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The Eastern Ghats is a mountain range that stretches along the eastern coast of the Indian peninsula. Covering an area of , it traverses the states of Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The range forms a discontinuous chain of mountains along the eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau, stretching from north of the Mahanadi River in Odisha to Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu at the southern end of the peninsula. The Eastern Ghats meet the Western Ghats at the Nilgiris. The average elevation is around and Arma Konda is the highest peak in the mountains at .
Geological evidence indicates that the mountains were formed during the archeozoic era and became part of the Indian subcontinent post the break-up of the supercontinent of Rodinia and the formation of Gondwana. The mountains were formed through further metamorphism during the mid-Proterozoic era. The northern section of the range has an elevation ranging from and lies mostly in Odisha. The middle section stretches up to the Penna River and consists of two parallel ranges with an average elevation of . At the southern end, the range is made up of several smaller hills.
The Eastern Ghats form a part of one of the major Drainage basin of India, consisting of many perennial river systems such as the Godavari, Krishna River, Mahanadi and Kaveri. Because of the higher elevation of the Deccan plateau on the west, most rivers originate from the Western Ghats and flow eastwards to cut across the range to the Bay of Bengal. As the mountains are discontinuous and have a lower elevation, they have a considerably lesser influence than the Western Ghats on the weather patterns in India. However, orography studies indicate that the range does play a role in bringing rainfall to the eastern coastal areas.
The weather is normally dry and humid with seasonal rainfall. There are nine different forest types found in the region including evergreen, deciduous and thorn forests. The Eastern Ghats region contains a large number of different species of flora and fauna, some of which are endemic to this region.
In the mesoproterozoic era, the range was compacted and re-aligned north-east. The structure includes multiple Thrust fault and strike-slip faults along its range. The Eparchaean Unconformity of the Tirumala Hills is a major unconformity of stratigraphy significance that represents an extensive period of erosion and non-deposition, which is evident from the steep natural slopes, and ravines. Along the western edge, sedimentary rocks were deposited due to volcanic activity, which and later formed schist belts. The region consists of bauxite, iron ore and limestone reserves. The major soil types found are red soil, chernozem, laterite soil, and alluvial soil.
The range can be roughly divided into three separate sections. The northern section of the range lies majorly in Odisha and stretches from the Similipal hills in the north to the Andhra Pradesh border. It has an elevation ranging from with the highest peak at Deomali (1672 m). The central section lies in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and stretches up to the Penna River. It consists of two parallel ranges with an average elevation of and is separated by a wide gorge through which the rivers Godavari and Krishna River flow. The hills continue as Javadi Hills and Shevaroy Hills, south of Chennai and meet with the Western Ghats at Nilgiris. The Biligiriranga and Malai Mahadeshwara Hills in Karnataka form a corridor linking the two mountain ranges. At the southern end, the range is made up of several smaller hills such as the Sirumalai.
| +Hill ranges of Eastern Ghats | |||
| North | Odisha | Similipal | Mayurbhanj |
| Garhjat Hills | Bargarh district, Jharsuguda, Kendujhar, Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Sundergarh | ||
| Gandhamardan | Balangir, Bargarh district, Sambalpur | ||
| Kandhamal | Kalahandi, Phulbani | ||
| Niyamgiri | Kalahandi, Rayagada | ||
| Deomali | Koraput district | ||
| Mahendragiri | Gajapati | ||
| Central | Telangana | ||
| Palakonda, Antikonda, Burrakonda, Pathapatnam, Mandasa, Sompeta | Parvathipuram, Srikakulam | ||
| Salur, Peddakonda, Duggeru, Gurupam, Kalikonda, Sunkarimetta, Madgole–Anantagiri, Chintapalli–Sapparla–Gudem–Marripakala | Alluri, Parvathipuram, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram | ||
| Gurthedu, Addateegala, Rampachodavaram, Maredumili, Bison Hills | Alluri, East Godavari | ||
| Polavaram, Papikonda | Alluri, Eluru district, West Godavari | ||
| Kondapalli | Krishna district | ||
| Kondaveedu Fort | Palnadu district | ||
| Nallamala Hills | Guntur district, Kurnool district, Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Prakasam, Wanaparthy | ||
| Yerramala, Palakonda | Kadapa district | ||
| Veligonda | Nellore district | ||
| Seshachalam, Lankamala, Nagari, Kambakkam | Chittoor, Kadapa district, Tirupati | ||
| South | Tamil Nadu | Biligiriranga | Chamarajanagar |
| Kambakkam | Vellore district | ||
| Javadi Hills | Tirupathur, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore district | ||
| Gingee | Viluppuram | ||
| Servarayan Hills, Kalrayan Hills | Salem district | ||
| Kolli Hills, Bodhamalai, Nainamalai | Namakkal | ||
| Chitteri Hills | Dharmapuri | ||
| Melagiri | Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri | ||
| Pachaimalai | Tiruchirappalli |
| + Minor rivers of the Eastern Ghats | |
| Odisha | Baitarani, Brahmani River, Budhabalanga, Nagavali River, Rushikulya, Sabari River, Subarnarekha, Vamsadhara River |
| Andhra Pradesh | Champavathi, Chitravathi,Gosthani River, Gundlakamma, Kundu River, Penna River, Sarada River, Sileru River, Swarnamukhi, Tammileru |
| Tamil Nadu | Amaravathi River, Palar, Ponnaiyar River, Swetha River, Thamirabharani, Varaha River, Vaigai, Vellar River |
The streams and rivers give rise to numerous waterfalls in the region. The region also consists of many wetlands and large coastal lagoons such as the Chilika Lake, Kolleru lake and Pulicat Lake lakes. The rivers have been dammed for hydroelectric and irrigation purposes, with major reservoirs spread across the region. (2025). 9789058092380, Central Board of Irrigation and Power. ISBN 9789058092380
The region is home to more than 4500 species of angiosperms, which account for 13% of the flowering plant species in India. About 166 species of flowering plants are endemic to the Eastern Ghats and more than ten new species have been discovered in the region since the early 2010s. About 184 species of ferns, and 190 species of orchids have been recorded in the region. Commercially viable tree species include Indian rosewood, teak, mahogany, and red sandalwood.
| +Bio-diversity of Eastern Ghats | ||
| Mammals | 100 | 250 |
| Birds | 425 | 1224 |
| Reptiles | 99 | 197 |
| Amphibians | 100 | 408 |
| Fishes | 155 | 2546 |
Mammals found in the region include the Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, Indian wild dog, golden jackal, Indian fox, and other cat species such as jungle cat, fishing cat, and leopard cat. Large herbivores include Indian elephant, blackbuck, sambar deer, spotted deer, barking deer, Indian gazelle, four-horned antelope, Indian bison, wild boar, Indian crested porcupine, mouse deer, and nilgai. Other smaller mammals include grey slender loris, Indian hare, Indian hedgehog, Indian mongoose, mole rat, smooth coated otter, Indian pangolin, palm civet, Indian giant flying squirrel, and Madras treeshrew. Bonnet macaque, rhesus macaque, and Hanuman langur are the major primates. The region is also home to more than 15 species of bats.
Bird surveys have found about 425 species belonging to 57 families in the region. Four species of hornbills are found in the region and are considered keystone species. The Jerdon's courser was thought to be extinct in the wild before it was re-discovered in the range in 1986. More than 50% of the wild population of the critically endangered Indian bustard is found in the region. Common and widespread species include the red-vented bulbul, white-browed bulbul, red-whiskered bulbul, common iora, and purple-rumped sunbird. Five species of birds that are endemic to the Western Ghats region have been sighted in the fringes of the Eastern Ghats. These include grey-headed bulbul, Nilgiri wood pigeon, Malabar parakeet, crimson-backed sunbird, and rufous babbler. Other species of avifauna include laughing dove, Indian nightjar, jungle owlet, red avadavat, Malayan night heron, striated heron, white-naped woodpecker, savanna nightjar, brown hawk-owl, Nilgiri flowerpecker, spot-bellied eagle-owl, blue-eared kingfisher, green imperial pigeon, oriental dwarf kingfisher, Indian swiftlet, and white-browed fantail. Raptors included white-eyed buzzard, grey-headed fish eagle, lesser fish eagle. Two species of critically endangered vultures – Indian vulture and red-headed vulture have been reported in the region.
There are about 99 reptile species found in the region. These include Bengal monitor, and endemic species such as Yercaud slender gecko, burrowing limbless skink, spotted Eastern Ghats skink, and Madras spotted skink. The Indian golden gecko, and Jeypore ground gecko were rediscovered in 1986 and 2010 respectively. Other reptiles include Gekkonidae, Scincidae, Lacertidae, Agamidae, Chameleonidae, and Varanidae. Snakes include Typhlopidae, Uropeltidae, Erycidae, Elapidae, vipers, kraits, coral snakes, and Pythonidae. There are about 100 species of amphibians found in the region including toads, pond frogs, cricket frogs, bull frogs, burrowing frogs, balloon frogs, Microhyla, tree frogs, and golden-backed frogs. There are also about 155 species of freshwater fish from 28 families found across the waters in the region. Insects include nearly 150 species of butterflies and nine species of tarantulas amongst others.
Till 1980, logging was a major contributor for the loss of forest cover with decrease in tree species such as teak, sal, red sandalwood, and sandalwood. Though laws in 1988 curtailed illegal logging, wood is still quarried by people for making charcoal, firewood, and construction. Forest produce is a source of income for people living in the fringes of the ranges. Over harvesting of forest produce for fodder, traditional medicine, and domestic uses along with unscientific extraction methods and burning of forests have been threats. The introduction of alien species either by deliberate or non deliberate means have resulted in competition to native species. The construction of large dams across rivers in the region have submerged more than of forest cover.
The Eastern Ghats region is rich in minerals and semi-precious stones. Illegal mining, poor mining processes, over exploitation, and unsafe disposal of debris have resulted in issues bio-degeneration of the areas. Eight of the 29 forest fire prone districts are located in the region and, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh recorded the most forest fires in 2014. With more than 90% of these fires caused by humans, this has resulted in loss of forest cover. Practices such as shifting cultivation, plantations, and illegal encroachments are the major agricultural contributors to deforestation. Increased urbanisation, and expansion of cities, construction of roads and railways, and tourism have led to encroachments into forest lands, and threats to bio-diversity in the region.
The Government of India had enacted various policies over the years to address the environmental concerns, access to forest resources, and protection of wildlife. Three national parks, two biosphere reserves, and 22 wildlife sanctuaries are present in the Eastern Ghats region. The protected areas include five tiger reserves under the Project Tiger, and an elephant reserve under the Project Elephant protection plans. About 13 eco-sensitive zones have been declared, which are jointly managed with the local communities.
| + Protected areas | ||||
| Odisha | Badrama Wildlife Sanctuary | 1962 | 304.03 | Sambalpur |
| Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary | 1978 | 191.06 | Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj | |
| Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary | 1992 | 147.66 | Kalahandi | |
| Khalasuni Wildlife Sanctuary | 1982 | 116 | Sambalpur | |
| Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary | 1985 | 185.87 | Gajapati | |
| Nalbana Bird Sanctuary | 1987 | 15.53 | Ganjam district, Khurda district, Puri district | |
| Simlipal National Park | 1979 | 1354.3 | Mayurbhanj | |
| Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary | 1988 | 500 | Nuapada district | |
| Andhra Pradesh | Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary | 1978 | 235.7 | East Godavari |
| Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary | 1990 | 1194 | Kurnool district, Prakasam | |
| Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary | 2002 | 70 | Visakhapatnam | |
| Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary | 1990 | 356.7 | Chittoor | |
| Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary | 1989 | 194.81 | Guntur district, Krishna district | |
| Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve | 1978 | 3568.09 | Alluri, Eluru district | |
| Papikonda National Park | 1974 | 1012.86 | Nandyal district, Palnadu district, Prakasam | |
| Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary | 1988 | 6.14 | Nandyal district | |
| Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary | 1988 | 464.42 | Kadapa district | |
| Sri Penusila Narasimha Wildlife Sanctuary | 1997 | 1030.85 | Nellore district | |
| Sri Venkateswara National Park | 1985 | 153.32 | Tirupati | |
| Telangana | Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary | 1977 | 656 | Khammam district |
| Amrabad | 1983 | 2611.4 | Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda | |
| Karnataka | Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary | 1987 | 539.52 | Chamarajanagar |
| Tamil Nadu | Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary | 1936 | 0.3 | Chengalpattu |
| Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary | 2014 | 504.34 | Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri | |
| Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary | 2022 | 686.4 | Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri |
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