Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Mudumalai, meaning 'ancient hills', stands tall at an altitude of 1,140m in the Nilgiri hills in the southern India state of Tamil Nadu. Established in 1940, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary was the first sanctuary in South India. The Mayyar River flows through this Mudumalai National Park and forms a series of splendid cascades. The Mysore-Ooty highway runs through the sanctuary, following the course of the Mayyar River. This Park spans an area of 321 sq. km. and encompasses a varied mixture of flat land, heaving parkland, open grassland, swamp, valleys and nullas.

How to get there ?

» By Air - The nearest airport is at Coimbatore, 160-km away.

» By Rail - The sanctuary is located at a distance of 65-km from Udhagamandalam railway station and 95-km from Mysore station.

» By Road - Gudalur (16-km) is the nearest town to the sanctuary, which is situated along the Udhagamandalam - Mysore highway. This sanctuary could be reached from Mysore as well. There are regular buses from Udhagamandalam, Mysore and the neighbouring towns to the sanctuary.

Major Attractions of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

» Flora - Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is marked with a varied vegetation and hilly terrain with dense mixed and moist deciduous Mudumalai Forest. The National Park has rich flora consists of Bamboos (Bambusa Arundinacea) Natural teak (Tectona Grandis), Anogeissus latifolia, Terminalia, Crenulata/Terminalia Tomontosa, Grewia, and blooming trees like Indian Labumusum, Aredesia and Solanancea.

» Fauna- The Sanctuary's varied fauna include Elephants, Gaur, Banner, Macaque, Common Langur, Tigers, Leopards, Chital, Panther, Sloth Bear, Python, Barking Deer, Four Horned Antelope, Otter, Crocodiles (Mugger), Giant Flying Squirrel, Sambar, Hyena, Wild Dog, Wild Boar, Mouse Deer, Spotted Deer, Jackal, Hare, Porcupine and Mongoose

The birds that can be spotted in the sanctuary are Peacock, the country's National bird, Grey Jungle Fowl, Red Spur Fowl, Grey Partridge Quails, Goggle Eyed Plower, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Large Racket-Tailed Dronge, The Magpie-robin, Spotted Babbler, Small Green Barbet, Green Pigeons, Brown Dove, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Bulbuls, Mynahs, etc. Among birds of prey, Eagles, Hawks, Buzzards, Harriers, Falcons and King Vulture are common, along with some migratory water birds.

Accommodation Facilities

Accommodation can be arranged at forest rest house, guesthouses at Masinagudi, Kargudi, Abhayaranyam and Theppakkadu. Accommodation is also available at TTDC's Youth Hostel and the Bamboo Banks Farm that is 18-km away.

Nearby Cities

The nearest town is Gudalur (16kms). Ooty is 67 km. from Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary.