Mahendragiri
Explanation
The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of mountains running along India's eastern coast. Unlike the continuous Western Ghats, they are highly eroded and cut through by major rivers such as the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri. The elevation of the Eastern Ghats is generally lower than that of the Western Ghats.
Option Analysis:
- Anai Mudi Anai Mudi: Incorrect. Located in the Anaimalai Hills, Anai Mudi (2,695 m) is the highest peak in the Western Ghats and the whole of Peninsular India.
- Doda Betta Doda Betta: Incorrect. Doda Betta (2,637 m) is the highest peak in the Nilgiri Hills, which form the junction between the Western and Eastern Ghats.
- Mahendragiri Mahendragiri: Correct. Mahendragiri (1,501 m), located in Odisha, is a prominent peak in the Eastern Ghats. While modern surveys identify Jindhagada (1,690 m) as the absolute highest peak in the range, Mahendragiri is the only peak among the options located within the Eastern Ghats and is traditionally cited as the highest in standard texts.
- Ooty Ooty: Incorrect. Ooty (Udhagamandalam) is a hill station in the Nilgiris, not a peak in the Eastern Ghats.
Key Takeaway:
Mahendragiri is a major peak of the Eastern Ghats situated in Odisha, whereas Anai Mudi and Doda Betta are the highest peaks of the Western Ghats and Nilgiris, respectively.