Mukurthi National Park, Ooty: History, highlights and visitor guide

History and context

The story behind Mukurthi National Park

The area was notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 1982 and upgraded to a national park in 1990, according to Wikipedia. It covers about 78 square kilometres in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu.

Mukurthi Peak rises to about 2,554 m. A three- to five-day trek runs from the park into the neighbouring national park in Kerala, ending at Mukkali village, as organised by the forest department.

Useful facts

Mukurthi National Park facts at a glance

Location

Western Nilgiris, Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu

Area

About 78 sq km

Known for

Nilgiri tahr, montane grassland and shola forest

Access

By forest department permission or organised trek only

Peak

Mukurthi Peak, about 2,554 m

Facilities

No tourist facilities; forest rest houses by booking

Why it matters

Why Mukurthi National Park is worth your time

Mukurthi protects a patch of the high Nilgiri plateau that is now rare: montane grassland and shola forest at around 2,400 m, near the northern end of the Nilgiri tahr's range. The tahr is a mountain goat found only in the Western Ghats, and the park was created to protect it. A three-day census in March 2007 estimated about 200 animals.

The park lies in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is part of the Western Ghats listing on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Its streams drain mostly into the Bhavani River, and the Upper Bhavani and Mukurthi reservoirs lie within it. Visits are tightly controlled precisely because the habitat is fragile, and that restriction is part of what keeps it intact.

Highlights

What not to miss

1. 01

   Nilgiri tahr habitat

   Steep grass-covered cliffs and slopes form the core habitat of the Nilgiri tahr, the reason the park was created.

2. 02

   Open montane grassland

   Rolling high grassland broken by shola forest gives a landscape quite unlike Ooty's gardens and lake.

3. 03

   Guided forest department treks

   Treks led by forest guides are the permitted way in, from short day routes to multi-day walks.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

Start by ringing or visiting the Wildlife Warden's office in Udhagamandalam, on Coonoor Road, and ask what treks are running and how to apply. The forest department organises guided treks, usually with a guide-cum-cook, and the length of route varies from a short day walk of about 8 km to much longer multi-day routes. Independent wandering is not permitted, and commercial tour operations are not allowed inside the park.

On the trek, expect open, rolling montane grassland broken by pockets of shola forest, with cold wind and quick weather changes. The Nilgiri tahr is the reason the park exists, and you may see them on the cliffs and slopes if the guide knows where to look. Trek start points named by the forest department include Bangitappal, Devabetta, Kolarikutta and the Western Catchment. Forest rest houses exist at Bangitappal and elsewhere in the area, but they depend on booking through the department.

Wear layers and waterproofs, carry water and food, and expect no phone signal in places. If a trek is not possible, the Mukurthi range and its peak can be seen from the Western Catchment road and from Ooty's higher viewpoints on clear mornings.

The Forest Department's Trek Tamil Nadu programme runs a guided route from the Parsons Valley trekking shed to the Mukurthi hut inside the park; it must be booked online in advance, and walking anywhere else in the park needs permission.

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area

Western Nilgiris; about 45 km from Ooty to the park area (the Bangitappal trek start is a longer drive of several hours; confirm with the forest office)

Time needed

A full day at least; forest department treks can run several days

Best time

February to May and September to November; avoid the June to August monsoon

Walking level

Demanding

Senior comfort

This is hard going for older travellers: long walks over steep grassland at around 2,400 m, with no seating, shelter or refreshments, and a long drive on hill roads to reach the start. Most older visitors are better served by looking at the Mukurthi range from Ooty's higher viewpoints.

Tickets and access

Casual entry is not allowed. Visits are by permission from the forest department or on its organised treks, which are applied for through the range officer. Fees, group sizes and dates are not published here; confirm with the Wildlife Warden's office in Udhagamandalam.

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