![]() The word Ghat is explained by numerous Dravidian etymons such as the Tamil gattu (hill and hill forest), Kannada gaati and ghatta (mountain range), Tulu gatta (hill or hillside), and ghattam in Malayalam (mountainous way, riverside and hairpin bends). At least 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats. It is likely that many undiscovered species live in the Western Ghats. ![]() The area is one of the world's ten "hottest biodiversity hotspots." It has over 7,402 species of flowering plants, 1,814 species of non-flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 227 reptile species, 179 amphibian species, 290 freshwater fish species, and 6,000 insect species. The average elevation is around 1,200 m (3,900 ft). The Western Ghats block the southwest monsoon winds from reaching the Deccan Plateau. These hills cover 160,000 km 2 (62,000 sq mi) and form the catchment area for complex riverine drainage systems that drain almost 40% of India. The range starts near south of the Tapti river and runs approximately 1,600 km (990 mi) through the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu ending at Marunthuvazh Malai near the southern tip of India. A total of 39 areas in the Western Ghats, including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests, were designated as world heritage sites in 2012 – twenty in Kerala, ten in Karnataka, six in Tamil Nadu and four in Maharashtra. The range runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain called Konkan along the Arabian Sea. They influence Indian monsoon weather patterns by intercepting the rain-laden monsoon winds that sweep in from the south-west during late summer. ![]() According to UNESCO, the Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas. It contains a very large proportion of the country's flora and fauna, many of which are endemic to this region. It is sometimes called the Great Escarpment of India. ![]() It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the eight biodiversity hotspots in the world. Climbing up mountains, swimming underneath waterfalls, and zip lining through the rain forest were some of my favorite moments.The Western Ghats or the Western Mountain range is a mountain range that covers an area of 160,000 km 2 (62,000 sq mi) in a stretch of 1,600 km (990 mi) parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula, traversing the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Photos could never do justice to the beauty that surrounded us. His knowledge and expertise of the land and wildlife made this experience exciting and educational. Brian encouraged me to face challenges I didn't think I could complete. I can truly say that I extended myself beyond what I thought I could. I have always loved the natural world and animals, but I found much more with this trip and connecting with fellow travelers. Kaylynn from IN “The time I spent on Altitude Exotics Adventure Retreat was so amazing. If you love hiking, sight seeing, beautiful views, or any kind of wildlife, you will NOT regret your decision to go on this adventure with Brian!” From hiking to the top of Antelope Falls to watch the sunrise (and again to see a meteor shower), to catching a baby alligator in the Bocawina Rainforest, to relaxing on the beach in Placencia, and all of the other countless little things that happened in between, this was a trip that I truly will not forget for the rest of my life. What I got out of it was much, much more. “I went on this trip in August 2021 and it was nothing short of amazing! I signed up to get a little escape from the monotony of life and see pretty jungle waterfalls and a keel-billed toucan if I got lucky. I am also very grateful to have met Brian and call him my friend.” If you are a enjoy photography like me I strongly suggest bringing your camera. So many incredible things to do and see such has hikes, waterfalls, zipline and much more. “If you are a fan of Brian from Altitude Exotics and love the outdoors this is a trip of a lifetime.
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