The Kudremukh otherwise called Horse Face Range is positioned 95 Kms southwest of Chickmagalur town. The extensive hills that overlook the Arabian Sea are coupled to one another with profound valleys and sheer precipices and are so named for the reason that of the exceptional shape of the Kudremukh peak having the highest height at 1892 metres. The park derived its name after the peak, which extends over three districts, Dakshin Kannada (South Kanara), Chickmaglur and portions of Udupi and extends linking Narasimha Parvatha (in Sringeri Taluk) in the north to the Jamalabad Fort in Belthangady Taluk in the south. The park is alienated into four ranges Kudremukh, Kerekatte, Kalsa, Shimoga.
The park by means of an area of 600.32 sq. kms is 1,894.3 meters higher than sea level and is affluent in deposits of iron ore. Leading iron ore mining company of the Country, Kudremukh Iron Ore Company (KIOCL) is located contained by the park area. The park is cold and salubrious encompassing the year, but for the duration of monsoon from June to September, there is intense rainfall. The most excellent time to visit the park is instantaneously after the monsoon i.e., October to May when the forests are flourishing green. Finest time to visit is amid December and February to observe the wild animals.
There is a wide variety of flora and fauna in the park. The park is covered with thick hilly forests, mostly evergreen and semi-evergreen near the coastal plains on the western portion; and the shoal–grassland habitat at elevations above 1400 m on the Western Ghats. Plantations of Eucalyptus, Casuarina, Acacia auriculiformis and Grevillea robusta are found here. The park is surrounded by Coffee and Tea plantations on the northern and eastern boundaries.
The wild animals visualized in the park consist of tiger, wild dog, leopard, jackal, lion-tailed macaque, sloth bear, common langur, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, Malabar giant squirrel, giant flying squirrel, barking deer, porcupine and the mongoose.
The park is predominantly well-off in the multiplicity of birds. In the region of 195 varieties of birds are found in the park. This includes exceptional birds like the Malabar trogon, great pied hornbill, Malabar whistling thrush and the imperial pigeon.
Trekking is an additional fascinating thing can be done in Kudremukh. One has to acquire an entry permit for trekking contained by the park from the Range Officers or Deputy Conservator of Forests. The entire panorama of lush green grassland interspersed with constricted strips of Forests Rivers, cascades, assortment of flora and fauna, caves, ruins and remains of aged civilizations make available a implausible vista for a trekker. There are about 13 trekking routes in the interior of the park and the anti poaching camps (APC) on the approach are functional as camping sites. The Bhagavathi Nature Camp to be found along the state highway, also forms an exceptional camping location with tented cottages and dormitory. Ganga Moola, the starting place of quite a few rivers together with Bhadra, placed inside the park is a scenic spot in the Bhagawathi Forest for the trekkers. The Kadambi falls and the Lakya Dam sited near the Kudremukh project region is an additional interesting mark in the Kudremukh range.
The park is reasonably affluent in water resources. The famous Tunga, Bhadra and Netravati rivers flow all the way through the park. Separately from these, there are abundant seasonal streams. The Park as well has in its neighborhood pilgrimage centers like Sringeri, Ganga Moola and Annapurneshwari Temple, that makes this place a much preferred amongst tourists.
How to Reach
Air: The nearest airport to the park is Mangalore130 Kms
Rail: The nearest rail to the park is Mangalore 130 Kms
Road: Kudremukh is well linked by road to Chikmagalur, Mangalore and Sringeri. The State Highway-66 passes all the way through the park. The adjacent town to this Park is Sringeri. The distance to the park by road from the various places are Kalasa ( 20 Kms), Karkala ( 50 Kms), Mudigere ( 75 Kms), Mangalore (130 Kms) and from Bangalore 350 Kms. The park is accessible from Bangalore via Chikmagalur, Hassan or from Mangalore via Karkala
Tourist Information:-
• Deputy Conservator of Forests,
Kudremukh Wildlife Division,
Karkala 574 104, Udupi District
• Range Forest Officer,
Wildlife Range,
Kudremukh,
Mudigere Taluk,
Chikmagalur District.
Ph: (08263) 355998
• Range Forest Officer,
Wildlife Range,
Kerekatte,
Sringeri Taluk,
Chikmagalur District.
Ph: (08265) 561041
• Range Forest Officer,
Wildlife Range,
Karkala,
Udupi District.
Ph: (08258) 731183
• Range Forest Officer,
Wildlife Range,
Belthangadi,
Dakshina Kannada District.
Ph: (08256) 403189
• Deputy Conservator of Forests,
Uttara Kannada – 581 325
Ph: 08284-30266
• The Chief Wildlife Warden
Aranya Bhawan,
18th Cross, Malleswaram,
Bangalore - 560003
Tel.: 080-23341993/23345192