India - Dragonflies & Butterflies of the Western Ghats

Tour Code: IND49

A 10-day holiday, led by one of India's foremost experts, David Raju, in search of the wealth of dragonflies and butterflies, and other wildlife, found in one of the World's bio-diversity hotspots - India's Western Ghats.

£3,995

Flight Inclusive

£3,495

Land Only

Book Now Saved Tours

Why Choose Naturetrek?

50+ Trustpilot Reviews

45+ Google Reviews

Click any badge to read more reviews

Tour Itinerary and Reports

View Day by Day Itinerary and Tour Reports

1 Itinerary 2 Tour Reports

Can I Help You?

Rajan Jolly

Operations Manager

Email Call 1-844-433-9473

Carbon Footprint

3277kg CO2e

With International Flights

677.2kg CO2e

Tour Only

What does this mean?

Highlights

Led by David Raju, an outstanding Indian naturalist
Southern Birdwing, Common & Tailed Jays, Chocolate Albatross, Coconut Lagoon Hotel
Blue Grass & Kerala Dartlets, Pygmy Blue Spot, Common Picture Wing & Globe Skimmer
Malabar Torrent Dart, Steam Glory, River Helidior among dragonflies at Thattekad
Clipper, Malabar Rose & Banded Blue Pierrot among butterflies at Thattekad
Tiger, Asian Elephant, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Langur & Malabar Giant Squirrel, Periyar
Periyar’s dragonflies include Blue Hawklet, Emerald Spreadwing & Ruby Marsh Dart
Paris Peacock, Western Centaur Oak Blue & Malabar Raven among host of butterflies
Special birds include Malabar Trogon & Malabar Grey Hornbill, Periyar

Summary

The Western Ghats comprise an ancient chain of hills that runs from north to south along the western coast of India. They form a biodiversity hotspot and centre of endemism that is of special appeal to the naturalist, such is the impressive range of endemic and near endemic species that they hold. On this exciting holiday we will focus particularly on the beautiful dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies of the region, many of which are endemic, in the company of David Raju, an outstanding all-round Indian naturalist from this area who is particularly expert in this field. He is also a renowned frog expert, adept at finding the most exquisite and colourful species that the untrained eye would never spot, not to mention the region’s birds and mammals.

We will concentrate our explorations on the lush forests of the Western Ghats, exploring a rich tapestry of habitats that includes scenic hills and mountains, extensive tracts of characteristic evergreen forest, grasslands, and beautiful lakes, streams and other wetlands. These landscapes and ecosystems are significant in that, not only do they sustain large human communities, but they also support a rich natural history, so much of it unique to the region.

We begin in Cochin, from where we will drive straight to Kumarakom, on the eastern banks of the vast Lake Vembanad, the largest lake in Kerala and the longest in India. The Coconut Lagoon Hotel, where we will be staying, has a wonderful butterfly garden. Here we should find such beautiful species as Southern Birdwing, Common Jay, Tailed Jay, Chocolate Albatross, Blue Tiger, Great Orange-tip, Monkey Puzzle, Gram Blue, Tiny Grass Blue and Bush Hopper, amongst others. We will also search the lakeside, canals and ponds in the region looking for the many dragonflies and damselflies found here — species such as Blue Grass Dartlet, Kerala Dartlet, Pygmy Blue Spot, Common Picture Wing and Ground Skimmer. The paddyfields here also attract a good number of migratory dragonflies, amongst them the Globe Skimmer, which flies all the way from Africa!

Next, we will travel north to Thattekad Wildlife Sanctuary, stopping en route at a small stream to look for more dragonflies. Here over 40 different species of dragonfly have been recorded within a 100-metre stretch — amongst them Malabar Torrent Dart, Stream Glory, Black-tipped Forest Glory, River Helidior and others. Butterflies will also be an attraction here, with species such as Grey Count, Commander and Common Sailor. Thattekad Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in honour of the pre-eminent 20th century Indian ornithologist, is situated on the northern bank of the Periyar River. The Sanctuary was established in 1983, based on a recommendation made by Dr. Salim Ali many years previously. He described Thattekad in the 1930s as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, comparable only with that of the eastern Himalaya. Much of the forest of that time has been lost, but the surviving areas certainly give glimpses of the rich diversity of the once widespread lowland forests of Kerala, and the area still remains excellent for butterflies and dragonflies. The Clipper, Common Rose, Crimson Rose, Malabar Rose, Tamil Catseye, Red Helen and Banded Blue Pierrot are just some of the butterflies we should see here, while dragonfly species may include Crimson Marsh Glider, Emerald Banded Skimmer, Splendid Dartlet, Fulvous Forest Skimmer and many others. For birders, this is also a good spot for Sri Lankan Frogmouth.

Finally, we head south-east into the more moist evergreen forests of the Western Ghats, afforded protection within the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Its 777 square kilometres provide a haven for a wide range of mammals, including Tiger, Asian Elephant, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Leopard, Asian Wild Dog, Nilgiri Langur, Lion-tailed Macaque and Malabar Giant Squirrel. Periyar also supports a wealth of dragonflies which include Blue-tailed Forest Hawk, Blue Marsh Hawk, Crimsontailed Marsh Hawk, Blue Hawklet, Ruby Marsh Dart, Emerald Spreadwing and Travancore Torrent Dart. Many spectacular butterflies also occur here, amongst them Paris Peacock, Black-vein Sergeant, Western Centaur Oak Blue, Malabar Raven and Malabar Tree Nymph, while the birdlife includes several of the species found only in southern India and Sri Lanka, such as Malabar Trogon and Malabar Grey Hornbill.

Outline Itinerary

Day

Depart London

Day

Arrive Cochin and drive to Kumarakom

Days

3 - 5

Thattekad Wildlife Sanctuary

Days

6 - 8

Periyar Tiger Reserve

Day

Marari

View Itinerary

What's Included?

Food

All included in the price.

Accommodation

Tourist hotels at Kumarakom and Marari; comfortable lodges elsewhere. All rooms have private facilities.

Documents

Itineraries

Itinerary

Download

Tour Reports

September 2019

Download

September 2014

Download

Dates & Prices

2027

Flight Inclusive

£3,995

Land Only

£3,495

Single Supplement

£795

Regional Departures

Would you rather depart from an airport closer to you? Give us a call at 1-844-433-9473 and we'll see what we can do.

Book Now

2028

Flight Inclusive

£3,995

Land Only

£3,495

Single Supplement

£795

Regional Departures

Would you rather depart from an airport closer to you? Give us a call at 1-844-433-9473 and we'll see what we can do.

Book Now

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire

Tour Dates or Itinerary Don't Suit?

Allow our experts to create a private, customised itinerary with dates and prices to suit you.

Enquire

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!