      • trekkerp Post author

        Hi Murali, there are not much trekking places in where you can trek continuously for the 4 to 5 days. You should look out for the Himalayan treks

  3. Priti Ashoka

    We are a school in Andhra Pradesh. Looking for trekking experiences for our children, aged 14 to 17yrs. Max group size 15. What can you suggest in the south? Looking forward to hearing from you.

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