Mukurthi National Park 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.

Mukurthi National Park is in the Nilgiris (near Ooty / Udhagamandalam) and is reached by road from Ooty and other Nilgiri towns. Visitors normally travel to Ooty (the nearest major town) by road or rail to the Nilgiri region and then drive toward the Mukurthi area; entry is regulated by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department so contact the forest office in Ooty for permits and the exact approach road and parking/trekking points.

• Visit during the dry season (roughly October-May) for the clearest views of the montane grasslands and better trail conditions; heavy rain in the monsoon makes many routes impassable.
• Access is regulated - arrange entry permits and a forest department-approved guide in advance through the Tamil Nadu Forest Department or local offices in Ooty/Kotagiri, since independent access is restricted in many zones.
• Base yourself in Ooty or nearby Nilgiri towns and join an organized trek or wildlife drive to the high-plateau areas where Nilgiri tahr are most often seen at dawn and dusk.
• Focus on the open shola-grassland mosaics rather than dense forest tracks: the park's distinctive upland habitats and endemic species are best appreciated from established viewpoints and guided routes.