Kalakad-Mundathurai Tiger Reserve is located in the Kanyakumari District and Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu. It is nestled among the Southern Western Ghats at an elevation of between 40 and 1800m above sea level.

About the Reserve
The reserve is spread over an area of about 895 sq km and comprises of two adjoining sanctuaries which include Mundanthurai and Kalakad Sanctuaries and a portion of Kanyakumari Sanctuary. It has been identified as one of the Type-1 TCU (Tiger Conservation Units). The reserve is also a part of the interstate Agasthiyarmalai Biosphere Reserve.

Notifications: Tiger Reserve in 1988

Flora
Southern arid mixed deciduous forests and tropical evergreen forest are prominent vegetation covers here. Other floras are ironwood of Malabar, Ceylon cinnamon, Malamkara, etc.

Fauna
As per Project Tigers’ Census of 1997, there were about 73 tigers in the Kalakad-Mundathurai Tiger Reserve. However, tigers are secretive animals and cannot be spotted that easily. The other fauna include Elephant, Leopard, Slender Loris, Python, Pit Viper, Flying Lizard, etc.

Avian Fauna
Great Indian Hornbill, Grey headed Bulbul, Broad tailed Grass Warbler, Oriental Bay Owl, etc.

How to get there
The closest airports are at Thiruvananthapuram (approximately160km away) and Madurai (about 200km away). The nearest railway station is about 45 km at Tirunelveli. Nearby bus terminals are located at Tirunelveli, Kalakad, Thirukarangudi, Sivasailam and Papanasam.

Tourist tips
Tourists can avail accommodation at the Forest Department guest houses at Thirunelveli. Forest bungalows for the VIPs are located at Mundanthurai. The other options for lodging are available at Tenkashi.
Manimuthar Falls in Ambasumdhram Range and the Banatheerthum and Agasthiyar Falls in the Mundanthurai Range are three important places of interest in the reserve. Golaknath, Nambi Koil and Sorimuthu Iyyanarkoil Temples are three religiously important places within the reserve. Tourists have to obtain permit for trekking from the Forest Department authority.

General information
Kalakad-Mundathurai Tiger Reserve, Ambasamudram - Papanasam - Upper Dam Rd, Papanasam R.F.,
Tamil Nadu – 627551;
Best time to visit: September to January.
© Arked