To showcase India's rich biodiversity we enter into the King Cobra's trail right into the heart of Western Ghats - The Agumbe 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.

Day Treks and Night Hikes 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);

Two night hikes jungle to spot king cobra, other reptiles and amphibians.

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.

Jog Falls

Jog falls, is the 2nd highest waterfall in India located near Sagara taluk in Karnataka. Jog Falls is created by the Sharavathi River dropping 253 m (830 ft), making it the second-highest plunge waterfall in India after the Nohkalikai Falls with a drop of 335 m (1100 ft) in Meghalaya.

Oct 2nd - Depart from Pune to Udupi by overnight VRL Bus at 7:30 pm from Katraj. Bus will drop us in Udupi at UDUPI MANJUNATH PETROL PUMP at 7:00 am. Bus cost is approx 1700 one way (Volvo sleeper coach), bookings can be done online at http://vrlbus.in/Office/booking_home_page.aspx?q=RWSXCL

Oct 3rd - Reach Udupi at 7:00 am. Travel to Guddekeri

We will arrange private transport based on actual cost to our place of stay in Guddekeri at Kalinga Camp. Travel time is 2 hours.

9:30 am - Check in and have breakfast.

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

12:30 - 1:30 pm - Hot local Malnad 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)

Oct 4th

5:30 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 - 7:00 pm Trek to Onake Abbi Falls

8:00 - Reach Kalinga Camp and get ready for Dinner

9:00 - 10:30 - Optional night trail another route than one already taken

Oct 5th

8:00 am - Breakfast at Check out to Jog Falls by private vehicle - 3 hours.

2:00 pm - Depart for Shimoga and take the 7:30 pm bus to Pune. If time persists we can visit Shivappa Nayaka Palace, 18th-century pillared bungalow showcasing stone sculptures & archeological finds.

Oct 6th

Reach Pune at 5:30 am

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, napkins, cap, sunglasses, Camera, 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 repellent, Energy Drinks, Juices, Snacks & Biscuits to munch on (can be purchased over there too)