Servarayan Hills

2024-11-29T08:06:51Z

2409:408A:505:6899:0:0:1D1C:50A4: /* Flora and fauna */

{{Short description|Mountain range in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}{{Infobox mountain
| name = Servarayan Hills
| photo = Servaray hills.jpg
| photo_caption = Servarayan Hills
| map = India Tamil Nadu
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| location = [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| map_relief =
| label = Servarayan Hills
| label_position = right
| elevation_m = 1620
| elevation_ref =
| prominence_m =
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| listing =
| range = [[Eastern Ghats]]
| coordinates = {{coord|11|50|0|N|78|16|0|E|type:mountain_region:IN_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| topo =
| coordinates_ref =
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route =
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| native_name = {{native name|ta|Servarayan Hills}}
}}The '''Servarayan hills''', with the [[anglicised]] name '''Shevaroy Hills''', are a towering mountain range (1620 m) near the city of [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], in [[Tamil Nadu]] state, southern [[India]].

The local [[Tamil language|Tamil]] name comes from a local deity, ''Servarayan''.

==Geography==
The Servarayans form part of the southern ranges of the [[Eastern Ghats]] System. Shevaroys cover an area of {{convert|400|km2|acres}},<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Shevaroy Hills |volume=24 |page=855}}</ref> with [[plateau]]s from {{convert|4000|-|5000|ft|m}} above sea-level. The main town here is [[Yercaud]].<ref name=EB1911/> As earlier stated, it also represents the highest peak in southern part of the [[Eastern Ghats]], with the Solaikaradu peak towering to 1620 m above mean sea-level. It is nestled parallel to the lower [[Chitteri|Chitteri hills]] - [[Kalrayan]] hills, just north of the [[Kolli Hills]] and [[Pachaimalai Hills]]. Westwards, lie the [[Mettur]] hills. This range forms an important link in the southern part of [[Eastern Ghats]] hill chain.{{cn|date=July 2022}}
[[File:Photograph of two men and two women of the Malaiyali tribe in the Shevaroy Hills in Tamil Nadu - 1860.jpg|thumb|300px|left|upright|A 1860 photo of Malaiyalis or, hill-dwellers of the Shevaroy Hills]]

==Features==
The Servarayan hills have several old [[coffee plantation]]s, and a [[sanatorium]]. The major areas of tourist interest are the Yercaud Orchidarium of the [[Botanical Survey of India]], and the old coffee estates.{{cn|date=July 2022}}

==Flora and fauna==
Some patches of the original forests still exist in the Shevaroy hills and those in higher slopes and peaks contain several endemic species of plants and fauna. The faunal and floral elements high up here have stark similarities to the Western Ghats. Such highlights include ''[[Strobilanthes kunthiana]]'' (Neelakurinji) in the peaks here, which apart from upper reaches of [[Western Ghats]], is not known from the [[Eastern Ghats]] elsewhere. Natural forests apart, coffee and citrus fruits, most notably oranges, are grown in abundance, as well as bananas, pears and jackfruit.{{cn|date=July 2022}}

Fauna such as [[gaur]], [[sambar deer]], [[spotted deer]], [[Indian pangolin]], [[jackal]]s, [[hare]]s, [[fox]]es, [[mangoose]], [[civets]], [[giant squirrel]]s, and many reptiles including endemic ones such ''[[Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus]]'', ''[[Calotes calotes]]'', ''[[Monilesaurus rouxii]]'', ''[[Mabuya beddomii]]'' and [[shield tail snake]] like ''[[Uropeltis ellioti]]'' and ''[[Uropeltis shorttii]]'' (which is endemic to the hill range), the endangered ''[[Python molurus]]'', ''[[Rhabdophis plumbicolor]]'', ''[[Calliophis beddomei]]'' and ''[[Trimeresurus gramineus]]''; [[endemic]] [[amphibians]] such as ''[[Hylarana]]'', ''[[Raorchestes]]'', ''[[Fejervarya]]'' and scores of birds like the [[whistling thrush]], [[racket-tailed drongo]], [[peacock]], [[Magpie-robin|shama]], [[Oriental leafbird]] and [[Indian grey hornbill]] occur in Shevaroy Hills.{{cn|date=July 2022}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Eastern Ghats}}
{{Western Ghats}}

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{{clear}}

[[Category:Landforms of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Salem district]]
[[Category:Eastern Ghats]]
[[Category:South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests]]

{{SalemIN-geo-stub}}

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Servarayan Hills