PrepMaticTamil Nadu GK · Geography & nature
National parks of Tamil Nadu: the five parks and what to remember
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Tamil Nadu has five national parks as of 2026: Guindy National Park in Chennai, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Indira Gandhi (Anamalai) National Park, Mudumalai National Park and Mukurthi National Park. Exam questions usually ask which district each park is in, which animal it is known for, and which one is a marine park. A park is a stricter category than a sanctuary: grazing and private rights are not allowed inside it, and it is notified by the state government under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The five national parks
| National park | District | Key facts |
|---|---|---|
| Guindy | Chennai | Inside the city; one of the smallest national parks in India; blackbuck and spotted deer |
| Gulf of Mannar Marine | Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi | India's first marine national park; 21 islands; coral reefs, sea grass and the dugong |
| Indira Gandhi (Anamalai) | Coimbatore | Anamalai hills near Pollachi; lion-tailed macaque; part of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve |
| Mudumalai | Nilgiris | Tiger reserve; Theppakadu elephant camp; borders Bandipur (Karnataka) and Wayanad (Kerala) |
| Mukurthi | Nilgiris | Montane grassland and shola forest; home of the Nilgiri tahr; Mukurthi peak |
Notes on each park
Guindy. Located in the middle of Chennai next to the Raj Bhavan, it is a rare example of tropical dry evergreen forest inside a metropolis. A snake park and children's park share the campus. Questions ask for "the national park inside a city".
Gulf of Mannar. The marine park lies off the Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi coast along 21 islands, from Rameswaram to Thoothukudi. It protects coral reefs, seagrass beds, dugongs (sea cows), sea turtles and fishes. The larger Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, notified in 1989, was the first marine biosphere reserve in South and Southeast Asia, and the area is also a Ramsar site (see Ramsar sites in Tamil Nadu).
Indira Gandhi (Anamalai). Inside the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, the park spans the hills around Valparai and Topslip. It shelters the lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr, tiger and elephant.
Mudumalai. Located at the point where Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala meet, it forms a continuous forest with Bandipur and Wayanad. The Theppakadu elephant camp is inside it, and the Moyar river runs along its edge.
Mukurthi. Once known as the Nilgiri Tahr National Park, it protects the high-altitude grasslands where the Nilgiri tahr, Tamil Nadu's state animal, lives.
Other protected-area categories
- Biosphere reserves (3). Nilgiri (1986, the first in India), Gulf of Mannar (1989) and Agasthyamalai (2001).
- Tiger reserves (5). See tiger reserves of Tamil Nadu.
- Elephant reserves (5). Nilgiri, Coimbatore, Anamalai, Srivilliputhur and Agasthiyamalai.
- Wildlife sanctuaries. See wildlife sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu.
- Conservation reserves. The state has also notified a dugong conservation reserve in the Palk Bay, in 2022.
Short notes on most-asked items
- Count. Five national parks, as listed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and Tamil Nadu Tourism in 2026.
- State animal. The Nilgiri tahr, found in Mukurthi and Anamalai, is Tamil Nadu's state animal.
- Marine. Only the Gulf of Mannar park is marine.
- Mukurthi and Mudumalai are both in the Nilgiris district.
How to revise
Place the five parks on a blank map of Tamil Nadu: one on the Chennai coast, one at the south-east tip, and three in the Western Ghats from the Nilgiris to Anamalai. Then add their sanctuaries and tiger reserves around them. The TNPSC geography guide covers the Western Ghats background.
Frequently asked questions
How many national parks are there in Tamil Nadu?
Five as of 2026: Guindy, Gulf of Mannar Marine, Indira Gandhi (Anamalai), Mudumalai and Mukurthi. Confirm on the Tamil Nadu Forest Department site if a new park is notified.
Which is the first marine national park in India?
The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park in Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi districts.
Which national park is inside Chennai?
Guindy National Park, one of the smallest national parks in India.
Which national park protects the Nilgiri tahr?
Mukurthi National Park in the Nilgiris, though the Anamalai park also has tahr habitat.
Official sources
- Tamil Nadu Forest Department
- Tamil Nadu Tourism: national parks
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Counts and notifications change, so check the Forest Department site for the latest list.
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