Up to 1,000 peaks go into one checklist. If the list holds more, the first 1,000 in the current order are taken.
Nothing saved yet
Every outline is a range: hover for its highest elevation, click to open it.Each outline is a range: tap one to open its page. Move the map with two fingers.
The Southeastern Ghats form a broad, broken hill belt in southern India, stretching across parts of the Eastern Ghats and rising from low coastal plains to forested uplands and plateau edges. Rather than one continuous ridge, it is a mosaic of ranges and hill groups, including the Nallamala, Shevaroy, Kolli, Javadi and Biligiriranga hills. For travellers, that means a mix of remote valleys, temple hills, wildlife-rich forests and scenic road access. The highest ground reaches about 1,794 m, offering cooler air, long views and rewarding trekking away from the lowland heat.
No photos of this range yet. Add the first one — a view from a pass, a summit or the valley below.
The Southeastern Ghats are a geographically defined sub-range of the Eastern Ghats in India, spread across a wide swath of the peninsula and broken into many separate hill blocks. They run through interior parts of southern and southeastern India rather than forming a single continuous wall, with uplands, escarpments and plateau margins separated by river valleys and settled lowlands. Major sub-ranges include the Nallamala Hills, Shevaroy Hills, Javadi Hills, Palkonda Range, Velikonda Range, Kolli Hills, Kalrayan Hills, Biligiriranga Hills and Nagari Hills. The landscape links the Eastern Ghats to the Deccan interior and the coastal plains.
Like the wider Eastern Ghats, the Southeastern Ghats are ancient terrain shaped by very old crustal rocks later uplifted, fractured and worn down over immense time. Their core is dominated by hard metamorphic and crystalline rocks, including gneiss and charnockite in many areas, with granites and other resistant formations also present. Unlike young fold mountains, these hills are the eroded remnants of a much older landscape, later dissected by rivers and weathering. Steep scarps, rounded summits, rocky ridges and isolated hill masses are typical, and the region has seen long periods of tropical erosion rather than recent glaciation.
The Southeastern Ghats do not have a single famous summit list, but their appeal lies in high points scattered across the hill groups. The highest elevation in the range reaches about 1,794 m, making the upper plateaus and ridge tops the main objectives for trekkers. In practice, climbers and hikers are drawn more to the character of the hills than to named peaks: forested summits, temple-topped ridges, and viewpoints above the surrounding plains. The Biligiriranga, Shevaroy, Kolli and Nallamala hills are especially well known for their accessible high ground and scenic outlooks.
Trekking in the Southeastern Ghats is usually hill-based rather than expedition-style, with routes that combine forest paths, village tracks, temple climbs and ridge walks. Popular trekking areas include the Kolli Hills, Shevaroy Hills, Javadi Hills, Biligiriranga Hills and parts of the Nallamala and Palkonda ranges. Many routes are moderate in length but can be steep, humid and navigation-heavy, especially where trails cross reserve forests or remote plateau edges. Hut-to-hut trekking is uncommon; most visitors use roadheads, local guesthouses or village stays and then make day hikes or short overnight walks.
This range is better suited to trekking, scrambling and hill walking than technical mountaineering. Most objectives are non-technical, though steep escarpments, rocky outcrops and forested ridges can demand sure footing and route-finding. There are few, if any, classic alpine-style climbs, and the best-known outings are usually summit hikes or ridge traverses rather than graded rock routes. The main climbing season is generally the cooler, drier part of the year, when heat, humidity and monsoon runoff are less severe. First-time visitors to Indian hill terrain will find it approachable if they are fit and comfortable with rough trails.
The Southeastern Ghats support a strong ecological gradient, from dry scrub and deciduous forest at lower levels to denser hill forest, bamboo stands and moist evergreen patches in favoured pockets. Wildlife can include deer, langurs, wild boar, elephants in some forested tracts, and a wide variety of birds, reptiles and butterflies. Because the hills are fragmented, biodiversity often varies sharply from one block to another. Several areas overlap with protected forests and wildlife reserves, and the Biligiriranga region is especially known for conservation value. For travellers, the mix of forest, rock and cultivated hill slopes is a major part of the appeal.
The climate is strongly seasonal and changes with elevation. Lower slopes are hot for much of the year, while the higher hills are noticeably cooler and more comfortable. The dry season generally offers the best trekking conditions, with clearer skies, firmer trails and easier road access. During the monsoon, heavy rain can make forest paths slippery, swell streams and reduce visibility, while post-monsoon months often bring lush scenery and good views. Early starts are wise year-round, especially on exposed ridges and in humid valleys where heat builds quickly by midday.
Q: Can I get mobile signal or use a satellite communicator in the Southeastern Ghats?
A: Coverage is patchy and often drops out in valleys, forest blocks and on the back side of ridges. Do not rely on a single network for safety. A satellite messenger or PLB is a smart backup for remote hill sections, especially if you are trekking beyond roadheads or staying overnight away from villages.
Q: Are there huts, forest rest houses, or should I plan to camp in the Southeastern Ghats?
A: Most routes are not hut-to-hut in the alpine sense. You may find forest rest houses, guesthouses, temple stays or village accommodation near some trailheads, but many areas are best handled as day hikes or simple overnights. Wild camping can be restricted in protected forests, so confirm local rules before carrying a tent.
Q: Do I need permits, entry fees, or special permission to climb in the Southeastern Ghats?
A: Often yes, especially inside reserve forests, wildlife areas or temple-managed hill zones. Fees, entry gates and timing rules can vary by hill block, and some tracks may close during fire risk or conservation work. Check locally for any restricted zones, and carry ID plus cash for small entry charges where they apply.
Q: Do I need a guide or expedition agency for the Southeastern Ghats, or can I climb independently?
A: Independent travel is usually possible on established trekking hills and road-accessed viewpoints, but a local guide is useful for forest routes, night approaches and less-marked ridge paths. Expedition agencies are generally unnecessary because this is not a high-altitude technical range. Solo travel is possible in some areas, but it is safer to avoid it in remote forest sections.
Q: How do I reach the Southeastern Ghats, and how long is the approach to base camp?
A: Access is usually by road from nearby towns in southern India, with the nearest airports depending on which hill block you choose. Many trailheads are reachable by bus, taxi or private vehicle, and some start close to villages or temple settlements. Approaches are often short to moderate, though remote forest objectives can require several hours on foot or the use of local porters or pack animals in some areas.
Q: What climbing experience do I need, and is the Southeastern Ghats good for a first-time visitor?
A: This range suits strong trekkers and first-time hill visitors more than technical climbers. You should be comfortable with steep ascents, humid conditions, uneven rock and basic navigation on forest trails. It is a good introduction to Indian hill travel if you want scenic, non-technical objectives, but less suitable if you are seeking glacier travel or serious alpine climbing.
