Anamudi

Infobox Mountain
Name = Anamudi
Photo = Anaimudi.jpg
Caption = Anamudi from Eravikulam National Park
Elevation = convert|2695|m|ft|0
Location = Kerala, India
Range = Western Ghats
Prominence = convert|2479|m|ft|0
Coordinates = coord|10|10|N|77|04|E|type:mountain
Topographic

Type =
Age =
First ascent =
Easiest route = hike
Translation =
Language =
Pronunciation = Location map
India| label=Anamudi
mark=RedMountain.svg| marksize=18 | position=right
lat_deg=10|lat_min=10|lat_sec=|lat_dir=N
lon_deg=77|lon_min=4|lon_sec=|lon_dir=E
width=290 | float=right
caption=Location in India

Anamudi (Anamudi in Malayalam meaning The Elephant Peak and Anai mudi in Tamil, meaning "elephant's brow" [cite web|url=http://avmahajan.blogspot.com/2007/06/straight-on-horses-mouth.html|title=Straight on the horse's mouth|Publisher=Ashish Mahajan] ) is the highest peak in the Western Ghats in India, having an elevation of convert|2695|m|ft|0. It is located in the southern region of Eravikulam National Park at the junction of the Cardamom Hills, the Anaimalai Hills and the Palni Hills. The nearest town is Munnar, 13km away.

Anamudi is the highest point in South India, and also the highest point in India outside the Himalaya-Karakoram system. This gives Anamudi its relatively large topographic prominence of convert|2479|m|ft|0, the associated key saddle being 2000km away at coord|28|35|20|N|76|27|59|E. [cite web|url=http://www.peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/south_india.html|title=Southern India Mountain Ultra-Prominence|Publisher=peaklist.org] The peak is not exceptionally dramatic in terms of steepness or local relief.

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 2000m. The north and south slopes are gentle, while the east and west slopes are steeper, with more difficult rock faces. The first recorded ascent of the Anamudi was by General Douglas Hamilton of the Madras Army on May 4, 1862, but it is likely that there had been earlier ascents by local people.

Flora and Fauna

Anamudi and the Eravikulam National Park surrounding it is home to the largest surviving population of Nilgiri tahr, estimated at about 750 animals. The summit of the Anamudi is vegetated with patches of stunted Arundinaria densifolia and Gaultheria fragrantissima (wintergreen), Anaphalis sp., Impatiens and some species of Eniocaulon. [cite web|url=http://www.eravikulam.org/managementplan.htm|title=Eravikulam National Park Management Plan|Publisher=Eravikulam National Park]

References