Mukurthi National Park - National park in Padavayal - Palakkad, India

Let me start by telling you that the Mukruthi peak and the surrounding area is a restricted zone and not easily accessible. You will need prior permission from the forest department and will also be accompanied by someone from the department in case you get permission.. Folks who are physically fit can enjoy maximum as the trek down the slopes of the hill into the green grass and the every running forest river can be best reached that way. There is no other option. At a place called TR Bazar you will have park your vehicle and to take a jeep into the dense forest area. This small hamlet is around 20 kilometers from Ooty on the Gudalur highway. Private vehicles cannot reach Mukruthi and if you adventure you are sure to hurt your vehicle and it is also not safe. The journey from TR bazar is about 45 minutes after which you will have to trek down the hill accompanied by a person knows the terrain. You are sure to spot wildlife. The trek thru the pine forest was a treat and the color of the environment also changed as we entered into the thick jungles. The terrain at the bottom of the hill is flat and full of grasslands with the spotless river flowing thru. The dam is no longer maintained. From this river you will have to trek another 8 kilometers to reach the peak. Irrespective of whether you make it to the peak or not, the first part in itself will give you all that you ever wanted. This is untouched by humanity so far and maintains its charm and I do hope it does so. As I have mentioned in many of my earlier reviews, Nilgris is not that is seen on travel packages. It has secrets which are not known to many and can be explored best with a own vehicle and enough time at hand. Of course with first hand information!

Brilliant trekking place with no plastics i would rate this place as the best trekking place in south india. However you need to get permission from the forrest dept. There is a small bungalow called fishing hut constructed during the british times. We stayed at this place . It has to be cleaned before you can stay there. We took a cook from ooty and bought some groceries for cooking from ooty. you need firewood so we brought that as well. It was a 3.5 hours trek to the fishing hut from the gates of the national park. We stayed overnight and next day morning started for the trek. it took us about 4 hours to reach the peak . On return we bathed in the river below in the valley. It is difficult to get permission. if you manage to get one dont miss this trek.

Can see the animals by driving mostly in the evening

One of the unique ecosystems endemic to Western Ghats. Permission to enter this heaven on earth is nowadays restricted. Rolling grass hills interspersed with cauliflower-like shola forests. Brooks and creeks, dales and vales everywhere. Best months are after the monsoon and before summer. There are 2 entrances to this park, one is through Upper Bhavani and the other one is through Porthimund. They say the bridle path that runs through this park served as the passage for the couriers of Trivancore and Mysore kingdoms. This park also is the major catchment area for the Kundah and Pykara power generation systems. Nilgiri tahr, wild dog, sambhar, gaur, wild board, leopard, tiger, and elephants can be sighted along with fox, Nilgiri marten etc.

There is a small temple in the top of the hill called mookuthi Amman .beautiful restricted forest. we get permission to go there from forest office .strictly plastic and fire restricted

Amazing view

Hidden gem of Tamil Nadu!! Just brilliant place when I think of nature & just one step closer to heaven!!