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WILDLIFE IN SOUTH INDIA TOURISM

There is a wide diversity of plants and animals in South India, given to its varied climatic conditions and geography. South India is home to numerous species of animals, birds, reptiles and insects. Most of the animals are in protected areas, and many of these famous protected areas of India are located in the Southern part of the country. Here’s a list of places where one can spot the wildlife in South India.

Periyar National Park and Wild

Set high in the Western Ghats, Periyar National Park in Kerala in south India is known for its wildlife population. Located on the banks of a lake created by the construction of Mullaperiyar dam, the park lies in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta in Kerala. Periyar is one of…
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Vizhinjam Marine Aquarium

The Vizhinjam Marine Aquarium is located near the Theatre Junction at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram. It houses a rich treasure of marine wealth which has perfected the Image Pearl production technique, by which a mould of any shape, made of shell cement is implanted into the pearl oyster and in two…
Wildlife

Daroji Bear Sanctuary

Located about 15 km from Hampi; the bear sanctuary is home to Indian sloth bears. It covers more than 82.72 sq km and was declared as a sanctuary in 1994. The most interesting part of the sanctuary is that a narrow pathway with thick forest on both the sides of…
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Begur Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in Western Ghats, Begur Wildlife Sanctuary is among the lesser known sanctuaries in the country. Situated 30 km from Mananthawady in Wayanad district of Kerala, Begur Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a wide variety of exotic flora and fauna. Surrounded by mist-clad Western Ghats, the dense green cover and thriving wildlife population is a…
Wildlife

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Situated in Kottayam district in Kerala, the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is an ornithologist's paradise. It is located close to Kumarakom village in Kuttanad region which has become synonymous with backwater tourism in Kerala. A favourite haunt of migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal, the sanctuary…
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Thattekad Bird Sanctuary

Described by Salim Ali, one of the best known ornithologists, as the richest bird habitat on peninsular India, the Thattekad bird sanctuary was the first bird sanctuary in Kerala. It is popularly known as Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and is situated at the foot of Western Ghats. It expands over…
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Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary

Known as the ‘green lung of Kochi’, the Mangalavanam bird sanctuary is located in the centre of Kochi. The ecologically sensitive area is home to several species of resident and migratory birds and also supports different types of mangroves. Spread over about 2.74 hectares, the sanctuary also houses a shallow…
Wildlife

Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary

A community reserve, Kadaludi bird sanctuary is located in Malapuram district of Kerala. Popular for its wide variety of avian fauna, the sanctuary is situated 19 km from Kozhikode and seven km from Beypore port. Spread over just three km over a cluster of islands, the sanctuary is situated at…
Wildlife

Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary

Situated 1740m above sea level, Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary is a famous trekking destination ideal because of its steep hills and dense forest. Tourists have to travel 17kms through dense forests to reach this destination and special permission should be taken from the forest department to enter this tourist spot. Travellers…
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Dubare Elephant Camp

A forest camp on the banks of river Kaveri in Coorg district of Karnataka, Dubare has the distinction of training elephants which take part in the Mysore Dussehra festival. The camp and forest surrounding it were once part of the princely state of Mysore and have been sending pachyderms for the festival since the days…
Wildlife

Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary

Chimmini Wildlife sanctuary is a national park located along the Western Ghats in the Thrissur District of Kerala state in India. The sanctuary is an important bird area with 192 recorded avian species including the grey-headed bulbul, Indian rufous babbler and white-bellied blue-flycatcher. A recent survey recorded the presence of…
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Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in the Nilgiri Mountains, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is a bio-diversity hotspot. The sanctuary is home to over 580 species of fauna that includes 34 species of mammals and 29 species of snakes. About 65 km from Munnar in Idukki district of Kerala, Chinnar is spread over an area of 90.44 sq km and is…
Wildlife

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

The famous Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary on the Kakinada city outskirts is a great blend of entertainment and education. Known as the second largest mangrove in the country after Sundarbans in West Bengal, the Coringa mangrove is famous for its flora and fauna. The Coringa Wild Life Sanctuary is named after…
Wildlife

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka. The sanctuary which, declared a tiger reserve in 2007, is crisscrossed by River Kaneri and River Nagajhari, tributaries of River Kali. The sanctuary is the natural habitat for several wildlife species such as tigers, leopards, black panthers, elephants, gaur…
Wildlife

Safari in Parambikulam Wildlif

Sanctuary authorities provide jeeps and vans for wildlife safaris. The sanctuary is home to 39 species of mammals, 16 species of amphibians, 268 species of birds, 61 species of reptiles, 47 species of fishes, 1049 species of insects and 124 species of butterflies. A jeep safari the best way to explore…
Wildlife

Kurinjimala Sanctuary

A major conservation habitat of the endangered Neelakurinji flower, which blooms once in 12 years, the Kurinjimala Sanctuary is located about 48 km northeast of Munnar in Idukki district of Kerala. Spread over 32 sq km, the sanctuary gets its name from the word Kurinjimala which means a mountain where…
Wildlife

Mathikettan Shola National Par

Spread over 12.82 sq km, the Mathikettan Shola National Park is located 130 km west of Madurai, in Udumbanchola taluk of the Idukki district in Kerala. The national park gets its name from the Tamil phrase that literally translates to 'mind confuser' and is named so since the locals believe that the…
Wildlife

Nagarhole National Park

Situated in the Nilgiri mountain range, Nagarhole National Park is spread across Kodagu and Mysore districts of Karnataka. Situated 96 km from Mysore on the Karnataka-Kerala border, Nagarhole National Park is considered to be one of the best wildlife parks in the country. The park, which once served as hunting…
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Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger

One of the largest tiger reserves in India, Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is located in Andhra Pradesh. It is spread over 3598 sq km and parts of the reserve fall in Nalgonda, Mahboobnagar, Kurnool, Prakasam and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh. Before independence, the reserve was under the control of British…
Wildlife

Pampadam Shola National Park

Pampadam Shola National Park is the smallest national park of Kerala, located 35 km from Munnar in Idukki district of Kerala. Pampadam Shola National Park comes under the Anamalai sub-cluster of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is being considered for World Heritage Site status. Spread over 11.753 sq km, Pampadum was…
Wildlife

Nehru Zoological park

Spanning 300 lush green acres, the Nehru Zoological Park is a must for nature lovers. It has over 250 species of animals and birds, most of which are kept in conditions as close to their natural habitats as possible.
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Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary lies along the shores of the Pakhal Lake and covers an area of 839 sq km. The dense forest and the Pakhal Lake forms the core area of the sanctuary which is home to tigers, leopards and bears. it was established in the year 1952. The vegetation consists…
Wildlife

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuar

A biodiversity hotspot, this wildlife sanctuary has three artificial reservoirs. It is also home to 39 species of mammals, 16 species of amphibians, 268 species of birds, 61 species of reptiles.
Wildlife

Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary

Home to over half of the population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary.The sanctuary is located in Idukki district of Kerala about 15 km away from the popular hill station, Munnar. The sanctuary is the natural habitat of Nilgiri Tahr, a mountain goat with short prickly fur and broad build. Both…
Wildlife