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Exploring Longwood Shola Reserve Forest, Kotagiri

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Discover the Beauty and Wildlife of This Tropical Rainforest Gem Introduction: Longwood Shola Reserve Forest Longwood Shola Reserve Forest, nestled in the heart of Kotagiri, is a small yet significant tropical rainforest spanning just 115 hectares. Serving as a crucial water source for numerous villages in Kotagiri, this forest first caught my attention in Outlook Traveller, which led me to explore it in November 2005. First Encounter with the Rainforest and Its Leeches During my initial visit, the guesthouse caretaker attempted to discourage me from trekking, citing an abundance of leeches. Unfazed by his warning, I insisted on proceeding with the trek. Within minutes, however, leeches began latching onto us, forcing us to flee the forest in just five minutes. Return to Longwood Shola: A Journey 11 Years Later In February, I decided to venture back to Longwood Shola, now experienced and unfazed by leech bites. Accompanied by two guides, a forest watcher, and a young APW, we embarked

Siruvani Dam, Palakkad Kerala

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Siruvani Dam, Ecotourism Siruvani Dam is a very important Water Source for Coimbatore and Siruvani water is close to many a hearts. I have heard stories of natives of coimbatore carrying siruvani water where ever they go, even if travelling to far off places. After hearing so much about siruvani and people going gaga about its sweetness, my eagerness to see siruvani dam increased multi fold. This nice article documents  siruvani water reached coimbatore. I quickly figured that to visit siruvani dam through tamilnadu, one required special visit permission and is not possible for the common man and had abandoned the idea. Later i came across an article on siruvani forest ecotourism and that again kindled the desire to see Siruvani Dam.  And i finally made it last year and i was so impressed that i wanted to go there again.  While we were returning from Silent Valley National Park (24th Jun,17) we took the deviation leading to Siruvani dam. The road was narrow but the route was v

Silent Valley National Park, Ecotourism Review

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Silent Valley National Park, Ecotourism Review Ecotourism is well organised and all bookings are done at the Ecotourism Center, Mukkali . All accommodation and Trekking details are available in the Silent Valley National Park Website . Ecotourism Reception Booking Contact Details The following are the contact numbers for Silent Valley Booking ( Accomodation, trekking, Jeep ride etc) 04924 253 225 +91 8589895652 Basic Information 1) Birding  Best Season - January to Feb.  Best Places for Birding Ranking No 1 :   There is a nature camp in between Mukkali and Sairandhri that can accommodate 20 people. Birding camps are organised for large groups, typically educational tours . This is not an option for general public or individual birders Ranking No 2: Karuvara Trekking.The Trek runs through a coffee plantation and along a stream and excellent for birding. I've been there in January and was astonished by the wide varieties of birds. Ranking No 3: Trek from

Sairandhri Trip, Silent Valley National Park Kerala

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Sairandhri(Named after Draupathi) is a place inside the Core Zone of Silent Valley National Park and the jeep or Bus trekking to sairandhri is the most popular activity in silent valley national park. We reached there on Friday morning(23rd June,17) around 8.30 a.m. We found the place buzzing with activity , almost the whole forest department of Silent Valley had descended there and they out numbered the tourists by 3:1. The new conservator of Silent Valley was coming to stay and every one in the department was present and in their best attire. To the departments credit none of this affected the tourists in anyway. Silent Valley National Park, Forest Office Mukkali Silent Valley National Park, Ecotourism Reception Being a weekday there were not many tourists and we were informed that the bus will not ply that day for the same reason. So we settled for a Jeep ride (2000 Rs including the Guide charges) and started around 9 a.m. The first pit stop is at the check post. From th