On the western side of the Indian subcontinent is the rainward side of the western ghats, a lush green part of the country watered by every passing cloud. Thattekad, on the banks of the river Periyar, is a dense monsoon forest, not very far from the port town of Cochin(Kochi)
Thattekkad is home to dense tropical evergreen and deciduous forests, grassland and around 500 species of exotic birds. T
he bird sanctuary in thatekkad ,also know was the 'Dr.Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary' ,is the richest bird habitat in peninsular India. The credit of making this bird sanctuary so popular and important goes to Dr. Salim Ali, the world famous ornithologist. Dr Salim Ali was attracted to this place due to the exotic microcosm of India's bird population. A stagerring 500 species of birds!!!That is the reason why thatekkad is know as the 'Heaven of Birds'. Some of the rare varieties of birds that can be spotted here are the Bee eater, Crimson-throated Barbet, Sunbird, Black Winged Kite, Shrike, Grey Jungle Fowl, Night Heron, Falcon, White-Breasted Water Hen, Ceylon Frog moth, Hornbill, Rose-billed Roller and Blue-winged Parakeet. Thattekkad also boasts of extensive plantations of teak, rosewood and mahogany. The dense forest in and around the bird sanctuary is home to nearly numerous varieties of animals.
