Ghat Roads are access routes into the mountainousWestern andEastern Ghats, mountain ranges of theIndian subcontinent. These roads are remarkable feats of engineering,[1] and most were constructed during theBritish Raj. Ghat Roads were built to connect to thehill stations established in the mountains for residents to avoid summer heat. They generally served to connect coastal areas with the upperDeccan Plateau.
TheWestern Ghats lie between coastal plains adjoining theArabian Sea and theDeccan Plateau. There are many Ghat Roads which connectKaravali districts with theMalenadu andBayaluseemae regions. Most of these ghats are very scenic duringmonsoon season in the months of June, July, and August. Landslides can occur in a few of these ghats during rains.[4]
Locations of Ghat Roads in the state ofKarnataka include:
Agumbe Ghat –Agumbe is a small village inShimoga district, a hilly, wet region of the Western Ghats. Its road connectsUdupi district (Udipi) with Shivamogga (Shimoga).[5] Agumbe Ghat can be foggy during rain, but there is a sunset viewpoint on it. Only small vehicles are allowed on Agumbe Ghat, like mini-buses and passenger cars.
Bisle Ghat –Bisle Ghat Road connects the temple town ofKukke Subramanya in Dakshina district, which lies below the Western Ghats, to Sakleshpura above the Western Ghats.[9] This Ghat Road is less-used because of the dense forest and danger from wild elephants, as it lies in theElephant corridor of Western Ghats (the paths followed by wild elephants in search of water and food).
Devimane Ghat – Devimane Ghat Road lies inUttara Kannada district, and connects the coastal town ofKumta with the town ofSirsi above the Western Ghats.[10] ManyKSRTC buses run through this section. There is a Hindu temple at Devimane village.
Mala Ghat – Mala lies inUdupi district, and connects the coastal foothills town ofKarkala to the mining town ofKudremukh. The ghat effectively connectsUdupi andChikmagalur districts. The ghat is designed to withstand vehicles of 120 tonnes in the Mala-Kudremukh section. It was built by KPWD in association with the Border Roads Organization.
Anashi Ghat – Anashi Ghat is inUttara Kannada district, and connects the coastal city ofKarwar withDandeli. The ghat stretch starts fromKadra and ends near Anashi, passing through thick Western Ghats. This ghat is part of theKali Tiger Reserve.
Kadapa Ghats – The road is part of theChennai toKadapa national highway betweenKadapa andRayachoty. It is situated in the southernNallamala Forest and very scenic during monsoon season.
Nandyal Ghats – Nandyal Ghat Road runs betweenGiddalur andNandyal, and connectsKurnool andPrakasham districts. It is situated in the northern Nallamala Forest.
Locations of Ghat Roads in the state ofOdisha include:
Mahendragiri Ghat – The north side of the ghat is home to one of the curviest roads in India: tens of twists and turns lead up to the second highest peak of the state. There have been efforts to pave this narrow and winding road.[citation needed]
Yercaud Ghat Road – This road includes 20 hairpin bends along 25 kilometres (16 mi) Ghat Road. This hill station is inSalem District.
Bargur Ghat Road – This road begins atAnthiyur inErode district and ends atKollegal inKarnataka state. The road passes through thick forest, which are scenic during monsoon season.
Kollimalai/Kolli Ghat Road – This road contains 72 hairpin bends and leads to this[which?] hill station, situated inNamakkal district.Kolli Hills has the highest number of hairpin bends in India and is the most dangerous Ghat Road in India.[citation needed] The Ghat Road begins in Belukurichi village at the foot of the Kolli Hills and covers 24 kilometres (15 mi).
Pachaimalai Hills Ghat Roads – These roads are also in the Kolli Hills. Thuraiyur–Pachamalai Ghat Road contains 14 hairpin bends and is situated inTiruchirapalli district.
Valparai Ghat Road – This road inCoimbatore district begins at Monkey Falls and has 40 hairpin bends.
Jawadhu Ghat Roads –Javadi Hills are part of the Eastern Ghats inTiruvannamalai district. Ghat Roads in these hills connect villages with nearby towns of the district.
Sirumalai Ghat Road – This road is betweenDindigul andMadurai districts in southern Tamil Nadu. It has 26 hairpin bends.
Kalrayan Ghats – There are several Ghat Roads in theKalrayan Hills, which are part of the Eastern Ghats inKallakurichi andSalem districts.
Meghamalai Ghats – This road inTheni district has 20 hairpin bends and is surrounded by lushtea estates.
Pothigai Ghats – Home to many Ghat Roads. Manjolai Ghat, situated inTirunelveli andKannyakumari districts, is very beautiful and covered by dense forest.
Locations of Ghat Roads in the state ofTelangana include:
Bhadrachalam Ghat Road – A Ghat Road connectsRajahmundry withBhadrachalam, a Hindu pilgrimage site.
Nirmal Ghats (locally called Mahaboob Ghats) – A 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) road situated inAdilabad district. The road is scenic and surrounded by dense forest and crosses bothPoccheru Falls andKuntala Falls.
