God’s Own Country – Kerala - 12th to 20th October

THEKKADY – 12th – 14th October, 2004

We took the 10.30 am flight from Bangalore to Kochi. From Kochi, we hit the road by 12.30 pm and reached Thekkady by 6 pm in the evening. Thekkady is about 190 kms from Kochi. Here on an island inside the Periyar Lake is “Lake Palace” a Deluxe Heritage Wildlife Resort run by KTDC. We stayed here for two nights. All around is the Periyar Tiger reserve (777 sq kms). Abundant wildlife can be seen on the banks from the boat as the boat moves along the lake. We saw hundreds of Elephants, Gaurs, Sambars and Wild Boars on two boat trips. We also witnessed five Wild Dogs hunting Sambars as we sat in our cottage!!

Plenty of birds in the area though photography is difficult from the boat. Trekking is encouraged though one has to watch out for leaches. There is no vehicle access for tourists in this area.

Lake Palace has only six rooms and is expensive. Other options are available just outside the sanctuary. Visit www.ktdc.com for more details.

MUNAR – 14th – 18th October, 2004

From Thekkady we drove to Munar. About 3 hrs, 110 kms. Munar is a hill station. Superb landscapes full of tea plantations. We stayed at “Club Mahindra Lakeview” www.clubmahindra.com . Nice resort, good food. Every step you take is either up or down! Plenty of interesting places in and around Munar, plenty of birds. Bird photography will involve walking up hill or down hill.

There is this place called Rajamalai in “Eravikulam National Park” which is about 15 kms from Munar. Here hundreds of Nilgiri Thars are regularly seen though on the day we went there were none!

THATTEKKAD – 18th to 20th October, 2004

Thattekkad however is unlike any bird sanctuary I have visited. It has no heronry. It is a thick green forest with plenty of regular birds like woodpeckers, barbets, drongos, bulbuls, parakeets, hornbills etc…on the trees! One can walk and walk to photograph birds, no vehicle access to tourists! Leaches are a problem. During the season, which begins in November, boat rides are possible.

On the 18th, we took the 2 pm flight back to Bangalore form Kochi.

Though it rained on all 9 days! I did manage the following images whenever it shined!… for your viewing pleasure!! Feedback most welcome…

regards,

Vijay Cavale

October, 2004