Kodagu Eco Tourism

About Division

Madikeri wildlife division comprises three wildlife sanctuaries, namely, Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary (181.29 Km²), Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary (102.92 Km²) and Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary (105.59 Km²). Madikeri Wildlife Division consists of one sub-division, namely, Madikeri wildlife sub-division, and consists of four wildlife ranges, namely, Makutta, Virajpet, Srimangala and Talacauvery Wildlife Ranges. Brahmagiri Sanctuary is located in Virajpet Taluk. It adjoins the forests of the Wynad district of Kerala state. It covers Brahmagiri and Urti Reserved Forests.

The Sanctuary is named after its highest point (peak) known as Brahmagiri (1,607 m). Pushpagiri sanctuary is located in Somwarpet taluk. The sanctuary covers a part of Kadamakkal Reserved Forest. The highest point (peak) of the Sanctuary is Pushpagiri (Kumara Parvata) (1,712 m). The Sanctuary adjoins the Bisle ghat Forests of Hassan division and the Kukke Subramanya forests of Mangalore division. Talacauvery Sanctuary is located in Madikeri taluk. It adjoins the forests of Kasarkode district of Kerala state. The Sanctuary covers part of Padinalknad Reserved Forest.

The Sanctuary is named after Talacauvery, the origin of the Cauvery River which lies on the eastern edge of the Sanctuary. The forests of all the three Wildlife Sanctuaries of Madikeri Wildlife Division are evergreen or semi-evergreen. Important animals found in the sanctuaries are tiger, panther, wild dog, Nilgiri Marten, elephant, bison, sloth bear, Lion-tailed macaque, common langur, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Giant Flying Squirrel, Wild boar, Varieties of reptiles and birds, etc.

Sub Divisions

Madikeri Wildlife

Ranges of Madikeri Wildlife:

• Brahmagiri Wildlife
• Pushpagiri Wildlife
• Srimangala Wildlife
• Talakaveri Wldlife

About Division

Nagarahole Tiger Reserve is situated in Kodagu and Mysuru districts. The origin of the reserve as a protected area dates back to the reign of the Wodeyar dynasty, the former rulers of the Kingdom of Mysore, when Nagarahole was an exclusive hunting reserve of the kings. It was set up in 1955 as a wildlife sanctuary by Coorg State covering an area of 284.16 Km². Later its area was increased to 643.39 Km². It was upgraded to a national park in 1988, and was brought under the fold of the Project Tiger by declaring it as a Tiger Reserve in 1999.

Nagarahole Tiger Reserve is headed by a Conservator of Forests. The Tiger Reserve has three sub-divisions, namely, Hunsur, Nagarahole and Metikuppe sub-divisions, and consists of eight ranges, namely, Anechowkur, Antarasanthe, DB Kuppe, Kallahalla, Metikuppe, Nagarahole, Hunsur, Veeranahosalli.

Forests of Nagarahole are primarily deciduous. It has excellent moist deciduous forests, including high-quality teak-bearing areas, on the western part of the reserve. In the extreme west, and in sheltered valleys as well as moister localities, the forest tends to be semi-evergreen. As one moves towards the east, the forests turn dry deciduous, degrading into deciduous scrub in areas adjecent to habitations. The wildlife present in the Tiger Reserve includes Tiger, Panther, Wild Dog, Elephant, Bison, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Common Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Varieties of reptiles and Birds, etc.

Sub Divisions

Hunsur Wildlife

Ranges of Hunsur Wildlife:

• Anechowkur Wildlife
• Hunsur Wildlife
• Veeranahosalli Wildlife

Metikuppe Wildlife

Ranges of Metikuppe Wildlife:

• Antharasanthe Wildlife
• D B Kuppe Wildlife
• Metikuppe Wildlife

Nagarahole Wildlife

Ranges of Nagarahole Wildlife:

• Kalahalla Wildlife
• D B Kuppe Wildlife
• Nagarahole Wildlife

About Division

Virajpet forest division occupies the southern part of Kodagu circle. The total extent of Reserved Forests of Virajpet division is 30,348.24 hectares. In addition to the Reserved Forests, there are tree covered areas in the division in the form of Protected Forests, Devarakadus, Paisaries, Section-4 notified areas, unredeemed lands and Bane lands, etc.

Virajpet division comprises two sub-divisions, namely, Virajpet and Thithimathi sub-divisions, and consists of three ranges namely, Munrote, Makutta and Thithimathi ranges. Forests of Virajpet division are primarily evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous. Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests are found in Padinalknad and Kerti Reserved Forests. Moist deciduous forests occur in Mavukal and Devamachi Reserved Forests. There are extensive coffee estates in the division.

Sub Divisions

Thithimathi

Ranges of Thithimathi:

• Ponnampet
• Thithimathi

Virajpet

Ranges of Virajpet:

• Makuta
• Mundrote
• Virajpet