The Adventure of Mudumalai National Park

In my search for adventure, I find Mudumalai national park as the perfect place. This beautiful park is located in Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu. The jungle is spread over an area of 103.24 sq. km. In 1990 it was declared as a National Park and in 2007, the state government made it a Tiger Reserve.  The Moyar River separates the boundary of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Masinagudi, Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota are the five mountain ranges of the National Park.  The park touches the border of three states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. You will be amazed to know that the Mudumalai forest had been used to train soldiers to send them to Burma during the Second World War.  

    

Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It has Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National park at the north side. The west part is surrounded by Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary while the south side has Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley National Park

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The Park is home to various animals, mammals, reptiles and birds - Elephant, Giant Flying Squirrel, Tiger, Leopard, Gaur, Hyena, Jackal, Sloth Bear, Sambar, Chital, Muntjac, Mouse Deer, Wild Boar, Stripe-necked Mongoose, Bonner Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, Porcupine, Barking Deer, Four-horned Antelope, Langurs, Crested Hawk Eagles, Crested Serpent Eagle, Malabar Trogon, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Large Racket-Tailed Drongos, Spotted Babbler, Green Pigeons, Brown Dove, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Parakeets, Bulbuls, Cuckoos, Hornbills, Tiny-eared Owl, Black Woodpecker, Mynas, Barbets, Buzzards, Harriers, Falcons, King Vulture, Cobras, Crocodile, Pythons, Common Krait, Bamboo Pit Snake, Turtles etc.

It is wonderful to see these animals from close quarters. You can enjoy your jungle safari via van or elephant.  Mudumalai forest stay is awesome. The department of the National Park provides cottages to the visitors. These cottages are inside the jungle but you need to reserve them in advance. Private hotels are also available for the stay.  Mudumalai is well connected with the airport, train station and road.

The Best Time to visit

The Coimbatore airport is 160 km away and Ooty railway station is just 64km from Mudumalai national park. The summers (April - June) are very hot and winters (December - January) are very cold. During June to September the western part has rain and in the month of October to December eastern part has rainfall. The best time to visit Mudumalai National Park is March to June and September to October.