Kerala's topography changes sharply from west to east over short distances.
- **Lowest areas:** Sea level along the Arabian Sea coast, estuaries, and the backwater belt. - **Below-sea-level zones:** Parts of **Kuttanad** are among the few inhabited farming regions in India lying below sea level, protected by bunds and drainage systems. - **Midland belt:** Rolling hills, laterite formations, river-fed plains, and intensively settled agricultural land dominate much of central Kerala. - **Highland belt:** The eastern districts rise into the Western Ghats, with steep escarpments, deep valleys, forested mountains, reservoirs, and plantation plateaus.
The state's highest point is **Anamudi** in Idukki district, at about **2,695 meters**, the highest peak in peninsular India. Other prominent mountain areas include Munnar, the Agasthyamalai range, Wayanad highlands, and the Nelliyampathy and Ponmudi hill regions.
Topographic features of note include: - **Coastal plains** with sandy barriers and lagoons - **Flood plains** along major rivers and lowland paddy areas - **Backwater systems** connected by canals, lakes, and tidal channels - **Escarpments and mountain passes** linking Kerala to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka - **Shola-grassland highlands** in elevated parts of Idukki and Ernakulam regions
This compressed topography is one reason Kerala has very high landscape diversity despite its modest size.