The present paper aims at to produce the building vulnerability and its spatial distribution in mountainous regions of the Nilgiris District in the Western Ghats, India. The landslide-susceptible areas were identified based on the existing landslide-susceptible maps. The landslide-prone slope was identified based on the historical and recent landslide information’s collected from various authenticated sources as well as the field investigations made on the recent landslides. The high-to-severe landslide hazard-prone areas were selected for the present study of building vulnerability analysis. The areas were divided into ten segments based on the landslide inventory, built-up areas, and transportation corridors in the vicinity of landslide locations. Building foot print map was prepared for each segments using ArcGIS software visual interpretation for 1627 buildings and infrastructures. Different thematic layers viz, building type/material, surrounding wall, sloping side details, warning, and number of floors which contribute to landslide vulnerability in vector formats are used for the present study. Using the formula proposed by Papathoma-Köhle et al. (Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 7:765–779, 2007) the vulnerability score were calculated by scripting in ArcGIS software. Based on the vulnerability score, the buildings were grouped under three categories viz, low, medium, and high vulnerability. The spatial distribution of vulnerability of buildings was prepared and presented. The present study can be useful data for preparation of regional landuse plan as well as evacuation plans and warning systems to safeguard measure for population living in the vulnerable buildings in The Nilgiris District of Western Ghats in India. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.