- Grade
- Tough
- Distance
- 20 km there and back
- Walking time
- 8 hours
- Altitude
- 2512 m
- Best months
- Sep – Nov, Feb – May
- Start point
- Parsons Valley Trekking Shed
- District
- Nilgiris
- Nearest station
- Ooty, ~15 km
- Nearest airport
- Coimbatore, ~109 km
About this trail
This long route starts at the Parsons Valley trekking shed above Ooty and heads into some of the wildest high country in the Nilgiris. It crosses thick shola, pine, eucalyptus and wattle plantations and wide, rolling meadows before reaching Mukurthi hut, a lonely building from the colonial era set in the middle of prime wildlife country.
At 20 km and about eight hours, it is a hard day on foot and needs real fitness. Report by 8 AM and keep a steady pace so you are back before dark. The return is along the same path. As with other Mukurthi routes, it is usually shut in December and January.
Highlights
- Remote high-altitude country
- Old colonial-era hut at the turnaround
- Shola, plantations and meadows
- Cool Nilgiri weather
- Long, demanding day
How the day goes
- 8:00 AMReport at Parsons Valley trekking shed.
- StartBegin the trek through forest.
- Shola and meadowsWalk through shola, plantations and grassland.
- Mukurthi hutReach the hut and rest.
- ReturnWalk back to the trekking shed.
Getting there and staying over
- By train: Ooty, ~15 km
- By air: Coimbatore, ~109 km
- Stay: Not included; hotels in Ooty.
What to carry
- Photo ID
- Warm jacket
- Rain jacket
- Trekking shoes
- 3 litres of water
- Energy snacks
- Headlamp
Good to know
These are guided trails run with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, and each has a daily limit on walkers. Book a few days ahead, carry the same photo ID you booked with, and expect a trail to close at short notice after heavy rain or when elephants are active nearby. We book the permit, arrange the car to and from the start point and, if you want, a hotel nearby for the night before.
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Send us your date and group size. We will confirm the slot with the forest team and share the reporting time, car and total cost.
