Showing posts with label bird sanctuary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bird sanctuary. Show all posts

Sunday, January 27, 2013

10 beautiful birds of India


The avifauna of India includes a large variety of unique and rare species of birds including Great Indian Hornbill, Great Indian Bustard, Green Avadavat and Sunbird’s. Total of around 1301 species of bird found in India out 42 are endemic to Indian subcontinent and rest of others are Introduced and accidental species. Some of the most beautiful academic birds of India includes Malabar parakeet,Himalayan Quail,Nilgiri flycatcher,Indian peacock and Bugun Liocichla. Also there are few beautiful wild birds of India are Babblers,Green Bee Eaters,blue Indian Roller and giant Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, along with other common birds Red Whiskered Bulbul and Indian Ringneck Parakeet. There are 12 species of birds who are endemic to the only Andaman and Nicobar Islands are Nicobar pigeon, Nicobar Bulbul, Andaman Scops-owl, Nicobar Parakeet and Andaman Drongo.

Asian Paradise Flycatcher: 

The amazing Asian Paradise Flycatcher is a impressive medium-sized bird found across all over India.The male Paradise Flycatchers has a long and impressive tail with a with a greyish throat and underparts. Rufous and white forms of an Asiatic paradise flycatcher can be spotted in the thick forests and well-wooded habitats from Himachal Pradesh,Rajasthan to Andhra Pradesh.
Asian-Paradise-Flycatcher
Asian-Paradise-Flycatcher

Fire Tailed Myzornis: 

The little Fire-tailed Myzornis is a member of the genus Myzornis and a local resident in Himalayas ranges. Fire-tailed Myzornis got its name due to its fabulous tail, Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Fire-Tailed-Myzornis
Fire-Tailed-Myzornis

Himalayan Monal: 

The beautiful bird form pheasant family Himalayan Monal also known as the Impeyan Pheasant or Danph is the state bird of Uttarakhand. The colorful and stunning bird is academic to the higher altitudes of the Himalayas mountain ranges including states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
Himalayan-Monal
Himalayan-Monal

Indian Peafowl: 

The Indian peafowl or Blue peafowl is one of the most colored bird of the pheasant family and native to to South Asia. The male is known as a peacock is one of the large bird found in India with a length of 40 to 46 inches. Indian Peacock is the National bird of India and one of the sacred bird in Hindu mythology. The beautiful blue peafowl is the resident of the Indian Subcontinent and frequently found across all over India and neighboring countries.
Indian-Peafowl
Indian-Peafowl

Indian Pitta: 

Indian Pitta is a medium sized bird mostly pops out in every winters season for breeding in southern part of India and sub-Himalayas foothills. The small stubby-tailed bird found mostly in the thick undergrowth and on the floor of forests. It has long and strong leg with very short tail and crown with nine colors green upper parts, blue tail,red lower belly, black coronal stripes,orange vent,and white throat. Indian Pitta is one of the rare bird of Indian subcontinent and found in a very large range of habitats.
Indian-Pitta
Indian-Pitta

Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird: 

The small and beautiful Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird is found only in the north east region of Indian states. Its natural habitats range is distributed from Uttarakhand to Himalayas of north-east India and neighboring countries. Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird is one of the 12 species of Sunbird found in India.
Mrs.-Gould’s-Sunbird
Mrs.-Gould’s-Sunbird

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher: 

The Alcedinidae family bird is also known as the Black-backed Kingfisher is a small beautiful red and yellow kingfisher bird. Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher is endemic to western ghat of southwest India found mainly into the densely shaded forests of Konkan region. Indian three-toed Kingfisher is one of the most popular out of 12 species of Kingfishers found in India.
Oriental-Dwarf-Kingfisher
Oriental-Dwarf-Kingfisher

Red Headed Trogon: 

The Red-headed Trogon is a species of Trogonidae family habitats in the tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It found in the forests of the eastern parts of India and neighboring countries.
Red-Headed-Trogon
Red-Headed-Trogon

Sarus Crane: 

The large Sarus Crane is the only resident crane of Indian Subcontinent, Mostly found in south to the Godavari River, west to coastal Gujarat,Punjab,east to West Bengal and Assam. Sarus Crane is the largest of Indian cranes with a maximum height of about 5.9 ft making them the world’s tallest flying bird. The population of Sarus Crane is declining in the country so falls in the category of endangered species of bird in India. Sarus Crane species was a close contender to the Indian Peafowl as the national bird of India.
Sarus-Crane
Sarus-Crane

Satyr Tragopan: 

The Crimson Horned Pheasant or Satyr Tragopan is Pheasants only found in foothills of great Himalayas of India and Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan. The bird of Pheasants family is facing subject to hunting and habitat loss of most of its ranges and only a very small population found in India. The beautiful Satyr Tragopan is one of the five species of tragopans of India,male has blue horns and a gular wattle to display during the mating season to attract females.
Satyr-Tragopan
Satyr-Tragopan

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Top 10 National Parks for Wildlife Safari in India


India has more than 200 wildlife sanctuaries and about 100 of them are classified as National Parks. However some are better than others and still unexplored. National Parks in India spread across the country offer a fascinating diversity of terrain, which is houses of large number of wild rare and giant animal species. India is a great tourism destination in world. It attracts tourists with its unique cultural and geographical features.

Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India, located at Uttaranchal. Corbett has been a haunt for tourists and wildlife lovers for a long time. Its dense forest is the home for various species. The Corbett National Park is a heaven for the adventure and wildlife seeker. Tourists are not allowed to have a walk inside the park. Story of Jim Corbett to kill an Indian leopard is very famous. The pride of India, Great Tiger can be spotted here with some luck.
Deer in Jim Corbett National Park
Deer in Jim Corbett National Park

Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park is located in Assam. It has the highest density of Royal Bengal Tigers in the world. The park also hosts two-thirds of the world’s Great One-horned  Rhinoceroses, Indian elephants “The holy Animals“, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer. Kaziranga has achieved notable success in wildlife conservation as compare to other protected areas in India.
Buffalo in Kaziranga-National-Park
Buffalo in Kaziranga-National-Park

Sundarbans National Park

Sundarbans National Park is one of the largest reserves home for the Royal Bengal Tiger. This area is covered by dense rain forest,sunder ban is located in west Bengal. The park has got protection since its creation. The core area is free from all human disturbances and is habitat of many toxic reptiles in India. Man eater tigers stories belongs to sunder ban national park.
Ghadiyals in Sundarbans-National-Park
Ghadiyals in Sundarbans-National-Park

Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park is Tiger reserve park and located in the Mandla, Madhya Pradesh. The park has a significant population of Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, Barasingha and Indian wild dog. A documentary has been cover by discovery on Indian wild dogs in Kanha National Park. This is one of India’s most visited wildlife area and best place to encounter with wild animals.
Indian Wild dog in Kanha-National-Park
Indian Wild dog in Kanha-National-Park

Gir Wildlife Sanctuary

Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is the single home of the pure Asiatic Lions or Indian Lion and is considered to be one of the most important protected areas in India as well as in Asia. Ecosystem of Gir is prefect to support all species. The lion-count in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is 411, an increase as compare to 2005. Gir also includes Sloth bears, Jungle cats, Striped Hyenas and some time black bucks also appear.
Striped Hyena in Gir-Wildlife-Sanctuary
Striped Hyena in Gir-Wildlife-Sanctuary

Periyar National Park

Periyar National Park area lies in the middle of a mountainous area of the Cardamom Hills in Land of Attraction Kerala. This protected area is well famous for its diversity and natural beauty. Around 70% of the area is well covered by evergreen or rain forest,which is also home for the biggest snake in India, the Giant King Kobra. Periyar is one of the 27 tiger reserves in India, there are an estimated 53 tigers. A large number of Indian elephants can also be tourist attraction in periyar.
Giant King Kobra in Periyar-National-Park
Giant King Kobra in Periyar-National-Park

Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh has the highest density of Royal Bengal Tigers known in the world. A female Tiger known as Sita was covered by the National Geographic and considered as most photographed tiger in the world. The park has a large breeding population of monkey also called Langur “one of the holy animals of India“, Leopards and various species of deer and smbhar.
Langur sitting in Bandhavgarh-National-Park
Langur sitting in Bandhavgarh-National-Park

Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary 

Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its Royal Bengal Tigers and is one of the best places in India to see these Great Cats in the jungle. There is Ranthambore fort inside the park,hence its name become Ranthambore national park. Padam Talao is the biggest lake inside the park,other major wild animals are hyena, wild boar, sambar.
Wild boar in Ranthambore-Wildlife-Sanctuary
Wild boar in Ranthambore-Wildlife-Sanctuary

Hemis National Park

Hemis National Park is located at the high altitude in Ladakh region of J&K. This is the only national park which contain largest protected area in India, thus become the largest national park of India. The park is home for number of species of endangered mammals including the Indian Snow Leopard. Population of Snow Leopards in Hemis National Park are around 200. Tibetan Wolf, the Eurasian Brown Bear, Sheep and the Red Fox are also present in Hemis. The big flying Predators like Golden eagle and Vulture are also best part of Hemis.
Golden eagle flying high in Hemis-National-Park
Golden eagle flying high in Hemis-National-Park

Sariska Tiger Reserve

Sariska Tiger Reserve is one of the most famous national parks in India, located in Royal Rajasthan. It is home for wild animals leopard, chinkara, wild boar and plenty of bird species and unique reptiles like big snakes, monitor lizards and turtles. Sariska is famous as bird sanctuary in India. It was selected for tiger reserve under Project Tiger scheme, but now its finally declared that Sariska indeed did not have any tigers left.
Flamingos in Sariska-Tiger-Reserve
Flamingos in Sariska-Tiger-Reserve

Friday, December 21, 2012

Things To Do in Wayanad, Kerala


If you’re visiting Wayanad, Kerala, then planning an itinerary is tough. There are so many things to do and see.

The Thamarassery Ghat

A hair-raising drive down the Kozhikode-Bangalore highway takes one towards Lakkidi, the gateway to Wayanad. As your car winds its way up the Thamarassery Ghat, crane your neck to have a peek at a tree bound by a large chain around its trunk.
Wayanad Hill View
Wayanad Hill View

Legend has it that a tribal person from Wayanad showed a British engineer, who was searching for a path to build a road running through Wayanad), the Thamarassery Ghat as an easy way to reach Mysore from Kozhikode. Eager to take credit for it, the engineer killed the helper and buried his body under a nearby tree. Soon after these roads were built, several people met with horrendous accidents at the Thamarassery Ghat – all attributed to a wanton spirit haunting that stretch of road. Before long, an exorcist was summoned and fettered the victim’s spirit onto that nearby tree. Today, one knows it as the famous Chain Tree.

The Tea Plantations of Vythiri

The British opened up Vythiri for the cultivation of tea in 1889. You can meander through the sprawling tea plantations that are ensconced atop the rolling hills of Vythiri. You’ll usually comes across a bunch of women nipping of ‘two leaves and a bud’ with their nimble hands and tossing them over their shoulders into baskets slung along their backs.

Edakkal Caves

The primordial Edakkal Caves are cradled in the Ambukuthi hills near Ambalavayal. The Edakkal Caves are basically two rock formations purportedly formed by a large split in a mammoth rock. Legend has it that they were caused by arrows fired by Luv and Kush, the sons of Rama, legendary hero of Ramayana. Like the world-renowned Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Maharashtra, the Edakkal Caves were stumbled upon by an Englishman (in 1890) while on shikar. Over the years, the Edakkal Caves have drawn the attention of archaeologists from around the world. The latter say that the engravings found inside the Edakkal Caves (Neolithic etchings such as these are to be found only at few places in Africa) shed light on the existence of a Stone Age civilization in Wayanad. The Edakkal Caves are sure to leave one spell-bound.
Soojipara WaterFalls near Edakkal caves
Soojipara WaterFalls near Edakkal caves

Meenmutty Falls 

A picturesque drive down the Chundale-Udagamandalam road takes one towards Neelimala. An easy 30 minute upward climb takes you atop Neelimala. No sooner are you atop, you begin to hear the roar of a cascading fall. The Meenmutty Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in Kerala, has to be really seen from atop Neelimala to fathom its utter beauty.

Chembra Peak

At 2100 meters above sea level, it happens to be the loftiest peak in Wayanad. The Chembra Peak that seems to imperiously gaze upon the countryside can be seen from almost all parts of Wayanad. For those who have a head for heights the Chembra Peak makes for exhilarating trekking.
Muthanga Game Sanctuary
Lurking in the woods
Lurking in the woods

Muthanga forms an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, one of the bio-diversity hotspots of the world. Safari is the thing to do here. You may come across herds of elephants, barking deer, sloth bear, nilgiri langur and the odd tiger lurking in the woods…

Kuruvadweep

About 15 kilometers from the town of Mananthavady lies this picturesque 950-acre group of uninhabited islets bound the River Kabini.

Banasura Sagar

About 25 kilometers from Kalpetta lies this breathtaking lake. One could go on a bout of speed boating at this lake that’s set against the backdrop of the Banasura Mountain.

Pakshipathalam

Located in the Brahmagiri hills at Thirunelli, this place is a birdwatchers delight.
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary ,Kerala
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary ,Kerala

And finally

There is a resort at the foot of the Edakkal Caves called Edakkal Hermitage. They have a cosy restaurant in a cavern (a natural cave which is part of the Edakkal Caves chain) where at night, dinner is served inside the cave, which is lit by hundreds of candles. It is the only natural cave restaurant in India.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Things to do in Coonoor


Located at a height of 1,856 metres, Coonoor is a small tea garden town and an enchanting hill station. Here we bring you 10 Coonoor things to do that will enable you to make the most of this jewel nestled in the Nilgiri mountains

1. See Sim’s Park 

Sim’s Park sits in a deep ravine. By navigating its meandering paths you can reach the park’s higher peaks. Its most wondrous offering is its wealth of shola trees and the other innumerable varieties, sporadically planted all over. In full bloom, this randomness creates a vibrant and unreal effect. The park is also famous for affording great views to many of Coonoor’s popular tourist spots such as Lamb’s Rock, Dolphin’s Nose and Lady Canning’s Seat.
Sims-Park
Sims-Park

2. Take the toy train

Nilgiri’s famous toy train is one of the most popular Coonoor things to do. The charming train started operating over a century ago and, considering the terrain of the region, it is rightfully considered an engineering marvel. The blue-cream train oozes old world charm with delightful wooden coaches and large windows that provide enchanting views. It’s called a toy train because it’s so slow that you can high-five the children outside as it moves. It stops every hour and so you can easily hop in and out for a short photo session. A ride on the usually crowded train should be considered a rare experience rather than treated as a functional mode of transport.
Toy-Train
Toy-Train

3. Bird watching and listening

Coonoor’s calm and quiet is not just appreciated by peace-seeking tourists but also exotic birds. Here, you can find many songbirds such as nightingales, babblers, larks and robins, who serenade you with their mesmerizing harmonies.
Bird-Watching
Bird-Watching

4. Pick the fruits 

Coonoor’s Pomological Station is a feast for those interested in horticulture. Many varieties of fruits are grown here for research purposes. Here, one can also purchase fresh apples, plums, apricots and much more. Freshly made fruit jams are produced on a small scale and are delicious gifts for those back home.
Fruit Picking
Fruit Picking

5. Tour the silk station

A visit to the Silk Rearing Station is a great way to learn the intricacies of Sericulture. On special request you can get a complete tour of the process and see how the famous Indian silk is made. However, do note that the process involves boiling silkworms alive, so it may not be for everyone.
Silk
Silk

6. Enjoy the falls

The Law Falls are located 7 kilometers from Coonoor and make for a lovely picnic spot. The divine Falls drop from a height of almost 200 feet and what adds to the charm of the area is that it is enveloped by majestic Shola trees.
Waterfall
Waterfall

7. Get some fantastic views

A short drive from Coonoor is a destination called Lamb’s Rock. The tourist spot is a favourite of visitors because it offers divine views of Coimbatore. Just a little further away from Lamb’s Rock is Dolphin’s Nose. The viewpoint is quite simply named after a massive rock, which resembles the face of a Dolphin.
Sun-set
Sun-set

8. Share a point of view

Lady Canning’s Seat is just 9 kilometers from Coonoor. It is so named because the wife of Viceroy Canning loved to sit and marvel at the vista. Here you can find a small residence, which you can explore or just use to rest for a bit. From this destination you can soak-up the enchanting views of the endless tea estates that surround you as well as gaze at the plains
Valley-view
Valley-view

9. Drive to Droog

To reach the Droog, one has to drive 15 kilometers from Coonoor and then take on a 3 kilometer long trek. The Droog serves as a popular picnic spot but it also has great historical significance. The destination once served as an outpost for the great Tipu Sultan. It stands proud at an elevation of 6,000 feet and due to its location it offers incomparable views of the surrounding plains.
DroogDrive
Droog Drive

10. Day trip to Masinagudi

Masinagudi is a great place to see elephants languidly strolling by, sharing the roads with cars, pedestrians and trucks. The destination is less than 20 kms from Coonoor and the drive is infested with hairpin turns. Trekking is the best way to explore Masinagudi’s beautiful vistas. There are innumerable charming makeshift snack stalls, which serve as great places to take a break and dig into the local delicacies.
Elephant-in-Masinagudi
Elephant-in-Masinagudi