Mukurthi Peak
is one of the highest peaks in the
Western Ghats
, situated on the border of
Udagamandalam
taluk,
Nilgiris
,
Tamil Nadu
,
Nilambur
taluk,
Malappuram
, and
Kerala
in India. It reaches an altitude of 2,554 m (8,379ft), and is the fifth-highest peak in South India.
[1]
Geography
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The western slope of the hill sits astride the Kerala/Tamil Nadu border. It has many cliffs ranging from 500 m to 2,500 m. Part of Mukurthi is situated within Malappuram district, which is the third-highest point in Kerala, after
Anaimudi
(2,696 m) and
Meeshapulimala
(2,651 m). The peak can only be accessed through
Nilgiri district
. The Mukurthi peak is said to resemble a "pointed nose."
Mukurthi peak is part of
Mukurthi National Park
(Nilgiri Tahr National Park), in the
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
. Mukurthi is covered with
shola
(patches of stunted tropical montane forest (found in valleys amid rolling grassland in the higher montane regions of South India),
[2]
including pine, grasslands and shrublands. Its habitat is favorable for
Asian elephants
, tigers, and
Nilgiri Tahr
. Mukurthi National Park is situated between the
Mudumalai National Park
and the
Silent Valley National Park
.
Ooty
is the nearest town (30 km away).
[3]
Pichalbetta (2,544 m) and Nilgiri hill are the most prominent peaks adjacent to this area, and Mukurthi Dam is also nearby.
Surroundings
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Many streams drain into
Bhavani River
. Among the peaks inside the National Park, the highest are Kolaribetta (2,630m), together with Mukurthi Peak (2,556m) and Nilgiri Peak (2,477m. Southwest of Mukurthi lies
Silent Valley National Park
, and to its west the land falls steeply to 2,000 m in the
Amarabalam
Forest.
The area under monoculture forestry in Mukurthi is comparatively less than Nilgiris district, and consists mainly of
Acacia mearnsii
,
Eucalyptus
globulus
and
Pinus patula
. The vegetation is either Southern Montane Wet Temperate Forest (shola), grassland and plantation. Pristine shola patches can be seen throughout the park, generally at the heads of streams in the folds of converging slopes. These forests support a variety of flora and fauna. This IBA site is among the richest regions of plant biodiversity, with many endemic orchids and other plant groups. Grasslands in Mukurthi are common and form a mosaic with shola. They are a mixture of
Chrysopogon
,
Ischaemum
,
Dicanthium
,
Andropogon
, Eragrostis and
Panicum
species. The ecological status of these grasslands is debated.
[4]
Wildlife
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]
Mukurthi hosts many species of wildlife:
[5]
References
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11°22′17″N
76°31′04″E
/
11.3715°N 76.5177°E
/
11.3715; 76.5177