Western Ghats, all the shades of green

Vinchu Kata
Come to India: you'll find a moustached guard with a turban eating curry, next to a temple decorated with Kama Sutra carvings, whilst some colorful Bollywood dancers jump in front of a Bengal tiger looking at the scene from the background (on the wild, nothing to do with what you can find on King Tiger's location).

No doubt, the country of Taj Mahal and the fictional city of Brahmpur is full of wonders, and also full of cliches. However, we'd like to introduce you to an India rare to find in the travel agency brochures. Below you'll find a few great scenic views from the large mountain range in the western coast, a wet symphony in green.

Since near 40 properties from the Western Ghats were recognized the past 2012 by the UNESCO as World Heritage, we wanted to pay them a visit. Also some filming locations of the Life of Pi were shot here, so this was the final excuse to collect the best photographic harvest from this land of tea plantations and monsoon weddings:

Vinchukata
The Scorpion's Sting (Vinchu Kata) is a massive fortification that takes advantage of the topography in Lohagad Fort. Image by Amey Salvi and Nilanjan Sasmal


Varandha Pass
The Varandha Pass is a beautiful drive through a northern section of the mountains, in Maharashtra state.
Image by Vivek Athalye


Varandha Ghat
The mossy green makes this valley astonishingly gorgeous, especially in rainy season with its hundreds of waterfalls at full capacity. Image by Rahul Bulbule


Varandha Ghat
Varandha Ghat is a lush misty kingdom of water, great for pictures.
Image by Nilanjan Sasmal


Mahabaleshwar
Striking shores of lake Dhom from Kate's Point, Mahabaleshwar.
Image by Nilanjan Sasmal


Needle hole rock
All along the same watchtower, near the Needle Hole rock.
Image by Nilanjan Sasmal


Western Ghats India
More clouds and a dark red landscape near Pune.
Image by Pranav Prakash


Western Ghats
Next we are jumping south a few hundred miles. You have a map at the end of the post including all the locations.
Image by Hari Ratan


Munnar Tea Estate
Another essential section of the Western Ghats are the tea estates in Kerala.
Image by Manu M G


Filming Locations Life of Pi
Munnar is a hill station surrounded by vast plantations of tea.
Image by Shachi Trivedi


Life of Pi Film Locations
Beyond the tea plantations you have many national parks and reserves around Munnar, like Eravikulam.
Image by Motographer


Where was Life of Pi filmed
Here is where Life of Pi was filmed. The movie includes a few panoramic scenes including these odd texture.
Image by Motographer


Valparai
Valparai is also a picturesque hill station, in the Anaimalai range.
Image by Kumaravel Thangaraj


Tea plantation house
This bungalow from the time of colonial India has now been transformed in a quiet bed and breakfast.
Image by Abraham Chacko


Wild Elephants India
You can even encounter wild elephants around Munnar. Just remember that the national beast is the tiger.
Image by August Gregg


Periyar Tiger Reserve
Periyar Tiger Reserve is a wildlife sanctuary characterized by these artificial lake of dead trees.
Image by Pranav Bhasin



Western Ghats Lake
It almost has the light of a Flemish painting.
Image by Dave Hilditch



Silent Valley National Park
Silent Valley National Park, one of the last virgin sections of rainforest in the south.
Image by Nara Simhan


Indira Gandhi National Park
Silent Valley is also known as Indira Gandhi National Park, as homage to the former Prime Minister who stopped the plans to flood the area under a new dam. Image by Nara Simhan


Silent Valley India
Atmospheric. Thanks to this decision, one of Earth's last unspoilt ecosystems still exist.
Image by Nara Simhan


Yellow and blue crickets
We almost forgot to tell you why Western Ghats are so valuable: According to UNESCO, they treasure one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity. Image by Nara Simhan


Niagara of India
The Athirapally Falls, considered -a little extreme- the Indian Niagara, are our last stop.
Image by Dhimant Patel


Athirapally Falls
Image by Iriyas



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