Sprawled over an
area of around 78.46 square kilometer, the Mukurthi National Park is a
protected
area to preserve wildlife habitats and endangered animals. The
location of the national park shines around the high hills of Nilgiri plateau
and Ootacamund hill station. The main purpose behind an establishment of the
park was to protect the Nilgiri Tahr which is considered as elusive animal.
Perched perfectly at an elevation of around 8380ft above mean sea level, the
National park is amongst the most preserved tourist spot around India but owing
to its sensitive block it has been put under certain limits. Significance of tourism Nature lover and wildlife photographer from across the world comes here during the time of season to explore the gems of the National park which in turn helps the government and the forest department to maintain the decorum of the park. It is not just about thick vegetation and wildlife creatures that pull the crowd but avid adventure lovers look to stroll around this place throughout the year except during the time of monsoon to acknowledge the trekking trails that surrounds the site. Over the year it has come out as one of the most popular tourist destinations and the government along with tourism department doing possibly good to lure traveler. Historical facts It is believed that the Toda people living within the dense forest started the primitive method of cultivation by clearing the forest area which in turn paved the way for a destruction of Shola vegetation. The shifting cultivation was not barred till an interception of British colonials and they saw the mass destruction of forest. The commissioner of the hill in his letter states that the destruction entire vegetation is just a question of time. A golden history of the National Park is endowed by the names of British officials who took a share responsibility to bring the field back to the phase through forestation. After independence the protected area came under the jurisdiction of Indian government and in 1990 they passed a resolution to upgrade an area as a national park to protect Nilgiri Tahr. Flora The vast area is covered by various endemic plants and its vivid species would certainly encourage botanist to take an expedition to understand its origin and usage. The Shola forest that covers an uphill makes it green and woody beside that other vegetation would come into picture the moment you will enter the gates of the park. Some of the renowned blossoms and plants of the park are Rhododendron, Alchemilia Indica, Hedyotis Verticillaris, rubus, eucalyptus, wattle, etc. Fauna The Nilgiri Tahr is something you would get to see in numbers but it is not just about Nilgiri Tahr there are numerous wildlife creatures living within an open area of the park. Some of the most frequented animals around are leopard, barking dog, jungle cat, wild dog, jackal, macaque, sambhar deer, small Indian civet, soft-furred rat etc. apart from most famous there are endangered animals like Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, Nilgiri marten, Nilgiri langur, Bonhotes’s mouse etc living with a fertile ground of the park. Avifauna For birdwatchers it would be an exciting opportunity to sight their favorite birds. Some of the renowned species of flying colors within the national park are laughingthrush, whistling thrush, woodcock, wood pigeon, black-and-orange flycatcher, Nilgiri flycatcher, gray headed flycatcher black bulbul, white-eye, Nilgiri pipit, black eagle etc. Beside that there are set of reptiles animals like horseshoe pit viper, olivaceaous keelback, Oligodon taeniolatus, Oligodon venustus, bronze-headed vine snake and Dwarf gecko. Things to do Apart from general wildlife expedition trekking is another interesting thing which you can look to do while coming here but to perform the same one would require obtaining permit from forest department of the park. Best time to visit Consider the month of October till May to be favorable for a wildlife trail in Mukurthi National Park.
