Thattekad Bird sanctuary - Timings & Best Time to visit

Official bird Sanctuary working hours are 7 am to 5 pm. Early mornings are the best time to visit Thattekad bird sanctuary,as  birds are more active feeding during that time. Afternoons are also good but better to avoid hot midday time. You have to be at the sanctuary entrance at least before 4.00 pm in order to get enough time to a look around the place. Thattekad bird sanctuary birding trail areas are thick forest with plenty of wild life and reptiles. so visitors have to leave the sanctuary before 6.00 pm . Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary welcomes visitors all around the year .Try to avoid the monsoon time as this forest area receives very high rainfall, which may lead to park closure or road blocks. October to March is the best time to visit Thattekad bird sanctuary. Number of bird watchers and bird photographers peak between November and February, mainly because of the migratory birds season.

Thattekad bird photography packages…

grey hornbill

Thattekad Bird sanctuary Entry Fee

ENTRY TICKET 

ADULTS  –  50.00

CHILDREN  – 45.00

 FOREIGNERS – 200.00

STILL CAMERA – 45.00

VIDEO CAMERA –  255.00

PARKING CHARGES

TWO WHEELER –  10.00

THREE WHEELER – 15.00

 LMV (CAR & JEEP) –    25.00

   HMV –  50.00 

BOATING / Person – 150.00

 

Thattekad guided birdwatching tours.

Minimum charges 1800/- Rs (for 2-3 pax).

600/- Rs per person for groups.

Morning session – 7:00 am to 10:30 am.

Evening session – 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

Entry fee applicable.

Call or WhatsApp  – +91-8547680759

(Special packages available for bird photography) 

birding guests

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary Attractions

Salim Ali trail is the main attraction and activity at Thattekad Bird Sanctuary. This self-guided trekking trail allows visitors to experience the thick jungle and avian life as they walk through the well maintained trails in a safe zone. Salim Ali trail is a birder’s delight and this trail is open to visitors throughout the working hours. Try to visit this trail in the morning (7:30-10:30 am) to find more birds. Guides assistance is not mandatory for this trail. But if you are really interested in bird watching then it is always better to take the service of a professional bird guide.

Bazza trail is a guard accompanied trail at Thattekad Bird sanctuary. This trail takes you through dense forest with lots of birds and wildlife and has a duration of around 3 hours 30 minutes. This trip is available only in the morning ( 7:00 am to 8:30 am). Charges are 500/- rs per person. Minimum of 2 persons required for a trip. Expert bird guide service can be pre booked is needed.

Frogmouth Trail is another guard accompanied trail at Thattekad, with a duration of around 2 hour 30 minutes. This program is available through out the day ( 7:00 am to 3:00 pm). Charges are 220/- rs per person . Minimum of 2 persons required for one trip. Birding or photography enthusiasts can opt for bird guides at extra cost.

Butterfly park is a must visit attraction at Thattekad Bird Sanctuary. This small sanctuary for butterflies set on 30 cents of land is a visual treat for both kids and adults. Here you can observe the different cycles in the life of butterflies and their respective host plants.

Boating on Periyar river is another major attraction at Thattekad bird sanctuary. Motor boats with capacities of 6 pax and 20 pax operatess from the boat jetty inside the bird sanctuary from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Trips start as soon as the minimum required seats are booked. Charges are 150/- rs per head for a one hour trip.

Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary is famous for its population of western Ghats endemics like, Malabar trogan, Malabar barbet, Malabar parakeets, Malabar grey hornbills ,vernal hanging parakeet and the list goes on. Around Thattekad you will get varied species of Woodpeckers, pegions, cuckoo, drongos, owls, birds of prey and a large number of wet land birds. Here visitors can find a large number of bird species in a small area.

Birding in and around Thattekad bird sanctuary will be most fruitful with the help of a local bird guide as they can take you to several other birding spots other than the ones offered by sanctuary. There are a number of experienced bird guides at Thattekad, but visitors need to pre book them, especially during peak season(November to March)

 

GETTING THER

Nearest Railway station- Aluva (50 km)

Nearest Airport -Cochin (45km)

Nearest city – Kothamangalam (13 kms)

Altitude– 35 – 523 M (Njayapilly peak)

Rainfall – 2500 mm average per year

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