The study was undertaken to find the variations in taxonomy and soil weathering of two contrasting forest systems, an evergreen forest, and a rubber plantation, in the Southern Western Ghats, India. Soil profiles were dug up to 1.5 m and samples were collected horizon-wise from the profiles. The collected samples were used for physicochemical and mineralogical analysis which includes X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Thermo Gravimetric – Differential Thermal analysis. pH was found acidic in both systems. A high organic carbon percentage was observed in the evergreen forest (4.6%) and low in the plantation (0.5%). Cation exchange capacity was also found high in the evergreen forest (29.8 meq/100). The soils in the different forest systems varied from highly weathered Ultisols (rubber plantation) to relatively young Alfisols (evergreen forest). Mineralogical studies revealed that the soil system of the evergreen forest was least weathered than rubber plantation.