Discover India's Wild Heritage
Explore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksExplore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksHorse-Faced Peaks, Rainforest, and Shola Grasslands
Karnataka
Image: Mike Prince / CC BY 2.0Welcome to Kudremukh National Park! Use the resources below to plan your adventure in one of India's most treasured wild spaces.
Safaris, bird watching, nature walks, and more
Safari timings, open seasons, and park schedules
Entry fees, safari charges, and camera fees
How to reach by air, rail, and road
Official booking links, permits, and offline reservation guidance
Nearby stays, forest rest houses, and booking resources
There is no single public national park booking portal for Kudremukh. Confirm trek permissions, local guide requirements, and forest route status before travel.
This link opens Booking.com, a third-party site.
Kudremukh is not a low-effort park. Long mountain drives, wet trails, steep gradients, and weather-sensitive route access make it best suited to mobile travelers who can handle uneven terrain.
Kudremukh National Park protects one of the largest continuous rainforest and montane grassland landscapes in Karnataka's Western Ghats. The park is known for the horse-faced massif that gives it its name, very high rainfall, scenic forest roads, rivers such as the Bhadra, Tunga, and Netravathi that arise in the region, and habitat for tigers, leopards, lion-tailed macaques, gaurs, and many endemic Western Ghats birds and amphibians.
| Season | Morning Safari | Evening Safari |
|---|---|---|
| Dryer Trekking Season (Oct - Feb) | Daylight trekking/visits | Return before dusk |
Check current forest route status, rainfall conditions, and trekking rules before traveling to Kudremukh or Kalasa.
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Entry/Permit | As notified by Karnataka forest authorities |
| Guide/Trek Logistics | Varies by route and current local arrangements |
Confirm guide, vehicle, and permit costs before leaving Kalasa, Karkala, or Chikkamagaluru.
Kudremukh National Park, Chikkamagaluru and Dakshina Kannada districts, Karnataka
13.2500° N, 75.2000° E
Mangaluru International Airport is the most practical airport for western access; Bengaluru is another option for longer road travel.
Nearest useful railheads include Mangaluru, Udupi, and Kadur, followed by road transfer.
Approach roads run through Kalasa, Karkala, Chikkamagaluru, and nearby Ghats routes. Distances and timings depend heavily on rainfall and mountain roads.
Use hired jeeps, taxis, or organized local transport for treks, waterfalls, and trailheads.
Tropical wet evergreen forest, semi-evergreen patches, shola forest, montane grasslands, bamboo, and riparian vegetation of the central Western Ghats.
Kudremukh supports large mammals, rainforest primates, amphibians, reptiles, hornbills, endemic birds, and aquatic life tied to its river catchments.
The Kudremukh region was protected as reserve forest during the colonial period and notified as a national park in 1987 after conservation efforts highlighted its importance for lion-tailed macaques, rainforest habitat, and headwater protection.
