Wildlife & Cuisines of South India

Tour: Wildlife & Cuisines of South India

Places Visited

Bangalore, Nagarhole National Park, Wayanad, Pollachi, Cochin, Houseboat, Malayattoor
Species in Focus – Asiatic Elephants, Tigers, Leopards, Black Leopards, Indian Bison (Gaur), Wild Dogs, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Mongoose, Civet Cat, Hyena. In Reptiles: King Cobra, Krait, Python, Viper, Tortoise, Monitor Lizard, Toads etc. Bird life includes Malabar Trogon, Malabar Pied-Hornbill, Crested Hawk-Eagle and Crested Serpent-Eagle , Great Pied-Hornbill and many more.
Price Includes
✔ Accommodation (14 nights) in amazing Lodges/ Hotels.
✔ Meal Plan – Bengaluru, Cochin & Pollachi on Bed & Breakfast- Rest of places on full board.
✔ All transportation by air-conditioned chauffeur driven vehicle.
✔ All entrances fee and guide during sightseeing.
✔ 3 sharing Game drives in Nagarhole NP.
✔ 1 Coracle ride in Kabini river.
✔ All Birding walks & trails as mentioned in the itinerary including Naturalists.
✔ Specialist naturalists and park fee during game drives in national parks.
✔ All currently applicable taxes. (Subject to change)

Day 1 – Arrive Bangalore or Bengaluru
Arrive Bangalore, you will be greeted by Mysteries of India representative and transferred to hotel.
Depending on flight time – Rest of the day leisure. If time permits you can do a half day city tour.
Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation Options


The Oberoi

Taj Westend

Day 2 – Bangalore to Nagarhole (Kabini)
Drive to Nagarhole NP.
Nagarhole once the private hunting reserve of the Maharajas of Mysore, Nagarhole encompasses a expanse of jungle-clad hills and the reservoir fed by the Kabini River. When water levels are low between February and March, elephants are enticed out of the trees to drink, along with herds of deer and antelope, and the predators that prey on them: leopard, striped hyena, dhole (wild dog) and even the occasional tiger.
Arrive in time for evening game drive in the park.
Explore Nagarhole National Park, home to nearly 250 species of birds, approx. 40 species of mammals, countless insects and so on.
Kabini and Nagarhole regions are Project Tiger’s core area. Usually seen are huge herds of elephants and Gaur, herds of deer, birds and even predators like the tiger and leopard quenching their thirsts. This unique Kabini is also home to the elusive Black Leopard.
Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation Options


The Serai Kabini

Red Earth Kabini

 


Kaav Safari Lodge

Evolve Back

Day 3 – Nagarhole
Get ready for another experience of game drive.
Afternoon you can enjoy the coracle ride in the Kabini river. Probably the best way to be closer to birds for photography.
Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation Options


The Serai Kabini

Red Earth Kabini

 


Kaav Safari Lodge

Evolve Back

Day 4 – Nagarhole
Early Morning join the resident naturalist for bird watching sessions. Boasting nearly 300 species of avifauna, several of which are endemic to the region, Kabini is heaven for any birding enthu.
Discover the Ospreys at the edges of the river, watching with a sharp eye for fish that may occasionally surface. In the interiors of the reserve, Crested Serpent Eagles and Changeable Hawk Eagles will regale you with their resounding screeches. Watch keenly for a Brown Fish Owl as it silently swoops between canopies. In the early morning, be serenaded by the orchestra of the wild, with the Malabar Whistling Thrush being the loudest and most joyful of them all.
Afternoon enjoy another Game drive in the park.
Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation Options


The Serai Kabini

Red Earth Kabini

 


Kaav Safari Lodge

Evolve Back

Day 5 – Nagarhole – Wayanad
Morning drive to Wayanad. This popular region is famous for wildlife and its spice plantations. Wayanad is part of a forest reserve, located on the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It’s wild green coverage offers great scenic beauty along with the experience of seeing wildlife. Wayanad hills are contiguous to Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu and Bandipur in Karnataka, thus forming a vast land mass for the wild life to move about in their most natural abode.
Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation Options


CGH Wayanad Wild

Tranquil Resort

Day 6 – Wayanad
Get ready for your first bird watching trip in t the wood.
In the evening you can join the Cookery session with chef. Called – MALABAR KITCHEN
Wayanad Wild’s Master chefs share some of their skills with you at the evening cookery classes.
Here you will learn the secrets of traditional Kerala cooking. You will the magical world of Indian spices such as What they are, how to use them, combine them and savour the special magic they bring to the even the most common place foods.
Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation Options


CGH Wayanad Wild

Tranquil Resort

Day 7 – Wayanad to Pollachi
Drive to Pollachi. Popularly called the coconut city as tender and ripe
coconuts are supplied to many cities and towns across India, Its geographical closeness to Western Ghats ensures that it
has amazing climate throughout the year.
Pollachi also boasts one of the largest jaggery markets in Asia and
the largest cattle market in South India. Also the gateway to Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
Afternoon enjoy a trip handloom factory weaving a traditional Indian Saree is a fine collaboration between skilful artisans and the elegant colours. Witness this magical weaving of beautiful Sarees with traditional techniques that have been handed over from generation to generation. These handloom-weaved Sarees are a great example of impeccable art and fashion. We will guide you through the Saree making process, from cotton scratch to finish.
Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation Options


Coco Lagoon

Day 8 – Pollachi
Early morning set for a visit to Annamalai.
Anamalais is an unexplored and open aviary haven offers a peek at Indian birds. Explore the rich diversity of birds at these trails. Revel in the open landscape as you embark on a journey with experienced naturalists, Annamalai is an integral part of the bio-diversity of Western Ghats, which attracts bird enthusiasts. The Great Pied Hornbill is a prominent attraction among the bountiful collection of birds that have adopted this habitat.
Afternoon at leisure or you can go to experience the traditional Palm Jaggery production.
Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation Options


Coco Lagoon

Day 9 – Pollachi – Cochin
Drive to Cochin.
Arrive Cochin and check in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
Evening Kathakali dance drama, enacting epics from the Hindu Ramayana and Mahabharta.
Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation Options


CGH Brunton Boatyard

Taj Malabar Resort & Spa

 


The Malabar House

Eighth Bastion

Day 10 – Cochin
Today enjoy the city tour includes the 16th century Jewish synagogue, the Dutch Palace and the famous Chinese fishing nets.
Afternoon at leisure to explore the fort area and local market on own.
Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation Options


CGH Brunton Boatyard

Taj Malabar Resort & Spa

 


The Malabar House

Eighth Bastion

Day 11 – Cochin to Houseboat
Morning drive to jetty to board your Houseboat and cruise slowly through the beautiful palm fringed backwater channels witnessing the day to day life on the banks.
Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation Options


CGH Earth Spice Coast

Day 12 – Houseboat to Malayattoor
Drive to Maayattoor forest. The name `Malayattoor’ is an amalgamation of three small words. Mala (Mountain) Arr (River) Oore (Place). This is to say, Malayattoor is a meeting place of mountain, river, and land.
Afternoon at leisure. Later go for a night walk around the island and discover the nocturnal inhabitants of the forest, like owls, civet cats and other creatures of the night. This walk introduces you to a whole new world of nocturnal beauty and wonderment, with the hum of the Periyar always in the background. Watch as the night forest comes to life. Observing how the Malayattoor forest changes through dusk to dawn is fascinating.
Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation Options


CGH Earth Quiet By The River

Day 13 – Malayattoor
It is going to be a really busy but interesting day.
Early morning starting off with birding can be a spirited curtain raiser to a great day. Quiet by the River is a birder’s paradise with over 250 species of birds inhabiting Malayatoor. Spot a raptor, a Brahminy, a lesser fish eagle and many more species that inhabit the forest. Go by boat to the neighbouring islands and the mainland, where you can spot these hidden winged wonders. You will be well-advised to carry a pair of binoculars and a sense of curiosity.
Afternoon visit an Organic farm. A guided tour of our organic farm located right next to the lodge with the ever-smiling OmanaChechi. Bite into a ripened starfruit, chickoo, guava or mango right from the tree. See how spices like nutmeg, cardamom and pepper are grown. You can also see the garden area where cabbage, chilly, spinach, drumstick, lemons etc. are grown. Most the ingredients used to prepare food at Quiet by the River are grown on our farm. You can even learn a few tips and tricks that you could incorporate into your own garden.
Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation Options


CGH Earth Quiet By The River

Day 14 – Malayattoor
Again a bonus for early risers. A visit to rubber plantation. Visiting a rubber plantation is an incredibly interesting experience. Get a chance to watch local rubber tappers in action and get a first-hand experience of rubber being harvested from trees. Each tall, spindly tree is skirted with a polythene tutu to protect the latex which drips into a little cup strapped to the trunk below. Get up early – before dawn – and you can see the “tappers”, carefully cutting thin strips of bark to release the milky fluid.
Afternoon at leisure to own activities.
Later the highly recommended Cooking Demo :Here you can take our culinary secrets home with you. Our master chef will take you on a culinary adventure where he will help you discover all the intricacies of the regional specialties that you savoured during your stay. Watch an ordinary vegetable from our organic farm being transformed into a culinary masterpiece with the help of a few spices and secrets passed down through generations.
Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation Options


CGH Earth Quiet By The River

Day 15 – Malayattoor – Cochin Airport
Transfer to airport in in time to board your flight back home.

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