6.3   The Eastern Ghats

. The Eastern Ghats Unlike Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats is a discontinuous and irregular one. It is dissected at many places by the rivers, which drain into the Bay of Bengal. Its height ranges from , to , metres. These hills separate the plains from plateaus. Javadhu, Servarayan, the Kalrayan, Kollimalai and Pachaimalai are the major hills of the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu and are located in northern districts of the state. Javadhu Hills Javadhu hills are an extension of the Eastern Ghats spread across parts of Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts and separates these two districts. Many peaks with the height of , – , metres are located in this range. Melpattu is its highest peak. Many parts of this range are covered with bluish grey granites. It is noted for its fruit bearing trees, medicinal herbs and sandalwoods. Due to illegal logging, sandalwood trees are disappeared now. Kalvarayan Hills The name ‘Kalvarayan’ comes from the word ‘Karalar’, the ancient name of the present tribes. It is another major range of hills in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu. This range, along with the Pachaimalai, Aralvaimalai, Javadhu and Servarayan hills, separates the river basins of Cauvery and Palar. The height of this hill ranges from to , metres. Servarayan Hills It is a mountain range located near the Salem city with the height ranging from , to , metres. The name of the range comes Peaks in Eastern Ghats Height(m) Solaikaradu , Pazhamalai , Urgamalai , Kuttirayan , Muganur , Valsamalai , Why are mountain heights measured from mean sea level and not from ground level? Major hills in Tamil Nadu Districts Hills Coimbatore Maruthamalai, Velliangiri and Anaimalai Dharmapuri Theertha malai, Chitteri and Vathalmalai Dindigul Palanimalai Erode Chenni hills and Sivan hills Tirupattur Yelagiri hills Tenkasi Pothigai hills Vellore Javadhu and Rathinamalai hills Namakkal Kolli hills Salem Servarayan, Kanjamalai and Chalk hills Kallakurichi Kalvarayan hills Villupuram Gingee hills Perambalur Pachaimalai Kanyakumari Marunthuvazhmalai Tirunelveli Mahendragiri The Nilgiris Nilgiri hills  Physical Geography of Tamil Nadu Not to Scale Kosasthalai  Physical Geography of Tamil Nadu is found in Salem, Erode, Karur, Tiruchirapalli, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts. Coastal plains of Tamil Nadu are also called Coromandel or Cholamandalam (land of Cholas) plain, which extends from Chennai to Kanniyakumari. It is formed by the rivers that flow towards east drain in the Bay of Bengal. It is more than kilometres wide at some places. Though it is an emerged coast, some parts are submerged into the sea. The sand dunes formed along the coast of Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi districts are called Teri . Coral rocks are found at the head of Gulf of Mannar in the east coastal plain. Beaches The Coromandel Coast along the Bay of Bengal consists of many beautiful and exotic beaches. The golden sands of Tamil Nadu beaches are scattered with palm and casuarinas groves. Marina and Elliot beaches of Chennai, Kovalam beach in Kanchipuram and Silver beach in Cuddalore are some of the famous beaches in Tamil Nadu.