Ghat Roads are access routes into the mountainous Western and Eastern Ghats, mountain ranges of the Indian subcontinent. These roads are remarkable feats of engineering, and most were constructed during the British Raj. Ghat Roads were built to connect to the hill stations established in the mountains for residents to avoid summer heat. They generally served to connect coastal areas with the upper Deccan Plateau.
The Indian state of Tamil Nadu has highest number of Ghat Roads.
The Western Ghats are bounded by Tapti River to the north, and the Eastern Ghats are bounded by Mahanadi River to the north.
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats lie between coastal plains adjoining the Arabian Sea and the Deccan Plateau. There are many Ghat Roads which connect Karavali districts with the Malenadu and Bayaluseemae regions. Most of these ghats are very scenic during monsoon season in the months of June, July, and August. Landslides can occur in a few of these ghats during rains.
Karnataka
Locations of Ghat Roads in the state of Karnataka include:
Agumbe Ghat – Agumbe is a small village in Shimoga district, a hilly, wet region of the Western Ghats. Its road connects Udupi district (Udipi) with Shivamogga (Shimoga). 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 of Kukke Subramanya in Dakshina district, which lies below the Western Ghats, to Sakleshpura above the Western Ghats. This Ghat Road is less-used because of the dense forest and danger from wild elephants, as it lies in the Elephant corridor of Western Ghats (the paths followed by wild elephants in search of water and food).
Devimane Ghat – Devimane Ghat Road lies in Uttara Kannada district, and connects the coastal town of Kumta with the town of Sirsi above the Western Ghats. Many KSRTC buses run through this section. There is a Hindu temple at Devimane village.
Mala Ghat – Mala lies in Udupi district, and connects the coastal foothills town of Karkala to the mining town of Kudremukh. The ghat effectively connects Udupi and Chikmagalur 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 in Uttara Kannada district, and connects the coastal city of Karwar with Dandeli. The ghat stretch starts from Kadra and ends near Anashi, passing through thick Western Ghats. This ghat is part of the Kali Tiger Reserve.
Kerala
Locations of Ghat Roads in the state of Kerala include:
Idukki Ghats – Idukki is a hilly district of Kerala. Munnar hill station is located in this district.
Illikkal Kallu – A stone monolith on a rocky hilltop near Idukki district. The way to the hilltop is steep, narrow, and curvy.
Kaithapara Ghat – An unpaved and narrow road travels through beautiful dense forest.
Berambadi Ghats
Ponmudi Ghat Road
Vagamon Ghat Road
Ranipuram Ghats
Sabarimala Ghats
Athirappalli Ghat Road
Silent Valley Ghats
Pakramthalam Ghats – The Pakramthalam Ghats Road connects the town Kuttiyadi with the town of Mananthavadi on the Deccan Plateau. This road is a part of State Highway 54.
Kadapa Ghats – The road is part of the Chennai to Kadapa national highway between Kadapa and Rayachoty. It is situated in the southern Nallamala Forest and very scenic during monsoon season.
Nandyal Ghats – Nandyal Ghat Road runs between Giddalur and Nandyal, and connects Kurnool and Prakasham districts. It is situated in the northern Nallamala Forest.
Gudisa Ghat – North of Maredumili; an unpaved and sharp bend road leads up to the top, above 1000 masl.
Manyam Ghat – The road between Maredumilli and Guduru.
Chintoor Ghat – Chintoor Ghat Road is very scenic and is a gateway to Chhattisgarh state from Andhra Pradesh.
Kondaveedu Ghat – A road connects to Kondaveedu Fort and features successive hairpin bends.
Odisha
Locations of Ghat Roads in the state of Odisha 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.
Yelagiri Ghat Road – This road is situated in Tirupathur district, begins at Ponneri village, which lies in Vaniyambadi–Tirupattur Road. It has 14 hairpin bends through 15 kilometres (9.3 mi).
Yercaud Ghat Road – This road includes 20 hairpin bends along 25 kilometres (16 mi) Ghat Road. This hill station is in Salem District.
Bargur Ghat Road – This road begins at Anthiyur in Erode district and ends at Kollegal in Karnataka 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 hill station, situated in Namakkal district. Kolli Hills has the highest number of hairpin bends in India and is the most dangerous Ghat Road in India. 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 in Tiruchirapalli district.
Valparai Ghat Road – This road in Coimbatore district begins at Monkey Falls and has 40 hairpin bends.
Jawadhu Ghat Roads – Javadi Hills are part of the Eastern Ghats in Tiruvannamalai district. Ghat Roads in these hills connect villages with nearby towns of the district.
Sirumalai Ghat Road – This road is between Dindigul and Madurai districts in southern Tamil Nadu. It has 26 hairpin bends.
Kalrayan Ghats – There are several Ghat Roads in the Kalrayan Hills, which are part of the Eastern Ghats in Kallakurichi and Salem districts.
Bodimettu Ghat Road – This road connects Theni with Munnar in Kerala state, and is part of the Madurai–Kochi national highway in Theni district. It is one of the most dangerous Ghat Roads in India, at an elevation of 1,200 metres.
Meghamalai Ghats – This road in Theni district has 20 hairpin bends and is surrounded by lush tea estates.
Pothigai Ghats – Home to many Ghat Roads. Manjolai Ghat, situated in Tirunelveli and Kannyakumari districts, is very beautiful and covered by dense forest.
Locations of Ghat Roads in the state of Telangana include:
Bhadrachalam Ghat Road – A Ghat Road connects Rajahmundry with Bhadrachalam, a Hindu pilgrimage site.
Nirmal Ghats (locally called Mahaboob Ghats) – A 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) road situated in Adilabad district. The road is scenic and surrounded by dense forest and crosses both Poccheru Falls and Kuntala Falls.
