Another extended weekend trip that did not start well. Had to go down to Theppekad in Mudumalai to start the trip and was under the impression that all buses from Bangalore to Ooty would go the same route. Unfortunately boarded the one bus that did not go that way. The route via Coimbatore side to Ooty and then Theppekad was scenic no doubt but was at least 4 hours longer. The Mahindra club hotel was comfortably surrounded by lots of bamboo with a few Tickel's blue flycatchers and malabar giant squirrels constantly moving around in the perimeter of the lodges. The government guest houses at Theppekad on the Mudumalai side was less comfortable but situated deep within the forest.
Being an elephant corridor, venturing out after dark is quite dangerous but the mornings on the riverside are nice. Spotted deer and a variety of birds are active throughout the mornings. Although safaris in Mudumalai and Bandipur are the primary attractions, there is a lot of sighting even on the roads. We spotted wild dogs and a couple of sloth bears on the roadside. The elephant camp near the guest house in Theppekad has feeding sessions twice a day and a small museum of sorts. Vibhuti malai nearby has a 360 view of the entire area and a few nearby places allow for quite a bit of birding as well. The spots on this trip included white bellied minivets, streak throated woodpeckers, otters, crested larks, jungle bushquails and a spot bellied eagle owl among others
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