Morning arrival at Bangalore Airport.

Drive to Mysore on the way visiting Kokkarebellur Bellur Sanctuary, which is in between Bangalore & Mysore, is a lovely and very distinct bird sanctuary. The sanctuary has gained international recognition thanks to the harmonious coexistence of the village community with it. Kokkare Bellur is also famous because it is one of a small number of nesting sites in India for the Spot Billed Pelican. Kokkare Bellur, the name of the hamlet, originates from the word ‘kokkare’ which means crane in Kannada. You have chances to see the nesting of spot billed pelicans, painted stork etc.

Continue your drive to Mysore. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. Overnight at Mysore Hotel

The capital of a former princely state, Mysore is a city of palaces and gardens and is famous for its silk, sandalwood and jasmine. With many grand palaces like Mysore Palace adorning the face of the city, Mysore has come to be known as ‘City of Palaces’. The name Mysore has its roots in Indian mythology. The legend has it that Goddess Chamundi killed Demon Mahishasura here. Thus the name Mysore. The city was once the capital of Wodeyar Dynasty till Independence.

Morning visit to Ranganathittu bird sanctuary.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, also known as bird pilgrim centre of Karnataka, is the largest bird sanctuary in the state, only 40 acres in area, and comprises six islets on the banks of the Kaveri river.

Roughly 170 species of birds have been recorded here. Of these, the painted stork, Asian openbill stork, common spoonbill, woolly-necked stork, black-headed ibis, lesser whistling duck, Indian shag, stork-billed kingfisher, egret, cormorant, Oriental darter, spot-billed pelican and heron breed here regularly. The great stone plover, and river tern also nest here. The park is home to a large flock of streak-throated swallows. During the months of January and February, more than 30 species of birds are found and the season of the sanctuary is from November to June. About 50 pelicans have made Ranganathittu as their permanent home.

Return to hotel for lunch. Evening at leisure. Overnight at MYSORE

After breakfast, drive to Kabini.

Nature has endowed Kabini with excellent weather throughout the year. Farm lands with gentle rolling hills and an eternal cool breeze, dense forests in the periphery teeming with wild life and the huge water body of the Kabini reservoir, gleaming in the valleys, describes Kabini aptly. The river Kabini originates in the Wayanad district of Kerala flows eastward to join the river Cauvery, which empties into the Bay of Bengal. This is the largest river in the Nagarhole National Park and was dammed in 1974 for an irrigation project. This becomes the life-giving source for the park during the summer months, attracting the large concentration of Asiatic Elephants, Tigers, Leopards, Gaur, Sāmbhar and spotted deer and other herbivores. The river separates Bandipur and Nagarhole National Parks, which are both declared as reserves under Project tiger.

Evening safari in the park. You will be taken into the Nagarhole National Park in a vehicle specially designed to facilitate wildlife sightings. The Nagarhole ecosystem supports the highest density of herbivores anywhere in Asia. Studies carried out in Nagarhole show that the estimated mean number of large herbivores in Nagarhole is 108 animals per sq km. large herbivores are defined as ungulates and primates weighing more than 5kg and in Nagarhole these comprise of – Muntjak, Chital, Sambar, Four-hourned Antelope, Gaur, and Wild pig, Asian Elephant, Common Langur and the Bonnet Macaque. Nagarhole has a large number of predators and the three major predators of the park are the Tiger, Wild dog, and Leopard. Overnight at Kabini.

Overnight at Kabini.

Morning, birding around the hotel. Evening safari. Overnight at Kabini.

Drive to Masinagudi. Check in at hotel upon arrival. Located at the meeting point of three states (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala), Mudumalai is nestled in the thick forests of the Nilgiris and is well-known for its wildlife sanctuary. Mudumalai has been heralded as one of the richest wildlife sanctuaries in the southern part of India. The wildlife sanctuary is the most popular attraction in these parts and houses many striking, rare varieties of flora and fauna that are usually not easy to trace. The sheer diversity of species viewable in the sanctuary coupled with the different kinds of forests offer anyone taking these safaris an experience of a lifetime. Tropical moist deciduous, southern tropical dry thorn and tropical dry deciduous forests are found in the sanctuary. For bird lovers, there’s the opportunity to chance one’s eye upon the two hundred plus species of birds that abound here. Animal life including monitor lizards, hyenas, jackals, deer, panther and antelopes co-exist peacefully in this serene and green environment. Evening birding trip. Overnight at Masinagudi.

Morning birding.

Evening jeep safari in and around Masanagudi.

Malabar lark, white bellied minivet, small, ashy, rosy, scarlet minivets, , bonellis eagle, spotted owlet, white browed bulbul, yellow browed bulbul, blue rock thrush, etc. are

Drive to Ooty – the famous hill station in the Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountain) which was found by the British in the early 19th century. In early days this place was inhabited by tribal people named Todas. Its green landscape, gardens and tall eucalyptus trees adds beauty to this hill. Check in at hotel, upon arrival. Evening go for birding.

Morning and evening birding With over 200 different varieties of birds, the hill station has offered refuge to rare, precious species of the winged beauties.

Bird watching in Ooty lets you explore the different hues, sounds and activities of the tiny chirping marvels, hidden comfortably in the thickets of bottle green trees, singing along with nature.

On your visit to the different botanical Gardens and wildlife sanctuaries, be sure to whip your camera out and zoom in, tread lightly and patiently wait for the perfect click of the boisterous rainbow families to spread their wings and pose for you! During your four hour bird watching activity, you will have seen and rediscovered bird species like the Nilgiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Kashmir Flycatcher, White-bellied Shortwing and the Painted Bushquail among others.

Drive to Parambikulam. Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is a well protected ecological portion in the Nelliampathy – Anamalai landscape of the Southern Western Ghats in India. It is located in the Palakkad District of Kerala, accessible only through the state of Tamil Nadu, though. It is one of the biodiversity hot spot in the world supports diverse habitat types and endemism. Considering its biological richness, abundance of wildlife and landcape beauty makes Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is one of the most attractive places in the entire stretch of Western Ghats. It was declared as Tiger Reserve during 2009 with total area of 643.66 Sqkm, which includes core area of 390.89 and 252.77 Sq Km Buffer area. Evening, go for Safari.

Overnight at Parambikulam.

Morning and evening birding.

The major wildlife animals found in the Parambikulam Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary are the Bonnet macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Loris, Gaur, Nilgiri Tahr, sambar, Barking deer, Spotted deer, Wild boar, Lion-tailed macaque, Jungle cat, Civet, Mongoose, fox, bear, elephant, tiger, leopard, pangoline etc. The crocodiles, varanus, pond terapin, cane turtle, gecko, skunk, chameleon, snakes like king cobra, spectacled cobra, krait, viper, python, green keel back, rat snake, vine snake, fishes like Aral, baral, Vattudi, Thilopia, Noovi, mooshu, Poochutti, Kollottie, exyprius, Taral, birds like darter, little cormorant, black eagle, lesser adjutant stork, black capped kingfisher, great Indian hornbill, broad billed roller, black woodpecker can also be seen in the Parambikulam Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary.

Drive to Munnar, on the way photography stop for landscape views and a short birding. Check in and lunch at Munnar hotel. The etymology of Munnar is believed to be derived from the Malayalam words Muunu (three) and aaru (river), referring to the town’s strategic location at the confluence of the mountain streams of Muthirappuzha, Chanduvarai and Kundala. Situated at nearly 1,600 to 1,800 meters above sea level, the region is surrounded by vast jungles and remains wet and cold during most of the year. Birders can have sight of Grey breasted Laughingthrush, Nilgiri Pipit, Nilgiri wood pegion, Malbar whistling thrush, Brown backed needletailk, Alipne & Fork tailed swifts, Pacific Swallow, Nilrigi Pipit, white cheeked Barbet, Sacrlet Minivet, Yellow browed Bulbul, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Brown Crowned Warblers, Blue Capped Rock Thrush, Scal;y Thrush, Loten’s Sunbird and Many more. Afternoon birding at Bodi Ghats. Bodinayakanur, also called Bodi is a small town located on the foothills of the Western Ghats, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India. This town is surrounded by the ranges of Western Ghats on three sides, offering spectacular views of the Ghats. Aves found at these regions are Yellow throated Bulbul, Jungle prinia, Sirkeer Malkohas, white cheeked & crimson fronted Barbets, Pacific swallow and Rufouys Babbler, Red spurfowl, Jungle Bush Quail, Grey Junglefowl, Indian Swiftlet, Twany bellied, Yellow eyed Babblers, Purple rumped and Loten’s Sunbirds, thcik billed warbler, Green Imperial Pigeons, White bellied Drongo, Puff throated Babbler, Black Headed Cuckooshrike and many more. Overnight at Munnar.

Early morning check out from hotel and drive to Thekkady via Bodhi Ghats (Bodhi Mettu) to try spotting the Yellow Throated Bulbul. If time permits make a visit to the  Lower Periyar area which has bird species like large Grey Babbler, Strangled Drongo, Grey Francolin etc. Reach Periyar, check in to hotel and after lunch proceed for a 3 hour birding tour inside the periyar Tiger Reserve.

The Periyar Sanctuary is best known reserve in the state of Kerala and is one of the most popular sanctuary with its picturesque setting surrounding a lake in the Cardamom hills. The sanctuary covers an area of 777sq. km. Due to its mostly Moist Evergreen forest and Semi Evergreen Forest provides an excellent spot for viewing mammals and aves. Periyar is one of the must visit destination with altitude ranging from 150 mts to highest of 2020 mts. There are patches of varied forest including moist evergreen & semi evergreen forest , Some of he speciality birds of the area are Broad tailed grassbird, Wayanad laughing thrush , Malabar trogon , Nilgiri flycatcher & white bellied tree pie.

Overnight at hotel in Periyar.

After an early breakfast leave your hotel by 0630hrs for a 6 hour long birding tour inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. There are about 265 species of birds in the Periyar reserve including migrant birds. The birds include raptors, water birds, galliform birds, pigeons, wood peckers, darters,  kingfishers, golden orioles, Brahmini kites, cormorants and passerines, as well as a  large flock of the Great Pied Hornbill and the Ceylon Frogmouth.

The endemic species include the Malabar Grey Hornbill, the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, the Blue-winged Parakeet, the Nilgiri Flycatcher, the small Sunbird and the White-bellied Blue Flycatcher. Other birds found in the area are the Black Baza, Forest Eagle Owl, Nilgiri Thrush, Little Spider Hunter, Rufous bellied hawk eagle etc. An interesting sight is that of water fowl perched on the dead trees protruding out onto the lake. Other aquatic birds include the Indian Darter and the Black–Necked Stork. Woodland birds, owls etc can also be seen in the forest.

Return to hotel by noon time for lunch and by afternoon proceed for a 3 hour birding inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Overnight at Thekkady hotel.

Drive to Thattekkad, is made up of tropical evergreen and deciduous forests and some grassland patches. This globally acclaimed bird sanctuary owes much of its fame to Dr. Salim Ali, the internationally renowned ornithologist. After his famous bird survey of Travancore in the early 1930s, he reported that this area is extremely rich in bird diversity and that it should be made into a bird sanctuary. Thus his efforts were instrumental in the formation of this sanctuary to a large extent. More than 270 species of birds are found here.

Spread across 25 sq. km. the sanctuary lies between the tributaries of the River Periyar like a peninsula. Birds like Srilankan Frogmouth, Racket tailed Drongo, Bronzed Drongo, Whitebellied Treepie, Shama, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Rufous Babbler, Malabar Parakeet, Whitebellied Blue Flycatcher, Malabar Grey Hornbill, are some of the birds that can be easily seen here. Thattekkad also has extensive plantations of teak, rosewood, mahogany. The dense forest is also home to nearly 28 species of mammals and about 9 species of reptiles.

After lunch birding inside the bird sanctuary. Overnight at Thattekkad hotel.

Morning and evening birding around the sanctuary.

In an area of approximately 25 square kilometres over 270 species have been recorded. There will also be night birding for the Nightjars, Frogmouths & Owls. Specialties here include Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, Ceylon Frogmouth, Red Spurfowl, Bay Owl, Rufous Babbler, Blue-faced Malkoha, Brown-breasted, White-bellied Blue-tailed & Rusty-tailed Flycatchers, Grey-headed Bulbul and Wynad Laughing Thrush. Moreover, Thattekkad is ideal for seeing a good number of the endemics of the Western Ghats. The more difficult birds are Wynad Laughing Thrush and Grey-headed Bulbul. Proceed to Urullathany, at the other end of the reserve, for the Bulbul and Laughing Thrush. Also visit Edamalayar and the South side of the river for the owls, Streak-throated Woodpecker and Yellow-billed Babbler. Other notable species likely to be seen are Red Spurfowl, Ceylon Frogmouth, Blue-faced Malkoha, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Malabar Grey Hornbill, White-bellied and Heart-spotted Woodpeckers, Rufous Babbler, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, White-bellied Treepie and Black-throated Munia.

Return to your hotel for overnight stay.

You will be dropped at Cochin airport for your departure flight.