Mukurthi National Park

2 daysBest: Mar–MayForests#nilgiri tahr#shola forest#views

Shola-grassland park of the Nilgiri tahr

Why this weekend?

Nilgiri tahrMukurthi peakGrassland views

Some links below are affiliate links — booking through them may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The day-by-day plan

Day 1 · The high park
- Gate entry
- Shola walk
- Tahr views
- Overnight
Day 2 · The peak
- Peak trek
- Lake edge
- Descent
- Return

Geography & terrain

Mukurthi National Park lies in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu at about 2,500 m, 60 km from Ooty and 250 km from Coimbatore — the shola park of the region, its nilgiri tahr, the grassland plateaus and the peak set on the Western Ghats' high moorland.

History & culture

The park's story runs with the 1986 tahr protection — the Mukurthi of the 2,554 m peak and the shola-grassland home of the Nilgiri tahr, with the park's modern role as the trek and the conservation stop of the Nilgiri circuit and the home of the Mukurthi Peak and the Avalanche lakes; the park's history of the British-era forests and the 2006 declaration, gives the park its tahr-land character.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,500–3,500/night

Mid-range

₹3,500–7,000/night

Comfort

₹7,000+/night

Things to do

Tahr herds
Grassland plateaus
Shola forests
High peaks
Lake edges

Eat & drink

Dosa with sambar
Chettinad chicken
Idiyappam with stew
Banana leaf meals

Getting there

Fly: Chennai (MAA) / Coimbatore (CJB)
Train: Chennai Central & Madurai junctions
Road from Chennai: varies by district — 50–500 km
Getting around: Autos, local trains, city buses

Budget snapshot

Total: ₹10,000–18,000 (2 days)
Per day · Stay: ₹1,500–7,000/night
Per day · Food: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport: ₹1,200–1,600
Per day · Activities: ₹2,500–2,900

Month by month

Jan · Best: 20–31°C · None rain
Feb · Best: 21–33°C · None rain
Mar · Hot: 23–35°C · None rain
Apr · Hot: 25–36°C · Moderate rain
May · Pre-monsoon: 26–35°C · Moderate rain
Jun · Monsoon: 24–32°C · Heavy rain
Jul · Monsoon: 23–31°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 23–31°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Monsoon tail: 24–32°C · Heavy rain
Oct · Good: 24–33°C · Moderate rain
Nov · Best: 22–32°C · Light rain
Dec · Best: 20–31°C · None rain

Practical info

Language: Tamil (English understood in tourist spots)
Best window: Mar–May
Connectivity: good 4G in towns
UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

The park asks the entry permits
The season (Mar–May) holds the park's days
The treks ask the warm layers

Frequently asked questions

What is Mukurthi NP?

The tahr park of the Nilgiri highlands.

What is there to do?

The treks, the tahrs and the views.

How long is the visit?

Two days.