Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary

Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected forest area spread over about 370 sq km in the Western Ghats near Kollur in Udupi district, Karnataka. Established in 1974 and named after the nearby Mookambika Temple, it encompasses evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, grasslands and the Kodachadri hill range. Notable for its biodiversity including tigers, leopards, lion-tailed macaques and diverse birds, it offers trekking, wildlife viewing and scenic landscapes within the Sharavathi valley region.

Visitors can expect dense evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of the Western Ghats with hilly terrain, grasslands and streams including the Souparnika River. The sanctuary is known for wildlife sightings, birdwatching and trekking, most notably the trek to Kodachadri Peak (1,343 m) inside the sanctuary. Access is through forest check posts with designated trails and viewpoints; interior areas are forested and require permission and guides for trekking and safari.

Notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 1974 under the Karnataka Forest Department, covering about 370.37 sq km across Udupi and Shivamogga districts in the Western Ghats. Named after the Kollur Mookambika Temple located on its fringe, it forms part of the Sharavathi valley landscape and was established to protect the evergreen forest ecosystem and its fauna.

The sanctuary is culturally associated with the Kollur Mookambika Temple, an important pilgrimage centre located at its edge, and with Kodachadri hill, traditionally regarded as a place of meditation and linked to the temple's traditions. The surrounding forest landscape is integral to local pilgrimage and nature-based visitation.