Mukurthi National Park

Mukurthi National Park, an extremely picturesque park is located on the south eastern corner of the elevated Nilgiris Plateau in Tamil Nadu. The park forms a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere and is one of the two National parks in the Nilgiri district. 

Mukurthi extends to an area of 80-sq. km (7846 ha) at an average elevation of about 2400m. This park has a wide variety of flora and fauna similar to the Himalayan Flora and fauna. The terrain, primarily grasslands is characteristically interspersed with numerous isolated, compact, sharply defined montane wet temperate mixed forests locally termed 'Sholas' with beautiful brooks. The sholas have savannah woodlands, and evergreen trees which are more stunted than those in lowland evergreen forests. Billithadahalla, Pykara and Kundah rivers flow through the park.

Nilgiri Thar (Hamitragus hilocrius) is the main attraction in this park. Besides that Sambhar, barking deer, Nilgiri marten, otter, jungle cat, jackals etc are the commonly found animals.

 The bird population includes Laughing and whistling thrushes, woodcock, wild pigeon and black eagle etc.

The park also has large varieties of butterflies that includes blue admiral, Indian red admiral, Indian Cabbage white, Hedge blues, Rainbow trouts and Indian fritillary, which has a similarity to the Himalayan Butterflies. 

Among the park's highest peaks are Devabetta (2553 m) and Mukurthi, which offer some of the best views of the Nilgiris. At the foot of the Mukurthi hill (8380 ft), 9 km from the peak lies the Mukurthi dam which also is a must see place. Nilgiris gentle slopes and cool climate offers easy trekking. There are no entry permits needed nor it is essential to hire a guide in these trek routes but it is good to inform the District forest Officer especially if you are going on a long trek inside the park.