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Location :
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Karnataka
, Kerala, Tamilnadu |
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Nearest Access : |
Mysore & Ooty (80-kms) |
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Main Wildlife Found : |
Asian Elephants and
Gaurs |
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Coverage Area : |
321-sq-kms |
About
Madhumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
General Information
Area :32,155 hectares
Altitude 350-1,266 m above sea level
Maximum Temperature 24.30C
Minimum Temperature 4.80C
Best Time to Visit June to September and October to December
STD Code 0423 (Ooty)
MudumalaiWildlife
Sanctuary & National Park is situated at the tri-junctionof the
three southern states of Tamilnadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. It
coversan area of 321 Sq. Km. comprising of pristine tropical
wilderness. Theplace is rich in its bio-diversity especially the
avifauna (Birds).
It is included as part of the Nilgiri Bio-sphere reserve which is
the firstof its kind to be declared as a bio-sphere reserve in the
country. A varietyof habitats ranging from Tropical Evergreen
forest, Moist mixed decidious,Moist Teak forest, Dry teak forest,
Secondary grass lands, Shrubs and Swampsexists here. The bird
diversity in these habitats is unbelievably richand is a welcoming
place for bird watchers from far and wide. This parkharbours over
200 species of birds from 48 families and is one of the richestbird
areas in the State of Tamilnadu. Some of the rarely seen Birdsof
prey like the Rufous bellied hawk eagle can be occasionally seen
inthis sanctuary. Nights are fascinating especially during the month
of April,when the whole sanctuary is illuminated with millions of
glow worms. Theentire sanctuary can be covered by car or on trained
elephants providedby the Forest Department on hire. The best season
to visit the sanctuaryis during March-June.
Mudumalai wildlife reserve
is a continuation of the Bandipur National Park. The
river Moyar that flows along the border or Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
separates the two. The Mysore - Ooty highway runs through the park.
The 321 sq. km. reserve is situated in Tamil Nadu.
Mudumalali wildlife reserve
was the first sanctuary in south India. The terrain is extremely
varied with hills, valleys, ravines, watercourses and swamps. The
vegetation comprises of tropical moist deciduous forests, dry
deciduous forests and scrub forests. Compared to the nearby reserves,
the climate is warmer in Mudumalai.
Langur,
bonnet macaque, tiger, leopard, wild dog, hyena, jackal, sloth bear,
elephants, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, Indian muntjac, mouse deer,
wild boar, rodent and flying squirrel are part of the wildlife
in Mudumalai. It has a rich bird life that includes
Malabar trogan, Grey hornbill, crested hawk eagle, crested serpent
eagle, etc.
The
best time to visit the reserve is from February to June. The sanctuary
can be reached by road. The nearest railway station is Udakamandalam.
The nearest airport is Coimbatore. Accommodation can be arranged at
forest rest house, guesthouses at Masinagudi, Kargudi, Abhayaranyam
and Theppakkadu.
Flora(Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary)
The vegetation is quite varied in this region. The hilly terrain of
the Western Ghats, clothed in dense mixed and moist deciduous forests,
make Mudumalai (the ancient hills) a most attractive
wildlife reserve. Bamboos (Bambusa Arundinacea) Natural teak (Tectona
Grandis), Anogeissus latifolia, Terminalia, Crenulata/Terminalia
Tomontosa, Grewia, and blooming trees like Indian Labumusum, Aredesia,
Solanancea are some of the flora.
Fauna(Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary)
The 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 listed in this sanctuary are Peacock-our 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 predominant, besides some migratory water
birds.
TOURIST INFORMATION(Mudumalai Wildlife
Sanctuary)
Facilities: Vehicles on hire and Elephant safari
HOW TO GET THERE
Air: The nearest airport is at Coimbatore, 160-km away.
Rail: The sanctuary is located at a distance of 65-km from
Udhagamandalam railway station and 95-km from Mysore station.
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.
WHERE TO STAY(Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary)
Within the sanctuary is an elephant camp called "Theppakkadu", where
there is a rest house. Accommodation is also available at TTDC's Youth
Hostel and rest houses in Masinagudi, Abhayaranayam and Kargudi and
the Bamboo Banks Farm that is 18-km away.
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