The ecoregion sits in the middle of the Deccan Plateau and retains vast areas of natural habitat, some exceeding 5,000 km². The forests hold significant populations of endangered species including the tiger, wild buffalo, wild dog, sloth bear, chousingha, gaur, blackbuck, and chinkara. The current vegetation is predominantly composed of dry forests with Hardwickia-dominated woodlands. The forests’ upper canopy rises to about 15 to 25 m. Lianas cling to trees in mature forests, but the undergrowth is sparse. Although not exceptional in endemism, the ecoregion harbors several of India’s threatened large mammals.