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Anamudi
Anamudi sometimes called as Anaimudi has been found to be located in Kerala state of India. It is considered as the highest peak of the Western Ghats as well as South India comprising of an elevation of 2,695 meters and has topography of 2,479 meters. The literal meaning of Anamudi is "elephant's forehead", which actually refers to the appearance of the mountain resembling to the head of an elephant.
The premier ascent of Anamudi as per the records had been done on 4th May 1862 by General Douglas Hamilton belonging to the Madras Army, however, it is said that there were earlier ascents already done by the local people.
Facts and Features
Anamudi is regarded as the highest peak of Western Ghats in the country which has an elevation of 2,695 meters. The highest point of South India is Anamudi and it is also the highest point outside the range of Himalaya-Karakoram Mountain. Anamudi thus has relatively a great topographic prominence having 2,479 meters and the key saddle associated is more than 2,000 kilometers distant in the state of Haryana towards west of Delhi. The peak remains the highest point of the basin of river Periyar.
This peak is not having much steepness and has been a fault-block mountain. The location of these mountains falls in the southern part of Eravikulam National park having Anaimalai hills, Cardamom hills and Palani hills at the junction. The closest town is Munnar which is 13 km distant. Anamudi has the easiest route for reaching there and has a technical hike which can be done with ease on the grass slopes and begins from the rolling hill plateau having a base elevation of 2,000 meters. The south and north slopes remain gentle whereas the west and east slopes have steeper rock faces.
Anamudi along with Eravikulam National Park in its surrounding has a surviving population of the Nilgiri Tahr, the animal of state Tamil Nadu. There are Bengal tigers, Asian Elephants, Nilgiri Marten and Gaur to name a few species found. The Anamudi summit has been vegetated with wintergreen species such as Arundinaria densifolia.
Conservation
The conserved area of Anamudi is the Anamudi Shola National Park which has been protected and lies along the Western Ghats in the Idukki district of state of Kerala. It comprises of Mannavan shola, Pullardi shola, Idivara shola which spread over an area of 7.5 kmĀ².
The administration of the park is under the control of Kerala Department of Forests as well as Wildlife and Munnar Wildlife Division having Mathikettan Shola National Park, Kurinjimala Sanctuary and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. The Western Ghats and Anamalai Sub-Cluster includes Eravikulam National Park and efforts are on to make it a UNESCO World heritage site.
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