4 Famous Wildlife Safaris to Visit in Muthanga

Sanctuaries can be fun to explore wildlife, which eventually gets adventurous and remarkable as you proceed. Muthanga, a small village in Kerala, is one such site that offers an impressive wildlife expedition with the famous Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary. With this sanctuary, this village has called for several tourists' footfalls over the years.

If you are planning to visit the site, here is a comprehensive list of the wildlife safaris near Muthanga, besides the prime one, Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary. Explore these and plan your holiday accordingly!

Muthanga is known for both natural beauty and a collection of wildlife. Read along to learn more about the Muthanga jungle safari in Kerala and its borders.

1. Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary

source: kerelatourism

Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary has one of the richest tracts of peninsular India. It is also the second-largest wildlife sanctuary in Kerala. The sanctuary is filled with a wide range of flora and fauna, including peacocks, tigers, leopards, bears, reptiles etc.

On the other hand, it has moist deciduous and green forests. With several bamboo thickets and plantations, it is home to several birds and animals.

• Area Covered: 345 sq. km
• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Average Time to Spend: 3-4 days
• Operational Hours:
  • 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM (in the morning)
  • 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (in the evening)
• Distance from Airport: 80 km from the Calicut or Kozhikode International Airport
• Entry Fee:
  • ₹110 for Indian citizens
  • ₹40 for Indian children below 12 years of age
  • ₹300 for Foreigners
• How to Reach: Rent a car or take a taxi to the nearest town called Sulthan Bathery. Otherwise, you can also drive to the site from Kozhikode International Airport, which is about 97 km away from Muthanga. From here, you can easily reach the sanctuary.

2. Thelopatty Park

source: wikimedia

Thelopatty Park lies in the nearby region of Wayanad in Kerala. It offers a jeep safari within the park to witness the enthralling wildlife. Apart from these, the wildlife park lies within the lush greenery and enchanting flora like teak, eucalyptus, rosewood etc. Visitors here will also witness several rare animal species, such as bonnet macaques, bison, sambar deer, etc.

• Area Covered: 350 sq. kilometres
• Best Time to Visit: November to March
• Average Time to Spend: 1 day
• Operational Hours: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Distance from Airport: 125 km from Karipur International Airport at Calicut
• Entry Fee:
  • ₹110 for Indian citizens
  • ₹40 for Indian children
  • ₹300 for Foreigners
• How to Reach: Take a taxi or rent a car to reach the site, or you can go to the nearest town, Mananthavady and take public transport to the sanctuary.

3. Bandipur National Park

source: indiasinvitation

About 6.5 km from Muthanga, Bandipur National Park is located partly in Chamarajanagar district and Mysuru district of Karnataka. It is considered one of the oldest wildlife sanctuaries in the country.

Besides, the park's main highlight is that it has over 70 Bengal Tigers and about 3000 elephants. The park offers sightseeing of several other species and is home to a wide range of flora and fauna.

• Area Covered: 912 km²
• Best Time to Visit: March to May
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Monday to Friday)
• Distance from the Airport: 63.7 KM from Mysore Airport
• Entry Fee:
  • ₹300 for Indian citizens
  • ₹1500 for Foreigners
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Mysore Airport, from where the national park is just an hour's drive via NH766. You can also take a 10-minute drive from Muthanga to reach the sanctuary.

4. Palupally Bathery Forest

source: onmanorama

Palupally Bathery Forest is a wildlife forest in a small town called Palupally near Wayanad, Muthanga, Kerala. It is mainly known for housing wild elephants. The forest is also famous for being friendly to its visitors. Both adults and their kids are allowed to feed the elephants and a few other animals.

• Area Covered: N/A
• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Average Time to Spend: 1 day
• Operational Hours: Open all-day
• Distance from the Airport: 110 km from Calicut International Airport
• Entry Fee: Free
• How to Reach: Individuals can take a taxi or rent a car from the Calicut International Airport and drive to the forest, which lies at a distance of about 3 hours of drive from the airport.