Kurumbapatti Zoo - Gundur
Kurumbapatti Zoo - Gundur
Tough
6.0 KM
One way
3 Hours
Overview
Kurumbapatti Zoo, in Salem district of Tamil Nadu features a scenic trail through the forests of the Eastern Ghats. Along the way, visitors can spot and understand the native flora and fauna. The trail leads to a gigantic limestone rocky structure enroute with stunning views and ends at the Gundur village, where one can experience local village life.
KEY ATTRACTIONS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
- Kurumbapatti zoological park
- Botanical garden Yercaud
- Pagoda point Yercaud
- Sankagiri fort
Maximum Elevation: 975 MSL(Approx.) Meters
Forest Type: Dry Deciduous forest
Nearby Medical Facility: Yercaud GH - 7 km
Nearby Bus Stand: Salem - 11.5 km
Nearby Airport: Salem - 25 km
Nearby Railway Station: Salem - 13 km
Parking Facilities: Yes
- Variety of Bird Species
- Daypack or small hiking backpack
- Hiking boots or trail shoes as per your convenience
- Reusable water bottle
- Breathable and quick-drying Clothes are best for changing conditions
- Fleece or lightweight down jacket
- Sun hat or caps
- Trail mix, energy bars, nuts, dried fruits
- Personal medication
- Personal Identity Card
- Sunscreen
- Insect Repellent
- Hand Sanitizer
- Trash Bag
- Water-Resistant Wrap for Electronic Devices for rain protection
- Leech socks
- Rain Jacket or Poncho
- Sunglasses with UV protection
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Guests
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Know Your Package
Included
Excluded
Your transport up to reception point prior to the trek
Everything that fall outside the inclusions stated above
Things to remember before you book a trek
- Trekking in forests invariably requires physical endurance depending upon the category of the trek.
- Right planning and adequate preparations will make treks immersive and memorable.
- Pick the right trail that matches your fitness level and experience.
- Research your trek destination, be aware of local weather conditions and prepare for it.
- Know the Rules before you embark on the trek.
- Camouflage is the key to observe wildlife; Striking colours, aromatic sprays and Noise will easily give you away.
- Follow appropriate dress code and wear comfortable trekking shoes.
- Carry your backpack: water, snacks, jacket, personal medication etc.
- Please be aware that amenities at the destinations may be offering minimal comfort.
- Pay attention to instructions of the trek leader/ guide.
- Maintain lane discipline and stay with the group; short cuts may turn adverse.
- Observe carefully and do not miss out the little surprises and signs of the animal world.
- It's not a race, listen to your body and take adequate breaks as and when required.
- Selfies at your own risk.
- Refrain from picking wild plants and flowers though they may attract you.
- Treat wildlife with respect: approaching and feeding wild animals can endanger yours and group’s safety.
- Enjoy the scenic view of forest streams & waterfalls; Bathing is prohibited.
- Be a responsible trekker and leave no trash.
Guest reviews
One of A Kind Experience in Salem
I tried the trek on 30Nov '24 with my brother. The trek is well organized with basics clearly thought through, forest officer came to send us off. The trail in itself starts from Kurumbapatty zoo and ends at the cottage near Gundur village. The trail is steep after the 60 feet bridge and It took a total of 3ish odd hours to complete the trail. Since the trail is not too far from the roads at any point in time, you could hear the civilization (vehicle horns) and that's a drawback. The folks assisting you during the trail are knowledgeable about the forest, animals, trees and the trail. Snacks and meal were provided during the trail. Garbage can be found which needs to be taken care of. The weather took a great turn making it windy and foggy when we reached the peak and it added to the whole experience. A must try for locals to know about our backyard ! Would suggest folks to travel with binoculars.
A Fantastic Trek Organized by the Forest Department
I planned this trek while traveling from Chennai to Coimbatore and chose the 11 AM slot due to my travel schedule. Beforehand, a forest officer called to inform me that the trek could be challenging and recommended starting at 6:30 AM instead. Unfortunately, I couldn’t reschedule, but I appreciated the proactive communication. This turned out to be a grave mistake on my part. It took 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete the trek instead of the usual 3 hours it takes during the early morning 7 AM slot. The high sun made trekking after the waterfall particularly tiring, as it was a continuous ascent until reaching the top. I was the only person trekking at 11 AM slot and despite this, the forest officers and trek guides were incredibly helpful and courteous. Both guides, natives of Gundur and professionally trained, ensured I had a safe and enjoyable experience. They never rushed me, encouraged breaks when needed, and even offered to carry my bag. Their expertise and knowledge of the area added a lot of value—they helped me spot a family of wild boars and a snake, which I’d never encountered on other treks like Parvathamalai or Velagiri. Walking silently with such skilled guides truly made a difference. The trail itself is stunning, with highlights including towering white limestone rocks, small waterfalls, a breathtaking view from the top, and the charming forest guest house. At the end of the trek, the forest officials arranged transport from Gundur to Kurumbapatti Zoo (via Yercaud), which was very convenient. Overall, the professionalism, courtesy, and expertise of the forest officials and guides made this trek an outstanding experience. If all government services operated with this level of dedication and quality, I’d gladly pay a premium. Kudos to the team for making this such a memorable adventure!
A good one!
A Tough trek indeed. Trail was clear and visible (except couple of sections). Trek in general was organized well. Guides (Annamalai and forgot the name of the other guide - sorry) are very kind, knowledgeable. They kept feeding us information and snacks :) throughout the trek! Forest officials were very friendly, helpful and laser focused on safety of the trekkers... they made sure guides kept the officials updated at multiple checkpoints on the trek. Booking process was quick and the support after that was excellent too. Thanks for govt of Tamilnadu for excellent initiative and I really hope lot of people support this initiative and experience trekking in our own backyard!
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