The Western Ghats is a biodiversity rich region with remarkable diversity of wild orchids, especially terrestrial orchids occupying highly
diverse environments. The present study was conducted to explore the terrestrial orchid diversity in Western Ghats of Chikkamagaluru
(Karnataka). Extensive field surveys were conducted across various vegetation types using stratified random sampling method. It
revealed the occurrence of 35 species belonging to 15 genera. The maximum species diversity was observed in the genus Habenaria
(12). With regard to density, Habenaria heyneana was densely populated (111.11), whereas the lowest density was observed in Eulophia
picta (earlier known as Geodorum densiflorum) (0.02). Similarly, H. heyneana was found to be the most abundant species (118.33), while
Eulophia picta and Calanthe tricarinata exhibited the lowest abundance (0.20). Due to high species richness and evenness, Devaramane
region recorded the highest Shannon (2.41) and Simpson (0.88) diversity index while Sakkarayapattana and Kalasapura regions recorded
the lowest. The present communication was an attempt to provide important insights on the population dynamics of terrestrial orchids and
richness of different habitats. Sustained research and targeted management interventions are crucial to safeguard these species and to
maintain the ecological integrity of the Western Ghats.