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 sanctuary 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 in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary :
» Flora - Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is marked
with a varied vegetation and hilly terrain with dense mixed and moist
deciduous forests. The sanctuary’s 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.
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