Periyar National Park is located in which mountain range of southern India?

Introduction / Context:
Periyar National Park is a protected area famous for its lake, forests and wildlife, and is part of a larger tiger reserve. It lies in one of the two main hill ranges that run along the coasts of peninsular India. This question tests whether students can correctly associate Periyar National Park with the appropriate mountain system.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The question refers to Periyar National Park.

It asks in which mountain range this park is located.

Options are Aravalli Range, Vindhya Range, Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats.

We assume present day geographical classification of Indian mountain systems.

Concept / Approach:
Periyar National Park lies in the Cardamom Hills, which form part of the Western Ghats in southern India. The Western Ghats run parallel to the western coastline along the Arabian Sea and contain many protected areas, including Periyar, Silent Valley and others. The Aravalli Range lies in north western India, the Vindhya Range is in central India, and the Eastern Ghats run along the eastern side of the peninsula. Therefore, the correct approach is to link Periyar with the Western Ghats rather than with any of the other three ranges.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Periyar National Park is located in Kerala around the Periyar lake.Step 2: Remember that Kerala s hills and highlands belong to the Western Ghats, particularly the Cardamom Hills region.Step 3: Note that the Aravalli Range lies in Rajasthan and nearby states, the Vindhya Range runs across central India, and the Eastern Ghats are along the eastern coast.Step 4: Conclude that the only mountain range matching Periyar s location is the Western Ghats.

Verification / Alternative check:
A physical map of India shows the Western Ghats running along the western edge of peninsular India, including the highlands of Kerala where Periyar is located. Periyar lake and the surrounding hills are clearly marked within this system. In contrast, the Aravalli Range is far away in Rajasthan and Gujarat, the Vindhyas lie in central India and the Eastern Ghats are on the opposite side of the peninsula. This geographic evidence confirms that Western Ghats is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The Aravalli Range is an ancient fold mountain system in north western India, mainly in Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat and Haryana, not in Kerala.
The Vindhya Range forms a sort of dividing line in central India between the northern plains and the Deccan plateau but does not extend into Kerala.
The Eastern Ghats are scattered hill ranges along the eastern side of peninsular India and do not include the Cardamom Hills or the Periyar area in Kerala.
Hence, none of these ranges can be associated with Periyar National Park.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates mix up Eastern and Western Ghats because both are coastal hill systems in southern India. Others may not remember exactly which states each range crosses. A helpful technique is to link Western Ghats with states on the Arabian Sea side like Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala, and Eastern Ghats with states on the Bay of Bengal side like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and parts of Tamil Nadu. Remembering that Periyar is in Kerala automatically points to the Western Ghats.

Final Answer:
Periyar National Park is located in the Western Ghats mountain range.