Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park Coimbatore

Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park Coimbatore

 

Nilgiri biosphere nature park is also called NBNP  is an initiative of the Zoological Park Society of Coimbatore it is located in Thuvaipathy Village , Anaikatti  at the distance of 33 km from Coimbatore Junction Tamil Nadu .

 

Nilgiri biosphere nature park is established in 1936 to encourage preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Nilgiri Biospehere Nature Park (NBNP) is registered under Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act 1975.

 

The primary objective of the NBNP is to create awareness among the people about the natural heritage of the Nilgiris Biosphere. NBNP has successfully restored and helped growth of many different vegetation types - over 430 species of 25,000 plants of which 85 species are found only in NBR.

 

It is interesting that nearly 30% of these 85 species are endangered in the wild. The NBNP's collection of threatened plant species has been recognized by the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) Lucknow, India and Botanical Garden Conservation International (BGCI) UK.

 

Things to See in Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park :

 

Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park covers an area of about 500 hectares and is a base of delicate combination of flora and exceptional wildlife. Out of the whopping 250 acres of the total area, the first-phase project of about 70 acres opens the door to the natural world to the visitors.

 

All the trees have boards that give you the Tamil and the Latin name. The presence of vibrant-looking butterflies all around the park further contributes to its impeccable beauty.

 

The conservation and propagation of flora, the park also works to spread awareness about the need to safeguard the environment and encourages visits from school and college students.

 

There are two hiking trails that offer a bird's-eye view of the available biodiversity. Along these trails are signboards of the various kinds of fauna seen in this area. A Miyawaki enclosure tells visitors what the urban afforestation method is all about. A nursery allows visitors to buy saplings and plants at a nominal cost.

 

The nature park is a perfect place to have a lovely time along with family or friends looking up to the stunning world of nature. The park has a 250-seater covered amphitheater in which they show films, a café that offers tea and snacks.

 

The Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park is a big boon for people who are bored of usual water parks and amusement parks as the nature park along with its long list of recreational activities is sure to extend a whole new experience and all in the hands of Mother Nature.

 

Nature park has a lot to offer for people of all age groups as it is one of the most appropriate places to forget about the mechanical life back home in the city. A visit to the park will guarantee a much-needed break from the stressful lifestyle and offer quality refreshment and relaxation.

 

A casual walk along the pollution free and oxygen-rich paths through the park will instantly charge the visitor with full of energy in no time. The park is going through a developmental phase that the whole 250 acres will be occupied with many other exciting features in the future.

 

Rockery :

 

Rockery is a unique garden that is generously filled with featuring rocks. What makes the rockery of the Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park special is that it exhibits natural formation of rocks with floras of aboriginal to rough terrain of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve developed to portray a stupefying rock garden.

 

Fish and Frog Ponds :

 

The Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park features small artificial pond, which is the home of a wide variety of aboriginal fishes and frogs. Beware that kids will love these pools and will possibly be adamant not to go away from these attractions.

 

Aquarium :

 

Aquarium was attractively designed and well maintained in the Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park features several species of fish right from the Nilgiri Biosphere domain is a great addition to the nature park and most preferred by kids and fish fanciers.

Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park includes herbal garden, pollinator garden, evergreen zone, frog rock, zodiac garden, arboretum, biodiversity hut, invertebrate hut, xerophytic plants, shade house, reptile and bird and many more.

 

Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park extends a well structured set of facilities Right from the trekking which connects the visitors to the species of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the nature park houses recreation facilities, which let the visitors to loosen up in a natural environment.

 

Vegetation :

 

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve comprises of substantial unspoilt areas of natural vegetation ranging from dry scrub to evergreen forests and swamps thus contributing to highest bio diversity.

 

The altitude and climatic gradients support and nourish the different vegetational types. The 175 species of orchids found in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, 8 are endemic to the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

 

These include endemic and endangered species of Vanda, Liparis, Bulbophyllum, Spiranthes and Thrixspermum.

 

Fauna :

 

Fauna of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve includesover over 100 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 80 species of  reptiles and amphibians, 300 species of butterflies and innumerable invertebrates.

 

39 species of fish, 31 amphibians and 60 species of reptiles endemic to the Western Ghats also occur in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Fresh water fish such as Danio, neilgheriensis,Hypselobarbusdubuis and Puntius  bovanicus are restricted to the Nilgiri BiosphereReserve.

 

The Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, slender loris, blackbuck, tiger, gaur, Indian elephant and marten aresome of the animals found here.

 

Water resources :

 

Nilgiri &nbspBiosphere  Reserve  is one of the critical  catchment  areas of   peninsular  India. Many of  the major tributaries of the river Cauvery  like the Bhavani, Moyar, Kabini and other rivers like Chaliyar, Punampuzha, etc., have their source and catchment areas within the reserve boundary.

 

Many hydroelectric power projects are present in the Kundah, Bhavani and Moyar basins . A drastic decline in the sholas and grasslands is one of the reasons for the recent water scarcity in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

 

Birds View Point :

 

birding hotspot which increases the glamour to this place for nature lovers. Birders always start birding very early morning, We saw the usual Sunbirds, Flower peckers, White-browed bulbuls while hearing the continuous call of Grey Jungle Fowl.

 

we noticed a fig tree and this time when we checked it was fruiting. If you are a birder, never skip a fruiting fig tree as it is always a perfect birding spot. Like we expected, we saw flocks of Chestnut-tailed starlings , Coppersmith barbet, White-cheeked barbet, Common mynas and Grey-headed green pigeon.

 

These small birds were happily frolicking when the Indian Grey Hornbills landed on the tree. Everyone ate their fig fruit in peace without any fight. The Thick-billed flowerpeckers were pinching fruits and discarding the seeds while feeding on the pulp.

 

if there are native trees  butterfly activities will also be good apart from bird activities. Blue-bearded bee-eater was sitting calmly on a tall tree, flowerpeckers were having a field day, Asian paradise flycatcher was showing off his long tail, Puff-throated babbler was pecking the ground non-stop and the barbets were calling continuously.

 

The ground cover was perfect for ground birds like Orange-headed ground thrush, Indian Pitta and Forest Wagtail. So we kept our eyes on the ground , the tree and on the leaves for butterflies, so in short everywhere.

 

We saw few pretty flycatchers like Tickell’s blue flycatcher, Verditer flycatcher, Asian brown flycatcher, Rusty tail flycatcher and Taiga flycatcher. Usually the flycatchers just sit on a perch, catch a fly and come back to the same perch. They don’t mind human intervention most of the time.

 

In recent years especially after our Indian Birds Sounds Video project, we started to keenly listen on birds sounds. We were able to identify wide variety of bird calls but one of the common song birds who confused us often was the Common Iora.

 

We were surprised with the wide variety of songs and calls of Common Iora. Researchers have told that Iora makes more than 35 unique sounds. Nilgiri biosphere was filled with birds sounds and we really enjoyed the morning calls of Black-hooded Oriole, Black-headed Cuckoo shrike Jerdon’s leaf bird, & Ashy drongo.

 

The jungle was a perfect roosting spot for raptors like Short-toed Snake Eagle, Booted Eagle and Bonelli’s eagle. We saw Red-rumped Swallows and Crested Treeswifts circling on the sky who were trying to catch the flies.

 

We tried to sit and watch these little birds but the sight of the Blue-throated flycatcher pulled us back. We walked around the park few times and we climbed at the tree top, read all the interesting facts written on rocks, stopped at Aviary, compared our height with Sarus crane & searched for turtle in the pond.

 

Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park Coimbatore Timings : Open Time : 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ( Closed on Tuesdays ) 

 

Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park Coimbatore Entry : Rs. 100 for Adults, Rs. 50 for Children, Rs. 75 for Hiking, Rs. 75 for Camera, & Rs. 40 for Car Parking

 

Best Time to Visit Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park Coimbatore : July-March

 

Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park Coimbatore Address : Thuvaipathy Village, Anaikatti, Coimbatore - 641 108

 

How to Reach Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park Coimbatore : By Road :  Mettupalayam road - Thadagam road - Kanuvai - Anaikatti - Park

 

Nearest Airport: Coimbatore International Airport (41.5 km)

 

Nearest Railway Station : Coimbatore Junction railway station (33.1 km)