Exclusive Tours - A WORLD OF WINGS - Catch An Exotic Butterfly

A WORLD OF WINGS- -- Catch An Exotic Butterfly
Season : September to April Best: November to March
Duration : 08 Days

An enchanting land of golden beaches, tranquil backwaters, lush green forested mountains. Kerala is bordered on the west by the Arabian sea and on the east by the rich flora & fauna of the Western Ghats., considered as one of the 18 bio-diversity centres of the world, Kerala is home to more than 500 birds & 350 butterfly species., some near about extinct from rest of the World’s flora, are still to be found in the Western Ghats. On the expedition you will travel through the rich bird life areas of Arippa, Koondakulam and other tribal areas, which have been ornithologically well explored by the world renowned ornithologist Dr.Salim Ali. Apart from the guidance of experts, you will also be assisted by the indigenous villagers

Day    Programme

1. Arrive Mumbai. Meet & transfer to hotel for overnight.

2. Breakfast: Morning motor launch excursion to Elephanta Cave Island. Afternoon City Tour. Overnight in hotel.

3. Breakfast. Transfer to airport for flight to Trivandrum. On arrival transfer to Kovalam Beach Resort. At leisure. Evening an orientation lecture with an orinthologist / lepidopterist with briefings on the Avian life in the Western Ghats of Kerala State. Overnight at the resort.

4. Breakfast. Drive to Arippa (66kms) a small ever green rain forest incredibly rich in diversity of birds and butterflies. Some of the varieties which the accompanying orinthologist will identify for you are:
   
   Birds: great racket tailed drongo (dicrurus paradisens), bronzed drongo (dicrurus aeneus), asian paradise fly catcher ( terpsiphone paradiso- migrant), fairy blue bird ( irena puella), malabar trogon ( harpactesfasciates), heartspotted woodpecker ( hemicircus canente), black woodpecker ( dryocopus javensis), malabar grey horn bill ( ocyceros griseus- endemic), hill myna ( gracula religiosa), velvet fron nut hatch ( sitta frontalis), golden oriole ( oriolus orilus- migrant)
   
   Butterflies: southern birdwing ( troides minos- endemic), malabar rose( pachliopta pandiyama- endemic),malabar banded swallow tail ( papilio liomedon) blue mormon( papilio polymnester), red helen ( papilio helemus), clipper ( parthenos sylvia), tamil yeomen ( cirrochroa thais), lacewing ( lethosia nietneri), malabar tree nymph ( idea malabarica – endemic), leopard butterfly (phalanta phalantha)
   
   Most of these species have been identified by the doyen of Indian Ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali, who championed the cause of conservation in India. ( for reference read his book “ Fall Of A Sparrow “.
   After lunch ( packed) visit a nearby tribal hamlet Bonaccord belonging to the Kani Tribes, an ancient mountain tribe of the Western Ghats, who have for centuries lived in huts made entirely of reed leaves and still use the ancient hunting technique using bow and pellets. You will have an opportunity to have a glimpse of the rarest of all butterfly specie- the legendary “ Travancore Evening Brown (parantirrhoea marshalli – endemic) , almost near extinction, but thanks to the Kani tribes this specie is being bred by these locals. Late evening return to Kovalam Beach Resort.

5. Early wake up and breakfast. Full day trip to Koondakulam (140 kms), a tiny village in bordering Tamil Nadu. A Garden Of Eden with the inhabitants living along side the birds in total harmony.. From time immemorial these colourful water birds have lived with the tribals, knowing that these simple folks will protect them more than their own children. Painted stork ( mycteria leucocephala ), the globally threatened spotbill pelican ( pelecanus philippensis), Night heron ( nyctieorax nycticorax), little cormorant ( phalacrocarax niger ), little egret ( egretta grazetta), All thses are migrants to Koondakulam and make this tiny hamlet their breeding station between October to March. Late evening return to Kovalam after spending a wonderful day amidst the clatter of bills & flapping of wings. The day’s happenings will remain etched in your mind for eternity.

6. Breakfast. Drive to Trivandrum , visit Padmanabhaswamy Temple built in pure Dravidian style, Napier Museum. Thereafter drive to Poovar Island Resort. At leisure.
   Optional: Take advantage of the world class Ayurvedic Centre at the Resort for a massage and other treatments.

7. Breakfast. Visit the nearby Martial Arts Centre to watch a display of Kalaripayattu, the traditional martial art form of Kerela. Return to resort, at leisure and overnight.
   08 Breakfast. Transfer to Trivandrum Airport for flight to Mumbai to connect onward flight.
    

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