Upper Palani Shola Reserve Forest

 forest, region

 Upload a photo

In 1906, four Forest ranges of the Upper Palnis were consolidated under the Indian Forest Act of 1878 and designated by the British Government as a single Reserve Forest, from Kodaikanal to the Kerala border in the west and Bodinayakkanur limits to the south, and given the name of the Ampthill Downs. It was over 53 square miles (140 km2) in extent and about one quarter of it then consisted of sholas and three quarters was open, rolling, grassy downs.
The Ampthill Downs area is now named Upper Palani Shola Reserve Forest and totals 145.7 square kilometres (56.3 sq mi) (36,000 acres) of forest land. It is the largest reserve forest division in the Palani Hills. The core of the proposed Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary awaiting government notification is located in this division.