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Mudumalai National Park is located in the Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountains) in the Nilgiri District, Tamil Nadu, around 150 kilometres northwest of Coimbatore city. Masinagudi, Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi, and Nellakota are the five mountains that make up the sanctuary’s borders with the states of Karnataka and Kerala.
History
The Nilgiri Reserve, where 48 tigers roam freely, is also known as the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve because of its size. Under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, the state of Tamil Nadu designated Mudumalai as a Tiger Reserve in April 2007 to protect the country’s declining Tiger numbers. Families living in the core area have since been evicted. Those who lived in the park’s 5-kilometre buffer zone feared they would be next, but to their delight, no one was evicted. However, some people from this area were retained as trackers and guides so that they might earn extra money as a result of ecotourism.
Key Attractions
The Moyar River flows through a lush forest and is a wonderful location to observe wildlife as it seeks out the river’s banks for water. As a result of the Moyar River’s thundering waterfall, the Moyar River Gorge, or Moyar Canyon, is a magnificent 20-kilometre-long canyon known as the Moyar River Gorge. The Moyar falls are a popular name for this waterfall.
You may get up personal with elephants at the Elephant Feeding Camp. Since the sanctuary’s elephants are no longer exploited for timber production, these areas are now administered as protected areas. Elephants are used mostly for Eco-tourism, patrolling for anti-poaching activities, regulating Man-Elephant conflict outside of the sanctuary or other places, and as an elephant conservation and training facility open to the public. An ideal place for preserving some of the species that originally resided in the Mudumalai Jungle, the Mudumalai Museum is situated close to the elephant feeding camp.
It’s a wonderful waterfall with a stunning view just 30 kilometres from Theppakadu. It is 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Theppakadu to Pykara Lake, a pristine body of water nestled between a ridge of hills. There are no roads leading to this lake. Therefore, it’s perfect for boating because it’s unpolluted and uncrowded.
Flora
The tropical moist deciduous forest can be found in the western Benne Block, where rainfall is higher than in the other blocks, as well as tropical dry deciduous forest in the middle and southern tropical dry thorn forest in the east, all of which surround the Mudumalai Reserve. Mudumalai is also home to pockets of semi-evergreen tropical forest in the southwest and west.
Wildlife
The Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, Gaur, and Indian leopard are just a few of the endangered and vulnerable animals that call this protected area home. The sanctuary is home to roughly 50 kinds of fish, 21 amphibian species, 34 reptile species, 227 bird species, and 55 mammal species. Dry deciduous and dry thorn forests have greater mammal diversity than any other ecosystem. A wildlife sanctuary in Mudumalai, India, is home to 13% of all mammal species in the country.
Things to Do
Safari is the most popular activity at Mudumalai National Park, and the van safari is the best way to see it. A wildlife trail may be found in the park’s core region, accessible only by bus. Barking deer, snakes, and macaques are regular sights, but tigers, panthers, and leopards. There is an opportunity to take a ride on an elephant near the welcome area. On the other hand, elephants do not venture far into the forest, as is the case on a vehicle or bus safari. It’s not just the view from an elephant’s vantage point that’s noteworthy; it’s the view itself.
According to forest officials, it is illegal to wander or roam around in the main forest region of the Mudumalai forest. Although there are numerous accommodations and travel planners nearby, there are also numerous guided trekking trails and mountain hiking activities. Take your boots off and continue exploring the national park’s outskirts.
Mudumalai is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with a wide variety of species to choose from, as well as an abundance of fauna. It’s not uncommon to see migratory birds in addition to the peacock, the jungle fowl, and the Malabar grey hornbill. Birds of prey, such as eagles, hawks, and vultures, are also seen in the park.
Hotels
Tamil Nadu’s Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions. Between June and September, as well as October and December, Mudumalai hotels tend to be completely booked because these are the best months to go wildlife spotting. Many of Mudumalai’s hotels are within easy walking distance of the park, a major draw for visitors. During peak season, Mudumalai is generally overcrowded. Therefore, travellers book their rooms in advance to be on the safe side. It’s also possible to stay in one of several nearby luxury suites and hotels while on a jungle trip for additional benefits.
Conclusion
As a wildlife corridor connecting other protected areas in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the Mudumalai Sanctuary is a vital aspect of the biosphere reserve’s natural ecology. Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park are located to the north, while Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is located to the west, and Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley National Park are located to the south. A population of between 1800 and 2300 elephants can be found in these parks, sanctuaries, and surrounding Reserve forests.
