U. grandis is found in the Anaimalai Hills of Kerala, southern India.

[3] In 1966 Carl Gans renamed this species Uropeltis smithi in honor of American herpetologist Hobart M.

The venter is dark violet with alternating large yellow spots or crossbands.

The ventrals are about two times as large as the contiguous scales, and are pluricarinate posteriorly in males.

[6] The preferred natural habitat of U. grandis is moist forest, at altitudes of 1,200–1,400 m (3,900–4,600 ft).