Mukurthi National Park complete detail – updated

Mukurthi National Park complete detail – updated. Geography of Mukurthi National Park. Dominant flora and fauna of Mukurthi National Park. How to Reach Mukurthi National Park. The park is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India’s first International Biosphere Reserve. As part of the Western Ghats, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1 July 2012. The area was declared as a wildlife sanctuary on 3 August 1982 and the entire area of Mukurthi National Park was declared as a Reserve forest in the year of 1886. It was upgraded to a National Park in the year of 1990……………

Total area of the park is about 78.46 Km². It was declare as a National Park in the year of 1990. Major attraction of the park is Nilgiri thar. The area contains a viable population of Nilgiri Thar. Besides that Sambhar, barking deer, Nilgiri marten, otter, jungle cat, jackals etc. The park also has large varieties of butterflies that includes blue admiral, Indian red admiral, Indian Cabbage white Hedge blues, Rainbow trouts and Indian fritillary, which has a similarity to the Himalayan Butterflies…………

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.

Mukurthi National Park

Mukurthi National Park is a beautiful place, located in the Nilgiris district of the state of Tamil Nadu. The park was previously known as Nilgiri Tahr National Park.

It was declare as a National Park in the year of 1990. Total area of the park is about 78.46 Km². The park is characterized by montane grasslands and shrublands interspersed with sholas in a high altitude area of high rainfall, near-freezing temperatures and high winds.

The park is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India’s first International Biosphere Reserve. As part of the Western Ghats, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1 July 2012. The Park is sandwiched between the Mudumalai National Park and the Silent Valley National park.

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A fascinating feature of the Mukurthi National Park is its endemism and relationship with the Himalayan flora and fauna.

The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000+ km²), including all of Mukurthi National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.

The natural vegetation consists of vast stretches of grasslands interspersed with numerous isolated, compact sharply defined and small woodland “Shoals’.

Major attraction of the park is Nilgiri thar. The area contains a viable population of Nilgiri Thar. Besides that Sambhar, barking deer, Nilgiri marten, otter, jungle cat, jackals etc. are the commonly found animals.

The bird species includes Laughing and whistling thrushes, woodcock, wild pigeon and black eagle etc.

Mukurthi National Park is another major attraction of the Nilgiris. It is located on the south eastern corner of the Nilgiris Plateau.

The Mukurthi dam has been built at the foot of this hill under Pykara hydro electricity scheme. The dam is situated at a distance of 32 km from Ooty and the peak is reached by walk for a distance of 9 km from there.

The terrain, primarily grasslands is characteristically interspersed with numerous isolated, compact, sharply defined montane wet temperate mixed forests locally termed ‘Sholas’ with beautiful brooks.

The sholas have savannah woodlands, and evergreen trees which are more stunted than those in lowland evergreen forests. Billithadahalla, Pykara and Kundah rivers flow through the park.

The park also has large varieties of butterflies that includes blue admiral, Indian red admiral, Indian Cabbage white, Hedge blues, Rainbow trouts and Indian fritillary, which has a similarity to the Himalayan Butterflies.

History

The tribe of the native hills which includes the Toda harvested the firewood from shoals and their animal which also includes the Hill Buffalo have harvested the firewood for centuries.

The shoals indiscriminate felling started with British establishing the settlements in early 19th century in Coonoor, Wellington and Ootacamund. From 1841 the contractors were issued authority to bid the fell wood from the shoals which are specific in ‘timber conservancy’ program.

Bangitappal at the southwest end of the park at the confluence of two streams at the head of the Sispara Pass, used to be a halting place on the old Sispara ghat road from Kozhikode to Ooty, constructed in 1832.

This pass provided a short land route for postal runners from Ooty to the West Coast in the 19th century and was used for smuggling of cannabis, tobacco and later salt. A forest rest house and a trekkers shed built there in 1930 are now used by park staff and visiting researchers.

Plantations of many species of trees which were non-native were introduced in this place from the year 1840 to 1856 in order to meet the demand of the fuel and wood.

Beginning in 1841 authorities issued contracts to bidders to fell wood from specific sholas in a ‘timber conservancy’ program. In 1868 James Breeds, Commissioner of the Hills wrote: “…unless conservancy is taken in hand and organized under some efficient system under the control of an experienced officer, the destruction of the sholas is but a question of time.”

In 1882, Dietrich Brandis the Inspector General of Forests, suggested the increasing of the current area of plantation from 1200 acres i.e., 4.9 km2 to 5,000 acres i.e., 20 km2 in order to create many forest blocks, which would give way to the leftover shoals as repetitive forest resources. In 1886 all if the area of Mukurthi forest got declared as Reserve forest.

The area was declared as a wildlife sanctuary on 3 August 1982 and the entire area of Mukurthi National Park was declared as a Reserve forest in the year of 1886. It was upgraded to a National Park in the year of 1990.

Geography

Mukurthi National Park is located in the Nilgiris district of the state of Tamil Nadu. The Park is sandwiched between the Mudumalai National Park and the Silent Valley National park.

The park is characterized by montane grasslands and shrublands interspersed with sholas in a high altitude area of high rainfall, near-freezing temperatures and high winds.

The park is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India’s first International Biosphere Reserve. As part of the Western Ghats, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1 July 2012.

A fascinating feature of the Mukurthi National Park is its endemism and relationship with the Himalayan flora and fauna.

The Mukurthi dam has been built at the foot of this hill under Pykara hydro electricity scheme. The dam is situated at a distance of 32 km from Ooty and the peak is reached by walk for a distance of 9 km from there.

The natural vegetation consists of vast stretches of grasslands interspersed with numerous isolated, compact sharply defined and small woodland “Shoals’.

The terrain, primarily grasslands is characteristically interspersed with numerous isolated, compact, sharply defined montane wet temperate mixed forests locally termed ‘Sholas’ with beautiful brooks.

The sholas have savannah woodlands, and evergreen trees which are more stunted than those in lowland evergreen forests. Billithadahalla, Pykara and Kundah rivers flow through the park.

The parks peak of the tip of the southwest are at both the sides of the corner of northeast of the Kerala’s Silent Valley National Park of Kerala.

Mukurthi National Park is a 78.46 km² protected area located in the south-eastern corner of the Nilgiris Plateau west of Ooty.

The average elevation is around 2400 mt Above MSL. Kollaribetta is the highest point (2630 mt). Other major peaks are Mukkurthi (2556 mt) and Nilgiris (2477 mt).

The park generally slopes towards the east and south receiving water from the Billithadahalla, Pykara and Kundah rivers, and the Upper Bhavani and Mukurthi reservoirs which flow through the park. Also several perennial streams originate in the park, most of which drain into the Bhavani Puzha.

Mukurthi National Park has an elongated crescent shape facing to the west between 11°10′ to 11°22′ N and 76°26′ to 76°34′ E.

Dominant flora

Alchemilla indica, Hedyotis verticillaris, Syzygium calophyllifolium, Daphiphyllum neilgherrense, Cinnamomum wightii, Vaccinium leschenaulti, Mahonia leschenaulti, Litsea sp., Lasianthes sp., Psychotria sp., Michelia nilagirica, Gaultheria fragrantissima, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Bergeris tinctoria, Eurya nitida,  Oberonia santapaui, Aerides ringens, Aerides crispa, Coelogyne odoratissima, Brachycorithis iantha, Satyrium nepalense, Habenaria cephalotes, Seidenfia densiflora, Spiranthes sinensis, Liparis atropurpurea etc.

Dominant fauna

Mammals – Nilgiri thar, Elephant, Tiger, Nilgiri marten, Nilgiri langur, Bonhote’s mouse, leopard, Bonnet macaque, Sambar deer, Barking deer, Otter, Jungle cat, Small Indian civet, Wild dog, Jackal, Black naped here, Shrew etc.

Birds – Nilgiri flycatcher, Grey headed flycatcher, Black bulbul, Nilgiri pipit, Black eagle, Black flycatcher, Orange flycatcher, Laughing thrush, Whistling thrush, Woodcock, Wood pigeon etc.

Reptiles – Horseshoe pit viper, Olivaceaous keelback, Oligodon taeniolatus, Oligodon venustus, Bronze headed vine snake etc.

Other attractions

Trekking

Camping

Trekking roots

1. Bangitapal – Sispara -16 KM
2. Bangitapal –Sispara-Poochiparai- Silent Valley -52 KM
3. Devabetta – Mukkurthi Peak -12KM. – Fishinghut (halt) – 8 KM
4. Kolarikutta – Bangitapal -20 KM (halt)
5. Western Catchment – Bangitapal – 14 KM
6. Trekking Shed – Kangerkundi – Nadugani -18 KM

Best time to visit

The best time of the year to visit the Mukurthi National Park is between the months of February to May and September to November.

The park is open on all days from 9.00 am to 5.30 pm except Tuesdays.

Fee

Children’s (Age 5 to 12 years) – Rs. 10/-

Children’s of Government and aided Schools (Age 5 to 12 years) – Rs. 02/-

Adult – Rs. 15/-

Still camera – Rs. 25/-

Handy Camera / Video Camera – Rs. 150/-

Charges for documentary educational films using Handy camera and Video Camera – Rs. 2000/-

Parking vehicle charges

Motor car/van Rs. – 15/-

Motor Cycle – Rs. 5/-

How to Reach

By Air – Nearest airport is Coimbatore airport, about 140 Km from the Mukurthi National Park. Coimbatore airport is well connected by road network to Mukurthi National Park.

By Rail – Nearest railway station is Udhagamandalam (Ooty) railway station, about 40 Km from the Mukurthi National Park. Udhagamandalam railway station is well connected by road network to Mukurthi National Park.

By Road – Mukurthi 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 Mukurthi National Park.

Accommodation

Accommodation is available at Forest Rest Houses – Bangi Tapal, Upper Bhavani (EB), Mukurthi Fishing Hut.

Useful Contacts

The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India Ph.: 0423-2444098

District Forest Officer (North) Phone: 0423- 2441950

District Forest Officer (South) Phone: 0423- 2444083

The Wildlife Warden, 259, Anna Salai, DMS Compound, IV Floor, Teynampet, Chennai 600006 Phone : 044- 24321471

The Wildlife Warden, Mahalingam Buildings, Coonoor Road, Udhagamandalam (Ooty) – 64300, Phone: 0423- 2444098

Tourist Office, Wenlock Road, Ooty – 643 001 Phone: 0423- 2443977 Fax: 0423- 2444369

Nilgiris Wildlife and Environment Association c/o DFO (North) Mount Stewart Hill, Ootacamund, 643 001 Phone: 0423- 2447167

Other  National Parks in Tamilnadu. Name of National Parks, Year of Notification and Total Area is as follows…