NILGIRIS, THE (Blue Mountains), a system of hills in southern India, which gives its name to a district of the Madras Presidency. The Nilgiris form a plateau rather than a range, ris ing abruptly from the plains on most sides, with a general eleva tion about 6,5oo ft. above sea-level.
The DISTRICT OF THE NILGIRIS is the smallest administrative district in Madras. It was formerly confined to the plateau, but was increased by the addition of portions of the Wynaad, making a total area of 982 sq.m. The administrative headquarters are at Ootacamund (q.v.). There is an abrupt descent of about 6,000 ft. from the plateau to the plains, save on the north, where the base of the mountains rests upon the elevated land of Wynaad, and Mysore, standing between 2,000 and 3,00o ft. above sea-level.
The Ochterlony valley and Wynaad country consist of a series of broken valleys, once forest-clad throughout, but now studded with tea and coffee-gardens. The highest peak is Dodabetta, 8,76o ft. There are six well-known passes or ghats by which the dis trict communicates with the neighbouring plains, three of which are practicable for wheeled traffic. The chief rivers are the Moyar,
Paikara and Calicut, none of which is navigable. The forests con sist of fine timber trees, and eucalyptus and Australian _wattle have been extensively planted in the higher grounds of the Wy naad. Large game animals of many kinds are numerous. The hill tribes include Todas, Badagas and Kotas. The population of the district in 1921 was 126,519. The commercially important prod ucts are coffee, tea and cinchona. The latter is cultivated by the government, and also in private gardens, and there is a govern ment quinine factory. The climate of the Nilgiri hills is extremely equable. A branch of the Madras railway runs from Podanur to Mettupalaiyam, whence a metre-gauge line on the rack principle goes to Coonoor, where there is a silk-farm, and Ootacamund. The Lawrence Memorial School at Ootacamund is maintained by government. The military quarters are at Wellington.