In which one of the following highlands of India can you find temperate forests called ‘Sholas'?

Shola forests are unique temperate montane forests found in the high-altitude regions of South India, specifically in the Western Ghats [2]. These forests are characterized by stunted evergreen trees interspersed with extensive grasslands, forming a shola-grassland mosaic [3]. They are primarily located in the Nilgiris, Anaimalai, and Palani hills of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka at elevations typically above 1,500 to 1,800 meters [3]. The term 'Shola' is derived from the Tamil word 'solai', meaning a thicket or grove [2]. While the Vindhyas and Satpuras are part of the Peninsular mountain system, they do not host this specific temperate shola ecosystem [2]. Similarly, while the Himalayas have their own temperate forests, the term 'Shola' is strictly endemic to the southern montane wet temperate forests of the Western Ghats.

Sources

1. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 9: Indian Biodiversity Diverse Landscape > g.4.3. Tropical rai.n forest region > p. 159
2. [2] INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation > Montane Forests > p. 45
3. [3] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 3: Terrestrial Ecosystems > O* ycu knaw? > p. 24