Wild Life Sancturies and National Parks in India

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3.Haryana

Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, Haryana

Location: Delhi - Jaipur highway ( 46 km from Delhi)

Founded by: Dr. Salim Ali

Season: September to March is the best time to visit.
About Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary
Located at a distance of 46 kms from Delhi, Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is a haven to a variety of domestic and migratory birds. Artificial mound, have turned into a green glade. The marsh has been converted into a water body. And with the years, hundreds of species of migratory birds have winged in to stay. Winter brings in birds from as far as Siberia. Flock of geese from Europe wing in too. The local birds flap in. The bird population include darters, egrets shovellers, gadwell and geese dominate. Teals, kingfishers, lapwings, sandpipers demoiselle cranes and such like water birds nestle in. Over 100 species have been identified here.

Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary was a haunt of our very own birdman Late Dr. Salim Ali: And, innumerable bird watchers who come in to observe bird antics. There are hide outs, watch towers and a museum of sorts for those keen on serious study. Guestrooms and catering wing, await the patrons.

Climate(Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary)
The climate of this region is tropical with very hot summers and chilly winters. Monsoon approaches this place in the month of July and continues till mid-September. The best season to visit this park is winter as the chances of seeing the exclusive wildlife of this park is more in these months.

Location(Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary)
The Sultanpur National Park is located in the Indian state of Haryana at a distance of 45 km from Delhi, the national capital. The park extends from latitude 28°37' in the North to longitude 77°04' in the east. It is well connected by roads with Delhi and Gurgaon, the district headquarters.

Attractions(Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary):
Flora: The vegetation of this park is tropical and dry deciduous and the flora include grasses, dhok, khair, tendu, ber, jamun, acacia, and banyan tree.

Fauna in Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary: The Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is home to a large range of birds, both resident and migratory. Migratory geese and Siberian cranes spend the winter in Sultanpur and there are also the demoiselle cranes, ruddy shelducks, pelicans, flamingoes, bar-headed geese, grey lags, gadwalls, mallards, pochards, shovellers and teals. Local species include plovers, red-wattled lapwings, herons, cormorants, white ibises, spoonbills and painted storks.Other wildlife in the park include blackbuck, nilgai, hog deer, sambar, wild dog or dhole, caracal, wild cat, hedgehog, mongoose, striped hyena, Indian porcupine, rattle/honey badger, leopard, wild pig, and four horned antelope.

Other Attractions:
Sultanpur Lake is the point around which the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary has been developed. The lake is a picnic spot for the residents of Delhi and boating facilities are also available here. The lake has a good number of reptiles and it attracts a lot of migratory birds during winters.

Places Nearby(Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary)
Delhi, at a distance of around 45 km from Sultanpur, is the capital of India and the seat of power since ancient times. Major tourist attractions here are the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Qutub Minar, Bahai Temple, Rajghat, India Gate, and Jantar Mantar apart from numerous others. There are also many museums, libraries, art galleries, theaters, and educational institutions that can be visited.

Reaching There(Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary)
By Air: Airport - Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (35 km) Palam Domestic Airport, Delhi (35 km) The nearest airport from Sultanpur is the Indira Gandhi International Airport and Palam Domestic Airport in Delhi at a distance of just 35 km. Indira Gandhi airport is connected with most of the important international destinations by regular flights of the major airlines. Palam Domestic Airport is connected to almost all the major cities in India by regular flights of the Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, and Sahara Airlines apart from the other small domestic airlines.

By Rail : Railway Station - Gurgaon Railway Station (15 km) Gurgaon is the nearest railway station connected to Delhi and many places in Haryana and Rajasthan by regular trains. New Delhi, Nizamuddin, and Old Delhi railway stations are important railway links from where one can get trains to almost all parts of the country.

By Road: We(tourmyindia.com) can provide you all tourist permit car/coach, for the city and intercity drives and can look after all your travel related services.

Accommodation(Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary):
Inside the park, the Haryana Tourism Development Corporation runs a tourist lodge that has air-conditioned as well as general rooms. The facilities there include a bar, restaurant, and cottages for the guests. One can also stay in any of the large number of hotels at Delhi or Gurgaon and go to Sultanpur for a weakened or day trip.

Travel Tips:
For money exchange and other banking facilities Delhi and Gurgaon are the best places. There are branches of almost all the nationalized as well as foreign and private banks that accept travelers' cheques and exchange foreign currency.

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4.Kerala

1.Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

Location : 40 Kms From Thodupuzha, Kerala

Famous For : Elephants

Area : 77 sq. Kms

Altitude : 450-758m Above Sea Lev
About Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary:
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is located at a distance of 40 kms from Thodupuzha.This sanctuary extends over the Thodupuzha and Udumpanchola taluks of Idukki district spreading over 77sq. kms, at 450 - 748m above sea level
The Idukki reservoir formed by three dams-Cheruthoni, Idukki and Kulamavu-extends to 33 sq. km.

A picturesque lake, a majestic arch dam across two hills and roaming herds of elephants and gaur are sights that lure you to this enchanting canopy of tropical semi-evergreen and deciduous forests. The fauna also includes Langur, Leopard and Wild Boar.
Wild Population of Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
The sanctuary has a large variety of flora and fauna. Among the mammals, Elephants, Bison, Sambhar, Deer, Wild Dogs, Jungle Cats, Tiger, Wild Boar etc reptiles such as Cobra, Viper, Krait and a large number of non- poisonous snakes can be seen.

Jungle Fowl, Myna, Laughing Thrush, Black Bulbul, Peafowl, Woodpecker, Kingfisher etc also inhabit the place in large numbers.

2.Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

Area: 777 sq. km.
Core: 350 sq. km.
Buffer: 427 sq. km

Established : 1950 as a sanctuary, 1978 as a tiger reserve
About Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary:
Periyar National Park is situated in the hills of the Western Ghats in the state of Kerala in SW India. The centre piece of Periyar National park is the 5,500-hectare Periyar lake formed by the construction of a dam on the Periyar river in 1895.The dam submerged low-lying forest whose dead tree trunks still jut out of the waters. Along the fringes of the lake are marshy areas with tall grasslands. This is one of the richest habitats of large mammals, as it provides both excellent cover and nourishment in the form of succulent shoots and grasses. Here it is possible to see large herds of Indian Elephant with relative ease as well as Nilgiri Langur near Aranya Niwas and the Liontail Macaque in higher areas.

The forests are tropical, a mixture of deciduous, semi-evergreen, and evergreen ‘sholas’, the last occurring in the moist valleys and characterised by tall trees and a closed canopy. The forests alternate with extensive patches of grasslands. Periyar’s rich bird life includes the Giant Hornbill, Cormorant, Darter, Osprey and Racket-tailed Drongo. The Indian Python and King Cobra are among the reptilian fauna. Periyar has a few Nilgiri Tahr, good numbers of which may also be seen on a day excursion to nearby Eravikulam National Park near Munnar.
Main Fauna in Periyar:
In Periyar Tiger Reserve 49 species of mammals, 265 species of birds, 36 species of reptiles, 12 species of amphibians, 35 species of fishes and 160 species of butterflies have been identified so far. Some important mammals are tiger, leopard, elephant, gaur, sambar, wild dog, barking deer, lion tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur and Nilgiri tahr.

Main flora found in Periyar:
Periyar Widllife Sanctuary boasts a quite rich and diverse flora. The flora in Periyar National Park chiefly comprises of Tropical Evergreen forests (30,500ha) and Semi-evergreen forests (27,500ha) around the reservoir, and Moist-deciduous forests and Woody grasslands in the central part of the park.

The major flora in the park include the Teak, Rosewood, Terminalia, Eucalyptus, Sandalwood, Jacaranda (a hardwood timber tree with purple flowers), Mango, Jamun, Tamarind, Banyan, Pipal, Plumeria, Gulmohar and Bamboo among many others. The thick vegetation of the Periyar wildlife sanctuary provides both excellent cover and nourishment in the form of succulent shoots and grasses.
Other General Information on Periyar Sanctuary
Longitude: 76°57' and 77°25' E
Latitude: 9°16' and 9°36' N
Altitude: 100m. to 2016 m. above msl.
Rainfall: 2500 mm.
Temperature: Minimum: 15°C, Maximum: 31°C

Season(Periyar National Park)
Monsoon: Southwest and Northeast monsoon with maximum rainfall in July and minimum in January.
Summer: April-May
Winter: December-January
Access (Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary):
Fly to Cochin and drive to Periyar (200 km). The nearest railway station is Kottayam (114 km).

3.Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Established in 1973, the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is contiguous to the protected area network of Nagarhole and Bandipur of Karnataka on the north-east and Mudimalai of Tamilnadu on the south-east. Rich in bio-diversity, the sanctuary is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reservem, Which has been established with the specific objective of conservating the biological heritage of the region. Interestingly, it was from here that Pazhassi Raja fought valiantly against the British.
Consisting entirely of notified reserve, the sanctuary is very rich in fauna and flora. The management of the sanctuary lays emphasis on scientific conservation with due consideration to the general lifestyle of the Tribals and others who live on the frings of the forest.

Topography(Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary):
Gently undulating with occasional hillocks, the highest peak is Karottimala (1158m).

Climate(Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary)
The tract receives fairly reasonable amount of rain, most of which is received during June to August. March, April and May are warm.

Forest Types (Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary):
Most of the forests are of the south Indian moist deciduous type. There are, however, a few patches of west coast semi evergreen forests. About 110 sq.kms of the sanctuary is under plantations of teak, eucalyptus. And grevelia.
Flora in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary:
In the moist deciduous forest, maruthi, karimaruthi, rosewood, venteak, vengal, chadachi, mazhukanjiram, bamboo etc grow. In the semi-evergreen patches Veteria indica. Lagerstroemia, Lanceolata, Termianalia paniculata etc are common.

Fauna in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
The animal population of the sanctuary is varies. Elephant, tiger, Panther, jungle cat, civet cat, monkeys, wild dog, bison, deer, bear, etc. inhabit the sanctuary. Reptiles like monitor lizard and a variety of snakes are seen. Peacock, babblers, cuckoos, owl, wood pecker and jungle fowl are only a few among the different types of birds seen in the area.
Among the animals, elephant occupies the prime position. Interstate seasonal migration of elephant is common.Tiger population of the sanctuary is fairly good. Frequent sightings are reported from Tholpetty, Rambur and Mavinhalla areas.
Administration (Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary)
The sanctuary comes under the Wayanand Wildlife Division with head quarters at Sultan Bathery.

Wildlife Tourism (Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary)
Good roads connect the sanctuary with Kozhikode, Mysore and Ootty. They are also connected by rail and are within 110 kms from the sanctuary. The nearest airport is Kozhikode. Visitors can halt at Sultan Bathery or Mananthavadi and visit the sanctuary Government rest houses and private lodges offer accommodation.

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4.Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

A mere 55 sq.kms in area and located on the western slopes of the Western Ghats, the Aralam sanctuary is the northern most wildlife sanctuary of Kerala. It was established in 1984. The headquarters of the sanctuary is near Iritty, a small town about 55 kms from Kannur. The sanctuary adjoins the Central State Farm at Aralam. It lies between north latitude 11°50' and 11° 52' and east longitude 75° 49' and 75° 57'.
Topography in Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
The elevation varies from 50m to 1145m. The highest peak is Katti Betta, which is 1145m. high.

Climate (Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary)
The temperature at the foothills varies from 21° C to 40°C and at the higher reaches from 8°C to 25°C. The sanctuary receives an annual rainfall of about 3,000 mm. The wettest part of the year is from June to August. (south-west monsoon).
Forest Type
Forest coast tropical evergreen and west coast semievergreen forests are predominant. There are about 490 ha of teak and eucalyptus plantations within the forest area.

Flora in Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
In the evergreen areas the following species are found: vellapine (Vateria indica), Mesua ferrea, Mechilus macrantha, Calophyllum elatum, Cullenia rosayroona, Magnifera indica, Toona cillata, Myristica Species, Euphorbia Longana, Strobilanthes. The common trees in the semievergreen areas are Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, Hopea parviflora, Largestroemia lanceolata, Xyliaxylocarpa, Mallotus, Philippinensis.
Fauna in Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
A variety of animals and birds usually found in the Western Ghats are seen here. Different kinds of deer, boar, elephant, and bison are quite common. Leopard, jungle cat and various types of squirrels are sighted.

Administration (Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary)
The sanctuary comes under the Wayanad Division with headquarters at Sultan Bathery. The sanctuary is under the direct charge of an Assistant Wildlife whose office is at Chathiroor near Irutti.

Wildlife Tourism (Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary)
One can reach the Aralam sanctuary by road from Thalasseri (45 kms) and Kannur (45kms). The nearest railway station is Thalassery and the nearest airport is Kozhikkod, 113 kms from Irutti. The infrastructure for tourism development is limited at present, but steps are being taken by the Forest Department to improve the situation.
Enquiries (Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary)
1. The Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife)
Thiruvananthapuram - 695 014, Kerala
Phone: 322217

2. The Wildlife Warden, Aralam Wildlife,
Division, Kannur.

3. The Assistant Wildlife Warden, Iritty, Kannur Dist. Pin Code: 670 673

5.Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

Total Area 128 sq. kms

Best time to visit October to March

How to get there Rail- Mullayar

Species found Elephants, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Tahr, Jungle Cat, Wild Boar, Nilgiri Langur etc.
About Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary:
The Neyyar reservoir is easily navigable and extends 9.06 sq. km. The vegetation varies from tropical wet evergreen to grasslands. The Agasthyakoodam hill, 1890 metres high, lies in the premises of the sanctuary. Elephants, gaur, sloth bear, Nilgiri tahr, jungle cat, wild boar, Nilgiri langur etc. are seen. A crocodile rearing centre, deer farm and lion safari park are the main attractions

The vegetation varies from tropical wet evergreen to grasslands. The Agasthyarkoodam hill, 1890 metres high, lies in the premises of the sanctuary.

Declared as a sanctuary in 1958, it is the drainage basin for the Neyyar River and its tributaries - Mullayar and Kallar.
Wildlife in Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary:
Elephants, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Tahr, Jungle Cat, Wild Boar, Nilgiri Langur can be seen here.

This sanctuary has a substantial natural vegetation cover. The diversity of its flora makes this sanctuary an ideal gene pool preserve.

Other Attractions:
A Crocodile Rearing Centre, Deer Farm and Lion Safari Park are the main attractions near the dam site.

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6.Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala.

The forests of Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary constitute the catchment of Peppara dam constructed across Karamana river and commissioned during 1983 to augment drinking water supply to Thiruvananthapuram city and suburban areas. Considering the ecological significance of the area, it was declared as sanctuary during 1983. The area was formerly a part of Paruthippally range of Thiruvananthapuram Territorial Division.
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary consists of Part of Palode reserve (24sq.kms) and part of Kottoor reserve (29sq.kms). The total area of the sanctuary is 53 sq.kms. The total water spread of the reservoir is 5.82 sq.kms.

The sanctuary is located about 50kms. north east of Thiruvananthapuram city in Nedumangad taluk of Thiruvananthapuram district between longitude 76°40' and 77°17' east and latitude 80°7'and 8°53' north. General topography of the area is hilly with elevation varying from 100 m to 1717m. Rainfall and other climate factors are similar to that of Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary. There are 13 tribal settlements in the sanctuary. Eleven are in Athirumala section and two are in Thodayar section.

The Following major forest types are recognised in the peppara wildlife sanctuary.

1 .Southern hilltop tropical evergreen
This type of forest is of stunted evergreen, found above 1000m elevation on the top of hills. They are exposed to heavy wind and less favourable soil and climatic conditions.
2 .West coast semi- evergreen
A transitional zone between evergreen and moist deciduous, this type occurs mostly in hill slopes from 150 to 1050m. The riparian areas also contain them.

3. Southern moist mixed deciduous forests
This type of forest covers more than 60% of the tract along the lower slopes of hills.

The major mammals include elephant, gaur,sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, wild boar, tiger, panther, wild dog, lion tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, Malabar squirrel etc. Water birds like darter, little cormorant, pied king fisher and egrets are also common. Many kinds of snakes including the king cobra and python are also present in this sanctuary. The area has a variety of moth and butterflies.

7.Thattekad Bird Sanctuary

The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary (also commonly known as the Thattekad Sanctuary) is located in the Kothamangalam Taluk of Ernakulam district on the northern bank of the Periyar river. The sanctuary was notified in 1983 based on a recommendation made by Dr. Salim Ali many years previously. Ali described Thattekad in the 1930's as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, comparable only with the eastern Himalayas. Since then much of the forest has been diverted to cultivation and teak and mahogany plantation but what survives gives a glimpse of the phenomenal bird diversity of the once widespread lowland forests of Kerala. Some basic facts about the sanctuary are listed below:

Basic information on Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Thattekad Latitude 76 deg. 40' - 76 deg. 45' N
Longitude 10 deg. 7' - 11 deg. E
Altitude 35- 523 m (Njayapilli peak)
Area 25.16 sq. km
Rainfall 2500 mm annually
Forest type Tropical semi-evergreen and tropical deciduous
Mammals Elephant, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Porcupine
Bird species > 250

How to Reach (Thattekad Bird Sanctuary)
The sanctuary is 13 km north-east of Kothamangalam along the Pooyamkutti road. The nearest railway station is Aluva at a distance of 48 km. Kochi, the nearest airport is 71 km away. The new airport at Nedumbassery is probably closer.

Kothamangalam is well connected by privately operated buses to Ernakulam via Muvattupuzha or Perumbavoor. There are frequent buses from Kothamangalam to Thattekad. Construction of bridge across the Periayar river has recently completedd.
Accommodation (Thattekad Bird Sanctuary):
There is a three storied watch tower inside the Sanctuary with two beds, a toilet and a kitchen. No electricity here but there is are a few solar powered lamps. A forest department inspection bungalow called Hornbill is located near the sanctuary entrance. There is a dormitory just inside the sanctuary which is ideal for large groups. Accommodation is also available at the PWD rest house near the Bhoothathankett Dam and in lodges in Kothamangalam.

For further information about the sanctuary and for booking accommodation contact:
The Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Thiruvanthapuram Kerala 695014
The Wildlife Warden, Idukki Wildlife Division, Vellappara, Painavu P.O. Idukki District 685603 Phone 0486 232271
The Assistant Wildlife Warden, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Njayapilli P.O. , Kothamangalam, Kerala Phone 0485 588302
Bird Watching in Thattekad Sanctuary:
Only species observed by us have been listed. We have no information if an exhaustive checklist is available for the Sanctuary. Nomenclature used follows Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (1998). The pocket edition of this book was used for field identification. Subspecies have not been mentioned unless unambiguous identification was made (eg. ruby-throated subspecies of the Black-crested Bulbul). Some interesting observations and a nesting record are at the end of this checklist.

Collocalia unicolor Indian Swiftlet
Ocyceros griseus Malabar Grey-Hornbill
Spizaetus cirrhatus Changeable Hawk-Eagle
Anhinga melanogaster Oriental Darter
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron

Snipe: the bird could not be identified because of poor light conditions. The overall appearance, habitat and behavior were of a typical snipe.
Arachnothera longirostra Little Spiderhunter: a nest of this bird was seen beautifully stitched to the undersiode of a leaf about 1 m above the ground. A photograph of the nest is available with the author.

Celeus brachyurus Rufous Woodpecker: we saw a nest with young. The beak of the nestling was sticking out of the nest. This particular species was videographed by a BBC team at Thattekad with help from Elthose. The footage is featured in Episodes 3 and 8 of The Life of Birds by David Attenborough.

Batrachostomus moniliger Ceylon Frogmouth is being studied at Thattekad by Elthose with funding from the Kerala Forest Department. This forest is one of the last stronglholds of this rare endemic bird. Elthose took us to one of the roosting sites and we were able to see a male frogmouth at close quarters. No photography was attempted as the flash was likely to disturb the bird.

Eurostopodus macrotis Great Eared-Nightjar: Two birds were seen at dusk calling and circling in the air, possibly hawking insects.

Bubo bubo Eurasian Eagle-Owl: The loud resonant tu-whoogh call was heard several times at dusk. We did not get a sighting of this bird.