MUDUMALAI-"THE GLORY OF NILGIRIS"

The Mudumalai sanctuary lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountains), in Nilgiri District, about 80 km north-west of Coimbatore in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu, on the interstate boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala states in South India.

The park was created in 1940 to become the first wildlife sanctuary in southern India. Originally 60 square kilometres, the sanctuary was enlarged to 295 km² in 1956 and subsequently to its present size of 321 km². The sanctuary is contiguous with Bandipur National Park (874 km²),Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary (344 km²),Sigur and Singara reserve forests. The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000⁺ km²), including all of Mudumalai National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee World Heritage Site.

Primates found include the Gray langur (Semnopithecus priam) and the Bonnet MacaqueMacaca radiata). The Tiger (Panthera tigris) (E) is widespread, whereas the Leopard (P. pardus) (T) is most often seen in the Kargudi area. Other carnivores include the Dhole (Cuon alpinus) (V), the Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena), the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) and the Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) (I). The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) (E) population totals several hundred animals. Ungulates include the Gaur (Bos gaurus) (V), the Sambar DeerCervus unicolor), the Chital (Axis axis), Indian Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), the Indian Spotted Chevrotain (Moschiola meminna), and the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa). Rodents include the Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica maxima) and the Red Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista petaurista).

Bird life is rich. Regional endemics include Malabar trogon Harpactes fasciatus and Malabar grey hornbill Tockus griseus. Predatory birds include crested hawk-eagle Spizaetus cirrhatuscrested serpent eagle Spilornis cheela. It also holds the isolated southern population of the Striped Tit-babbler Macronous gularis.Of the reptiles, monitor lizard Varanus bengalensis is the most regularly observed species.

Accommodation in Mudumalai includes a forest rest house and guest houses at Masinagudi, and guest houses at Kargudi,Abhayaranyam and Theppakkadu. Accommodation in the forest rest house and guest houses may be reserved by writing to the Wildlife Warden, Mudumalai Sanctuary, Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu, India.

There is a cottage after crossing Kargudi and Mudumalai check posts on Ooty road. Bookings can be made from www.wildlifesanctuaryindia.com Jungle home offers clean, comfortable accomdation at reasonable rates. It is located at the crucial elephant habitat zone. Elephants can be spotted very easily in this region.Trekking, Birdwatching and Fishing are conducted.

The nearest airport is at Coimbatore (84km) and the closest railhead at Udhagamandalam (64km). However, in terms of travel practicality, the closest railhead is Mysore (90km),which sits on a major broad gauge line and is served by trains from across the country. The park is most conveniently accessible by road from Mysore on the Mysore-Ooty highway.

There are also night safaris on open top jeeps arranged by resorts and guides who are freely accessible in Masinagudi.

OOTY

The "Hills queen" Ootacamund is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills. The origin of the name Ootacamund is obscure, but "mund" is the Badaga word for a Toda village, and it is probably a corruption of the Badaga name for the central region of the Nilgiri Plateau. Another likely origin of the stem of the name ("Ootaca") comes from the local language Tamil where "Otta-Cal" literally means "Single Stone". This is perhaps a reference to a sacred stone revered by the local Toda people. Udhagamandalam is a more recent official Tamil name for the town. Ooty
stands at an approximate height of 7,440 feet (2,268 metres) above sea level
.

John Sullivan, the British governor of neighbouring Coimbatore province, liked the climate of this forested land, and occupied it by taking land from the native tribes (Toda, Irumba and Badaga); often buying up many square kilometres in a day for the price of a few meals.

The hills were developed rapidly under the British Raj because they were almost entirely owned by private British citizens, unlike the rest of India. Ooty served as the summer capital of the Madras Presidency, and had winding hill roads and a complicated rack railway system built by influential and enterprising British citizens with venture capital from the Madras government.

It is believed the Blue Mountains appear so because of the vast Nilgiri forest surrounding them.

COONOOR

Coonoor is a city and a municipality in the Nilgiris district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is a small quiet hill town in the Nilgiri hills in southern India. It has a reputation (shared by many Indian hill stations) for being a reality-defying idyllic Shangri-La of sorts. However, the growing networked economy, and the rampant influx of tourists to the region in the past few decades have eroded this image of Coonoor to some degree.

The town is the second largest in the Nilgiri hills after Ooty, the district head quarters. Coonoor’s dominant demographic is a healthy mix of religions, languages and cultures - caused by the tourists who decide to retire here, the Indian Army’s regimental headquarters and Staff College (DSSC) in neighboring Wellington Cantonment, and the local boarding schools. Christianity is a dominant minority religion, with many locals practicing Christianity along with Hinduism or Islam.

Coonoor is home to the Pasteur Institute of India which produces rabiesvaccines.

Coonoor has some Sericulture. The Government operates a Silk Farm, though this is largely a research facility. Floriculture and strawberry cultivation are taking root of late.

KOTAGIRI

Kotagiri is the oldest and the third largest hill stations in the Nilgiris. Looming over and above all the surrounding hills in the North-eastern escarpments, its climate is claimed to be one of the best in the World.

Kotagiri literally means the lines of the house of the Kotas. Kotagiri is quietly tucked away in the Nilgiris and used to be the summer resort of the British. Till date the beauty of hill resort of Kotagiri attracts tourists and the sun scorched souls from far and wide. Unlike Ooty and Coonoor, Kotagiri is situated in an 'open-terrace' massif. At an elevation of 1985 m. the town has developed around numerous knolls and valleys. The Kotagiri weather is more bracing than that of Coonoor and balmier than that of Ooty.

GUDALUR

It is a picturesque green valley on the way from Mysore to Ooty with a population of 32,605 (1991 census). It is a gateway to three states, Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Kerala, lying equidistant from both Kerala and Karnataka. It is said that Gudalur gets its name from Koodal - uru, meaning the "meeting place". Though the history of the name has been lost, it is the place where all the three states' boundaries meet. Tea plantations dot the whole region, and the regional economy is heavily dependent on the tea industry.

This land was an offspring to the exploration done by the British during the pre-independence period to cultivate tea plantation. Being a satellite town between Ooty and Mysore, both tourist spots, Gudalur has the prospect of developing into another tourist destination. Gudalur is a place where one can see people from the three states of Tamilnadu, Kerala, and Karnataka live together cordially.

NILGIRIS - Mountain Railway

At the height of 2,600m stands Udhagamandalam (Ooty) The Queen of Hill Stations. The ‘Nilgiris toy train’ connect Ooty to Mettupalayam, at the foot of the Nilgiris.

The construction of this line was a big challenge as the terrain is rather tricky. It was in 1854 that the first plans were drawn to build a mountain railway from mettupalayam to the Nilgiri Hills. But it was a good 45 years later in 1899 that the first train chugged up this track. This railway is widely regarded as a marvel of engineering. The train itself is a charming blue and cream with wooden coaches and large windows. It is hauled up hills by stream engines, designed and built by the Swiss Locomotive Works. Twelve of such locomotive engines survive even today.

The train covers the 46 km to Udhagamandalam in four and a half hours. There are five stations between Mettupalayam and Coonoor - Kallar, Adderley, Hill Grove, Runnymede and Kateri – and, at one time, there were five between Coonoor and Ooty too. Through Wellington, Aruvankadul, Ketti, and Lovedale are still functional, Fren Hill, the last one, was closed down a few years ago.

Good to Know

• The train, for obvious safety reasons, averages 10.4 km per hour and is perhaps the slowest in India.
• Built in the late 19th century, the track rises at a gradient of 1 in 12 and has 208 curves and 13 tunnels.
• It leaves Mettupalayam at 7.45 am and reaches Ooty at noon.

Extensive rice fields surround the 7 km stretch between Mettupalayam and Kallar. Soon after is an impressive 21km section through truly rocky terrain. The track passes over 26 viaducts, and twist and blends through 13 tunnels. After a steep climb, the train enters Coonoor, the little hill station known for its tea plantations. From here, the track is uphill till you reach Fern Hill at a height of 2,218m, the highest point on the railroad. Shortly before Ooty, the line dips downhill. If you enjoy taking pictures, keep your camera ready for a few shotsof the viaduct between Kallar and Adderley. This ride is sure to turn the most hardened rail critic into an avid fan. You’ii delight in hthe edge-of-the seat twists and turns as the train runs across tall girder bridges, and over green hills before gently meandering through rolling tea estates. The exhaust beat of the loco never falters, maintaining a deafening staccato which can be heard for miles around. Truly a journey to remember.