 In 1906, the great undulating plateau on top of the Palanis comprising four forest ranges were consolidated under the Indian Forest Act of 1878 and designated by the British Government as a single reserve forest, from Kodaikanal town to the Kerala state border in the west and the Bodinayakkanur town limits to the south, and given the name of the "Ampthill Downs".It was over in extent and about one quarter of it then consisted of sholas and three quarters was open, rolling, grassy downs.The Ampthill Downs area is now named Upper Palani Shola Reserved Forest and totals (36,000 acres) of forest land.