Mukurthi National Park - Nilgiri

Mukurthi National Park (MNP) is a 78.46 square km protected area located in the western corner of the Nilgiris Plateau in the Western Ghats mountain range of South India. The park was created to protect its keystone species, the Nilgiri Tahr. Mukurthi National Park is one of the best trekking places in Ooty. The park is part of the Nilgiri Bio Reserve which is India's first Bio Reserve. Montane grasslands and shrublands on a high altitude, strong winds, low temperature and sholas scattered around - that's what the forest is like. There are many rivers and streams running through the park and they are often frequented by the different species of fauna that inhabit the jungle.

There are also a few watch towers built by the Forest Department exclusively for researchers and bird watchers. The vegetation mainly consists of rhododendron, raspberries and black berries. Intermittently you find fields of lush green grass in the valleys.

Being a part of the Western Ghats, the jungle is heavy with a wide range of animals, birds, reptiles and even insects. The most common among them are the barking deer, Indian elephant, the jungle cat, wild dogs, panther, Indian leopard, the jackal, the list is endless.

Among the birds, you find eagles, vultures, many exotic parrots and also migratory birds. The Mukurthi Park is famous for the Nilgiri Tahr, which is supposedly found only in the forests of these regions. Having said all this it is more than clear that the place is a paradise for true lovers of nature.

This wildlife sanctuary is also home to Mukurthi Peak, the fourth highest peak in the Nilgiri Hills. And at an altitude of 2,554m (8,379ft), the peak attracts many trekkers to visit these forests. But to trek your way up or to walk down the trails in the Mukurthi National Park, permission is required from the forest department.