The Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve referred to as Mundanthurai is
located at a distance of 47kms from Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.
The second largest protected area in the state, Kalakkad is declared as
one of the world's 18 biodiversity hotspots. Though a tiger reserve, it
also noted for chital, sambar and lion-tailed macaque.
Located amidst the picturesque and geographically rich
surroundings of Western Ghats, Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary (251 km²)
together with the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary (567 km²) has been
notified as the 17th Project Tiger Reserve in 1988. And in 1996, 77 km²
of parts of Veerapuli and Kilamalai Reserve Forests of adjacent district
Kanyakumari, were added to this reserve. The topography of Kalakad
is rugged with numerous perennial hill streams originating from the rainforest
areas on the upper slopes and they confluence to form the rivers of Tamirabarani,
Manimuthar and Ramanadhi.
There are dams built across the Tamirabarani river and
its tributaries which lie inside the Tiger Reserve namely Papanasam Dam
(also known as Karaiyar Dam, Thamirabarani Dam), Manimuthar dam and Servalaru
dam. Boating Facilities are available at Papanasam Dam, but swimming is
strictly prohibited as it is populated with crocodiles. Major waterfalls
inside the Reserve are Agasthiyar falls, Banatheerthum falls and Manimuthar
falls. Agasthiyar falls is one of the beautiful tourist spot and it will
take about 3 hour's trek to get there. Banatheertham is another famous
waterfalls, where the song ‘Chinna-Chinna Aasai’ (‘Dil hai chhota sa’
in Hindi) from the movie 'Roja' was picturised. Lies above the Papanasam
Dam, a 20-minute boat ride takes one from the dam across the lake and
a 10 minute trek takes one to the magnificent waterfalls. Surrounded by
dense forest, the boat ride offers a magnificent view of the hills.
Flora
The vegetation types ranges from forests of tropical West Coast Tropical
Wet Ever Green forest to Tropical Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest and Thorn
Forest makes it one of the richest biodiversity areas in the world. The
reserve boasts flat land, rolling parkland, open grassland, swamps, valleys
and Nullas.
Kalakad's common trees include Calophylum elatum, Hopea
parviflora, Mallotus philippensis, Decussocarpus Wallichianus, Cullenia
resaraona, Tectona grandis, Ficus spp., Syzygium sp., Cullenia exasillata,
Cinnamum zeylancium, Macaranga roxburghii, Mesua ferrea, Hardwickia binata,
Gluta travancorica, Eleogarpus tuberculatus, Canarium strictum, Artocarpus
hirsuta, Myristica species, Vateria malabaraica, Eugenia, Vitex altimassima,
Dysoxylim malabrium, Anacolosa densiflora, Phyllanthus emblica,Cullenia
exelsa, Litsea species, Chloroxylon swietenia, Elaeodendron glacum, Mangifera
indica, Alstonia scholaris, Podocarpus latifolia, Felicium decipiens,
Dalbergia latifolia, Kingiodendron pinnatum, Terminalia spp., Wrightia
tinctoria, Pterocarpus marsupium, Garcinia cambogia, Nogeissus latifolia,
Careya arborea, Dalbergia paniculata, Albizia lebeck etc.
Fauna
The fauna includes around 150 endemic plants, 33 fish, 37 amphibian, 81
reptile, 273 bird and 77 mammal species. Elephant, Gaur, Bonnet, Macaque,
Common langur, Tigers and Leopards, Chital, Dhole Panther, Sloth Bear,
Python, Barking deer, Four-Hourned- Antelope, Otter, Crocodiles (mugger),
giant flying squirrel, Sambhar, Hyena, Wild Dog, Wild Boar, Mouse Deer,
Spotted Deer, Jackal, Hare, Porcupine and Mangoose. A wide variety of
reptile inhabitants including Pythons and Crocodiles. Besides, a wide
range of birds can also be seen. The prominent ones are the Partridge,
Great Indian Hornbill, Egrets, Ceylon mouth frog, Spur fowl, Quails, Dove,
Bee caters, Grey headed bulbul, Night jars, Paradise flay catchers, Malabar
Grey hornbill, Spotted babbler are some among them.
The reserve offers Birdwatching, boat rides and trekking
in the jungles of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. Contact - Ph:0462-2552663.
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Wildlife 
