Amazing Amboli
Amazing Amboli
Amboli
It's mid June, monsoon have almost arrived in Amboli. Admist this there is a hassle and bustle in the homes of some champs, they are busy with preparing for a task, checking shoes, charging torches, cleaning rain suits and so on. At the same time few enthusiasts who have arrived in Amboli are also busy with check up of their cameras, charging batteries & flashes, gumboots etc etc. All these guys are so excited about the mission.
As sun sets most of them gather near nursery garden gate, group leaders give basic instructions and guidelines. After clearing forest norms all enters nursery garden with great enthusiasm, everyone is excited, Amboli champs leading the task are ahead curiosity searching into the woods, jungle canopy, water pools. Among the flashes one of the champ shout louder 'please keep quiet and listen carefully ' with super excitement everyone is silent trying to hear from jungle and '(malabar gliding frog's call) here it is. All of a sudden everybody starts flashing torches in particular direction, excitement is at it's peak.
'There's it is ' one of the champ whispered everyone rushes to the spot flashing lights towards the canopy, and among the green leaves here is well the camouflaged monsoon king of Amboli the 'Malabar Gliding Frog' Rhacophorus malabaricus.
Amboli champs are so delighted so as enthusiasts who have arrived across the country just to have a glimpses of this king. Cameras are focused and shooting starts, scenario is full of clicks and flashes.
Malabar gliding frog, after spending 7 months in hibernation these are the first amphibians to come out for breeding in monsoon. The Amboli champs searches more and more malabar gliding frogs in nursery , their calls are mixed up with many other varieties of frogs who have also come out of hibernation for breeding. Nursery is full of vocal calls of thousands of frogs.
As the prey is abundant the predators are sure to follow. The most common predators are Malabar pit viper, bamboo pit viper, bronze back tree snakes, green vine snakes which are arboreal. Few ground dwellings are pied bellied shield tail snakes, venomous common crait which are great concern for the Amboli champs as the craits are active at night and deadly venomous.
It's courtship time for malabar gliding frogs.
Everyone is happy and bagged number of pictures of the amphibians and reptiles and returns back satisfied discussing next days plans.
These wildlifers stays in resorts, where they can get mouth watering konkani cuisine food such as delicious sea food Surmai, Pamphlet, prawns, and crabs curry.
Also one can enjoy pure veg Konami food.
Next day there are different plans to explore Amboli, few wildlife lovers head towards Mahadevgad early morning and scenic point 2 kms from Amboli. Road to Mahadevgad passes through dense forests, and there is a very chance of wildlife sightings.
Mahadevgad is a protruding hill range having deep valleys on both sides with dead end Road.
Experienced wildlifers drive slowly carefully scanning the forests on both sides of road and expert driver keep watch on road. One can see heard of gaur grazing calmly, dashing Sambar deers, harried Barking deer, shy and elusive mouse deer, Asian palm civet in canopy of jungles,lucky guys can spot wild dogs or even master of camouflage leopard. Few years ago a mighty Royal bengal tiger also seen on this road. On the road one can see number of amphibians and reptiles, tarantulas, hare, sounder of wild bores crossing across or a muscular hulk of forest male Indian Gaur staring at you.
Road is densely foggy actually its not fog but clouds are touching grounds. Amboli is situated on eastern side of Sindhudurg district in western ghats. Its famous hill station having an altitude of ..... meters so Amboli remains embedded in clouds most of the time during monsoon. Amboli is one of the most heavily rainfall areas in India receiving almost 8000 mm of precipitation in just 5 months of monsoon where as cherapynji receives 12000 mm of rainfall in 12 months.
Dead end of this road is a very beautiful sunset point you can see many folds of mountain ranges, what an amazing scenario it is ! ! !
Forest department have set up huge umbrellas and seating arrangements for tourists. Winds here are so forceful that it literally pushes you backwards.
Few hardcore harpetologists set for morning safari towards choukul road, this road traverse through the most dense forests of Amboli the Malai pathar. A night trails on this road with expert guide is a treat to wildlifers. It's famous for nocturnal sloth bears who crosses road at night. One lucky guys can spot rare elusive brown palm civet, Indian rock python, stripped neck mongoose and many other mammals.
Morning safari is full of enthusiasm dense cloudy road doesn't allow most powerful fog lamps to work. During monsoon humidity may reach upto 98% .
This jungle welcomes you with chippering calls of number of birds. You can have a beautiful morning with birdwatching list tally upto 50 to 60 different species in a single trail. One can have lifers like Oriental dwarf kingfisher, Malabar Pied Hornbills, Songbirds like Shama, Malabar whistling thrush.
For harpetologists its heaven, they can spot variety of snakes. Along the road there are many pools and puddles, a very healthy colony of breeding malabar gliding frogs thrive here.
Once partner is selected male frog rides on female's back with tight grip on her slimy back. She then carries him towards tree branches which are drooping over the water logged puddles. After carefully selection of suitable branch female secrete slimy substance. Male and female both rub their hind legs vigorously making a foam called as froth. Female carefully overlap leaves in this froth making a hanging nest. Many times other males too join this ritual making it a breeding ball.
Female then lays number of small whitish eggs in this froth and male promptly fertilise them. Male then releases the female and she depart in search of another male. Male remains near nest for many days guarding it.
Trail along Choukul road with local guide can add more fauna to your list. Guide will surely show you tarantulas, ground geckos, variety of insects. Big stone mounts on this road are resting and ambush points of Malabar pit viper and Bamboo pit viper. Occasionally rat snake, Russell's viper, Spectacle cobra can be seen. Streams crossing choukul road are treasure trove for amphibian lovers.
As monsoon advances rains in Amboli intensify many folds and world famous Amboli waterfall starts pouring water like crazy. Thousands of tourists flocks in weekends and holidays. A 16 kms ghat connecting Amboli and Sawantwadi where this waterfall is situated, there are many small waterfalls along the road. Malai pathar forests receive heavy rains and this rain water gives enormous flow to the waterfall.
By mid July monsoon is in full swing more and more varieties of frogs begin their breeding rituals. The rocky outcrop areas with small depressions are full of water now become breeding grounds of these amphibians. Amboli bush frogs, bicolour frogs, fungoid frogs, Amboli toads, .. . . .
Thousands of frogs and toads gather on breeding ground males try to grab a female riding on her back, many times 3 4 males ride on one another forming breeding balls. Mating instincts are so immense that many times frogs of different different species mount on one another forming mixed breeding balls. Males are most vocal at this period of time, at nights these areas are full of breeding calls of frogs and toads. At times these calls are so intense that its almost non bearable to hear.
While most of the frogs breeds in pool waters some tree frogs breed in water that is accumulated into tree trunks, rock crevices. Some tree frogs lays eggs on mosses on tree trunks. Metamorphosis of such frogs is short, instead of eggs hatching to tadpoles direct froglets emerge out of eggs.
More passionate enthusiasts explore the streams in Amboli especially on choukul road. Towards end of July an unique call is heard from streams, isn't it sounds like bird's call. . ...
Ya it is
Local guides follows this sounds and track out it's origin. OMG its frog not a bird whispers the new comers. This is the breeding call of nyctibutracus a wrinkle frog. During breeding season males and females gather near fast flowing streams. Males gives out unique breeding calls to attract female. As female approaches male ride on her and take a firm grip with his fore arms. Female carries males on her back and carefully select a leaf which is hanging just few inches over the flowing water and lays eggs on leaf. Eggs are attached to leaf with sticky substance. Male immidiately fertilise them and releases female. Eggs are hung in such a manner that they remain wet during entire incubation period. Female remains nearby guarding eggs until they hatch.
As monsoon sets on many other reptiles and amphibians make their appearance like shield tail snakes, western ghat endemic olive forest snakes, cicilians, fresh water eel fishes and vine snakes.
Its almost 2 weeks passed after malabar gliding frogs have laid eggs, males are still guarding the next. Eggs undergone metamorphosis and small tadpoles are clearly visible wriggling in the froth nests. Now tadpoles are ready to leave nest, their wriggling increases, foam froth starts melting and due to rain water tadpoles slowly drop down into the water underneath where they complete next metamorphosis in next month or so.
Now it's time for a dynamic frog who comes out near streams to breeding.
Choukul is also called as village of Plateaus, choukul itself is situated on plateau. During monsoon these Plateaus are very scenic points, their beauty is not less than Kass plateau. Visiting here during August and September gives you spectacular views of beds of varietiesof flowers, scenarios changing every 15 days. These Plateaus have more than 30 caves around where one can find hundreds of bats. Few caves are home to Sloth bears. A rare variety of ceropegia jainii can be searched here, only experts can locate it though.
Rain Water received by these Plateaus gives rise to number of rainy seasonal streams which flows towards west side and fells hundreds of feet down forming series of waterfalls. One of the biggest waterfallis called as BABA waterfall. Beauty of these waterfalls can't be explained. One can experience the glimpses of these waterfalls a 12 kms of drive from choukul. One have to trekk 3 kms to reach this biggest waterfall.
On the eastern side of Amboli just 2 kms towards kolhapur-belgaum road there is a historic place called as hiranyakeshi kund. This stream is the origin of famous river Hiranyakeshi, Hiranya means Gold and Keshi means hairs i e river looking like golden hairs. This eastward flowing river meets with ..... River travelling through Maharashtra, Karnataka and . finally ends up in Bay of Bengal as . .... River.
Many tourists visit this holy spot and heads towards Belgaum road 3 kms a famous waterfall namely Nangartas. This waterfall falls deep in a narrow valley as if pouring water into the deep hole. Tourism department have built a view point here one can experience fine water showers in front.
While returning back from Nangartas waterfall towards Amboli just couple of kms near Amboli take a right turn. After driving on curved roads traversing through rice fields you marchs to one of the most beautiful and scenic point in Amboli the Kawale sad point.
A huge plateau having dead end in valleys. This is the place where you can see, feel and experience the reverse waterfalls. A series of waterfalls can be seen when weather is clear. In August partly cloudy climate you can observe heaven on the earth. Clouds coming up from valley, intense wind brings water sprays from waterfalls in upward direction.
Towards end of August monsoon slows down and sun starts piping through the clouds little bit. This is the time for butterflies to breed. All of a sudden hundreds of butterflies come on wings, more than ... species of butterflies are recorded in Amboli.
A walking drive from nursery garden to Parikshit point in these days is must for butterfly enthusiasts. One can see Southern Birdwing the largest butterfly in India, rare Clipper, Red spot Duke, ...... can be bagged in cameras but butterfly expert must acompany you.
Parikshit point is the highest point in Amboli, a 3 kms trail from nursery garden passing through the dense forests is merely a nature lovers dream. A watch tower built some ... years ago one can have a glimpses dense forests and panoramic view mountain ranges of western ghat. During monsoon its just miraculous to walk on this road, one must be brave enough to face hundreds of hungry leeches just waiting for the blood. Besides butterflies one can observe varieties of spiders, insects, birds and lucky guys can spot mammals too.
Parpoli a village situated in foothills of Amboli some 15 kms down is recently declared as butterfly village because of the varieties of butterflies observed there. Parpoli is famous for butterfly mud puddling. Hundreds of different varieties of butterflies gather for mud pudding along the shores of stream coming down from Amboli waterfall.
For plant lovers and botanists Amboli is the treasure hunt. Hundreds of varieties of trees, climbers, herbs and shrubs are found in Amboli.
Amboli is truly biodiversity hot spot it harbours myriad creatures. Geographical location of Amboli is very important as its most important wildlife corridor connecting Tillari forests in south to Ajara patgaon forests in North former is connected to Mhadai wildlife sanctuary from goa and bhimgad wildlife sanctuary from Karnataka later is connected to Radhanagari wildlife sanctuary.
The scientific studies revile that tigers breeding in bhimgad wildlife sanctuary and Tillari Conservation Reserve are dispersing towards north travelling through Amboli Ajara Patgaon and reaching upto Radhanagari wildlife sanctuary. So as wild dogs and sloth bears are also migrated on same route.
Captions disappearing in fog in Amboli
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