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DESTINATIONS

Following are our important destionations for activities in Western Ghats

Western Ghats Of India

Mountain ranges of the Western Ghats run parallel to the west coast of India from north at Tapti river to Kanyakumari at south(8°20'-20°40'N and 73°-77°50'E) , but extended in Sri Lanka after a gap. The Ghat mountains are continuous approximately to a distance of 1500 km except for a major discontinuity at the Palakkad. The Palkkad gap has about 30km width. Western Ghats form the most dominant and influential physiographic feature in the peninsular India. The rain bearing winds of the south-west monsoon are subjected to adiabatic expansion, as they pass across the mountain crests resulting in heavy downpour at the windward sides and rain shadow effect on the leeward side. Elevation ranges from 500-2700 m above mean sea level. Rainfall varies from 400-7000 mm per annum with prolonged dry seasons

Distribution of forest habitats exhibits a distinct pattern over different altitudes, viz. tropical evergreen forests between 700-1500 m, moist deciduous forests between 500-900 m and dry deciduous forests between 300-900 m, scrub jungle between 200-500 m, shola forests above 1500 m, and Myristica swamps below 100 m. The annual rainfall may vary from 2350 mm in the north to 7450 mm in the south. This makes the Western Ghats the watershed of the peninsula. Mean temperature may vary from 24°C in the north to 20°C in the south. April and May are the hottest months, whereas December and January are the coolest. These Mountains are believed to be a part of the ancient Gondwanaland. The archaeological sites of the Ghats gives us a clear picture of the South India. The Shola forests known as the living fossils are the home for many of the ancient species trace back to the Gondwanaland.

Indira Gandhi Wildlife sanctuary & National Park
It is the biggest sanctuary in south India and constitutes mainly the eastern side of the Western Ghats. It shares the flora and fauna with rest of the Anamalai Sanctuaries. It is going to be declared as a Tiger reserve. The head quarter’s of the sanctuary is Top slip- an early settlement of British planters. The adventure has visits, trekking and safari in Top slip and Amaravathi region of this sanctuary. The mammals are elephants, tiger, leopard, jungle cats, civets, squirrels, macaque, lion tailed macaque, common languor, Nilgiri languor, slender loris, Sloth bear, wild gaur, spotted deer, barking deer, sambar like 36 species are found here. It is the home for many of the endemic species of the western ghats. About 426 species of birds are reported from this sanctuary.

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Our adventure has trekking ,and camping in this sanctuary.
This 285 sqkm sanctuary is located in Kerala State,but contiguous with Indira Gandhi wildlife sanctuary, and Sholayar natural forests.The average elevation is 600 MSL with highest peak of 1444 MSL .The mean average rain fall is 2590mm.. The forest types are-Wet evergreen forest semi evergreen forests, and moist deciduous forests to dry deciduous forests and grasslands. Interspersed with teak plantations, there are numerous low-lying marshy lands and grasslands. Mammals: The sanctuary harbors 26 species of large and medium sized mammals. Bonnet macaque, lion tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, loris, tiger, leopard, jungle cat, civet, mongoose, fox, bear, elephant, gaur, Nilgiri tahr, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, wild boar; pangolin etc. Reptiles:
The reservoir and the major rivers have crocodiles, varanus, pond terrapin, cane turtle, gecko skink, chameleon, snakes such as king cobra, spectacled cobra, krait, viper, python, green keel back, rat snake, vine snake etc. Fishes:- Aral, bral, vattudi, thilopia, noori, mooshu, poochutti, kollotty, exyprius, taral etc. lBirds: 168 species of birds are reported from the area. It is the best place to see l Great Indian Pied Horn bills in South Western Ghats.

Eravikulam National Park
It is also known for gregarious growth of Kurinji plants (Neelakkurinji or Phlebophyllum kunthianus) which comes in bloom only once in 12 years, painting the whole landscape blue. The national park is located in the High Ranges of the Western Ghats near Munnar. Topography & climate: The mean elevation of the park is 2,000 m above MSL and temperature of the park vary from 3 - 29° C and the annual rainfall is above 4,000 mm. Monsoon period is misty. The rainfall in this area ranges from around 2000 to 5000 mm with a dry season ranging from two to three months

The major vegetation types and subtypes in this national park are: 1) Southern sub-tropical hill forest, 2) Southern montane wet temperate forest, 3) Southern montane wet scrub, and 4) Southern montane wet grassland. Fauna: Nilgiri tahr is the flagship species of the national park. Tahr, the wild mountain goat, has a very restricted geographical distribution in the Western Ghats apart from tahrs, sambars, gaurs, barking deers, elephants, tigers, leopards, wild dogs, jackals, jungle cats, and Nilgiri langurs also can be sighted in the park.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Is located in the eastern slope of Western ghats sharing its flora and fauna with Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Eravikulam National Park. The sanctuary has an area of 90 sq.km. Chinnar has the unique thorny scrub forest with Xerophytic vegetation . The undulating terrain with rocky patches manifolds the scenic splendor of the sanctuary. As the altitude varies from 500 to 2,400 m above sea level within a few kilometer radius, there is a drastic variation in the climate and vegetation. this sanctuary has also rainfall ranging from 600 mm to 3000 mm and a dry season ranging from three to six months Elephant, gaur, leopard, spotted deer, sambar, grizzled giant squirrel, hanuman languor etc. inhabit the Chinnar forests. The grizzled Giant squirrel is an endangered species. It is dull gray in colour

Munnar
Munnar is the highest town in Kerala. It is one of the early settlements of British planters. Perched on the roof of the state it is famous for the vast expanse of tea plantation, low flying clouds and cool climate. As a part of the adventure we have visits to the tea plantations, and tea museum in Munnar, stay in colonial bungalow built by the British, making your own tea etc.

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary (Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary)
Laying about 65km east of Kochi, this 25 sqkm sanctuary is a continuation of Pooyamkutty low elevation rainforests in India. It is rich in avifauna and known for abundance of endemic birds.

Nagarhole National Park (Karnataka) widely known as Kabani, and presently named as 'Rajiv Gandhi National Park,' is located 94 km from Mysore. It is spread between Kodagu and Mysore districts. Located to the northwest of Bandipur National Park, Kabini reservoir separates the two. The exclusive hunting reserve of the former rulers of Mysore, the park has rich forest cover, small streams, valleys, and waterfalls. In 1975 its area stretched to 575 km². The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000⁺ km²), including all of Nagarhole National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site. The climate is tropical; summer is hot and winter is pleasant. The park has a healthy tiger-predator ratio, and tiger, bison, and elephant are much more populous here

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamilnadu) lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountains), in Nilgiri District of Tamilnadu, on the interstate boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala states in South India.The park was created in 1940 to become the first wildlife sanctuary in southern India. The sanctuary is contiguous with Bandipur National Park (874 km²), Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary (344 km²), Sigur and Singara reserve forests. The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000⁺ km²), including all of Mudumalai National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site

Flora and fauna

There are three main types of forest: tropical moist deciduous, tropical dry deciduous and southern tropical thorn. In certain places mixed vegetation types are present. Tropical moist deciduous forest occurs in the western Benne Block, where rainfall is higher than in the other blocks.

Primates found include the Gray langur (Semnopithecus priam) and the Bonnet Macaque (Macaca radiata). There are as many as 37 Tigers (Panthera tigris) in mudumalai forest area whereas the Leopard (P. pardus) is most often seen in the Kargudi area. Other carnivores include the Dhole (Cuon alpinus) the Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena), the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) and the Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) .The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) population totals several hundred animals. Ungulates include the Gaur (Bos gaurus) ,the Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor), the Chital (Axis axis), Indian Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), the Indian Spotted Chevrotain (Moschiola meminna), and the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa). Rodents include the Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica maxima) and the Red Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista petaurista).

Bird life is rich. Regional endemics include Malabar trogon Harpactes fasciatus and Malabar grey hornbill Tockus griseus. Predatory birds include crested hawk-eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus and crested serpent eagle Spilornis cheela. It also holds the isolated southern population of the Striped Tit-babbler Macronous gularis.

Bandipur National Park (B.N.P.) is one of India's best known protected areas and is an important Project Tiger reserve. It is located in the Chamarajanagar district of southern Karnataka in South India, and is contiguous with the Mudumalai National Park in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, the Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala, and the Nagarhole National Park to the northwest. It is home to around seventy tigers and over three thousand Asian elephants (as per the 1997 census ), along with leopards, dholes, gaur and sloth bears. Bandipur is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Geography : Bandipur National Park is situated south of the Kabini river at the foothills of the Western Ghats.The rivers Kabini, Nagur and Moyar flow through the reserve. Winter minimum temperature is 10 degrees C., Summer maximum 28 degrees.

Flora

Teak Tectona grandis, Rosewood Dalbergia latifolia, Indian Kino Tree Pterocarpus marsupium, Kadam tree Adina cordifolia, Grewia tiliaefolia, Indian gooseberry Emblica officinalis, Crape-myrtle Lagerstroemia lanceolata, Indian-laurel Terminalia tomentosa, axlewood Anogeissus latifolia, Black Myrobalan Terminalia chebula, Schleichera trijuga, Odina wodiar, Flame of the Forest Butea monosperma, Golden Shower Tree Cassia fistula, giant clumping bamboo Dendrocalamus strictus, clumping bamboo Bambusa arundinacea, satinwood Chloroxylon swetenia, Black Cutch Acacia catechu, Shorea talura, indigoberry Randia uliginosa

Fauna

Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Gaur, Sambar (deer), Chital, Sloth Bear, Mouse deer, Wild dog, Wild boar, Barking deer, Four-horned Antelope and Hyena reside in B.N.P.

Threatened species : Tiger, Four horned Antelope, Gaur, Elephant, Panther, Sloth Bear, Crocodiles, Mouse deer, Python, Osprey,