Nature reserve
Mukurthi National Park
Off the beaten pathForest permit required
A high-altitude park of rolling grassland and stunted shola, the heart of the Nilgiri tahr's range and a core zone of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Highlights
- The only place on earth to reliably see the endangered Nilgiri tahr in its grassland home
- Rolling montane grassland and stunted shola — a core zone of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
- High-altitude endemic birds and the elusive Nilgiri marten
- Some of the cleanest, highest country in the Western Ghats, open only on permit
Entry and any trekking require Forest Department permits arranged in advance through the park office at Ooty.
The park protects the largest population of the endangered Nilgiri tahr and montane fauna such as the Nilgiri marten and dozens of endemic birds.
Trails are weather-dependent; guides are mandatory and group sizes are capped to protect the fragile grasslands.
Wildlife to spot & when
- Nilgiri tahr
- Nilgiri marten
- Sambar deer
- High-altitude endemic birds
On the map
Good to know
- Access
- Permit office in Ooty; trailheads beyond Parsons Valley
- Best time
- February to May and the post-monsoon window