Tourists who are on a tour to Ooty can also check out the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, which is at a distance of 67 kms from Ooty and stands at a height of 1,140m in the Nilgiri hills. The park, which has been renamed the Jayalalitha Wildlife Sanctuary, covers an area of 322 sq. kms of forestland and is a continuation of the Bandipur National Park.
The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary was the first Wildlife Reserve in South India. A remarkable feature of this Park is its terrain, which is very varied, with hills, ravines, valleys and swamps. Even the vegetation is quite varied. There are blooming trees like Indian Labumusum, Aredesia, Solanancea, and others like Bamboos (Bambusa Arundinacea) Natural teak (Tectona Grandis), Crenulata/Terminalia Tomontosa, Anogeissus latifolia, Terminalia and Grewia,
The Wildlife sanctuary has one of the largest elephant populations in the country. Other animals to be found in this National Park are, tigers and leopards, chital, dhole panther Gaur, Banner, Macaque, Common langur, Sloth Bear, Python, Otter, Crocodiles (mugger), barking deer, Four Horned Antelope, giant flying squirrel, Sambar, Hyena, Wild Dog, Wild Boar, Mouse Deer, Spotted Deer, Porcupine, Jackal, Hare, and Mongoose.
The Birds that can be seen at this National Park are, peacock, gray jungle fowl, the shama, the magpie-robin, the red spur fowl, the gray partridge quails, malabar grey hornbill, bulbuls, goggle eyed plover, Malabar whistling thrush, spotted babbler, small green barbet, green pigeons, the brown dove, mynahs, etc.
The best time to visit this National Park is from February to June. One can get to this Sanctuary either by road or rail. The nearest railway station is at Udakamandalam. The closest airport is at Coimbatore. Accommodation can also be easily found at the park. Visitors can stay at the forest rest house, or stay at the guesthouse available at Kargudi, Theppakkadu and Masinagudi.
If you are holidaying in Ooty, then do take a tour of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, which would add more excitement and variety to your holiday experience in Tamil Nadu.
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