|
|
The Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary is located where the
Nilgiri Hills, the
offshoot of the Western Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats. The
Mysore -
Ooty highway runs
through the sanctuary, following the course of the Mayyar River, which
separates Mudumalai from Bandipur.
This
321-sq-kms wide sanctuary encompasses a National Park measuring an area of
103-sq-kms. The sanctuary has varied mixture of flat land, open grassland,
swamp and valleys. Apart from the wide range of animal and bird life, the
rich fauna of this sanctuary has made Mudumalai very popular with wildlife
enthusiasts.
There are tigers at Mudumalai, though it takes a lot of luck and
perseverance to spot one of these big cats that are such masters of
stealth. But there are several other creatures of the jungle that can be
sighted more easily.
Flora
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
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.
Facilities: Vehicles on hire and Elephant safari
For More Information Contact: The Wildlife Warden,
Coonoor Road,
Udhagamandalam.
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.
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.