Kudremukh National Park
The Kudremukh (literally meaning Horse Face) Range gets its name from the unique shape of its main peak. The broad hills overlook the Arabian Sea and are chained to one another by deep valleys and steep precipices. It is believed that Kudremukh served as a landmark for sailors on the western coast for over 2000 years. As yet ‘undiscovered’ by tourists, Kudremukh is a trekker’s paradise, apart from the main trek to Kuduremukha Peak, other trekking trails are Kurinjal Peak, Gangadikal Peak, Seethabumi Peak, Valikunda, and Narasimha Parvatha. Let the wonderland of lush green forests interspersed with rivers, grassy slopes, captivating cascades, caves, and ruins amaze you as you trek your way through it. The best time to visit is after the monsoon when everything is lush green and the rivers, streams, and waterfalls like Kadambi waterfalls, Hanuman Gundi Falls are at their best. Ganga Moola is a scenic place located in the Bhagawathi forest where the three rivers Tunga, Bhadra, and Netravati originate. A shrine to Goddess Bhagavathi and a 1.8m high Varaha image inside a cave are the chief attractions here.
The Kudremukh National Park is spread across 600.57 sq km. in Chikkamagaluru and Dakshina Kannada districts, houses a variety of wildlife such as the leopard, Malabar giant squirrel, sloth bear, gaur, sambar, jackal, mongoose, tiger, wild dog, common langur, porcupine, spotted deer, barking deer and giant flying squirrel. The park is home to a variety of birds such as the Malabar trogon, Malabar whistling thrush, and the imperial pigeon.
At 1892 meters, Kuduremukh is the second highest peak in Karnataka (after Mullayyanagiri). Kuduremukh is declared one of 34 biological hotspots of the world because of its tropical biological richness. It is one of the best places to visit in Karnataka.
Kudremukh Township was primarily developed as an iron ore mining town where the Government ran Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd., (KIOCL)
Things to do in Kudremukh National Park:
Bird-watching in Kudremukh: Over 200 species of birds reside or visit during the migratory season to the forests of Kuduremukh.
Trek to Kudremukh Peak: With permission from forest officials, day treks can be undertaken in the hills of Kuduremukh. Camping is not allowed. Hence, hikers need to return before sunset. Besides the popular trek to Kuduremukh peak, other trekking trails are Kurinjal Peak, Gangadikal Peak, Seethabumi Peak, Valikunda, and Narasimha Parvatha.
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