Endemics Birds of South India

Day 01 – Arrive Cochin
On arrival our representative will greet you at the Cochin airport and then transfer to the hotel. Check-in and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room. Explore the rest of the day at your own by moving around local areas. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02 – Cochin
Morning after breakfast, start your tour which includes Fort Kochi which is the oldest European settlement in India (1500), and has a mixture of English, Dutch and Portuguese influence. The Mattancherry Palace was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, but extensive renovations by the Dutch some hundred years later earned it the name the Dutch Palace. It has some of the best murals in India, depicting scenes from the Ramayana and other great legends. Later visit the Jew town synagogue where Kochi’s surviving Jewish community come to worship. We will also visit the interesting Chinese Fishing nets.

In the early evening we see a performance of Kathakali, which is thought by some to be the very essence of the culture of Kerala. Its origins may have come from traditional temple rituals and from an art form known as Koodiyattam. It is the face make up which makes this dancing so unique. The dancers can take up to three hours painting their faces – the features are heavily emphasised as it is the facial expressions and coordinated eye movements which are important in the dance. The dances usually portray events from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, great Indian epics. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03 – Cochin – Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
In the morning after breakfast drive to Thattekad Bird Sanctuary (approx. 67kms / 02 hours). Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, also known as Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. This is the prime birding destination in Kerala. Specialties here include Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, White-bellied Blue-tailed, Red Spurfowl, Blue-faced Malkoha, White-bellied Blue-tailed and Rusty-tailed Flycatchers and Ceylon Frogmouth.

Moreover, Thattekkad is ideal for seeing a good number of the 16 endemics birds. The more difficult birds are Grey-headed Bulbul and Wynad Laughing Thrush. Proceed to Orullathany, which is other part of the reserve to see Bulbul and Laughing Thrush. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 04 – Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
Morning after breakfast, visit Edamalayar Power Plant land and the other side of the river for the owls, Streak-throated Woodpecker and Yellow-billed Babbler. Other know species likely to be seen are Red Spurfowl, Heart-spotted Woodpeckers,Ceylon Frogmouth, Black-throated Munia, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Rufous Babbler, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher and Blue-faced Malkoha. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 05 – Thattekad Bird Sanctuary – Periyar
In the morning after breakfast drive to Periyar (approx. 115kms / 04 hours). Periyar is well located as a centre for seeing most of these ornithological specialties of the Western Ghats, as well as other large numbers of local species and migrants. In the forest around Thekkady the common species are Bronzed Drongo, Large Wood Shrike, Racket-tailed Drongo, Fairy Bluebird, Velvet fronted Nuthatch, Golden-back Woodpeckers, White-bellied Tree Pie, Jungle Babbler, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Large Wood Shrike, Velvet fronted Nuthatch, Indian Rufous Tree Pie, Gold-fronted Chloropsis, Leaf Warbler Flycatchers and Small Green Barbet

We will also explore other unknow areas or climb the hilltop to look for some birds which live at higher altitude. Evening is free for booking reading or relaxation. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 06 – Periyar – Munnar
Morning after breakfast drive to Munnar (approx. 90kms / 03 hours). Munnar is a hill station at the altitude above 1600m. The rain fall in this area is well above 280cm mark which mainly happens during June to September month. The shola-grassland eco- system so typical of Munnar and is home to large numbers of birds & lots of them are endemic.

Upon arrival, check-in at your hotel and later start your birding tour to look for beautiful birds like White-bellied Shortwing, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Pipit, Wyanad Laughing Thrush, Black, Broad tailed Grassbird, Crimson backed Sunbird, Grey-breasted Laughing Thrush, Indian Rufous Babbler, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher and Grey-headed Bulbul. Evening is free for relaxation. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 07 – Munnar
Morning after breakfast drive 30kms to Eravikulam National Park which is at height of 6500 feet. This park is situated up in the hills of Western Ghats. This park was established to protect the Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius), which found its way into the endangered list of animals in the Wildlife schedule.

This park was declared a sanctuary in year 1975. Considering the ecological system, faunal & floral and zoological significance, it was declared as a National park in year 1978. Park mostly covers rolling grasslands and high level sholas. We will also visit Kundala Lake, View Point, Echo point and nearby Tea Gardens. Evening is free for  relaxation or individual activities. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 08 – Munnar – Top Slip
Today after early breakfast drive to Top Slip (approx. 135kms / 04 hours) to visit Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary which is situated in the Anamalai Hills and known as best natural locations in South India.

Upon arrival check-in at your lodge. Later explore your rest of the day in Shola forest in search of special birds and mammals of this region. It’s very important to explore birds at early morning and late afternoon when birds are most active. Part from birding this Park also have Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Indian Elephant, Chita, Gaur and Sambar. Evening free for relaxation or interact with local people. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 09 – Top Slip – Ooty
Today early morning we will once again explore the wildlife in nearby areas. Return to the lodge for breakfast and drive to Ooty (approx. 170kms / 05 hours).

Upon arrival, check-in at your hotel and later explore the local area  to see birds like   Blue-winged Leaf birds, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Malabar Parakeet, Greenish Warbler, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Tawny-bellied Babblers, Rufous Babbler, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Nilgiri Laughing-thrush, Black-and orange Flycatcher, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike and Eurasian Blackbird etc. Evening free for relaxation and spend some time in local bazar. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10 – Ooty – Mudumalai National Park
Today morning after breakfast, visit main major attractions like famous Botanical Garden, a stylish garden bordering immense variety of flowers, plants & vast range of ferns and orchids.

Later drive to Mudumalai National Park (approx. 01 ½ hours). Mudumalai is an ideal home to several endangered and species like Indian elephant, Leopard, Bengal Tiger and Gaur. In this park, there is a high diversity of animal with around 224 species of birds, 34 species of reptiles and 55 species of mammals.

Mudumalai is rich in bird life due to its ecological system and many of the regions endemics can be seen in this Park. Here we can see Malabar Grey Hornbill, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Hawk Eagle, Mottled Wood Owl, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Jerdon’s Bushlark, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Indian Swiftlet, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Grey Junglefowl, Malabar Pied and Indian Scimitar Babbler.

Upon arrival check-in at the forest lodge and relax amidst the comforts of your room. Evening explore the beauty of the surroundings with the chirping and singing of birds. Overnight at the forest lodge.

Day 11 – Mudumalai National Park
Today after breakfast, whole day we will explore nearby areas to look for birds and wildlife of this national park. We will walk thru the forest with your tour guide to explore deep inside the park.

Evening explore the beauty of the surroundings with the chirping and singing of birds. Overnight at the forest lodge.

Day 12 – Mudumalai National Park – Bandipur – Nagarhole National Park
Today we will do jeep safari in Bandipur National Park. This park is home to Leopard, Asiatic Wild Dogs, Jungle Cats, Leopard Cats, Rusty Spotted Cats, Stripped Hyenas, Jackals, Otters and different species of Mongooses.

After enjoying safari, we will drive to Nagarhole National Park (approx. 135kms / 03 hours). Nagarhole comprises a varied selection of habitats with its dry forests. Here we can see Hawk-eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle Black-winged Kite and Osprey.

We will also looking out for many bird species like Chestnut-shouldered Sparrow, ,  Chestnut-tailed & Brahminy Starlings, Southern Hill Myna, Large and Black-headed Cuckoo-shrikes, Common Iora, Eurasian Hoopoe, Grey Jungle fowl, Indian Swiftlet,White-bellied, Common Tailorbird, Green and  Rufous Treepie, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Indian Robin, Coppersmith Barbet, Paddyfield Pipit, Pale-billed Flowerpecker and Purple Sunbirds .

Evening explore the beauty of the surroundings with the chirping and singing of birds. Overnight at the forest lodge.

Day 13 – Nagarhole National Park
Today we will enjoy our morning and afternoon safari at Nagarhole National park. Nagarhole National Parks is quite big in area as most part of the parks is designated a wilderness Area from where humans are not allowed. In this park we can see Indian Elephants which are in large numbers and can be seen easily near the banks of the Kabini River. We can also see wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Jackals, Grey Langur, Tiger and Leopard.

Evening free for relaxation or do activities in lodge. Overnight at the forest lodge.

Day 14 – Nagarhole National Park – Mysore
Today we will do guided tour to explore birds and amazing wildlife of this park. Walk thru the fields and forest to look for specific birds. Return to the lodge for breakfast and later drive to Mysore (approx. 80kms / 02 hours). Mysore is know as the land with numerous domes, towers and battlements.

Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and later visit the sprawling Maharaja’s Palace with its outstanding treasures and ivory inlaid doors. Also visit St. Philomena’s Church, a beautiful Cathedral reminiscent of Medieval Architecture with stained glass Windows and lofty Towers. Late afternoon visit Brindavan Gardens which is one of its kinds in the country and located 19kms from Mysore city. This ornamental garden is situated at the base of Krishnaraja Sagar dam across Cauvery River. Evening free for relaxation. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 15 – Mysore – Bangalore
Morning after breakfast drive to Bangalore (approx. 150kms / 04 hours) enroute visit Srirangapatna. Major attractions of Srirangapatna are Daria Doulata, Summer Palace & Gumbuz – Tippu’s Mausoleum. Post visit continue your drive to Bangalore popularly known as the Garden City with well laid out parks and gardens, long avenues of brightly blossomed trees and salubrious climate throughout the year.

Upon arrival, visit Tipus Sultan’s Palace – a fine specimen of military architecture of the 18 century with a two storeyed ornate structure built entirely in wood, Bull temple at Basavangudi, Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park and Lalbagh Botanical Gardens. Evening is free for individual activities or spend some time in local bazar.

In night transfer to the airport to connect international flight for onward destination.