Agumbe - Heart of the rainforest

Usually Indian wildlife is identified by powerful species like the Tigers and the Elephants, but on this trip we promise to take you though this incredible journey showing you the lesser known yet very important parts of the rainforest ecosystem that supports many vulnerable and protected wildlife species, one of them holds the title of another King of the jungle - Indian King Cobra.

Agumbe Geography:

Agumbe is a very small village located in Shimoga district of Karnataka. It is also known as the "Cherrapunji" of the South. Being a part of dense rainforest it has limited visitors, the village covers an area of 3 sq km and is along periphery of Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary and the Kudremukh National Park.

You will be guided by an expert naturalist/ conservationist. The central idea of this trip is to absorb the richness of the bio-diversity and thus a good DSLR is highly recommended to record some of the unbelievable moments in Nature. Jungle tracking to spot mammals (lion tailed macaque, sambar deer) and birds (malabar trogon);

We will be exploring various animal habitats like grasslands to dense forests in complete silence and natural beauty. It is highly recommended to start follow the given itinerary

Wake up at 5:00 am (An hour earlier is much better)

5:30 am Tea and biscuits

6:00 am

 day as early as 5 am and return to bed by 10 am.. have lunch and step out again wo night hikes jungle to spot king cobra, other reptiles and amphibians.

Jan 22nd - Leave via Orange/ KSRTC bus 6:30 pm from Katraj

Jan 23rd - Reach Udupi at 7:00 am. Travel to Guddekeri

We will arrange private transport to our place of stay in Agumbe in Camping/ Dorm or private cabins (additional cost) accommodation style.

Travel time is 3 hours.

9:30 am - Check in and have breakfast.

Settle down, relax in cottage/ dorms. Or take a walk in the Camp vicinity. Short walk around the camp site in search of Draco (Western Ghats flying lizard)

12:30 - 1:30 pm - Hot local Lunch

2:00 - 4:00 pm - Trek up to hilltop via jungle trail

4:30 - 5:30 pm - Coffee and Group interaction

6:00 - 7:00 Documentary on King Cobra a Wildlife Film

7:30 - 8:30 Dinner

8:30 - 10:30 Night walk to find Amphibians and nocturnal mammals (flying squirrel, slender loris and more)

Jan 24th

4:30 am - Wake up and get ready

5:15 am - Tea and biscuits

5:30 am - Birding trail, early morning time is the best to catch some action from these colourful endemic species - 3 hours.

8:30 pm - Return - freshen up

9:30 am - Breakfast

10:00 - 1:00 pm - Free time - you can either relax, read or just spend your time your way.

1:30 - Lunch

2:30 - 4:30 - Group interaction and sharing ideas/ networking

7:30 - 8:30 Dinner

8:30 - 10:30 Night walk to find Amphibians and nocturnal mammals (flying squirrel, slender loris and more)

Jan 25th

4:30 am Wake up to chirping music of the birds

6:00 - 8:30 Take the birding trail under a thick canopy, swim in a pristine steam, explore forest for insects, reptiles and amphibians.

8:30 - 9:00 freshen up

9:00 - 10:00 Breakfast

10:00 - Leave for ARRS - Agumbe Rainforest Research Station.

10:30 - Reach ARRS - Rainforest Ecology Workshop/ Jungle trail for Photography

Learn First Aid for snake bites, an essential for trekkers

12:30 - 1:30 - Lunch

2:00 - Leave for Shimoga

8:00 pm - Leave for Pune

Jan 26th

Reach Pune at 5:30 am

Visit to ARRS

The Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS) was founded in 2005 by Romulus Whitaker, a herpetologist. Whitaker had been familiar with Agumbe since the 1970s when he began studying the King Cobra. Its purpose is to create a local biodiversity database, encourage individual scientific research, collaborate with India's Department of Forestry and conserve the rainforest of the Western Ghats as well as to educate the residents of the region in the importance of forestry conservation. The King Cobra, an endangered is the station's "flagship species". ARRS managed the world’s first radio-telemetry project on the King Cobra, which is also the first radio-telemetry study done on any snake in India. ARRS conducts and facilitates a wide variety of research projects, ranging from rainforest ecology, behavioural and population ecology, phenology, geoinformatics and socio economics.

Things to carry

2 Valid Identity Proof with an address (Voter ID / Adhaar Card).

2 Passport Size Color Photographs.

Good Water Bottles(not the disposable ones).

A light-weighted Rucksack or Backpack, and a smaller daypack.

A good pair of trekking shoes, and a pair of flipflops. Thermal Inners, Fleece Jackets, and warm clothes.

Raincoat/poncho(Just in case)Personal clothing, Track pants, shorts, Towel, napkinsCap, sunglassesCamera, Binoculars (if you choose to).Toiletries, Sunscreen, Moisturizer, Light towel, Lip balm, Wet wipes, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Hand Sanitizer etc based on your personal needs.

Extra Polythene Bags (To segregate used/ unused garments, wet/ dry clothing).Any medicines that you may feel necessary.Mosquito repellantEnergy Drinks, Juices, Snacks & Biscuits to munch on (can be purchased over there too)

For Booking

Our account details below:

Name: Rivers and Ridges

Bank Name: Punjab National Bank

Bank account Number: 6631002100001031

Branch: Kondhwa

City: Pune

IFSC Code: PUNB0663100

Account type: Current

Google Pay on 7350064961

For any registrations/ enquiry call or whats app Rohan: 7350064961.

Thanks,

Team Rivers and Ridges.