Siddhant Babu Gamers at 13:09, 18 December 2025

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{{short description|Mountain in Karnataka, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2006}}

{{Infobox mountain
| name = Kudremukha
| etymology = Horse Face
| photo = Shola_Grasslands_and_forests_in_the_Kudremukh_National_Park,_Western_Ghats,_Karnataka.jpg
| photo_caption = Kudremukh National Park from top
| elevation_m = 1894
| elevation_ref = above [[Mean Sea Level|MSL]]
| prominence_m = 1052<ref>https://worldribus.org/indian-subcontinent/</ref>
| listing = Ribu
| map = India Karnataka#India
| map_caption = Location of Kudremukha in Karnataka
| map_size = 290
| label_position = right
| translation =
| language = [[Kannada language|Kannada]]
| location = [[Kalasa]] Taluk, [[Chikmagalur district]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]]
| range = [[Western Ghats]]
| coordinates = {{coord|13|07|46.24|N|75|16|06.79|E|type:mountain_region:IN_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| range_coordinates =
| topo =
| type =
| age =
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route = Hike
}}
'''Kudremukha''' is the name of a [[mountain range]] and an individual mountain peak located in [[Chikmagalur district]], in [[Karnataka]], [[India]]. It is also the name of a small hill station and iron ore-mining town situated near the mountain, about 20 kilometres from [[Kalasa]] in Kalasa Taluk. The name ''Kuduremukha'' literally means "horse-faced" in [[Kannada]] and refers to a particular picturesque view of a side of the mountain that resembles a horse's face. It was also referred to as 'Samseparvata', historically since it was approached from Samse village. Kuduremukha is Karnataka's 2nd highest peak after [[Mullayanagiri]] and 26th highest peak in western ghats. The nearest International Airport is at [[Mangalore International Airport|Mangalore]] which is at a distance of 99 kilometres.<ref>{{cite web|title=Distance Between Mangalore To Kudremukha|url=http://www.distancesbetween.com/distance-between/distance-from-mangalore-to-kudremukha/145528/r3/|access-date=15 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804012216/http://www.distancesbetween.com/distance-between/distance-from-mangalore-to-kudremukha/145528/r3/|archive-date=4 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Kudremukha National Park in the Western Ghats is a part of the world's 38 ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/Disappearing-forests-of-Kudremukh/article14094143.ece | title=Disappearing forests of Kudremukh | newspaper=The Hindu | date=22 February 2016 }}</ref>

==Location==
The Kudremukha National Park (latitude 13°01'00" to 13°29'17" N, longitude 75°00'55' to 75°25'00" E) is the second-largest Wildlife Protected Area (600.32  km<sup>2</sup>) belonging to a tropical wet evergreen type of forest in the [[Western Ghats]]. Kudremukha National Park is located at the tri-junction of [[Dakshina Kannada]], [[Udupi District]], and [[Chikmagalur district]] of [[Karnataka]]. The [[Western Ghats]] is one of the thirty-four hotspots identified for biodiversity conservation in the world. Kudremukha National Park comes under the Global Tiger Conservation Priority-I, under the format developed jointly by the [[Wildlife Conservation Society]] (WCS) and [[World Wide Fund]]-USA.

[[File: Kudremukh Peak Closer.jpg|thumb]]

==Geography==
[[File: Kudremukh national park.jpg|thumb|left|Panoramic View of mountains in the Kudremukha National Park]]
The town of Kudremukha (KIOCL & etc.) lies at an elevation of around {{convert|815|m|ft}}, whereas the peak stands at {{convert|1894|m|ft}}.
The southern and western sides of the park form the steep slope of the Western Ghats ridgeline, with the altitude varying from 100 m - 1892 m (peak). The northern, central, and eastern portions of the park constitute a chain of rolling hills with a mosaic of natural grassland and shola forests. Kudremukha receives an average annual rainfall of 7000 mm,{{Citation needed|reason=Cite weather data|date=July 2019}} largely due to the forest types of mainly evergreen vegetation that can be found here.

==History==
[[File:Kudremukh hillside.jpg|thumb|upright|The Horse Faced Peak]]

===National park===
Well known [[environmentalist]] and [[tiger]] expert, K Ullas Karanth undertook a detailed and systematic survey of the distribution of the endangered [[lion-tailed macaque]] in [[Karnataka]] during 1983-84 with support from the Government of Karnataka. He observed that suitable and extensive rainforest habitat for the lion-tailed macaque existed in Kudremukha and that the tract probably harboured the largest contiguous population of lion-tailed macaques in the Western Ghats, outside the [[Malabar (Northern Kerala)|Malabar]] region. He further suggested that [[lion-tailed macaques]] could be effectively used as a 'flagship' species to conserve the entire biotic community in the region and prepared a conservation plan for the survival of wild populations of lion-tailed macaques in the region delineating the present national park area as a proposed nature reserve. Based on his report, the Karnataka State Wildlife Advisory Board suggested to the government that Kudremukha National Park be created.

Three important rivers, the Tunga, the Bhadra and the Nethravathi are said to have their origin here. A shrine of goddess ''Bhagavathi'' and a ''Varaha'' image, 1.8 m within a cave are the main attractions. The [[Tunga River]] and [[Bhadra River]] flow freely through the parklands. The area of the Kadambi waterfalls is a definite point of interest for anyone who travels to the spot. The animals found there include [[malabar civets]], [[Dhole|wild dogs]], [[sloth bears]] and [[spotted deer]].

===Opposition to national park===
[[File:Kudremukh Main Road.jpg|thumb|200px|Kudremukh]]
People residing inside the national park did not welcome the idea of such a concept, as it involves eviction and Kudremukha Rashtriya Udyana Virodhi Okoota, an NGO, fights on behalf of people residing inside the forest and opposes the formation of the national park.<ref name=opposition>{{cite news|last=Prabhu|first=Ganesh|title=Kudremukha park: eviction threat looms over Megur|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/12/stories/2007071252500500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212070453/http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/12/stories/2007071252500500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 February 2008|access-date=10 June 2013|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=12 July 2007}}</ref> To curb the supposed Naxalite activity inside the premises, police opened fire on activists and killed five suspected Naxalites on 10 July 2007.<ref name=opposition/>

===Conservation===
After years of campaigning by environmentalists, Kudremukha was declared a National Park in 1987 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.conservationindia.org/case-studies/the-kudremukh-saga-a-triumph-for-conservation-2|title=The Kudremukh Saga — A Triumph for Conservation}}</ref>

=== Ecology ===
[[File:Shola Grasslands and forests in the Kudremukh National Park, Western Ghats, Karnataka.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Shola Grasslands and forests in the Kudremukha National Park, [[Western Ghats]], Karnataka.]]
A diverse assemblage of endangered large mammals is found in the park supporting three large mammal predator species such as the [[Bengal tiger|tiger]], [[leopard]] and [[dhole|wild dog]]. The important tiger prey base found within the park is [[gaur]], [[sambar deer|sambar]], [[Sus (genus)|wild pig]], [[muntjac]], [[chevrotain]], [[bonnet macaque]], common [[langur]] and the [[lion-tailed macaque]].

The wet climate and the tremendous water retentive capacity of the shola grasslands and forests have led to the formation of thousands of perennial streams in the region converging to form three major rivers of the region, Tunga, Bhadra and Nethravathi which form an important lifeline for the people of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Lobo's house is an old abandoned farm on the upper reaches of Kuduremukha.

== Trekking in Kudremukha ==
There are numerous peaks inside the National Park, each offering a mesmerizing view of the evergreen forest and the western escarpments. Notable ones are as follows:
* Tirimarigubbe
* Soojigallu
* Bangarabailge
* [[Netravathi Peak, Chikkamagaluru|Hirimariguppe]] (popularly known as [[Netravathi Peak, Chikkamagaluru|The Netravathi Peak]])
* Elneer waterfalls

But trekking is restricted to Kudremukha & Netravathi by the Forest department.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/greens-urge-forest-department-not-to-allow-trekkers-tourists-to-unexplored-peaks-in-kudremukh-national-park-area/article67227050.ece|access-date=24 August 2023|title=Activists urge Forest dept.not to allow trekkers to UNEXPLORED PEAKS in the National Park|newspaper=The Hindu |date=23 August 2023 |last1=Kamila |first1=Raviprasad }}</ref>

===Kudremukha Peak===
{| class="wikitable"
|Difficulty level
|Moderate to difficult
|-
|Approximate temperature
|{{cvt|3|-|27|°C}}
|-
|Accommodation type
|Easily available:

a) Be noted its a place a forest area, no restrooms are available, once you cross forest check post.

b) Dormitories: Ideally big room where people sleep in sleeping bags. There will be separate rooms for men and women.

c) Several Home stays, with options for private rooms also.
|-
|Washrooms
|a) Toilets at Base Camp Kudremukha.
b) Several Homestays.
|-
|Distance from [[Bangalore]]
|{{cvt|320|km}} (one way)
|-
|Total trekking distance
|Approximately {{cvt|20|-|22|km}}
|-
|Attraction
|Beautiful landscape
|}

==Mining town==
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kudremukha
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name = Malleshwara
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Karnataka
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Karnataka]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts in Karnataka|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Chikmagalur district]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[List of taluks of Karnataka|Taluk]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Kalasa]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 2nd April, 1976
| founder = Government of India
| named_for = Horse-face shaped Hill
| government_type =
| governing_body = [[Notified Area Council|NAC]]
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 45.43
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 820
| population_total = 2241
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Kannada]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 577142
| registration_plate = KA-18
| website = http://www.kioclltd.in/lang=EN
| footnotes =
}}
[[File:KudremukhNationalPark.jpg|thumb|Kudremukha Road]]
[[File:Mist, meadows and mountains.jpg|thumb|Lakya dam lake near Kudremukha town]]
The Kudremukha township developed primarily as an [[iron]] ore [[mining]] town where the government ran [[Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd.|Kudremukha Iron Ore Company Ltd.]] (KIOCL). This public sector company operated for almost 30 years but was closed in 2006 due to environmental issues.<ref name=close>{{cite news|title=KIOCL plans to enter eco-tourism sector with a Rs. 805-cr. investment|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/kiocl-plans-to-enter-ecotourism-sector-with-rs-805cr-investment/article4573514.ece|access-date=10 June 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=2 April 2013}}</ref> The company proposed eco-tourism in the area and insisted that the land lease be renewed for 99 years.<ref name=close/> However, environmentalists opposed such an idea because the area should be given time to regenerate completely rest. Thus, the mining lease lapsed on 24 July 1999.<ref name=greens>{{cite news|title=Greens seek to steamroll KIOCL's luxury eco-tourism project|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/greens-seek-to-steamroll-kiocls-luxury-ecotourism-project/article4577607.ece|access-date=10 June 2013|date=4 April 2013}}</ref> The mining town now known as Kudremukha originally known as '''Malleshwara''' village whose residents have relocated to Jamble village of Kalasa taluk in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite news|title=The nowhere people of a former mining town |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/the-nowhere-people-of-a-former-mining-town/article19526288.ece|access-date=20 August 2017|date=19 August 2017}}</ref> Mining town had 3 schools named Giri Jyothi Convent School, Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV Kudremukh) & Government school, which had an education from Nursery to class 12.

===Demographics===
{{As of |2001}} India [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Kudremukha town had a population of 8095. Males constitute 54% of the population, while females constitute 46%. Kudremukha has an average literacy rate of 80%, which is higher than the national average of 59.5%; male literacy is 83% while female literacy is 77%. 11% of the population is under six years of age.

Due to closure of mining activity, the population fell drastically. As per 2011 census,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/601/download/2052/DH_2011_2916_PART_B_DCHB_CHIKMAGALUR.pdf|access-date= 24 August 2023|title= Census Data Handbook 2011}}</ref> the [[Nagar panchayat|Kudremukha Notified Area Council (NAC)]] which spans {{convert|45.43|km2|mi2}} had a population of just 2,241 with 719 households.

==Threats==
[[File:Kuduremukha Iron Ore.JPG|thumb|Kudremukha Iron Ore Company logo]]
[[Kudremukh Iron Ore Company|Kudremukha Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL)]] is a public sector company that was mining iron ore from the Kudremukha hills. KIOCL conducted its operations in an area of 4,604.55 ha for over 20 years. Opposition to its activities built up over the years from environmentalists and wildlife conservationists who were concerned about the threat to the region's flora and fauna, and farmers who were affected by the pollution of the streams that originated in the mining area. KIOCL has been banned from operating in this beautiful Natural Reserve, according to a Supreme Court order.

The rainfall in Kudremukh, which is one of the highest for any open cast mining operation in the world,{{citation needed|date=June 2013}} greatly accentuates the impacts of siltation as claimed by environmentalists. The topographic and rainfall characteristics in combination with the open cast mining of low-grade iron ore and other land-surface disturbances caused by the KIOCL operations resulted in very high sediment discharge, with over 60% of the total siltation in the Bhadra system being contributed by the mining area which forms less than six per cent of the catchment. With high-quality practices adopted by KIOCL to mine, the flora and fauna remained intact, causing no adverse effects on nature {{citation needed|date=October 2020}}.

KIOCL used to send iron ore through pipes running through districts of [[Udupi]] and [[Dakshina Kannada]] and converted to pellets at their plant in [[Panambur]].

===Lakhya Dam===
The dam is built across ''Lakhya hole''(stream), a tributary of [[Bhadra River]]. Construction of this earthen dam was completed in the year 1994. It is operated by KIOCL. It was built as a [[tailings|tailing pond]], that is, to dump the unwanted [[gangue]] materials from the extracted iron ore. The dam has a Gross Storage Capacity of {{convert|273790000|m3|ft3}} (9.66[[Tmcft]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://idup.gov.in/site/writereaddata/siteContent/202301041237280041National%20register%20of%20large%20dams.pdf|access-date=1 May 2024|title=Directory of Large Dams in India}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Besides using this reservoir as a tailing, during odd years, water from this dam is used to compensate for deficit drinking water supply to [[Mangalore|Mangaluru]] city,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=393968|access-date=1 May 2024|title=Mangaluru city gets water from Lakhya Dam}}</ref> and also to the dependents of [[Tungabhadra River|Tungabhadra]] basin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bhadra-to-get-water-from-kudremukh/articleshow/6694941.cms|access-date=1 May 2024|title=Bhadra dam to get water from Lakhya Dam}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|India}}
* [[Baba Budangiri]]
* [[Chikmagalur]]
* [[Hanumangundi Falls]]
* [[Kalasa]]
* [[Karkala]]
* [[Kemmanagundi]]
* [[Mangalore]]
* [[Mullayangiri]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Kudremukh}}
*[http://www.falconsmania.blogspot.in/2012/12/kudremukh-trek-karnataka.html kudremukha trek]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061007180231/http://www.wildindia.org/wiki/Kudremukh_checklist_amphibians Checklist of Amphibians reported from Kudremukha National Park]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061007180355/http://www.wildindia.org/wiki/Kudremukh_checklist_insects Checklist of Aquatic Insects reported from Kudremukha National Park]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061007180412/http://www.wildindia.org/wiki/Kudremukh_checklist_birds Checklist of Birds reported from Kudremukha National Park]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061007180242/http://www.wildindia.org/wiki/Kudremukh_checklist_butterflies Checklist of Butterflies reported from Kudremukha National Park]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061007180250/http://www.wildindia.org/wiki/Kudremukh_checklist_fishes Checklist of Fishes reported from Kudremukha National Park]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061007180206/http://www.wildindia.org/wiki/Kudremukh_checklist_mammals Checklist of Mammals reported from Kudremukha National Park]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061007180226/http://www.wildindia.org/wiki/Kudremukh_checklist_non_woody_plants Checklist of Non-Woody Plants reported from Kudremukha National Park]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061007180312/http://www.wildindia.org/wiki/Kudremukh_checklist_reptiles Checklist of Reptiles reported from Kudremukha National Park]
*[http://www.weedioh.com/Video.aspx?VideoId=2486]

{{Chikkamagaluru topics}}
{{Western Ghats}}
{{National Parks of India}}
{{Protected areas of Karnataka}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mountains of the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:National parks in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Iron ore mining in India]]
[[Category:Mountains of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Hill stations in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1916]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Chikmagalur district]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of India]]
[[Category:Geography of Chikmagalur district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Chikmagalur district]]

Kudremukha - Revision history

Siddhant Babu Gamers at 13:09, 18 December 2025