Friday, 23 July 2010

annamali

Anaimalai Hills (Tamil: ஆனைமலை, Malayalam: ആനമല) is a range of mountains in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala states of South India. The name "Anaimalai" derives from the Tamil word 'Anai' meaning elephant[2] and 'Malai' meaning hill, thus Elephant Hill. The highest peak of the Anaimalai Hills isAnamudi, (2,695 meters (8,842 ft)), located in the Idukki district of Kerala. It is the highest peak in India, south of the Himalayas. To the north, Palghat Gap divides the Western Ghats. The lower slopes of hills now have coffee and tea plantations as well as teak forests of great economic value.

The Western Ghats, Anamalai Sub-Cluster, including the Anaimalai Hills, is under consideration by theUNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.[3]