Tiger Reserves

About:

Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), situated in the Southern Western Ghats in Tirunelveli district, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is the second largest protected area in Tamil Nadu State.This Reserve is situated in the south Western Ghats of India. It is bound by forests in west, north and south and by villages in the east. The Western Ghats is among the 18 world biodiversity hotspots. Agasthiarmalai (1681 mtrs) which falls within the core zone of the Reserve is the 3rd highest peak in South India. Part of Agasthyamalai hills in the core of the Reserve is considered one of the five centres of plant diversity and endemism in India (IUCN). The topography is undulating. This is the only area of Western Ghats which has longest raining period of about 8 months,and it is the only non-dipterocarp evergreen forest in the region.It is floristically very different from other sites. The rich forests of the Reserve form the catchment area for 14 rivers and streams. Among them the Tambraparani, Ramanadi, Karayar, Servalar, Manimuthar, Pachayar, Kodaiyar, Kadnar, Kallar form the back-bone of the irrigation network and drinking water for people of Tirunelveli, Turicorin and part of Kanyakumari district. Sever major dams - Karaiyar, Lower Dam, Servalar, Manimuthar, Ramanadi, Kadnanadi and Kodaiyar - owe their existence to these rivers.

Sanctuary :

Tiger Reserve

Area :

895 square kilometres (346 sq mi)

Year Of Establishment :

1988

Address of the Official Incharge :

Kalakad- Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, NGO ‘A’ Colony, Trinelveli-627007 Tamil Nadu

Phone No :

0462-2552663(O) 2580115(R)

Fax No :

2580115 2552612-Alt.

Email :

Tvl_kmtrpt@sancharnet.edu

Temperatures :

Avg temperature in summer is 44°C & in winter it is 24°C

Nearest Town :

Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari

Time to Visit :

September to January

General Information :

The Kalakkadu Mundanthurai Sanctuary forest department building and the rangers office with some bungalows for VIPs and travellers is located at: 8°40'50?N 77°20'48?E. The Tiger Cottage at 8°40'55?N 77°20'50?E is a dormatory style cottage maintained by the Forest Department. It has a rest room and a few double-deckered beds. The route to the cottage is very good with trees on both the sides and there is ample parking space. There is access to the river from the rear of the building and staying here at night is quite an experience. There is a kitchen where you get decent food while visiting the area. There are friendly people and guides to some of the places nearby.

Location :

South Western Ghats of India.

Best Time To Visit :

September to January

How to Reach Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

  By Air :

Thiruvananthapuram (160 km.), Madurai (200 km.)

  By Rail :

Tirunelveli (45 km).

  By Road :

There are regular buses from Papanasam (10 km.) to Nagarcoil which is a three hour journey. Nagarcoil is well connected by bus to most cities in south India.