Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Ooty - Timings, Safari Cost, Best Time to Visit

About Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

At a distance of 12 km from Bandipur National Park, 37 km from Ooty, and 92 km from Mysore, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, or Mudumalai National Park is located at the foothills of the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the famous wildlife sanctuaries in Tamilnadu, and among the must-include places in the Ooty tour.

History of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

The word Mudumalai is a Tamil word with 'mutu' meaning old, and ancient, and 'malai' means hill or mountain. The name 'Mudumalai forest' was already in use when the British Government rented the forest in 1857 for logging purposes from the Raja of Neelambur. An area of about 60 km2 was established as Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in 1940. This is the first wildlife sanctuary in South India and one of the best Ooty tourist places. The sanctuary was enlarged in 1977 and incorporated into Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986. It was declared as a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger in 2007 and got the world heritage site tag under the Western Ghats of India in 2012.

Layout of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Spread over 321 sq. km, Mudumalai National Park is the continuation of the Bandipur National Park in the neighboring state of Karnataka, and the Muthunga Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala. The Ooty-Mysore highway passes through the forest, curving around the Moyar river which separates Mudumalai and the Bandipur National Park. The sanctuary is divided into 5 ranges - Masinagudi, Theppakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi, and Nellakota. Theppakadu is the entry point to the Sanctuary which has an Information Centre.

Wildlife at Mudumalai

There is a high diversity of animal life in the park with about 50 species of fish, 21 species of amphibians, 34 species of reptiles, 200 species of birds, and 50 species of mammals. The park is an ideal home to several endangered and vulnerable species including elephants, tigers, Gaur, Leopard, Deer, Wild dogs, etc. There are about more than 48 tigers in the reserve. Besides, the sanctuary is also home to 200 species of birds including White-rumped vultures, long-billed vultures, Red crest, Mynas, Parakeets, Owls, etc.

Activities at Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Jeep & Mini Bus Safari

Forest Department organizes one and a half hours of mini-bus safaris & Jeep safaris into the sanctuary from Theppakadu. No private Vehicles are allowed for safari rides within the Core area of the Tiger Reserve, and only department- run vehicles are engaged for safaris. The safari vehicle stops at Moyar Watchtower which offers spectacular views of Moyar Gorge & Waterfalls. Morning is the best time for the safari to spot the wildlife.

Timings: 7 AM - 9 AM & 3 PM - 5.30 PM

Elephant Safari

The forest department organizes a 30-minute Elephant Safari into the park. However, unlike the jungle safari by a jeep/bus, elephants don’t go deep in the woods. But watching the greenery around from an elephant’s back is a memorable experience in itself. Tourists are permitted to visit the Elephant Camp during their feeding times. This is located at Theppakadu, not far from the reception center. Visitation is restricted to morning and evening.

Timings: 7 AM - 8 AM & 4 PM - 5 PM

Best Time to Visit Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

The best time to visit Mudumalai National Park is from March to June and from September to October. The park is usually dry and warm during summer however, lots of animals can be seen out around in the open, usually near water sources. Though the park does not receive high levels of rainfall, the trails can turn slushy and difficult to tread on, and animal sighting becomes extremely limited as the fauna prefers to stay in their habitats during this time!

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary Safari Timings

Jeep / Mini Bus Safari

Monday: 7 AM - 9 AM & 3 PM - 5.30 PM
Tuesday: 7 AM - 9 AM & 3 PM - 5.30 PM
Wednesday: 7 AM - 9 AM & 3 PM - 5.30 PM
Thursday: 7 AM - 9 AM & 3 PM - 5.30 PM
Friday: 7 AM - 9 AM & 3 PM - 5.30 PM
Saturday: 7 AM - 9 AM & 3 PM - 5.30 PM
Sunday: 7 AM - 9 AM & 3 PM - 5.30 PM

Elephant Safari

Monday: 7 AM - 8 AM & 4 PM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 7 AM - 8 AM & 4 PM - 5 PM
Wednesday: 7 AM - 8 AM & 4 PM - 5 PM
Thursday: 7 AM - 8 AM & 4 PM - 5 PM
Friday: 7 AM - 8 AM & 4 PM - 5 PM
Saturday: 7 AM - 8 AM & 4 PM - 5 PM
Sunday: 7 AM - 8 AM & 4 PM - 5 PM

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary Entry Fee

Indians

Entry: Rs. 30 per Person, Rs. 50 for Camera & Rs. 300 for the Video

Jeep Safari: Rs. 340 per Person for Mazda, Rs. 4200 per Trip for Gypsy, Rs. 4200 per Trip for Camper, Rs. 8400 for Longer Safari Camper (2:30 Hrs), Rs. 8400 for Longer Safari Thar ( 2:30 Hrs)

Elephant Safari: Rs. 1120 per Person

Foreigners

Entry: Rs. 300 per Person, Rs. 50 for Camera & Rs. 300 for the Video

Jeep Safari: Rs. 2500 per Person for Mazda, Rs. 4200 per Trip for Gypsy, Rs. 4200 per Trip for Camper, Rs. 8400 for Longer Safari Camper (2:30 Hrs), Rs. 8400 for Longer Safari Thar ( 2:30 Hrs)

Elephant Safari: Rs. 11, 600 per Person

How to Reach Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

The Park is situated midway on the Mysore - Ooty interstate highway and is about 32 km from Ooty. Several private and government buses run from Ooty, Coimbatore, Gudalur, Mysore, and Bengaluru to Thepakadu, the main entry point for Mudumalai. Private vehicles are not allowed into the protected area of the Park so one needs to opt for government or private jeep safaris.