Kudremukh National Park

Kudremukh National Park protects 600 sq km of some of the wettest and most biodiverse landscapes in the Western Ghats. The park is named after the horse-face shaped peak (Kudremukh = 'horse face' in Kannada) at 1,894 meters, which offers one of Karnataka's most scenic treks through rolling grasslands, shola forests, and pristine streams. The park was declared in 1987, partly to protect the area from mining — remnants of the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company's operations can still be seen during the trek. The forests support significant populations of lion-tailed macaques, Malabar giant squirrels, and gaur, while tigers and leopards are present but rarely seen in the dense canopy. The park is primarily a trekking destination — vehicle safaris are not available. The trek to Kudremukh peak is considered one of the most beautiful in South India.