Mudumalai
Nestled amidst the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, Mudumalai is a part of the greater Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in South India. The name Mudumalai is given to the ancient hill range that descends down to the Mysore plateau and is contiguous with the Bandipur forest reserve, which gives it wider access to elephants and gaurs. The approach to the sanctuary from Ooty is spectacular, twisting, and turning down 36 hairpin bends through wooded hills and past waterfalls.Flora
Mudumalai has three types of forests, i.e., tropical moist deciduous, tropical dry deciduous, and southern tropical thorn. Narrow belts of riverine vegetation occur along stream banks. There are beautiful teak and eucalyptus plantations in some places, with the highway winding through it, making for a most breathtaking driving experience.Fauna
Mudumalai is known to be famous for spotting tigers and leopards, but sightings are rare due to the dense forest cover. However, you must watch out for Gaurs, Sambhar, many deer species including Chitals, Mouse Deer, Barking Deer and Sambhar. You can spot Bonnet Macaques and Common Langurs. Special to this area are the graceful flying squirrels.The species of birds seen in the sanctuary include racket-tailed drongo, black woodpecker, parakeets, barbets, mynas, cuckoos, Malabar trogon, Malabar gray hornbill, crested hawk eagle, and crested serpent eagle.
