Forests

Bullock Cart Discoveries

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This activity is being sponsored by the Kerala Forest Department and, similar to the Tiger Trail, is conducted by a group of men who had previously engaged in illegal forest activities.  They surrendered before the forest department, receiving immunity from imprisonment in exchange for a life devoted to the protection of the forest. They are currently engaged in the Bullock Cart excursion, a “zero carbon activity” in the Cumbum Valley, an area famous for vegetable farms and wine yards. Continue reading →

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

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Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the eastern part of the high ranges of Kerala’s Western Ghats. It is regarded as one of the unique protected areas in the whole of the mountainous region due to its ecological, floral, geomorphological and cultural significance. The habitat types range from high altitude shola-grassland to dry thorny scrub. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is near to Munnar situated in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats, getting rains mostly during the North-East monsoons of October-December. This important watershed area feeds two perennial rivers; the Pambar and the Chinnar, from which the sanctuary takes its name.  Continue reading →

Blue Fountain Bush

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Native to India and Sri Lanka Blue Fountain Bush is widely growing in the Western Ghats especially in the high ranges of Kerala up to 2000 meters. These large shrubs can be found in hilly forested areas. Its flowers attract butterflies and the leaves and roots are used in traditional medicine. Continue reading →

Thommankuthu Waterfalls

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Thommankuthu is a popular water fall situated about 20km from Idukki dam.It is made up of a series of 12 falls in the Kannadiyar River spread over a distance of 5 km at an altitude of 800m above sea level. The scenic water falls and pristine surroundings attract tourist from around the world.

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Blue Mormon Butterfly

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Blue Mormon Butterflies are commonly found in and around forest paths, streams, lake sides and forest patches of the Western Ghats. Female butterflies are usually larger. These butterflies are endemic to the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. They can be found flocking around nectar rich blossoms such as Ixora and pagoda flowers. 

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Spotted Deer (Axis axis)

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Spotted Deer are commonly found in the dense deciduous semi-evergreen forest and open grass lands of India, mostly seen in large herds. Their life span is about 20-30years. They are the most common deer family in India with a habit across the entire country except in the northern region. As they are the favorite prey of leopards and tigers spotted deers are very nervous animals and are always on the look out for any approaching danger. Continue reading →

Kodanad Elephant Training Centre

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Kodanad, one of the largest elephant training centres  in South India, is located 40 km from Cochin in the high ranges near the southern bank of the Periyar River.  In the past elephants where captured from the adjoining forest and trained there. The capture of wild elephants was banned in 1977 so now the center is used for only for training.  The pachyderms receive training for participation in temple festivals, one of their primary works in the region.

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Dhobi’s Kerchief (Mussaenda Glabrata)

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Dhobi’s Kerchief is native to the Western Ghats, thriving in forested hilly tracts. Although the shrub flowers during mid- monsoon and early winter, the white bracts may be seen on the plant throughout the year.  Its leaves and fruits are used in traditional medicines, and the shrub is the food plant for the commander butterfly.

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Green Walk

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There is nothing quite like waking up in the morning knowing that you are about to enjoy a beautiful hike through the incredible Periyar Tiger Reserve.  Sign up for the Green Walk and experience not only this wonderful feeling but also the sights and sounds that make Periyar so special.  A three-hour hike, the Green Walk takes you through some of the most amazing habitat the reserve has to offer.  With Great Hornbills flying overhead and langurs calling from the trees, the Green Walk is certainly a hike to remember.

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Earliest Inhabitants

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Tribals have been an integral part of the Wayanad district for thousands of years. Its earliest settlers were the tribes of Adivasis, which are divided into various sects such as Paniyas, Kurumbas, Adiyas and Kurichyars. It is currently estimated that nearly 400,000 tribal people live Wayanad.  The sects are physically distinguisable with their dark skin and stout builds. Tribal dwellings recreated on the adjoing grounds of the wildlife sanctuary offer a glimpse into their traditional life.

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Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

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Located on the southern tip of the Deccan plateau, Wayanad is packed with scenic beauty. The region includes  sub-tropical savannahs, thickly wooded hills, evergreen forests, rolling paddy fields in the valleys and verdant spice plantations in the heights. Blasted by wind and lashed by rain, Wayanad spreads across 2,132 square kms of the lofty Western Ghats and is recognised for its biodiversity. Continue reading →

Trip to Gavi

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Gavi is quite different from the section of Periyar near the Thekkady gate.  All guests should take advantage of Cardamom County’s outbound excursion to Gavi in order to fully appreciate the unique beauty of wild Periyar.  The scenery and the animals are incredible, and this full-day trek is an experience you will cherish always.

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Idukki Dam Reservoir

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The Idukki Dam stands between the two mountains Kuravanmala and Kurathimla,839 metres high and 925 metres high respectively. The dam is situated near the Cheruthoni Barrage, with the Kulamavu Dam to its west. These three together extend between rocky hills to form the largest reservoir in Kerala. Idukki District is known for its dam and also for being Kerala’s forest district with an astonishing 50 percent of its total area under green cover. Idukki Dam is the world’s second and Asia’s first arch dam. This reservoir and the famous Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary are located 50 kms from the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Continue reading →

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

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Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the north of Kerala near Kannur. It is one of the state’s smallest wildlife sanctuaries, with an area of just 55 square kilometers.  It makes up for its small size with a privileged location on the western slopes of the Western Ghats, an area famous for a wide variety of flora and fauna. Aralam fauna includes mammals such as elephant, bison, deer, wild boar, jungle cats and leopards. Additionally a wide variety of flora is also found in the evergreen areas of this sanctuary.

Moottil Pazham (Baccourea courtallensis)

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Moottil pazham trees are found only inside the semi-evergreen forest. This unusual tree bears fruits only on the lower part of the trunk, clustered around its base in bunches. The edible portion of the fruits are hard and turn from reddish brown to pink as they ripen. They fruits are a favourite food for forest dwelling tortoise. Continue reading →

Silent Valley National Park, Kerala

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Photo by Mr. Vijay Mampilly

Silent Valley National Park is located along the western corner of the Nilgris Mountains in the Palakkad District and remains one of the last vestiges of an undistributed tropical evergreen rainforest in Southern India.

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Malabar Gliding Frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus)

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Malabar gliding frogs are widely distributed in the Western Ghats of India, primarily in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests at altitudes between 500 to 1200 meters above sea level. These pictures were taken at the Aralam Wild Life Sancatury near Kannore.

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A Jersey Girl’s Introduction to Camping

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Guest Author: Siobhan Powers

Photo Courtesy of Milo Inman

Before my journey to India, I’d never camped. Sure, I had slept in a tent in my friend’s backyard and gone to Girl Scout camp with my Scooby Doo sleeping bag, but I was feet from indoor plumbing and a roof every time. Where’s the fun in that? When I was belatedly asked to join a few interns on the Tiger Trail overnight trip into the Periyar Tiger Reserve, I was skeptical. My summer nights are usually spent running seafood to a hungry customer or chasing a high-maintenance boy across the beaches of the Jersey shore-therefore my presence in the jungles of Asia is quite ectopic, but I am an adventurous person (sometimes to my detriment). I took the opportunity for what it was- a once-in-a-lifetime chance to snuggle up to some tigers. Continue reading →

Border Hiking – Exploring the Periyar and its Border

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The Border Hike is a full day  trek inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve along the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu (one of Kerala’s neighboring states), exploring the length and width of Periyar. The route passes through undulating terrains, at altitudes ranging from 900m to 1300m.  Trekkers enjoy looking from the slopes and hills down onto the forest and the vast plains below. Continue reading →

Our Kind Of Photographer

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The Cornell Plant Pathology Photo Lab, run by Kent Loeffler, has an archive of photography worthy of a rainy Sunday afternoon…for now just admire this photographer’s discovery and click through (on the image below) to the other eight pictures of the month on the site: