The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary forest is part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere in the Western Gahts and is proposed be declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is 321 sq km in area and 17 km before Gudallur on the Mysore - Nanjangud - Gundulpet - Bandipur - Mudumalai - Gudallur - Ooty Highway. After Bandipur, you enter Tamilnadu state. A huge gateway with "Thank You. Visit Again" board by Karnataka state bids you goodbye. Across the river is Tamilnadu . At both side of the border are check posts manned by guards. They stop the vehicle and checking.

Masinagudi hill station is famous for its resorts and Home stays and is 7 km away from Theppakadau junction. The Masinagudi road crosses Moyar river bridge near Mudumalai Sanctuary. The nearby Theppakadu elephant training camp worth a visit. The camp has a 3 month old baby elephant. There is bus on this route to Moyar going via Masinagudi.



Baby elephant video

From Masinagudi, a 29 km steep route with 36 hair pin curved road takes one to Ooty. There is regular bus service on this route (Rs 10, 2 hour). After 14 km, the hairpin curves starts and the route is via 122 m high Kalhatty waterfalls (13 km before Ooty). The hairpin road joins the Main road (Gundulpet-Gudallur-Ooty road/NH 67) 7 km before Ooty. This road entry is closed at 5 pm due to safety reasons.

Mudumalai is famous for preserving wild creatures, especially elephants. The summit of Kargudi Hill offers an outstanding panoramic view of the sanctuary, including the Moyar Gorge.

Animals : Wild dog, Asian Elephant, Gaur (Indian Bison), Tiger, Leopard, Striped Hyena, Leopard-cat, Rusty Spotted Cat, moving in large hordes is a common site in the reserve. Also Small Indian Civet, Striped-necked Mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose, Sloth Bear, Indian Giant Squirrel, Sainbar, Spotted Deer (Chital), Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Chowsingha (Four-horned Antelope), Indian Pangolin etc are also seen.

Bird life : Grey Jungle fowl, Red Spurfowl, Grey Fraticolin, Painted Spurfowl, Painted Bush Quail, White-bellied Woodpecker, Lesser Yellownape, Greater Fiameback, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Emerald Dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Indian Cuckoo, Alpine Swift, BLick-hooded Oriole, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Black-headed Cuckooshrike, Grey-headed Bulbul, Forest Wagtail, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Loten`s Sunbird etc. Birds` raptors like Changeable Hawk Eagle, Black Eagle, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Jerdon`s Baza, Bonelli`s Eagle. Crested Goshawk, Besra, Mottled Wood Owl, Brown Hawk Owl are common inhabitants.

Best Season : Mid January to mid April.
Safari Timings : Bus and jeep operates jungle safari trips with tourists in the morning and evening.
How To Reach : There is regular bus on this forest route (Mysore - Ooty Highway).

Distance Chart :

Famous Nanjangud temple is 30 km from Mysore ( 1 km deviation from high way). Gundulpet is further 30 km away (NH 212). Gundulpet - Bandipur National Park (NH 67) : 20 km. NH 67 goes from Ooty via Coimbatore-Trichy-Tanjavur-Nagapattinam.