The Melagiris are a range of hills on the Eastern Ghats, bound by the river Cauvery on the west.

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.

Significant trees such as old growth Mutti (Terminalia arjuna), Hardwickia binata, Ippe (Madhuca longifolia), Diospyros malabarica etc.

The area is home to the Asian elephant, leopard, dhole, sloth bear, marsh crocodile, golden jackal and prey species such as chital, gaur, sambar, grizzled giant squirrel, four-horned antelope and smooth-coated otter.

Grey junglefowl, grey-fronted green pigeon, crested honey buzzard, Egyptian vulture, lesser fish eagle, brown fish owl, changeable hawk eagle, Indian peafowl, osprey and plain flowerpecker inhabit the hills.