Come and Explore. Review on Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

So you are looking for a ?wild? experience, you want to get hypnotized by the scenic beauty of the Blue hills of Nilgiri, and you have a desire to enthrall yourself by the spectacular wildlife that our country has to offer from close proximity. Join me my dear friends as I help you explore the breathtaking Mudumalai National Park.

Mudumalai National Park is a treat for all your senses whether or not you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the elusive tiger or the leopard. As you drive through the jungle your peripheral vision may suddenly catch some movement high up and as you look up your eyes meet the magnetic eyes of the majestic crested Hawk Eagle (Cirrhatus). The very next moment a shrill sound reminds you that you are in the land of the giant Malabar squirrel. Quite refreshing isn?t it!

So what are the animals that you are expected to see when you visit the park? The answer is pretty overwhelming. The park boasts of one of the largest populations of elephants and the awesome gaur in the whole of Southern India. Tigers and Leopards though rarely seen are present in decent numbers. The disappointment of not seeing these two big cats could be compensated with the sightings of deers of all varieties and the omnipresent langurs and macaques.

This is a bird lover?s paradise and you could expect to meet many of your avian friends. You would be delighted to catch the Eagle or the equally spectacular red headed great black woodpecker, the Malabar trogan, the grey hornbill, the Malabar whistling thrush and the large racket-tailed dronge. Nocturnal habits of the flying squirrel make sightings difficult but who knows, you might have lady luck smiling on you.

The vegetation of the forest reminds one of Kanha but the difference lies in the absence of Sal. Like Kanha, the forest is full of Teak, Bejal and Bamboo. Apart from the summers the park experiences a pleasant climate and the temperature varies between 10 ? 15 degrees during the winter months. You could spot animals on elephant back or may opt for the safari vehicles.

Unlike many of the other national parks / wildlife sanctuaries, accommodation is not a problem in Mudumalai. The well maintained forest rest houses offer decent accommodation while there are a plenty of private resorts at places like Masinaguddi. You may also opt for the spectacular (I have not stayed here just seen it) Blue Valley Jungle Resorts. Please check their website https://bluevalleyjungleresorts.com/ for more details.

How to get there

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 around 100km from the Mysore station.

This is a perfect place to chill out and relax your mind and body and soon enough you will be in love with this place. It offers perfect solitude to our stressed out urban souls and you will want to go back even if you were lucky enough and had seen almost every animal the park has on offer!