MUKURTHI NATIONAL PARK
Nestled high in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, Mukurthi National Park is one of India’s most beautiful and ecologically important protected areas. Spread across 78.46 square kilometres, the park forms a vital part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India’s first biosphere reserve. It is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Western Ghats, making it a place of global natural importance.
Located between Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu and Silent Valley National Park in Kerala, Mukurthi is famous for its breathtaking landscapes of rolling grasslands, mist-covered mountains, sparkling streams, and dense shola forests. This unique combination of grasslands and evergreen forests is found only in the high-altitude regions of the Western Ghats.
Originally, the area was used as grazing land by the indigenous Toda tribe. During the British period, several exotic tree plantations were introduced, changing parts of the landscape. To protect its rich biodiversity, Mukurthi was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1982 and became a National Park in 1990.
The park experiences a cool climate throughout much of the year, with heavy rainfall, thick mist, and strong mountain winds. Its shola forests are home to many rare trees, including the Nilgiri rhododendron, wild cinnamon, Nilgiri champa, and several species of orchids, balsams, and ferns. More than 190 endemic plant species grow here, many of which are found nowhere else in the world.
The star attraction of Mukurthi National Park is the Nilgiri Tahr, an endangered mountain goat found only in the Western Ghats. According to the 2025 census, about 2,668 Nilgiri Tahrs remain in the Nilgiris region of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, with around 285 living inside Mukurthi National Park. Protecting this rare animal is one of the park’s main conservation goals.
Mukurthi is also home to many other fascinating animals, including the Asian elephant, Bengal tiger, leopard, sambar deer, barking deer, jackal, and the endangered Nilgiri marten. Bird lovers can spot colourful species such as the Nilgiri laughingthrush, Malabar whistling thrush, black-and-orange flycatcher, Nilgiri wood pigeon, common kingfisher, crested serpent eagle, and Brahminy kite.
Situated about 45 kilometres from Ooty, Mukurthi National Park is easily accessible by road from Coimbatore and Bengaluru. With its spectacular scenery, rare wildlife, and unique mountain ecosystem, Mukurthi is a priceless treasure of the Western Ghats and an inspiring reminder of the importance of protecting India’s natural heritage.
DID YOU KNOW?
●Mukurthi National Park is part of the UNESCO-listed Western Ghats World Heritage Site.
●It protects the unique shola–grassland ecosystem, found only in the high mountains of South India.
●The Nilgiri Tahr is endemic to the Western Ghats and does not occur anywhere else in the world.
●The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, of which Mukurthi is a part, was India’s first biosphere reserve.
AMAZING FACTS
●Mist and cool winds keep Mukurthi pleasant for most of the year.
●The park’s streams feed important rivers like the Bhavani River.
●More than 190 endemic plant species grow in this small protected area.
●Mukurthi is one of the safest habitats for the endangered Nilgiri Tahr in India.
