Masinagudi | History,places to visit,forest,safari,timings,resorts,cottages,Address,location, Activities,
Masinagudi is a beautiful
hill station atop a height of 950 metres above the sea level and a
well-established tourist spot in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri district. Situated at a
drive of just one hour from the hill station of Ooty, Masinagudi forms a part
of the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Masinagudi tourism retreat for all those
who love wildlife safaris and want to remain surrounded by wildlife. Nature
lovers and wildlife photographers will genuinely fall in love with the beauty
of this place.The town is loaded with some attracting tourist spots Mudumalai National Park, Maravakandy Dam, and
Moyar River. Jeep Safari is the best way to explore the nooks and corners of
this famous town of Masinagudi.
History & Culture Of Masinagudi:
The land of the Irula tribe, Masinagudi derives its name from the Goddess Masani Amman who is the manifestation of Maa Shakti. According to historical anecdotes, the men of this tribal region were sworn as night guards to the Chola dynasty after taking an oath at the pillar which was erected in the forest 2000 years ago by their ancestors. One of the priests from the Irula tribe said that the Irula’s made Masinagudi their permanent abode due to safety reasons and the presence of water bodies.
Later, when the Chola dynasty lost its glory, the tribal people of Masinagudi discovered their profession in farming, animal husbandry and snake catching. They started producing antidotes for snake bites and gradually moved to the cities of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to serve people with snake bite. Despite facing hardships, the tribe has managed to sustain their culture for 2000 years. Mahashivratri is observed with great devotion by the native community and they are completely at peace with the basics in the forest of Masinagudi.
Best Places to Visit in
Masinagudi :
3.Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Activities To Do In Masinagudi :
Wildlife Viewing :
The dense forests in Masinagudi are a safe haven for a variety of wild animals. For the wild life enthusiasts, it's one of the ideal destinations to view some exotic wildlife including elephants, spotted deer, wild boar and bear etc. Animal lovers can see animals venturing out on the forest tracts or simply relaxing in the natural environs of Masinagudi forests.
Safaris:
The national park in Masinagudi organizes van safaris to some sanctuary areas. The timings for the safari are 6-8.30 in the morning and 3-6 pm in the evening. The rides last for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Spotting wildlife in the jungle is very common on the back of an elephant. The elephant ride is to be accompanied by the mahout who will ride resident elephant on different tracks which are not covered by the van safari and chances are high that you will be able to sight the wild life from close quarters.
Elephant Camps :
There is an elephant camp in Masingudi forest managed by the forest department. The elephant camp boasts of 29 pachyderms that are trained and cared for by the forest authorities. To witness the elephants giving a thorough cleaning and offering pooja to the diety, will be quite an amazing experience.
Trekking :
Trekking in the virgin forests of Masinagudi through the dry deciduous tracks taking a peep into the immense natural wealth of flora and fauna will be a thrilling experience for the nature lovers. The chances to spot wild life and exotic birds are significantly increased while you trek in Masinagudi. One could also trek through the open meadows alongside the water bodies such as streams and river.
Nature Walks :
Nature walks in Masinagudi will be the perfect way to unwind in the stimulating and uplifting companionship of nature. The topography of the area is distinctive with patches of grasslands, scrub jungles and deciduous forests all over the place which makes it a perfect halt for environmentalists as well.
FLORA AND FAUNA :
The Reserve has tall grasses, commonly referred to as “Elephant Grass”, Bamboo of the giant variety, valuable timber species like Teak, Rosewood, etc,. There are several species of endemic flora. Such a varied habitat is inhabited by a variety of animals which include Tiger, Elephant, Indian Gaur, Panther, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Common Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Wild Dog, Mangoose, Jungle Cat, Hyena, among others.
BIRDS :
This reserve has got a wide variety of more than 260 species of birds. Eight percentage of bird species found in India are recorded in Mudumalai. This includes rare birds like Malabar grey hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, Malabar laughing thrush, Frog mouths and a variety of woodpeckers. Hornbills play an important role in dispersal of seeds. Malabar whistling thrush, peacock and jungle fowl are the other important bird species found in Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary.
Best Time To Visit Masinagudi :
Masinagudi is at its best during the months of October till May making it the best time to bask in the lap of nature. The climate remains pleasant during these months offering tourists the best holiday experience.Avoid the month of April as it is the warmest time of the year.
How To Reach Masinagudi : Masinagudi is basically a remote village in Tamil Nadu which can be reached via road from nearby places such as Ooty, Coimbatore, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary etc.
Nearest Major City. Coimbatore
Nearest Airport. Coimbatore International Airport
Nearest Railway Station. Udagamandalam aka Ooty
Distance from Coimbatore. 123KM
By Air :
The closest airport to Masinagudi is the Coimbatore International Airport which is about 123km away. The airport is well connected to all major cities in India,You can hire a private cab from outside the airport to reach Masinagudi.
By Road :
Well connected through Tamil Nadu State Road Transport Corporation (TNSTC) and private cab services, reaching Masinagudi via road is quite easy.
Distance from Mudumalai National Park. 20KM
Distance from Ooty. 29KM
Distance from Coonoor. 49KM
Distance from Mysore. 90KM
Distance from Bangalore. 237KM
By Train :
Udagamandalam is the nearest railway station to Masinagudi which is about 20km away, however, only four trains travel to this station. Other options to travel by train are getting down at Coimbatore Junction,You can hire a cab to take you to Masinagudi from any of these junctions.
Location : Masinagudi
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