Anamudi is a mountain located in Ernakulam district and Idukki district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the highest peak in the Western Ghats and in South India, at an elevation of 2,695 metres (8,842 ft)[1] and a topographic prominence of 2,479 metres (8,133 ft).[2] [4] The name Anamudi literally translates to "elephant's head" a reference to the resemblance of the mountain to an elephant's head.[5] Anamudi is the highest mountain in peninsular India as well as the largest mountain in Kerala. Meanwhile, the highest independent mountain (free-standing mountain) in Kerala is the Cheriyam mountain in Malappuram district. Cheriyam mountain is located at an elevation of 613 m (2,011 ft) above sea level.
Anamudi | |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 2,695 m (8,842 ft)[1] |
Prominence | 2,479 m (8,133 ft)[2] |
Isolation | 2,115 km (1,314 mi) |
Listing | Ultra List of Indian states and territories by highest point |
Coordinates | 10°10′09″N 77°03′38″E[3] |
Naming | |
English translation | Elephant peak |
Language of name | Malayalam |
Geography | |
Location | Border of Kothamangalam Taluk, Ernakulam district and Devikulam Taluk, Idukki district, Kerala, India[4] |
Parent range | Anaimalai Hills, Western Ghats |
Geology | |
Age of rock | Cenozoic (100 to 80 mya) |
Mountain type | Fault-block |
Climbing | |
First ascent | General Douglas Hamilton in 1862 |
Easiest route | hike |
The first recorded ascent of Anamudi was by General Douglas Hamilton of the Madras Army on 4 May 1862,[citation needed] but it is likely that there had been earlier ascents by local people.
Anamudi peak is one of only three ultra prominent peaks in South India. It is also the peak with the greatest topographic isolation within India.[6] It is the highest point in India south of Himalayas. Thus it is known as "Everest of South India".[7] The peak is not exceptionally dramatic in term of steepness or local relief and is a fault-block mountain.[8] It is located in the southern region of Eravikulam National Park at the junction of the Cardamom Hills, the Anaimalai Hills and the Palani Hills. The nearest town is Munnar, at a distance of 13 kilometres (8 mi). The easiest route to the summit of Anamudi is a technically easy hike on grass slopes, starting from a rolling hill plateau with a base elevation of about 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). The north and south slopes are gentle, while the east and west slopes are steeper, with more difficult rock faces.
Anamudi and the Eravikulam National Park surrounding it is home to the largest surviving population of the Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius). Asian elephants, gaur, Bengal tigers, and the Nilgiri marten (Martes gwatkinsii) are some of the species of animals found here .[9] The Anamudi peak[10] area is also habitat of a unique frog Raorchestes resplendens.[11] This newly discovered species is located in the Eravikulam National Park and is restricted to less than three km2 on the summit of Anamudi.[12] The summit of the Anamudi is vegetated with patches of stunted Arundinaria densifolia and Gaultheria fragrantissima (wintergreen), Anaphalis sp., Impatiens and some species of Eriocaulon.[13]
Anamudi is the highest peak in the Western Ghats in India,[14] having an elevation of 2,695 metres (8,842 ft).[1][3] Anamudi is also the highest point in South India.[9] This gives Anamudi its relatively large topographic prominence of 2,479 metres (8,133 ft), the associated key saddle being over 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) away at 28°35′20″N 76°27′59″E in Haryana state just to the west of Delhi.[2] The peak is the highest point of the Periyar River basin.[15] Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies it as subtropical highland (Cwb). Sholas are found in its valleys, like most meadows of the Western Ghats.[16]
Climate data for Munnar | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 16.2 (61.2) |
18.0 (64.4) |
20.0 (68.0) |
22.0 (71.6) |
26.2 (79.2) |
25.5 (77.9) |
22.0 (71.6) |
21.9 (71.4) |
19.8 (67.6) |
19.2 (66.6) |
18.7 (65.7) |
17.8 (64.0) |
26.2 (79.2) |
Average high °C (°F) | 10.2 (50.4) |
12.5 (54.5) |
14.4 (57.9) |
15.7 (60.3) |
16.8 (62.2) |
15.5 (59.9) |
13.8 (56.8) |
13.2 (55.8) |
12.7 (54.9) |
12.2 (54.0) |
12.0 (53.6) |
11.5 (52.7) |
13.4 (56.1) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.6 (43.9) |
9.0 (48.2) |
10.8 (51.4) |
11.8 (53.2) |
12.6 (54.7) |
11.8 (53.2) |
10.8 (51.4) |
10.3 (50.5) |
9.7 (49.5) |
9.2 (48.6) |
8.9 (48.0) |
8.2 (46.8) |
10.0 (49.9) |
Average low °C (°F) | 3.0 (37.4) |
5.5 (41.9) |
7.2 (45.0) |
8.0 (46.4) |
8.5 (47.3) |
8.2 (46.8) |
7.8 (46.0) |
7.5 (45.5) |
6.8 (44.2) |
6.2 (43.2) |
5.8 (42.4) |
5.0 (41.0) |
6.6 (43.9) |
Record low °C (°F) | −7.2 (19.0) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
2.0 (35.6) |
5.6 (42.1) |
5.0 (41.0) |
4.5 (40.1) |
4.0 (39.2) |
3.8 (38.8) |
3.0 (37.4) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 18 (0.7) |
29 (1.1) |
47 (1.9) |
129 (5.1) |
189 (7.4) |
420 (16.5) |
583 (23.0) |
364 (14.3) |
210 (8.3) |
253 (10.0) |
164 (6.5) |
64 (2.5) |
2,470 (97.3) |
Average rainy days | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 84 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 248 | 232 | 248 | 240 | 217 | 120 | 124 | 124 | 150 | 155 | 180 | 217 | 2,255 |
Source 1: Climate-Data.org, altitude: 2695m[16] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Weather2Travel for sunshine and rainy days[17] |
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