Monday, January 5, 2009

Someshwara & Mookambika Wild Life Sanctuary Karnataka


Kudremukh also spelled Kuduremukha is a mountain range in Chikkamagaluru district, in KarnatakaIndia. It is also the name of a small town situated near the mountain, about 48 kilometers from Karkala and about 20 kilometers from Kalsa. The name Kuduremukha (as it is known by the natives) literally means 'horse-face' (in the local language Kannada) and refers to a particular picturesque view of a side of the mountain that resembles the same.

The town of Kudremukh is primarily an iron ore mining town where the government run Public Sector Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. (KIOCL) operates. It is noted for its scenic beauty. Owing to the dense forests, sighting wildlife can be challenging, though the area is rich in wildlife. Nonetheless the drive through the forest ranges can be enchanting and exhilarating. 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.A diverse assemblage of endangered large mammals is found in the park supporting three large mammal predator species TigerLeopard and Wild Dogs. The important Tiger prey base found within the Park is GaurSambarWild PigMuntjacChevrotainBonnet Macaque, Common Langur and the Lion Tailed Macaque.The wet climate and the tremendous water retentive capacity of the shola grasslands and forests has 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 that form an important lifeline for the people of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.