 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (July 2020) |
Melagiri | |
|---|---|
Reserve forest | |
 Spider Valley, Melagiri | |
  Melagiri Location in Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Coordinates: 12°12′33″N 77°49′25″E / 12.20917°N 77.82361°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,295 km2 (500 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,395 m (4,577 ft) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Nearest Place | Denkanikottai, Dharmapuri,(palacode) |
The Melagiris are a range of hills on the Eastern Ghats, bound by the river Cauvery on the west. Melagiri contain an expanse of 1295 km2 of dry deciduous and semi-evergreen forests. It is an elephant country and contains two traditional elephant corridors. With the Bannerghatta National Park in the North east and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in the south, the forest range stretches to sanctuaries of BR Hills and Sathyamangala and joins the tiger reserves of Nilgiri Biosphere. As the meeting point of the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, these forests form a vital link in the elephant corridors of South India, connecting the Bannerghatta National Park and the River Cauvery. It borders some of the prominent tiger sanctuaries of the south.
Part of Melagiri hills ranges were declared as a Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary with effect from 12 March 2014 by the Government of Tamil Nadu as per the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.