My Personal Experience in Top 5 Wildlife Sanctuaries in Kerala

From beautiful coral reefs to a huge mesh of rivers, from vast backwaters to the lush green valleys, Kerala is filled with vast topography, unlike no other Indian state. I recently visited this beautiful land to discover the serene wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of Kerala. Kerala is a tropical state with several wildlife excursions to explore. Be sure to take at least a few more days to explore the length and breadth of its wildlife.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

My first flight landed at Kochi and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary facing Vembanad Lake was my first top in the backwaters of Kerala. This bird sanctuary houses a huge number of migratory birds in the country. I spotted herons, larks, cuckoos, owls, flycatchers, and Siberian crane. I’ve had a great start to my wildlife expedition.

Eravikulam National Park

Located only 15 km from Munnar, Eravikulam National Park is a serene grassland ecosystem with beautiful rivulets lie in the Idukki district. The national park is well regarded for an endangered goat species, Nilgiri Tahr, which I managed to come across by a stream. It was really a great sight to behold when she was drinking from the stream calmly unaware of the presence of tourists. Keep in mind that the park remains closed during the calving season of these goats, i.e. from January to April.

Periyar National Park

Up next was the most exciting journey to Periyar National Park. The tiger reserve is well located in the Western Ghats, aka Thekkady. It is embraced with lush greens and is accessible all year-round. Keep in mind tourists are allowed only in limited numbers at a time. I got a little disappointed because we couldn’t find a glimpse of the tiger. But we have found peeking deer, herds of elephants, reptiles, macaques, and a lot of birds like the Malabar hornbills and kingfishers.

The boat cruise in the serene Lake Periyar was truly an unforgettable and welcoming sight when I got up close and personal to the idyllic nature. The feeling was truly spell-binding and I never wanted going back to daily hustles and bustles of metro life.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

We visited Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary the very next day where we checked into a very cozy and exotic property. The sanctuary is located in the Western Ghats and receives rainy season for around 2 months. You can spot the near-extinct Giant Grizzled Squirrel in the deciduous region while trekking through the serene environs.

Silent Valley National Park

It was my last stop in the Palakkad district in the Nilgiri Mountains of Kerala and I enjoyed trekking through wildlife reserves. It is one of the best habitats for Royal Bengal Tigers. It is one of the most serene rainforest regions and is a paradise for a lot of flora and fauna species.

I finalized my memorable trip to explore the wildlife of Kerala and I finally took my flight back home to Delhi. The state is beautifully covered with biosphere reserves and forests with no lack of hotels.

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Fauna Species Found Majorly in Western Ghats of South India

Lies around Sahyadri ranges are the great Western Ghats separated through a steep plain from the Deccan plateau.  This mesmerizing green valley has thousands of wildlife species, including over 325 globally endangered ones.

The Western Ghats have around 139 species of reptiles, mammals, and amphibians (including the rare purple frog), 102 fish species, annelids, mollusks, 508 species of birds (including the most anticipated Malabar parakeet and Malabar grey hornbill) and over 6000 insect species.

The hills and national parks of Western Ghats are the major corridors for wildlife, including Indian elephants, big Indian cats, rare Gaur (Indian Bison), wild boars, and the rare sloth bears. Along with the wild species listed here, you can also find the unique species of India in the Western Ghats like Indian giant squirrel, Indian flying fox, and Nilgiri goat. These reasons are enough to make Western Ghats listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in India.

Bird Species

The Western Ghats are the most bio-diverse hotspot in the world with over 508 bird species in the Nilgiri biosphere reserve. Some of the endemic birds in the Western Ghats are Nilgiri wood pigeon, Malabar parakeets, grey-headed bulbul, Malabar grey hornbill, Nilgiri flycatchers, and various flying predators. Malabar parakeets are some of the most beautiful endemic bird species in Palani hills. 

Mammal Species

The Western Ghats also houses thousands of beautiful and rare mammals, such as Black Panther (the big cats of India), the Royal Bengal Tiger and leopards. The Malabar large-spotted civet and lion-tailed macaque are some of the endangered mammals of Western Ghats. A lot of endemic mammal species in the Western Ghats are so rare that they are not spotted anywhere in the world. Huge numbers of Asian elephants call the biosphere of Nilgiri Mountains their home. Nilgiri Tahr and Nilgiri Marten are some of the rarest animals in the Western Ghats.

Reptile Species

You can find a great diversity of reptiles in the Western Ghats, including Vipers, one of the world’s most dangerous snake species. It has over 13 reptile species, including the dwarf gecko, the giant monitor lizard, and Malabar flying lizard. King Cobra, the most poisonous and deadly snake species, is found in the Western Ghats.

King Cobra preys and inhabits the dense forests of Kerala and rainforests of Western Ghats. You can also spot other exotic and venomous reptiles and dangerous crocodiles in the Western Ghats.

Amphibian Species

The rich population of amphibians lives in the Western Ghats. Out of 179 amphibian species, over 80% of these are endemic ones, including the near-extinct purple frog and Malabar flying frog. Also called a pig nose frog, the purple frog also serves as a living fossil to the forest.

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Bird Watching in Kerala – Famous Bird Sanctuaries Worth Checking Out

Visiting Kerala is all about marveling at the beauty of nature while sailing through the untouched and calm backwaters on a lavish cruise. If you have done the backwater cruise, God’s Own Country has something more to explore.

The wonderful ecosphere of Kerala houses the beautiful range of avian species having both migratory and local birds. It is truly a bird watchers’ paradise. If you are a crazy adventurer and have a soft corner for these creatures in your heart, don’t miss visiting these bird-watching spots in Kerala –

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

On the banks of Vembanad Lake in the district of Kottayam, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is one of the well-revered spots for bird-watching in the nation. Stretched around 14 hectares, Kumarakom has a lot of avian and rare species in the premises. You can spot different local birds like cuckoo, waterfowl, cormorant, heron, darter, and moorhen. There are also migratory birds like teal, Siberian crane, flycatcher, and lark.

Top Attractions – You can have a beautiful evening by the misty Vembanad Lake, embark on a cruise for birding, or trek through the Aruvikkuzhi waterfalls. 

 Getting there – Cochin airport is the nearest airport located 80 km from Kumarakom bird sanctuary.

 When to visit? – The best time to visit is from November to February due to moderate temperatures.

 Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary

Located just in the heart of bustling Kochi city, Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary is no less than a paradise. The “Green Lung of Kochi” itself, Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary is well regarded for various migratory birds living in its dense mangrove jungles.

While controlling the city’s pollution, the sanctuary is also a great tourist spot by having over 30 bird species.

Attractions – You can witness the traditional Kathakali performance, explore the rich history in Fort Kochi, and learn about the unique fishing techniques of fishers in Cochin.

Getting There – Cochin International Airport is located just 35 km from the sanctuary, which takes an hour’s drive.

Approx budget – Rs. 800 per day for each

When to visit? – Winter months starting from October to January are known to be the best time to get here as temperature ranges from 17oC to 33oC, so you can spot different birds.

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is the first in Kerala to have a great ecosphere. Its premises consist of lowland forests stretched along the Periyar River, which is the longest river in the state. Hence, you can explore both water birds and forest birds. The sanctuary houses over 300 species of birds along with exotic ones like racket-tailed drongo, Sri Lankan frogmouth, white-bellied treepie, bronzed drongo, rufous babbler, yellow-browed bulbul, and Malabar grey hornbill. 

Attractions – You may visit the huge Bhoothathankettu Dam, hike along the Thettekad Bird Sanctuary, and picnic at Bhoothathankettu Park with family.

Getting There – Cochin airport is located 45 km from the sanctuary.

 When to Visit? – The best time to visit is October to February when you can spot a lot of migratory birds.
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