Natural Vegetation of India and ISFR report: Shola forests are characteristic of which region?

Shola forests are unique montane tropical evergreen forests found in the higher elevations of the Western Ghats, particularly in the Nilgiri Hills, Palani Hills, and Anamalai Hills. These forests occur in patches surrounded by grasslands and are characterized by stunted, densely packed trees with thick canopy cover. Shola forests harbor endemic species and serve as important watersheds for rivers originating from the Western Ghats.