Other Sanctuaries / National Park - Striking distance from the Café

NAGARAHOLE NATIONAL PARK

West of the Kabini River is the 643-sq-km wildlife sanctuary of Nagarhole National Park or Rajiv Gandhi National Park. The lush forests here are home to the tigers as well as leopards, elephants, gaurs, muntjacs (barking deer), wild dogs, bonnet macaques and common langurs. The park’s main entrance is 93km southwest of Mysore. However, the best accommodation and the most beautiful views are at the Kabini Lake side of the reserve, near the village of Karapura, around 80km south of Mysore.

BR HILLS WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

The Biligiriranga Hills, commonly called B R Hills, is a hill range situated in south-eastern Karnataka, at its border with Tamil Nadu in South India. The area is called Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary or simply BRT Wildlife Sanctuary. Being at the confluence of the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, the sanctuary is home to eco-systems that are unique to both the mountain ranges.

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Wild Elephants in our Backyard

As you all know we have a plantation behind and it is seeing its last days of its harvest. Last Nite about 9:45 the plantation had visitors ... “ELEPHANTS”. We did not see them as they manage to sneak past.

This morning we discovered their tracks and set out on their trail eager to find them. Judging by the tracks we figured there might have been two of them lurking around the area. Guilty as charged for uprooting a few banana plants in the property. They managed to cross the highway to the neighboring plantation and quenched their thirst from the tank. We walked the trail to a near by thicket of the next village and headed back to the Café

The Locals in the area were surprised by the visit as this hasn’t happened in more the 20 years. They suspect the elephants were at a nearby water source Nalluru Aman Kere Jalashya about 4km from where we are from - http://wikimapia.org/#lat=11.845007&lon=76.7030239&z=14&l=0&m=b

The Pictures are off the Mobile

Wilderness by the Cafe - Nilgiri Bio-Sphere

BANDIPUR / MUDUMALAI NATIONAL PARK

In the foothills of the Nilgiris, this 321-sq-km park, and the surrounding forest outside the park boundaries, are the best places for wildlife viewing in Tamil Nadu / Karnataka. Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (3000 sq km), the reserve’s vegetation ranges from grasslands to semi-evergreen forests that are home to chitals (spotted deer), gaurs (bisons), tigers, panthers, wild boars and sloth bears. Otters and crocodiles inhabit the Moyar River. The park’s wild elephant population numbers about 600.

WAYANAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

If Kerala is ‘God’s Country’, this must be his garden of Eden. reserve that spills over into national parks in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Wayanad lies cocooned in the hills of the Western Ghats. The region gets surprisingly few visitors,. Wildlife that roam the forests here include elephants, sambar, spotted dear, Indian bison, langur monkeys and occasionally tigers.

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We have SHOOTS

Being self sustainable is always on our minds. We have a small nursery growing a few beans ( long & cluster ) hoping for some roots ( carrot & beet ) chucked some cabbage & bitter gaud. The Experiment, thanks to Namdhari Seeds http://www.namdhariseeds.com/ from their stores in Bangalore

Care has been taken in transplanting a few to the bed, awaiting results. To help it grow we are using ORGANIC manure and ORGANIC pest repellants ( neem oil + soap water mixed with water )

For those who have any thoughts / ideas to help our Garden – Please write to dreamcatchercafe@gmail.com

Residents Domestic / Wild

 A 3 month old Mudhol puppy called Mysore – 2 Local Chicken which respond to bah bah and get inside (obviously we lure them with feed)

Tank next to the café which feeds the plantation is home to the Cattle Egret, Paddy Heron, Kingfisher & the Pied Wag-tail, busy birds by the waters edge

A pair of Grey Hornbills roosting by the fruiting Ficus, a Pair of Swifts nesting on the roof of the dog’s kennel & the occasional visit by a big old Barn Owl

Tons of Butterflies & Dragonflies - Watch out for our interpretative display boards for more INFO