Mukurthi National Park

Mukurthi National Park is a protected area in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu that conserves high-elevation montane grassland and shola forest typical of the southern Western Ghats. It is noted for populations of the endemic Nilgiri tahr and for its upland plateau scenery.

The park features open grasslands interspersed with shola forest pockets, trekking routes and viewpoints around ridges and rocky outcrops. Wildlife watchers come to see Nilgiri tahr and other montane specialists, and the park’s upland terrain is used for short hikes and nature observation.

The area has been managed for wildlife and watershed protection under successive conservation designations; the park preserves remnant high-altitude habitats that were once more extensive across the Nilgiris. Management focuses on protecting endemic species and the region’s water catchments.

Mukurthi lies in the southwestern Nilgiri Hills in western Tamil Nadu, forming part of the Nilgiri Biosphere landscape and located on the high plateaus above the Moyar and Bhavani river catchments; the nearest sizable towns are in the Nilgiris district and Ooty lies to the north of the park.

• Wildlife: The park is one of the few protected areas in the Western Ghats that conserves high-elevation montane grassland and shola ecosystems where the Nilgiri tahr is regularly seen.

What to See #

• Mukurthi Peak: Mukurthi Peak rises within the park and reaches approximately 2,553 metres, forming part of the high-elevation moor and grassland plateau that defines the area.
• Shola-grassland habitat: Extensive shola-grassland mosaics that provide habitat for the endemic Nilgiri tahr and other high-elevation species, concentrated on the park's upland plateaus and ridges.