Birding Hot Spots
TOP SLIP & PARAMBIKULAM
Between the Anamalai Ranges of Tamilnadu and the Nelliampathy Ranges of Kerala on the Western Ghats is the The Indira Gandhi National Park. The forests, a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere reserve consists of the park as well as a sanctuary formerly known as Anamalai Wildlife sanctuary with a combined area of 95,860 hectares. The national park covers an area of 108 sq kms. and the sanctuary is spread over an area of 958 sq km. The IGWS, also called 'Top Slip', is in Tamilnadu, Varies from the dry deciduous to the semi-evergreen, evergreen and the wet temperate containing teak, rose wood and many miscellaneous tropical species. The tourist zone - Top Slip - is the main birding area. There is a watch tower overlooking a reservoir around 1km from the edge of the Karian Shola on Top Slip. Many of the birds can be seen on the way as well as from the watch tower. This sanctuary is home to Lion-tailed macaque, Bonnet macaque, Common langur, Nilgiris langur, Malabar giant squirrel and Grizzled giant squirrel, besides tiger, Gaur, Pangolin, Sambhar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Wild boar, Sloth Bear, Porcupine, Nilgiris Tahr, and Civet Cat. The Avifauna includes the Racquet Tailed Drongo, Black Headed Oriole, Paradise Fly-catcher, Whistling Thrush, Emerald Dove, Green Pigeon, Tickell's Flower Pecker, Rufus Wood Pecker, Rose Ringed Parakeet, Black Eagle, Great Indian, Malabar Pied Hornbill, and the Fairy Bluebird.

Parabikulam is in Kerala - originally a small tract of reserve forest with an area of about 48 sq. kms and with the growing wildlife need, it was expanded in 1962 and today covers an area of 258 sq. kms. Ideally suited to the growth of teak, the tract encouraged large scale teak plantations through artificial regeneration in the early 1920's. This was abandoned when a full fledged wildlife department was formed in 1985. Several streams originate from these hills and flows towards the Chalakudy river. The terrain is mostly undulating with a valley in the basin. The Karimala Gopuram is the highest peak in this region and standing at 1444m. Parambikulam with nearly 200 species of birds has gained acceptance a a fine birding destination. The abundant wildlife here also makes a journey here doubly rewarding.

Getting There :
The sanctuary is accessible by road from the Tamil Nadu side of the border. Buses ply between Pollachi and Parambikulam. Pollachi is 60 kms away and has a railway station. The nearest airport is Coimbatore which is around 100 kms away.