State : Tamil Nadu Area details
Total Area : 321 sq. km.


Mudumalai National Park is located at the foothills of the Nilgiri hills in the state of Tamil Nadu. Mudumalai which literally means ancient hills was identified as a reserve way back in 1927 and converted into a sanctuary in 1940. It is a continuation of the Bandipur National Park in the neighbouring state of Karnataka, and is separated by the river Moyar that flows along the border of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The park also has a border with the Wayanad Sanctuary in Kerala. Mudumalai is a part of the forest area which includes the Bandipur National Park and Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Nagarhole) in Karnataka, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala which together constitute the Niligiri Biosphere Reserv.

It covers a relatively small area of 300 sq. km but is abundant in wildlife, as are the other larger neighbouring resereves.The park lies on either side of the excellent highway connecting Mysore to Ooty (Ootacamund). This highway, other than providing excellent wildlilfe viewing opportunities even before you reach the park, is an amazingly beautiful drive with 36 hairpin bends through thick jungle and beautiful scenery.

The 321 sq. km. reserve, one of the most picturesque destinations provides diverse habitats like hills, valleys, ravines, watercourses and swamps. The vegetation comprises of moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous forests and scrub forests which make Mudumalai a most attractive wildlife reserve. Apart from rich fauna, the wide range of animal and bird life has made this sanctuary a hot spot for the wildlife enthusiasts. The temperatures vary between 10 degrees in the winter months to 35 degrees in the summers.

Mudumalai is reasonably well organized. The well-planned paths are best traversed by jeep or open vans, while elephant-back is advised for areas with tall grass and along stream-beds. Several trails skirt waterholes where plenty of animal activity can be seen. The scream of the Indian Giant Squirrel can be heard from the leafy canopy high above, and a m61ange of woodland birds adds to the thrill of the forest. The summit of Kargudi Hill offers a strikingly panoramic view of the sanctuary and the Moyar Gorge.

More elephants have been born at Theppakadu, the elephant camp near Mudumalai's reception centre, than elsewhere in India. The camp offers an interesting glimpse into the life of captive elephants. Despite a wealth of species, this sanctuary is struggling to survive against the demands of human settlements, cattle grazing, forest fires, developmental projects and a busy highway. Protecting this area remains a challenging task.

KEY SPECIES
MAMMALS Asian Elephant (above), Gaur (Indian Bison), Tiger, Leopard, Wild Dog (Dhole), Striped Hyena, Leopard-cat, Rusty Spotted Cat, Small Indian Civet, Striped-necked Mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose, Sloth Bear, Indian Giant Squirrel, Sanibar, Spotted Deer (Chital), Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Chowsingha (Four-horned Antelope.), Indian Pangolin BIRDS RAPTORSChangeable Hawk Eagle, Black Eagle, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Jerdon's Baza, Bonelli's Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Besra, Mottled Wood Owl, Brown Hawk Owl

WOODLAND/SCRUB Grey Junglefowl, Red Spurfowl, Grey Francolin, Painted Spurfowl, Painted Bush Quail, Whitebellied Woodpecker, Lesser Yellownape, Greater Flameback, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Emerald Dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Indian Cuckoo, Alpine Swift, Black-hooded Oriole, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Black-headed Cuckooshrike, Grey-headed Bulbul, Forest Wagtail, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Loten's Sunbird.
Best Season: February to May and September to October

How to Reach
Air : The nearest airport is at Coimbatore, 160-km away, which has direct flights to Bangalore, Mumbai, Kochi, Chennai and New Delhi. Calicut in Kerala has an international airport which is 140 kms away.

Train : The sanctuary is located at a distance of 65-km from Udhagamandalam railway station and 95-km from Mysore station.

By Road :The Mysore - Ooty highway runs through the thick jungles of the park. Gudalur (16-km) the nearest town to the sanctuary is situated along the highway. There are regular bus service, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu state transport buses as well as private buses from Udhagamandalam (64km), Mysore (95 km) and the neighbouring towns to the sanctuary.