Anamudi ആനമുടി |
|
---|---|
Anaimudi | |
Anamudi, on the right, as seen from the Munnar-Udumalpettai highway
|
|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 2,695 m (8,842 ft) |
Prominence | 2,479 m (8,133 ft) |
Isolation | 2,115 kilometres (1,314 mi) |
Listing |
Ultra List of Indian states and territories by highest point |
Coordinates | 10°10′09″N 77°03′38″E / 10.16923°N 77.06066°ECoordinates: 10°10′09″N 77°03′38″E / 10.16923°N 77.06066°E |
Naming | |
Translation | Elephant mountain (Malayalam) |
Geography | |
Location | Border of Devikulam Taluk, Idukki district and Kothamangalam Taluk, Ernakulam district, Kerala, India |
Parent range | 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 |
Anamudi ( ആനമുടി) (Malayalam pronunciation: [aːnɐmʊɖi]) is a mountain located in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the highest peak in the Western Ghats and South India, at an elevation of 2,695 metres (8,842 ft), and a topographic prominence of 2,479 metres (8,133 ft). The name Anamudi literally translates to "elephant's forehead," a reference to the resemblance of the mountain to an elephant's head.
The first recorded ascent of 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.
Anamudi is the highest peak in the Western Ghats in India, having an elevation of 2,695 metres (8,842 ft). Anamudi is also the highest point in South India. 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 / 28.58889°N 76.46639°E in Haryana state just to the west of Delhi. The peak is the highest point of the Periyar river basin.
The peak is not exceptionally dramatic in term of steepness or local relief and is a Fault-block mountain. 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, 13 kilometres (8.1 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.