Western Ghats

1. Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary – Goa: An IBA (Important Bird Area), it is covered with Tropical Evergreen Forest, Semi-evergreen Forest & Moist Deciduous Forest. The habitat is hilly with several rivulets which occur in the Sanctuary. It is located in Southern Goa and is the 2nd largest wildlife sanctuary of Goa.

2. Nagarhole National Park – Karnataka: Probably the most visited National Parks of South India, Nagarhole National Park is part of the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve as well as a part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. These Moist and Dry Deciduous forests are home to large mammals such as the Indian Elephant, Gaur, Royal Bengal Tiger & Indian Wild Dogs.

More recently, people from all over the world flock here in the summer for photographing a rather bold male Melanistic or Black Leopard. Nagarhole is also an IBA – Important Bird Area and over 300 bird species are recorded here including some of the endemics of South India.

3. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary – Karnataka: Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is a reservoir comprising of 06 Islands and 06 islets on the banks of the river Cauvery. This catchment area has been created due to damming of the river. This has resulted in the creation of habitat for the birds which reside in the area as well as the migratory birds which find solace in winter with the relative abundance of food here.

The nearby agricultural areas also provide breeding grounds for insects to which the farmers allow a lending hand to the insectivorous birds of the area. It is an important birding location of Asia and is mooted to become a Ramsar Wetland as well. Championed by legendary ornithologist Dr.Salim Ali with over 220 bird species recorded, and multiple waterbirds nesting here – Ranganathittu is a must-visit birding site in India.

4. Thattekad / Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary – Kerala: These fragmented Southern Indian Moist Deciduous and Tropical Evergreen Forests of the Western Ghats close to sea level, are rich in biodiversity and the Sanctuary is one of the best places for birding in India. It is bordered by the Periyar River on the Southwestern side and its tributary the Pooyamkutty river on its northern front. Within the confines, rich ecological diversity exists, and treasures waiting to be seen enthrall you.

5. Erivakulum National Park – Munnar, Kerala: Nestled at 2000m above sea-level in the Western Ghats mountains, is Erivakulum National Park – covered in the remaining high elevation Shola grasslands interspersed amongst the Montane forests of South India. Over 200 species of birds exist here with interesting butterflies, mammals, amphibians as well as reptiles. A famous tourist spot in Munnar, and there are chances of an influx of people at times as well. However, the entire landscape is rather forested with several large tea-estates, hence birding can be done almost anywhere in the area.

6. Valparai – Tamil Nadu: An absorbing view of gentle green hills, low-hanging clouds and a silence broken by the echoing song of the Malabar Whistling Thrush, Valparai Plateau is one of the most beautiful travel spots in South India. The Anamalai hills are heavily fragmented with Tea and Coffee estates, yet the landscape teems with wildlife of all kinds. Gentle but beastly Gaur greets you in the tea-estates as you drive in and great birding hotspots can be located in and amongst these inhabited areas across Valparai.

The altitude ranges from 1200m to 2600m, and the forest type here is Moist Deciduous to Evergreen Forests. There are Shola forests visible from here at the higher reaches where elephants and tigers dwell.

7. Ooty, Kotagiri & Coonoor – Tamil Nadu: Ooty is known as the “Queen of Hills”, nestled right in the Nilgiris. It is a rather popular tourist destination, however, the biodiversity hotspots are there to find and its birds galore in these Evergreen forests. Ooty and its nearby areas have a lot of birding to offer. Shola forests and grassland are to be seen but never touched as they remain strictly protected owing to their limited availability.

Located around 40km from Mudumalai National Park, the extensions of the Park are to be felt in this paradise. The highest peak is called Dodda Better which is situated at an altitude of 2600m from sea level. The Nilgiri Biosphere has around 3300 plant species of which 132 are endemic to the area, and 08 out of 175 orchid species are endemic as well.