[edit] Thattekad Bird Sanctuary (Now named Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary)
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary | Jewish Quarter in Fort Cochin
Thattekkad Bird Sancturay is now re-named as Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, the celebrated ornithologist. Thattekad is at 70 km from Ernakulam. The sanctuary is world famous. Help of guide is mandatory. The 25 sq km Sanctuary is woven by small streams and tributaries of Periyar.
The beautiful Thattekkad forest itself is more than enough to compensate the visit. The beauty of forest is fortified with a mix of exemplary tropical evergreen bush-land and green-land. Jungle jack, teak, rosewood, red sandalwood and other invaluable forest species inter-woven by tretrameles nudiflora and rarely found aromatic telli unmask the beauty of the jungle not seen anywhere in the world.
The tree-top kings and queens numbering more than 600 burst with alarm calls, giving some sort of signals or fault-free communication to the mates. Listening to this itself is a wonderful experience. Racket-tailed drongos, solffegio, Malabar giant squirrel, Malabar grey hornbills, rose-ringed parakeets are always in the forefront of music chores.
Till the bridge under construction is commissioned the access to the Sanctuary is through ferry across Periyar river. The ferry is 6 km ahead of Keerampara on the Kothamangalam Pooyankutty road.
Thattekkad Mammalian Habitat : Thattekkad is also famous for small mammalian alians. Elephants give guest appearance occasionally, mostly at Inchathotty. The village Inchathotty is on the eastern peripher of the sanctuary. The panchyderms are often found in Ovunkal and Kolambay where there are streams. In the summer these streams look waterless. The panchyderm community has no hesitation in sharing their kingdom the forest with other mammals. Sambhar, mild barking deer, bonnet, macaques, wild boar etc are among them. Giant squirrels and hard-to-find-elsewhere variety Travancore flying squirrels like tree branches to be their comfort home.
Papilio Paradise : Thattekkad is also heavenly abode to more than 300 species of butterfly. The place is paradise for papilio watchers as well as for bird watchers. Look at some exotic variety: Plain tiger, Malabar rose, Malabar rave, Malabar banded swallowtail, Ghats birdwing, Red Helen, Paris peacock, Buddha peacock, Tamil catseye, blue mormon and son on.
Kalypso Adventures which runs a Hornbill Camp in Thattekkad facilitates an overnight tour called Lowland Forest Tour from Kochi to Thattekkad. Butterfly spotting gets importance in the tour programme. Their telephone numbers are 0484-2310324 and 09447031032.
Animal Rehabilitation Centre : This is located in the wing of Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary. From Sanctuary gate at Shivakshetrapadi the steps lead down to the Rehabilitation Centre. The sick and aged forest animals are rehabilitated here with due care.
Deer Park : This Park too located in the wing of Thattekkad Bird Sancturary. The steps just opposite the Rehabilitation Centre lead to Deer Park. The Park houses Chital and Sambhar in open air enclosures.
Taxdermic Museum : This Museum too located in the wing of Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary as adjacent to the Deer Park. Here the magnificent varieties of denizens are neatly showcased. Among them, the 8-ft long King Cobra is the largest crowd puller.
