Grass Hills National Park, National park in Western Ghats, India
Grass Hills National Park is a national park in the Western Ghats of southern India, also recognized as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It sits at high elevation and consists of open montane grasslands surrounded by dense forest.
The area was designated as a national park to protect the rare montane grasslands and forests of southern India, which faced growing pressure from human activity. Its later inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Site gave the protection an international dimension.
Local communities live and work within the park, using the land in ways that have existed for generations while helping to protect it. Their presence shapes how the grasslands and forests are cared for today.
A permit is required to access the trekking routes inside the park, so it is worth arranging this in advance. A guided tour is recommended because the trails are remote and the terrain can be demanding.
One of the peaks inside the park sits at over 6,600 feet (2,000 meters) right on the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Standing on that summit, a visitor is literally in two Indian states at once.
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