Thattekkadu Bird Sanctuary
Thattekkadu Bird Sanctuary
Thattekkadu Bird Sanctuary
4.5
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4.5
36 reviews
Excellent
20
Very good
9
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
2
achuThiruvalla
Dammam, Saudi Arabia403 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
It”s one of the good bird sanctuary in Kerala. Money”s’ snakes, Peacocks are inside cage. Lot of bird”s we saw in the forest area. Butterfly park is nice. We enjoyed it.
Written 5 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SaratVeda
Kothamangalam, India8 contributions
Nov 2017 • Solo
Best place to enjoy the tropical evergreen forests.Treat for birdwatchers especially on the months of September to March. Birds like Malabar grey hornbill, ceylon frogmouth and lots of migratory birds can be found. You should need the help of a guide if you are into bird photography. Otherwise it is a cool place for family outings.. The butterfly Park is also well maintained..
Written 6 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kalpesh P
Mumbai, India96 contributions
Nov 2019
Love the place. Hot and humid, just as the birds love it. We saw over 130 species of birds. Its a bird watchers paradise. The place is clean, little garbage near the towns, but the forests are clean. Forests where you can walk on foot is bliss. I have never seen trees that were as tall as they were in Thattekkad. The highlight of the birding trip was the Srilankan Frogmouth, the Wood Owl and the Bay Owl. If you are a birder, this is the place to be.
Written 20 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sudhir1955
Pune, India75 contributions
Mar 2015 • Friends
Thattekkad is a little nice town which can be reached by train or flight to Kochi. This place was on my dream-list for long and could not make it in winters. I had some time in hand and some inner drive to go, suddenly I decided to visit this bird sanctuary in the month of March 2015.
In the month of March 2015, I visited Kerala. Basic idea was to visit the birding destinations of Thattekkad and Munnar.
I had planned to have a guide over there and I found Mr Viond KV is the right person. Also decided to stay at his ‘Home Stay’ arrangements. Vinod has nice 3 rooms with basic amenities and good thing is that this is available inside the Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary itself!
He provides you veg and Non-veg food at the home stay itself. Vinod is in this field for last 17 years and knows the trees, branches, forests and places where particular spacy can be found.
I had booked Spiecjet flight from Pune to Kochi. Vinod has facility to pick you from Airport or Railhead. He was there on dot to pick me up. He drives like F1 racer but has good command on the Logan car he has.
We had food on the road and reached his place by 3.00 pm. Just dropping my luggage we immediately started for birding. We moved inside in the Thattekkad bird sanctuary.
We could see Indian Pitta, Asian Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Indian Darter, Cotton Pygmy Goose and Stock-billed Kingfisher.
It was cloudy evening and we decided to visit Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary which just opposite to Thattekkad Sanctuary. There we could see Great Racket-tailed Drongos and other commoners.
On the way back we visited a place where the stone has natural bird-bath. We saw Grey-headed Bulbul, Blue-throated Flycatcher male and female, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher and other commoners.
Next day we visited another forest area. This place is thick forest. Earlier day elephants were on the rampage and they had destroyed some plantation inside. Also it had rained in the night.
It took some time to pick up the activity. Orange Minivets, Lesser Hill Mynahs, Trogons, Bronze, Blue-faced Malkoha and Racket-tailed dongos, both male and female, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Plum-head parakeets were in plenty.
The prize catch came in when we encountered with Cylone Frogmouths! They were on the branch observing me quietly. Had nice photo session with them!
Next day, we got up early morning and started for Munnar by 4.00 am. By the time we reached Munnar, it was very cold. Mercury had dipped and it was freezing blast of air.
Munnar was like gold mine. We started with White Bellied Blue Robin! Another prize catch! It is very difficult to see and photograph this one as it sits inside the tick bushes. I was lucky to get few snaps as it pipped few times. Next was Common Rose Finches and Malabar Whistling Thrush, which I had many n number of times in the past. In next few hours we could click Grey Headed Canary Flycatcher, Black Bulbul, Black and Orange Flycatcher, Bar winged Shrike Flycatcher, Niligiri Pipit, Niligiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Kerala Laughing Thrush, Indian Blue Robin, Common Rosefinch, Dusty palm squirrel and many commoners. We had good food at Annapoorna Restaurant which is in the heart of city. For whole day we kept on moving from one place to another and my Camera was busy in clicking.
On last of my trip, we had another round in another forest area. Here we could get Malabar Trogon juvenile, Grey Junglefowls, Orange Minivets, White-bellied Treepie, etc. I missed clicking the White-bellied Tree-pie 2 times.
Vinod dropped us back to Airport as the flight was due in afternoon. His home-stay took our great care and we enjoyed the South Indian dishes every day.
Looking forward to visit again, may be in the month of November mostly Munnar to click the remaining beauties.
In the month of March 2015, I visited Kerala. Basic idea was to visit the birding destinations of Thattekkad and Munnar.
I had planned to have a guide over there and I found Mr Viond KV is the right person. Also decided to stay at his ‘Home Stay’ arrangements. Vinod has nice 3 rooms with basic amenities and good thing is that this is available inside the Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary itself!
He provides you veg and Non-veg food at the home stay itself. Vinod is in this field for last 17 years and knows the trees, branches, forests and places where particular spacy can be found.
I had booked Spiecjet flight from Pune to Kochi. Vinod has facility to pick you from Airport or Railhead. He was there on dot to pick me up. He drives like F1 racer but has good command on the Logan car he has.
We had food on the road and reached his place by 3.00 pm. Just dropping my luggage we immediately started for birding. We moved inside in the Thattekkad bird sanctuary.
We could see Indian Pitta, Asian Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Indian Darter, Cotton Pygmy Goose and Stock-billed Kingfisher.
It was cloudy evening and we decided to visit Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary which just opposite to Thattekkad Sanctuary. There we could see Great Racket-tailed Drongos and other commoners.
On the way back we visited a place where the stone has natural bird-bath. We saw Grey-headed Bulbul, Blue-throated Flycatcher male and female, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher and other commoners.
Next day we visited another forest area. This place is thick forest. Earlier day elephants were on the rampage and they had destroyed some plantation inside. Also it had rained in the night.
It took some time to pick up the activity. Orange Minivets, Lesser Hill Mynahs, Trogons, Bronze, Blue-faced Malkoha and Racket-tailed dongos, both male and female, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Plum-head parakeets were in plenty.
The prize catch came in when we encountered with Cylone Frogmouths! They were on the branch observing me quietly. Had nice photo session with them!
Next day, we got up early morning and started for Munnar by 4.00 am. By the time we reached Munnar, it was very cold. Mercury had dipped and it was freezing blast of air.
Munnar was like gold mine. We started with White Bellied Blue Robin! Another prize catch! It is very difficult to see and photograph this one as it sits inside the tick bushes. I was lucky to get few snaps as it pipped few times. Next was Common Rose Finches and Malabar Whistling Thrush, which I had many n number of times in the past. In next few hours we could click Grey Headed Canary Flycatcher, Black Bulbul, Black and Orange Flycatcher, Bar winged Shrike Flycatcher, Niligiri Pipit, Niligiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Kerala Laughing Thrush, Indian Blue Robin, Common Rosefinch, Dusty palm squirrel and many commoners. We had good food at Annapoorna Restaurant which is in the heart of city. For whole day we kept on moving from one place to another and my Camera was busy in clicking.
On last of my trip, we had another round in another forest area. Here we could get Malabar Trogon juvenile, Grey Junglefowls, Orange Minivets, White-bellied Treepie, etc. I missed clicking the White-bellied Tree-pie 2 times.
Vinod dropped us back to Airport as the flight was due in afternoon. His home-stay took our great care and we enjoyed the South Indian dishes every day.
Looking forward to visit again, may be in the month of November mostly Munnar to click the remaining beauties.
Written 10 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liamj66
Upminster, UK53 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
This is truely awful. In 2020 animals should not be kept in cages. To see two majestic peacocks in a cage was bad enough, but then to see a monkey alone in a small cage was heartbreaking. He held on to the bars of his prison looking forlorn & helpless. Why?
Written 21 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anusree P
Chennai (Madras), India121 contributions
Apr 2017
The place is situated on the outskirts of Kothamangalam. It always has a cool atmosphere as the place is on the banks of Periyar river. I haven't seen many birds there though. But the place was great. Boating is another attraction nearby the bird sanctuary.
Written 19 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
REKHA S
Kochi (Cochin), India57 contributions
Apr 2017 • Family
The birds we can see depends upon season. But sometimes , it will be eye-catching experience having wide varietyof birds. There is keralite restaurant offering foods. The natural beauty is excellent as it's near periyar river. Bhoothathankettu is nearby to visit.
Written 21 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ananth S
Mysuru (Mysore), India172 contributions
Jan 2017 • Solo
Having heard so much about Thattekkad Couldn't sight many birds though photography was not the main agenda. There were no guides available on Sunday. the booking office guy said private guides are usually present who charge anywhere between Rs.500 and Rs.2000 (again very tricky). The nature walk is nice.
Written 5 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sreevidya S
Chennai (Madras), India42 contributions
Sept 2016 • Family
It's a perfect place for bird watchers and photographers. If you do plan to visit, plan properly for maximum sighting.
1) reach there early morning
2) Be quite and observant
3) patience is key
Many have complained they didn't see that many birds. Please understand birds and animals don't respond to human call.. Noise will drive them away.
Having said that would suggest the tourism department to provide guides to visitors on request(not just pre booking).
1) reach there early morning
2) Be quite and observant
3) patience is key
Many have complained they didn't see that many birds. Please understand birds and animals don't respond to human call.. Noise will drive them away.
Having said that would suggest the tourism department to provide guides to visitors on request(not just pre booking).
Written 22 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rajkumar R
Chennai (Madras), India123 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
Myself and my cousins are very much interested in bird watching in rtecent years.. And we decided to go for an exclusive Bird watching trip.. I went through the the reviews of Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary in this site and saw many positive reviews about this place and Bird Watching Guide Mr.Vinod from Thattekkad...
We visited Thattekkad in April 2016 summer time, and we stayed in Sanctuary View Home Stay which is a property of Mr. Vinod and it was inside the Thattekkad Bird sanctuary...
I was a very decent place for stay and the food which came from our guide Vinod's home was really yummy cant forget few dishes like "malabar Kootu", "Aapam Kadala curry" "Chappathi and Veg Stew" ,
And we went for few bird-watching sessions on both days and saw many rare and endemic species of birds in Western Ghats... We got very much exited when got a chance to see the Malabar Trogan, and the excitement went to the next level when our guide shown the "Ceylon Frog mouth bird:" one of the very rare birds.. We saw the bird very near to us and since it is nocturnal it was not able to see us in the day time so we went very near and took photos...
Malabar Grey Hornbill is yet another beauty in this flat forest which is a visual treat for anyone who loves nature...
I have added many photos which will speak more than this text...
Our Guide Mr.Vinod is having very in depth knowledge in Bird watching and have so many years of experience in this field... I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr.Vinod for making our First Bird watching trip a great and memorable experience...
We visited Thattekkad in April 2016 summer time, and we stayed in Sanctuary View Home Stay which is a property of Mr. Vinod and it was inside the Thattekkad Bird sanctuary...
I was a very decent place for stay and the food which came from our guide Vinod's home was really yummy cant forget few dishes like "malabar Kootu", "Aapam Kadala curry" "Chappathi and Veg Stew" ,
And we went for few bird-watching sessions on both days and saw many rare and endemic species of birds in Western Ghats... We got very much exited when got a chance to see the Malabar Trogan, and the excitement went to the next level when our guide shown the "Ceylon Frog mouth bird:" one of the very rare birds.. We saw the bird very near to us and since it is nocturnal it was not able to see us in the day time so we went very near and took photos...
Malabar Grey Hornbill is yet another beauty in this flat forest which is a visual treat for anyone who loves nature...
I have added many photos which will speak more than this text...
Our Guide Mr.Vinod is having very in depth knowledge in Bird watching and have so many years of experience in this field... I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr.Vinod for making our First Bird watching trip a great and memorable experience...
Written 12 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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