ENDEMIC KERALA WILDLIFE
Duration : 12 nights / 13 days
Places Covered : Cochin - Parambikulam -
Munnar - Thekkady - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Kovalam - Trivandrum
Day 01 : Home Country to Cochin On board flight to Cochin.
Day 02 : Cochin
Arrive Cochin by morning. Garland welcome, assistance and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing of "Queen of Arabian Sea" - Cochin, a major
port of call on the ancient trade route from China to Rome. The mixture of influences
here is a heady brew. Chinese fishing nets dot the coast, Roman coins are dug
up as treasure trove, the Mattancheri Palace was built by the Portuguese, and
Willingdon Island was created by the British. Here you will find Hindu Temples,
Christian Churches, mosques, and a synagogue (the Jewish settlement dates from
at least as far back as AD 400). Cochin is a melting pot of races and cultures,
charmingly emphasizing that variety is indeed the spice of life. Visit famous
monuments & churches. Evening we make a short drive to watch the dance-drama
of Kerala - The Kathakali in a local theatre. O/n Hotel.
Day 03 : Cochin to Parambikulam
Morning after breakfast drive to Annamalai/Parambikulam (about 210kms/07hrs)
via visiting Athirapilly waterfalls. The road winds you through Sholayar forests
and Valparai hills tea estates. Upon arrival short visit to Top Slip and also
visit the center at Anapatty. O/n Camping at Jungle House.
Day 04 : Parambikulam
Lying adjacent to the Annamalai
Wildlife
Sanctuary, the 285 sq km stretch of forest known as the Parambikulam Sanctuary
is one of Kerala's premier wildlife reserves. Parambikulam lies in the Annamalai
Hills, south of the Palghat Gap in the Western Ghats. The area's hilly and rocky,
drained by several rivers, including the Parambikulam, the Sholayar and the
Thekkedy.
Thickly forested with stands of bamboo, sandalwood, rosewood and teak, the sanctuary
has some marshy land and scattered patches of grassland. Parambikulam was once
home to some of south India's finest stands of teak; most of these, however,
have now been replaced by teak plantations.
Parambikulam's animal species include many of India's most prominent mammals:
leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, elephants, wild boar, barking deer, spotted
deer, langurs and macaques. Parambikulam is also home to Kerala's largest population
of gaur. Besides these, civet, chevrotain, pangolin, crocodile, jungle cat,
porcupine and some 140 species of birds are found in the sanctuary. Although
the larger cats are few and far between, gaur, monkeys and deer are fairly common
in the sanctuary.
Full day walk at Parambikulam Wildlife Reserve. This can be either tough Jungle
trek through dense rain forest OR smooth walk along the river valley including
visit tribal village. O/n Camping at Jungle House.
Day 05 : Parambikulam to Munnar 
Morning after breakfast drive to Munnar (about 157kms/04hrs) through Chinnar
Wildlife Sanctuary - a throny scrub jungle presents no where else make this
sanctuary unique. There is a wide range of animals and a good number of birds
in this sanctuary. Animals include elephant, gaur, sambar, porcupine, lion tailed
macaque etc. Birds like jungle fowl, spotted dove, Kerala laughing thrush etc
are seen here. Proceed to Munnar via Marayoor - the only place in Kerala that
has a natural abundance of sandalwood trees. Check into the hotel. Rest of the
day free to relax in our beautiful hotel set amidst among the tall trees.
Day 06 : Munnar Morning after breakfast we make a short drive to Eravikulam
National Park. You will find yourself wondering through the tea plantations,
as you soak in the neat arrays of verdant green, dotted with the red and blues
and violets of the women who are plucking tea leaves.
Eravikulam National Park - this is the home of the Niligiri Tahr (locally called
Varayadu, meaning rock goat), the rare mountain goat that is fast becoming extinct.
Most of the remaining Nilgiri Tahr are found in this park. We explore the park
by 02 - 03hrs walk, the views are stunning from the top.Afternoon free to relax
or just stroll around the tea estates.
Day 07 : Munnar to Thekkady 
Morning after breakfast we start our drive to Thekkady (about 110kms/03hrs)
through the cardamom hills of Idukki. Check into the hotel. Evening we explore
the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary which spreads over 777 sq km, roughly half of
which is dense evergreen forest, savannah grassland and moist deciduous forest.
The forest was declared a tiger reserve in 1978 under Project Tiger, and so
the name Periyar Tiger Reserve is sometimes used to denote the place as well.
We will do a 02 hr boat ride in an artificial lake formed during the construction
of the Mullaperiyar Dam in 1895 - that explains the dead tree branches sticking
out of the water. These trees were submerged in the waters of the dam. The Periyar
Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the few places where the chances are pretty high
that you will spot an elephant in the wild at close quarters and from the safe
confines of a boat. Not just elephant, but if it's your lucky day, gaur, masher,
otter and other wildlife. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.
Day 08 : Thekkady 
Morning after breakfast we will go for a full day trekking & rafting at
Periyar wildlife sanctuary. The adventure starts at 0800 hrs from the Lake Periyar
boat landing. Maximum of 05 persons are allowed per raft and 02 rafts are functioning.
It involves a 2-hour trek in to the core area, 3-hours rafting and 2-hours return
trek. There will be one-armed guard and 2 tribal trackers along with each raft.
A simple vegetarian lunch will be served as well as snacks and tea or coffee.
Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.
Day 09 : Thekkady to Kumarakom
Morning after breakfast drive to Kumarakom (about 140kms/03hrs). Much of its
beauty is laid out in all its glory along the road, which winds from Periyar
to Kottayam through Cardamom, Coffee, pepper and rubber plantations. Check into
the hotel. Afternoon visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary known for local varieties
like the waterfowl, cuckoo, owl and the water duck. Rest of the day free to
relax. O/n Hotel.
Day 10 : Kumarakom to Alleppey Morning after breakfast transfer to Alleppey
to board our houseboat and sail through scenic backwaters, passing through one
of the few areas in the world where farming is done below sea level. The houseboat
will cruise through the Chambakulam area and anchor to explore the boat yard
which displays the traditional long snake boats used in races. Visit St. Mary's
Church, established by St. Thomas in 1721.
Also catch a glimpse of village life along the backwaters and experience a way
of life unique to this region. The boat will pass through picturesque stretches
of the backwaters of Alleppey. In the evening we anchor our houseboat. O/n Houseboat.
Day 11 : Alleppey to Kovalam
Morning after breakfast disembark from the houseboat and drive towards the southward
direction to Kovalam (about 160kms/04hrs), a beach paradise with boundless blue
o the Arabian Sea and unwinding miles of fine sand washed by a surf which roars
and hisses at the feet of coconut palms. A sheet of silvery sand curves into
a arch water and on the other by a never ending spread of green palm groves.
Upon arrival, check into the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.
Day 12 : Kovalam The day at leisure. O/n Hotel.
Day 13 : Kovalam to Trivandrum to your Home Country
Morning transfer to Trivandrum International airport to board flight to your
home country.
Endemic Birds of Kerala
1. Nilgiri Wood Pigeon
2. Malabar Parakeet
3. Malabar Grey Hornbill
4. Rufous Babbler
5. Whitebellied Treepie
6. Greyheaded Bulbul
7. Wynad Laughing Thrush
8. Black & Orange Flycatcher
9. Nilgiri Flycatcher
10. Whitebellied Blue Flycatcher
11. Nilgiri Pipit
12. Crimsonbacked Sunbird
13. Nilgiri Laughing Thrush
14. Whitebellied Shortwing
15. Broadtailed Grassbird
16. Greybreasted Laughing Thrush
ENDEMIC KERALA WILDLIFE RESERVATION FORM
