Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is in the Southern part of India located at Kumarakom just 16 km from Kottayam town in Kerala. The sanctuary is delicately positioned on the banks of the Vembanad Lake and rated as an ornithologist's paradise. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary has a favourable climate for bird habitation. In summers, the temperature can go up to 35 ° C and in winters around 22 ° C.

The sanctuary has also been labelled as the diamond in India's ecological crown. It’s not among the biggest Indian parks, and offers a vast range of birds despite a small one. The visitors here relish the experience of seeing the ornithologist and migratory birds form different regions and places of the globe. The birds from the Himalayas and from the snowy hills of Siberia lend the park an ideal setting and make it a real multicultural avian metropolis. Nowhere else will you get the beautiful sight of birds chirping and taking flight frequently. The Snow-white egrets, Grey herons, black-headed ibis and lone golden-backed woodpeckers are here to delight one and all beyond imaginations.

Wildlife Attractions

Those who love the natural sights of birds easily find it a preferred spot for its varied migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, lark, heron and teal. Besides them, visitors also get to see some other ranges of bird like the woodpecker, skylark, crane, owl, Brahminy kite, cuckoo, moorhen, water hen and parrots.

Other Travel Attractions

• Bird Watching
• Boating in the Vembanad Lake

Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary

The Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary is regarded as one of the most beautiful and the better-managed national parks of India. Located amidst the picturesque surroundings of the towering Western Ghat Mountains on the Mysore-Ooty highway in Karnataka, the Bandipur National Park is at a distance of about 80 Km from Mysore and Ooty and 215 km from Bangalore, the Capital city of Karnataka. The Bandipur National Park occupies a special place in India's efforts towards Eco-conservation.

The open grassy woodland with enchanting scenery of mountains, gorges and undisturbed forests, makes Bandipur National Park an exotic paradise for wildlife lovers, a unique and pleasant place to holiday. Two of the most valuable timber trees of India- the rosewood and teak- grow abundantly in the park. Endowed with a moderate climate and diverse geographical features, the Bandipur National Park supports a wide variety of flora and fauna and is regarded as one of the most beautiful and better-managed National Parks of India. The best season to visit the Bandipur National Park is during the months of March-July and September-November.

Wildlife Attractions

The most prominent wildlife in the Bandipur National Park includes the Asian elephant, Bonner Macaque, Jungle Cat, Wild Boar, Indian Palm Squirrel, Golden Jackal, Indian Grey Mongoose, Bengal Fox, Ruddy Mongoose, Indian Elephant, Indian Pangolin, Langur, Tiger, Chital, Grizzled Indian Squirrel, Dhole, Sloth Bear, Leopard Cat, Stripe-necked Mongoose, Gaur, Lion-tailed Macaque, Leopard and Four-horned Antelope. Over 200 species of birds have already been spotted and identified in the park. The most commonly noticed birds in the Bandipur National Park are Peafowl and the game birds like the Grey Jungle Fowl, Red Spur Fowl etc. Among the woodland birds category, Hawk Eagle, Serpent Eagle, Scops Owl, the yellow-legged Green Pigeon, Parakeets, Woodpeckers, Barbets, Hornbills, Drongos, Scarlet Minivets, and Warblers are the easily seen birds in the Bandipur National Park. You can also find many mammals and reptiles in the park apart from birds

Other Attractions

• Elephant Safari
• Jeep Safari

How to get there

By Air: The nearest airport from Bandipur is Bangalore at a distance of about 215 km.

By Rail: Mysore is the nearest railhead, located at a distance of about 80 km from the Bandipur National Park.

By Road: Bandipur is well connected by road to Mysore (80 km), Ooty (80 km) and Bangalore (215 km).