Southern India

The Extravagant Biodiversity Hotspot

The Western Ghats, the mountain range hugging the western end of India’s peninsula, is one of the top ten biodiversity hotspots on the planet. It is a hotbed of endemism and speciation. But more than anything else, the Western Ghats is an emotion. It is the source of water for most of south India. Most of the major rivers of the region originate in the higher reaches of these mountains. But what is it that makes the Western Ghats truly unique?

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Nagarhole National Park and Tiger Reserve lies in the foothills of the Western Ghats on the leeward side. This vast mixed deciduous forest comprises around 1000 sq. km of pristine wilderness that is home to many of the animals that India is known for.

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The large hillocks rise from the Deccan flatland and are scattered throughout the Deccan and Telangana plateaus. Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary is located among one such craton in north Karnataka.

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The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, or the Nilgiris, are a hill chain that is an off shoot of the Western Ghats. The major portion of the massif lies within the state of Tamil Nadu, while parts of it extend to the north into Karnataka (Bandipur) and westwards into Kerala (Wayanad).

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The large hillocks rise from the Deccan flatland and are scattered throughout the Deccan and Telangana plateaus. Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary is located among one such craton in north Karnataka.

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Wildlife Photography in Kabini

Kabini is currently known as the destination to photograph cats in all their glory. From the Tiger to the Black Panther, it has a lot to offer. It is a cat lover’s paradise but the truth is, the park is so much more. The high diversity of large and small mammals, birds, butterflies, trees and landscapes creates a perfect mix of wild spaces to keep one engaged and hooked to this jungle. This is truly a wildlife paradise of south India.

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We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.
– Jawaharial Nehru

Safaris in Kabini

Kabini is open throughout the year. It is one of the few parks that remain open. The vehilces and boats are covered on top to ensure all season functionality. Having said this, the park can be quite difficult to explore during the heavy rains keeping in mind visibility and road conditions. Safaris in Kabini are controlled by the government lodge and it wont be possible to get exclusive jeeps.

An intimate experience with the Sloth Bear

The safari experience at Daroji is one of a kind and unique. There is no place on the planet where one can get such an intimate experience with wild sloth bears. We recommend that people spend at least one full day or two taking in Daroji.

Safaris in Daroji

The bears are seen on jeep safari and from watch towers overlooking their dens. The sightings are especially good at dusk when the bears emerge in big numbers; sometimes people can witness over 10 bears dispersing from their rocky shelters. A group of bears is known as a Sleuth and this is the only place where one can truly witness a sleuth of sloth bears. There are also parts of the park where the forest department feeds the bears keeping in mind the high numbers and the fact that some of them have been translocated into the sanctuary. This gives one an opportunity to get some of the best frames of sloth bears possible.

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Exploring the Nilgiris

Today the Nilgiris is a mix of man-made and natural habitats, both of which are teeming with wildlife. Wildlife viewing in these hills is very specific to which part of the biosphere reserve one is visiting. The popular safari destinations are restricted to the foothill forests of Mudumalai and Bandipur. In these two places one gets the opportunity to go on open vehicle jeep safaris into the forest to look for large wildlife from elephants to tigers and hyenas. Once you are up in the hills towards Ooty or Wayanad, most of the experiences are on foot.

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RECOMMENDED

Journeys

JUNE 6/2021 | WILDLIFE

Traversing the Western Ghats

Our journey traverses the Western Ghats, from its drier eastern slopes, climbing to the moist rainforests of the western slopes and finally ending at the high montane shola forests near the peaks. The habitat variation also influences the lifestyles of the people who inhabit these mountains.

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JUNE 6/2019 | CULTURE

Kerala – God’s Own Creation

A journey through the state of Kerala, witnessing all of its most spectacular habitats. Traverse through the lush forests of the southern Western Ghats, a range older than the Himalayas harbouring large tracts of virgin rainforests and high-altitude grasslands.

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RECOMMENDED

Stays

Sentinels of frontier lands, accommodation partners of WATCH are beyond being just hotels, lodges and retreats. They are showcases of the authentic and invaluable, ensuring their propagation and celebration. World class hospitality is a natural derivative of this pride in their heritage and legacy.

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CONSCIOUS LUXURY

Right at the base of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, CEL is surrounded by hills and scrub forest on one side and breezy coconut plantations on the other. The property has six spacious private pool villas, each overlooking the lush forested hills behind. It is built being very mindful of the surroundings and environment, using rammed earth from the property and thatched roofs made from coconut palm trees.

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WILDERNESS

A planter’s bungalow built in the 1940’s by the British, this property stands amidst a 2000 acre tea estate, of which 555 acres is organic tea. Situated in the Annamalai hills, the six rooms command stunning views of the lush Western Ghats. Enter a world of solitude where the only sounds you hear are of chirping birds.

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UNDERSTATED LUXURY

Nestled in the foothills of the majestic Western Ghats, sitting on the banks of the River Periyar, Riverhouse echoes tranquility and old-world charm. Located in a serene little village adjacent to reserve forests, this patch of 2 acres of land was once part of a sprawling rubber plantation.

CONSCIOUS LUXURY

WILDERNESS

UNDERSTATED LUXURY

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TESTIMONIALS

Words from our Guests

Here are few inspiring words that drive us to veer off the beaten track to look for the beyond. Exploring and sharing the hidden wonders of this awe-inspiring land for that acknowledging nod, a simple smile, a few kind words is in a nutshell our raison d’être.

Now for the trip: …drum roll please. Of the various trips we have done with you this was definitely the best one. Of all the travel we have done Africa was our favorite, but this was a close second. A wonderful blend of different areas and people. Great variety of activities. Some of the hotels were the most spectacular we have and probably will ever stay at. Service was the best we received anywhere in the world. India like Africa speaks for itself, it was like going to a different world. The guides were truly exceptional. Each one injected energy and passion into their presentation. Our driver we had for the whole trip was remarkable person who always worked to make every day fun. My new knee was swollen and painful throughout much of the trip but I was enjoying myself too much to notice .

DANIELA & THOMAS

United States of America

Travel Scope did an excellent job in coordinating our tour and will definitely contact you for future clients. All your guides are knowledgeable and kept it interesting. What I liked most of all is their ability to adjust. As you very well know, travelers are not all the same - some would like a lengthy explanation and others, like us, would rather have the time to appreciate the place without information overload. Also, I like that we were not brought to any store in the guise of showing us “artisans” like our guides in Nepal & Dubai. It is a major turnoff that many of today's tours incorporate commercialism into their venture. Unless specifically requested by the guests, I think shops should be avoided at all cost as it is a waste of precious time .

IMEE

United States of America

Mohan - You gave me the experience of a lifetime. My heart and soul have been deeply moved by the trip. Your organization was so excellent and kind we could not have asked for anything more except more time.

SHEILA

United States of America

Thank you for coming to meet us at the hotel in Delhi tonight. I think you heard clearly from the clients what a great tour you have put together and how much they enjoyed Avi. You have a world class team.

BROD

Australia

Thank you again for all your efforts in getting us home. The effort you and your people put in went well above and beyond. The people at the airport were the icing on the cake in that they just made us feel like rock stars. Mary and I are looking forward to next year when we can return to Incredible India for our sixth visit, I hope you and your people have a speedy return to normal business.

STEVEN AND MARY

United States of America

Thank you both for organizing such a dreamlike trip to India for our group. We could not have been happier! I thought this is a perfect time to share with you about our fabulous experience, knowing how much time and effort you have put into planning & implementing this trip for our group. In short, your mission is accomplished and my hats off to you both as my husband and I rate this trip as one of the very best in the past 4 decades of traveling; we just can compare it to our trip to Africa which was already our most favorite.

FARIBA & HORMOZ

United States of America

“I’ve had the privilege of travelling to India on numerous occasions and I list the country as probably my favourite on the planet. Having visited more than 100 countries, I don’t make this claim lightly. On each occasion, I’ve travelled with Travel Scope – for my personal travels and with my tour groups. Travel Scope’s itineraries, knowledge, care-factor, understanding of our needs and their attention to detail, make them an outstanding ground operator. Regardless of which region I visited, Travel Scope managed these adventures seamlessly and showed me the best on offer. I have learned that India is many different cultures within the one border. It is very difficult to name a favourite experiences but I have two stand-outs; The Snow Leopards of Ladakh and the wildlife of Central India. Both are on my list of the best things I’ve done in my life! And both are thanks to the outstanding team at Travel Scope! I can’t recommend them highly enough” .

Blue Dot Travel

Exceptional service standards at the Tiger lodges. Wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities. The safaris across the different parks gave the group a great variety of landscapes to see the full breadth of the wildlife. The guides were skilled at tracking the Tigers through the alarm calls of the deers and monkeys, creating a great level of suspense. Delicious food served with warmth and attention to detail at all locations.

Blue Dot

I have had the privilege over many years, during my travels throughout India, both on personal trips and with my TIKKA TOURS guests, to explore all the natural wonders that India has to offer. All of my experiences have been curated by Travel Scope India and its founder Mohan Narayanaswamy , whom I have spent many hours with, bouncing around in jeeps on our search for all things wild in the forests and jungles learning from Travel Scope’s expert handpicked guides and seeing everything from the abundant birdlife, to sloth bears and their babies being carried on their mothers backs, watching the playful and mischievous monkeys and of course seeing the breathtaking big cats – the Tiger and leopards, and even the Asiatic Lions! It’s because of Mohan’s passion and commitment in offering more than just the standard ‘’tiger tourism’’ experiences, that I have been able to explore the diversity and more ‘’óff piste’’ wildlife destinations, which have made me fall in love not just with India and its people, cultures and traditions, but also its treasure trove of nature that never ceases to amaze me. Thank you Travel Scope for your dedication to put WILD INDIA on the map!

Claudia wolf

Founder TIKKA TOURS Australia

“Travel Scope has become one of ATJ’s most trusted partners over the past two decades and one of the finest travel providers we’ve had the pleasure of working with over 3 decades plus of being in the business. Their ability to deliver top notch travel experiences is unmatched in India and South Asia. Unlike other travel companies, Travel Scope never rests on past achievements and successes nor assume that every visitor to South Asia is looking for the same type of experience. They understand that the itineraries we plan for our travelers are as unique as the clients themselves. Travel Scope tirelessly searches out and recommends destinations and experiences that most others companies simply aren’t aware of. Ultimately, Travel Scope always delivers flawless and expertly executed itineraries whether the focus is wildlife, art, culture, culinary, history or all of these areas combined.”

Eric Kareus

Director of Travel + Co-Owner

ATJ Travel, Boulder, CO USA

FROM OUR

Memoir

From pensive sojourns to penning ideas whose time has come, our WATCH experts and partners are as passionate about sharing their ideas, observations and life experiences as they are travelling to the hidden destinations. Read their recent writings.

National Park

Pench National Park

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Panna National Park

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Kanha National Park

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