How to Make Mudumalai Trip a Memorable One
Mudumalai National Park is in Tamil Nadu one of the prominent states in Southern India. In the Nilgiri district, the national park resides in the north-western part of the Nilgiri mountains. Mudumalai shares its borders with Karnataka and Kerala. The Mudumalai National Park is a significant natural habitat for several flora and fauna species. It is popular among tourists due to the substantial tiger population residing in the protected area of the sanctuary. Nagarhole National Park, Bandipur National Park and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary are the nearby wildlife destinations from Mudumalai, in case you want to enjoy a wildlife tour.
If you are planning to experience a wildlife tour in Tamil Nadu, the Mudumalai Tiger Safari Tour is going to be the ideal one for sure. To make the experience more enjoyable you must involve yourself in the following activities, other than a bus, camper, or gypsy safari.
• Visit the Theppakadu Elephant Camp to spend some time with the giant beasts and watch them being fed like a kid.
• Book your tickets in the elephant camp for an exciting ride on the back of the elephant to wander the forest areas.
• If you are visiting Mudumalai during the month of March, do not miss the festival of Bokkapuram Mariamman, a 5 days long festival celebrated in the buffer zone of the park.
• Go for a drive to Masinagudi, about 13 km away from the national park. If you are interested in bird watching then this place is ideal for you. There is a cluster of hamlets in Masinagudi and several photogenic spots.
Some of the other attractions that can be visited in the vicinity of Mudumalai National Park -
1- Needle Rock View Point - Who does not love to cherish the scenic beauty from an elevated height? The Needle Rock View Point aptly serves the purpose, by providing a panoramic view of the emerald surrounding. This needle cone-shaped viewpoint involves a 3 km trek to reach the top to meet the cottony clouds beneath you.
2- Nambalakottai Temple - The temple is dedicated to Betarayasvami, a tribal God, much revered and worshipped by the Todas and Madadan Chettis. The temple is 1700 years old with the Nilgiri Mountains at the backdrop and is located 3 km from Mudumalai National Park.
3- Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta - 17 km away from the national park, Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta is located in the core region of Bandipur National Park. Himavad implies fog in Kannada's native language and the hill is shrouded by mist or fog for most of the time, therefore named Himavad. There is a temple of Lord Krishna atop the hill known as Gopalaswamy Temple.
4- Maravakandy Dam - The location of the dam is enclosed by pristine natural beauty and is quite close to Masinagudi. There is a watchtower near the dam from where you can view wild animals such as elephants, deer, and even tigers. Sighting the Maravakandy bird is yet another attraction of the place. The dam was constructed in 1951, near the Moyar River.
5- Bokkapuram Mariamman Temple - The temple is of great sacred significance, located in Masinagudi. The temple is situated on the foothills of Nilgiri hills in a serene ambiance and surrounded by forest. The annual festival of Mariamman draws thousands of pilgrims from Karnataka and Kerala every year in the month of March.