Location	Tamil Nadu, India
Nearest city	Tirunelveli
Area	895 square kilometres (346 sq mi)
Established	1988
Governing body	Tamil Nadu Forest Department
Summer Temperature	44 °C (111 °F)
Winter Temperature	24 °C (75 °F)

Located in the Southern and Western Ghats in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts of India’s southern state Tamil Nadu, well known Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) is known in the country as second one in terms of large protected areas as a reserve.
This reserve’s location in the South Western Indian Ghats makes it the crucial one as a landmark of sorts. The western side is surrounded by forests whereas northern and southern surroundings are mainly villages, so are the eastern one. Already a renowned location known worldwide as 18th of worlf diversity hotspot, the Western Ghats are always important. Equally is noted 1681 meter long Agasthiarmalai that comes under this reserve as crucial location that happens to be the south India’s peak at the 3rd highest position. One more identity is a centre of the plant diversity and endemism in India (IUCN) out of the all five such centers in the country. It is none other than major parts of the Agasthyamalai hills indeed. Swelling of its topography is worth noting indeed.
With approximately 8 months of raining time the Western Ghats distinguishes itself from the rest. It is equally noted for being only non-dipterocarp evergreen forest in entire area and is variable floristically from rest such reserves.
This reserve is notable one with biggest forestry area and equally is important the nearby rivers here. The rivers facilitate irrigation choices but most important aspect is the streams that prove helpful in the reserve’s overall planning and maintenance. Each of the rivers and streams have crucial roles to play as exclusive source to supply water as part of the irrigation plan processed in effective river network. In fact some of these rivers are best sources of supplying drinking water to the nearby regions in the district. Their facilitation of drinking water is best solution. Most of the dams developed here on the rivers perform have multiple functions in one form or the other.
History
Having been founded in the year 1988, this reserve was the outcome of the combination of 251 km² area of Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary with the 567 km² area of Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary that exixted since 1962 itself. New addition of 77 km² more area from specific parts of Veerapuli and Kilamalai Reserve Forests located in the adjacent Kanyakumari district under a notification 1996 is still in the pipeline and expects to make a big difference. A proposal has been prepared for using 400 km2 or 150 sq mi area of this reserve to develop into National Park for the public.
National Tiger Conservation Authority had approved maintenance of Project Tiger’ in the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in 2010-11 session on 28 August 2010. Expected cost of Rs.194.33 Lakhs was allocated for that purpose.
Weather And Best Time To Visit
Best time to visit
The period from September to January is most suitable to arrive at Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve to explore it to the most.
Place To Visit
Courtallam
A small town in Tamil Nadu state’s Tirunelveli district, Courtallam is a famous location with 167m elevation. The waterfalls here distinguish it from rest areas especially due to its location in the Western Ghats foothills. Ptominent of the waterfalls here are major ones—Peraruvi besides smaller ones Chitraruvi and Shenbaga Devi Falls where Senbhaga trees are found abundantly. So are Thenaruvi or Honey Falls where ample honey is produced besides Aintharuvi that contains Five Falls and Pazhathotta Aruvi known well as Fruit Garden Falls and Puli Aruvi or Tiger Falls. Similarly Pazhaya Courtallam or Old Falls as well as New Falls or Puthu Aruvi is few attractions besides Palaruvi or Milk Falls etc. Ample medicinal values of the waterfalls here important so large chunk of masses arrive here to get bathed in the waters to avail benefits. Tourists are facilitated for the baths through TTDC that arranges everything required. Famous Lord Thirukutralanathar or Shiva temple is a holiest location in the city. It reminds of the Pandya and Chola Kings through many inscriptions there in it.
Kanyakumari
A small city in the Tamil Nadu state’s Kanyakumari district it is the location in country’s southernmost tip which is famously called Cape Comorin. This place is famous for three prominent water bodies covered by Indian subcontinent in Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean merging together. Geographically Kanyakumari is na important location where sun rise is ween from Bay of Bengal waters and rays go down in Arabian sea waters once sun sets. Usually tourists are guided told to come together and watch the sun rise and setting in the wee hours and evenings to feel the nature. Presence of multicolored sands on Kanyakumari beaches are other important attractions. Few important attractions are the Kumari Amman Temple and Vivekananda Rock Memorial besides famous Thiruvalluvar statue and Gandhi Mantapam as key tourism destinations attracting Kanyakumari visitors.
How To Reach
By Air
Two nearby airports Thiruvananthapuram and Madurai are located at a distance of 160 and 200 kilometers respectively.
By Rail
Tirunelveli is the nearest railway station at a distance of 45 kilometers.
By Road
Frequent buses run from Papanasam to Nagarcoil which is at a distance of 10 kilometers and can be reached in mere three hours. Buses link Nagarcoil with rest south Indian cities through their frequent services.
Flora And Fauna
Flora
Prominent of the flora are terminalia spp, hopea parviflora, syzygium sp,  hopea utilis, macaranga roxburghii and mesua ferrea et al. In fact the flora options from gluta travancorica to canarium strictum make effective choices. Similarly other flora from vateria malabaraica to myristica and vitex altimassima besides dysoxylim malabrium remain highly impactful collection of such choices. Likewise anacolosa densiflora, elaeodendron glacum, cullenia exasillata and cullenia exelsa are worth noting. Collection of Eugenia, garcinia cambogia, felicium decipiens, xanthophyllum flavescens and mallotus philippensis are noted for being rarest collections.
Fauna
Mammals
Prominent of the mammals are tigers, deer, elephants, gaurs bonnet macaque et al. The notable species are slender loris, lion-tailed macaque besides good collection of sloth bear, brown mongoose and varieties of pangolins.
Reptiles
In reptiles’ king cobra, python, monitor lizard, flying lizard and pit viper are commonest ones.
Birds
The collection of birds are many like famous bulbul bird to unique hornbills making excellent choices. Equally are grey hornbill specially found in Malabar and several categories of owls that make a good collection of birds in this reserve.
Timings
Normal timings at Kalakad Mundanthurai from morning to evening follows usual schedule.
Where To Stay
A few accommodation maintained by Kalakkadu Mundanthurai Sanctuary forest department besides rangers office buildings offer luxury stay to the visitors. Geographically its location is at 8°40′50″N 77°20′48″E at 8°40′55″N 77°20′50″E is of while of tiger cottages which the forest department maintains. Few double-decked bedded rooms are best options for rest as rest rooms. There are not too many trees nearby these cottages so both sides are used for parking purpose. The river is easily accessed through nearby regions especially building. People staying there enjoy cool and calm atmosphere during the nighttime. One may enjoy good food cooked in these houses so are the guides offering good service.
Location Map
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