Mudumalai National Park is a beautiful natural reserve located in the southern part of India. The park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including tigers, elephants, and many species of birds. It is also known for its scenic beauty and the many opportunities it offers for outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. Visitors can explore the park’s many trails, which wind through dense forests and open grasslands, and take in the stunning views of the surrounding hills and valleys. In addition, the park is the site of several important conservation projects, aimed at protecting the region’s unique ecosystem and preserving it for future generations to enjoy. Whether you are a nature lover, an outdoor enthusiast, or just looking for a peaceful retreat, Mudumalai National Park is the perfect destination for you.
Mudumalai National Park is located in Nilgiri district, Tamilnadu, India. It lies on the northwestern regions of the Nilgiris, sharing its borders with the states of Karnataka and Kerala. This park, spread over an area of 321 km2, has been declared as a tiger reserve in April 2007.
Mudumalai National Park
The park has five divisions, Theppakadu, Kargudi, Masinagudi, Nellakota and Mudumalai. Endangered animals like long-billed vulture, Bengal Tiger, Indian elephant, Leopard, white rumped vulture and gaur are found in Mudumalai National Park. Both above mentioned Vultures are critically endangered.
Mudumalai is home to 55 species of mammals, 227 species of birds, 50 species of fishes, 21 species of amphibians and 34 species of reptiles. This includes many endangered species of animals including elephants, tigers, gaur and Indian Leopards. Around 8% of the total bird species in India can be found in the region. When it comes to the flora of Mudumalai, you will come across a rich diversity of rare plants and trees that add to the natural charm and ecological balance of the park. Some 350 families have been shifted away from the park to protect the animals in the park.
Mudumalai National Park Flora and Fauna
Flora
The Flora here is tropical – moist and dry deciduous and evergreen forests. Variety in terrain is due to higher rains in the west and dry conditions in the east. Bamboos, Tamarind, Rosewood, Teak, Mango, Pipal, Banyan, Plumeria, Rosewood, Indian Labumusum, Solanacea and Ardesia are some of the trees found in these parts. Timber from these parts is very valuable. Wild varieties of rice, cinnamon, guava, turmeric, mango and pepper grow in these forests.
Here multi-coloured Flowers bloom in summer while fruits ripen during the monsoon seasons. Varied hues of this park are the reason tourists come here from far and wide.
Fauna
Animal diversity in Mudumalai is high; what with 21 amphibian species, 50 fish varieties, 227 bird species, 34 reptile varieties and 55 mammal species living here.
About thirteen percent of mammals and eight percent of species of birds in our country are found here.
Some of the animals in this park are Royal Bengal tiger, red giant flying squirrel, jungle cat, sloth bear, Anteater, striped hyena, Indian elephants, leopard, golden jackal, dhole, Indian leopard, grey langur, Black napped hare, guar, leopard cat, bonnet macaque, Sāmbhar deer, gaur, Chital deer, wild boar, python, krait, Asian pit viper, monitor lizard, flying lizard and spectacled cobra.
The predators like tigers and others exist because there is presence of prey like chital, gaur and Sambhar deer in abundance.
As for Avifauna, Mudumalai is blessed with 62 carnivores bird varieties, 110 insect eating bird varieties, 23 fish-feeding bird species,12 bird species that are omnivores and finally 20 bird varieties that feed on grains.
Peacocks, Brown dove, Malabar whistling thrush, spotted babbler, bulbuls, Magpie-robin, goggle eyed plower, red spur fowl, grey Partridge quails, Malabar grey hornbill, mynah, Crescent serpent Eagle, King Vulture, buzzards, falcons, rufous bellied Hawk eagle, Harriers, Large racket-Tailed Drongo, crescent hawk eagle, are some feathered beings in Mudumalai national park.
Other birds include Red spurfowl, Jerdon’s basa, mottled wood owl, minivets, hornbill, Malabar trogon, Alpine swift, Loten’s sunbird, forest wagtal, green imperial pigeon, Indian cuckoo, golden oriole, oriental honey buzzard, cresented goshawk, paradise flycatcher, Besra, golden great black woodpecker, jungle fowl, peafowl, emerald dove, painted spurfowl, blue-winged parakeet, fairy bluebird, grey-bellied cuckoo, chloropsis, crimson-backed sunbird.
How To Reach Mudumalai National Park
Roadways
Gudalur is the nearest city, 3 kms away on the National Highway 67, to Mudumalai National Park. The distance from some of the major cities nearby are Ooty 39 kms and Mysore – 100kms.
Railways
Udagamandalam station is the nearest railway station at a distance of 64 kms. Plenty of taxis ply to and fro from the station to Mudumalai national park. The Coimbatore junction is the nearest broad gauge railway station.
Airways
The next option is taking a flight to Bangalore Airport and travelling some 35.5kms to Mudumalai by road.
Mudumalai National Park Safari Timings
Provisions And Timings
At Mudumalai, you can gape open-wide at the amazing flora and fauna. You can also stay in treetop accommodations, camp, take a village tour, visit the amazing Moyar and Kallatty falls or just take a jungle/Road or Elephant safari that the Park offers.
Safari timings are from 6.00am to 8.00am in the morning and 4.00pm to 6.00 pm in the afternoon. Jungle safari and Road safari services can be utilized at both the timings mentioned and the time taken for the full tour is 2 hours. Elephant safari is only between 6 to 8am the duration is 40 minutes.
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Accommodation
Hotels and suites are available but booked to the hilt during the tourist season – June to December. So making early reservations is the best thing.
Mudumalai Resorts
Rock Gardens Holiday Resorts – 1,800/- (1 Room, 2 Adults, 24 Hours)
Greenwoods Nature Camp – 2,500/- (1 Room, 2 Adults, 24 Hours)
Deep Jungle Home – 4,050/- (1 Room, 2 Adults, 24 Hours)
Wilds Northern Hay – 5,700/-(1 Room, 2 Adults, 24 Hours)
Wild Breeze Resort – 3,400/- (1 Room, 2 Adults, 24 Hours)
Mudumalai Safari
- Take only small vehicles into the park so the there the noise factor is reduced
- Also keep cell phones on a silent mode
- Mornings and evenings are the best times to spot animals as most animals do not come out in the heat.
- Avoid flashy clothes or strong deodorants while travelling in the park as these drives animals away.
- If you are travelling by bus take the front or back seat for proper view. Take a good guide with you and keep scanning for you might yourself spot a rare or endangered wild animal yourself!
International Significance
Mudumalai is part of the Western Ghats – Nilgiri sub cluster that has been declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is an International Biosphere Reserve in the Nilgiri Hills and the Western Ghats in South India.
