Tootle Taxi
Add your dates and group for instant trip suggestions and your exact price.Instant trip suggestions for your dates

Tootle Taxi › Explore the Nilgiris › Mudumalai

Mudumalai

Forest, elephants and wildlife on the Moyar river

  • 321 km²National park, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
  • 2007Declared a tiger reserve
  • 266+Bird species recorded
  • ~40 kmFrom Ooty

Why visit Mudumalai

Mudumalai is the forest at the foot of the Nilgiris, where Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala meet. It joins Bandipur to the north and Wayanad to the west, so elephants, gaur, deer and, with luck, tigers and leopards move freely across a huge protected landscape.

At Theppakadu, on the Moyar river, the Forest Department runs one of the oldest elephant camps in Asia, made famous by the Oscar-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers.

Getting there

From Ooty, the short way down is the Kalhatti ghat, with 36 hairpin bends, steep and best with an experienced hill driver. It has timing and vehicle restrictions. The longer route via Gudalur is gentler. Your driver picks the right one for the day.

Seasons in Mudumalai

  • Dec – May: the dry season, when animals gather near water and sightings are best.
  • Jun – Sep: monsoon. Lush, but safaris can be cut back.
  • The reserve may close for a few weeks in the dry season for fire safety, and safari timings change. We confirm before your trip.

How far

Ooty ~40 km via Kalhatti · Pykara ~45 km · Mysore ~90 km · Bangalore ~230 km

Places worth your time

  • Government safari, Theppakadu

    Forest Department buses and jeeps through the reserve. Tickets are sold only at the Theppakadu reception. Avoid private 'safaris' on the roadside.

  • Theppakadu Elephant Camp

    See the camp elephants and their mahouts from the Kattunayakan community, especially around evening feeding time.

  • Moyar river

    The river that runs through the reserve, often with deer and elephants along its banks.

  • Masinagudi

    The village at the forest edge, with the drive through it often giving the best roadside sightings.

Local tips

  • Sightings are never guaranteed. Early morning and late afternoon are best.
  • Don't stop or step out of the car on the forest roads, and never feed animals.
  • Wear muted colours and keep your voice down on safari.
  • Combine it with Pykara on the way, or with a Mysore transfer.

Plan your day

A long day, 9 AM to 8 PM, with Pykara in the morning and the safari and elephant camp in the afternoon.

See it with a local driver

Matching tour: Pykara & Mudumalai

Pairs well with

Timings, fees and forest rules change. We check the current ones for your dates when you enquire.