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Kudremukh National Park complete detail – updated. Geography of Kudremukh National Park. Dominant flora and fauna of Kudremukh National Park. How to Reach Kudremukh National Park. Accommodation at Kudremukh National Park.
The park is surrounded by Coffee and Tea plantations on the northern and eastern boundaries. The town of Kudremukh is primarily an iron ore mining town where the government run Public Sector Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. (KIOCL) operated till the last decade. Kudremukh region was declared as a reserved forest in the year of 1916, to stop the extensive cut and burn agricultural practices from entering into the Ghats………….
Total area of the park is about 600.32 Km2. It was declared as a National Park in the year of 1987. There are highly dense forests rich in varieties of wild life like as tiger, leopard, wild dog, Malabar giant squirrel, common langur, sloth bear, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer and the sloth bear. The other attraction of the place are, the temple of goddess bhagawathi, and a varaha image 1.8m. The river bhadra and the tunga freely flow through the parklands.
National park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of the wildlife & biodiversity, and where activities like developmental, forestry, poaching, hunting and grazing on cultivation are not permitted. Their boundaries are well marked and circumscribed.
Kudremukh National Park is a beautiful place, located in the Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Chikmagalur districts of the state of Karnataka. Nestled in the Western Ghats.
The park stretches between Narasimha Parvatha (in Sringeri Taluk) in the north to the Jamalabad Fort (in Belthangady Taluk) in the south. Tea and coffee plantations are also done in this forest.
It began its existence as a Reserved Forest in the year of 1916, and was declared as a National Park in the year of 1987. Total area of the park is about 600.32 Km2.
Click here to view state wise list of Indian national parks – updated
The literary meaning of kuduremukh is ‘horse face’, and is in reference to the appearance of a mountain peak located within the park.
The Park nurtures a diverse range of flora and fauna. There are highly dense forests rich in varieties of wild life like as tiger, leopard, wild dog, Malabar giant squirrel, common langur, sloth bear, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer and the sloth bear.
The park also has about 195 species of birds which are Malabar trogon, Malabar whistling thrush, great pied hornbill and the imperial pigeon. Reptiles like Snakes and tortoises are also found here.
The other attraction of the place are, the temple of goddess bhagawathi, and a varaha image 1.8m. The river bhadra and the tunga freely flow through the parklands. Kadambi waterfalls is also the point of interest for the travelers.
History
The town of Kudremukh is primarily an iron ore mining town where the government run Public Sector Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. (KIOCL) operated till the last decade.
Kudremukh region was declared as a reserved forest in the year of 1916, to stop the extensive cut and burn agricultural practices from entering into the Ghats.
Environmentalist Dr. Ullas karanth did a systematic survey in 1983 to 1984, and observed that kudremukh is an extensive and suitable habitat for lion – tailed macaque most probably the tract has largest population of lion-tailed macaques in the Western Ghats exterior to Malabar region.
Geography
The Park is located in the Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Chikmagalur districts of the state of Karnataka. The park stretches between Narasimha Parvatha (in Sringeri Taluk) in the north to the Jamalabad Fort (in Belthangady Taluk) in the south.
The park is nestled in the Western Ghats. The park is surrounded by Coffee and Tea plantations on the northern and eastern boundaries. Total area of the park is about 600.32 Km2.
The southern and western sides of the park form the steep slope of the Western Ghats ridge line. The northern, central and the eastern portions of the park constitute a chain of rolling hills with a mosaic of natural grassland and shola forests.
The Park is divided into four ranges Kudremukh, Kerekatte, Kalasa, and Shimoga. The park is covered with thick hilly forests, mostly evergreen and semi-evergreen near the coastal plains on the western portion.
The topography of Kudremukh National Park, Karnataka is marked by deep ravines and steep cliffs.
This is the highly hilly dense forests adjacent to the shoal vegetation on the Western Ghats uplands and the coastal plains on the western portion.
Three important rivers, the Tunga, the Bhadra and the Nethravathi are said to have their origin here. The area of the Kadambi waterfalls is a definite point of interest for anyone who travels to the spot.
Altitude of 1,894 m above sea level.
Temperature: Maximum: 35o C
Minimum: 10o C
Dominant flora
The flora in Kudremukh National Park consists of mostly evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. Eucalyptus, Casuarinas, Acacia auriculiformis and Grevillea Robusta etc.
Dominant fauna
Mammals – Tiger, Leopard, Wild dog, Jackal, Lion-tailed macaque, Common langur, Sloth bear, Gaur, Sambar, Spotted deer, Barking deer, Malabar giant squirrel, Giant flying squirrel, Porcupine, Mongoose etc.
Birds – Malabar trogon, Malabar whistling thrush, Great pied hornbill, Imperial pigeon etc.
Other attractions
The Kadambi Waterfalls
Trekking
Ganga Moola
Sringeri Sharada Peetham
Horanadu Annapoorneshwari Temple
Best time to visit
The best time of the year to visit the Kudremukh National Park is between the months of October to May.
Fee
Indians – Rs. 200/- Per person
Indian children’s – Rs. 200/- Per person
Indian senior citizens (60 years and above) – Rs. 200/- Per person
Foreigners – Rs. 1000/- Per person
Foreigner student’s – Rs. 1000/- Per person
State wise list of Wildlife Sanctuaries of India – updated
How to Reach
By Air – Nearest airport is Mangalore airport, about 130 Km from the Kudremukh National Park. Mangalore airport is well connected by road to Kudremukh National Park.
By Rail – Nearest railway station is Mangalore railway station, about 130 Km from the Kudremukh National Park. Mangalore railway station is well connected by road to Kudremukh National Park.
By Road – Kudremukh National Park is well connected to Major Cities and Places by road network. There are a number of government and privately operated vehicles that go to Kudremukh National Park at frequent intervals.
Distance from Nearby and Major Cities
Bangalore – about 360 km
Mangalore – about 130 km
Chikmagalur – about 95 km
Sringeri – about 20 km
Kalasa – about 20 Km
Karkala – about 50 Km
Mudigere – about 75 Km
Accommodation
Accommodations are available at Forest Rest Houses inside the park.
Website (Official) – www.aranya.gov.in
Other National Parks in Karnataka. Name of National Parks, Year of Notification and Total Area is as follows…
| S. No. | Name of National Park | Year of Notification | Total Area (Km2) |
| 1 | Bandipur National Park | Karnataka | 1974 | 874.2 |
| 2 | Bannerghatta National Park | Karnataka | 1974 | 260.51 |
| 3 | Anshi national park | Karnataka | 1987 | 417.37 |
| 4 | Nagarhole (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park | Karnataka | 1988 | 643.39 |
