Thread Garden : A Miracle In Art Creation Of This Millenium

The Thread Garden in Ooty, Tamilnadu, is the first artificial garden in India. The flowers, plants and lawns in the garden are entirely fabricated from thread, canvas and wire.

The Thread Garden at Ooty is a popular tourst spot the most exquisite collection of artificial flowers and plants, all made by the expert hands of the skilful artist by using just thread. Antony Joseph, the mastermind behind this unique creation along with his 50 proficient helpers has worked constantly for 12 years, to create these marvels of thread. Approximately 6 crore meters of embroidery thread have been employed in the creation of this one-of-a-kind attraction in the world. Also be assured that not a stitch of a needle or any other machinery have been used in the production of these flowers.

Stiff cardboards for flowers and petals, steel and copper wires for stem were artistically used along with varied colours of threads to create these visual delights. Here you can find more than 150 barieties of artificially made flowers which promise to remain fresh for a long long time to come.

At the Thread Garden in Ooty you do not only get a chance to behold these beauties in your eyes, but you can carry these astounding crafts home as well. However, you need to be a little cautious and preserve theme well, in order to avoid discolouring. They should not be exposed to direct sunlight or even direct artificial lights. Since they are permanently fixed from the base it is important to cover them well and use only cotton to clean the outer glass surface.

Just visit at Thread Garden, North Lake Road, Opp. Boat House, Ooty, Tamilnadu, India. Ph. : +91 423 2445145.

If you need information please drop a mail at mail@threadgarden.com.

Wildlife in Kerala : Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary - 73

Fit snugly into the valley between the Anamala ranges of Tamil Nadu and the Nelliampathy ranges of Kerala on the majestic Western Ghats is the Paramabikulam Wildlife sanctuary in Palakkad. It is home to varied wildlife such as bonnet macaque, lion tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, fox, bear, elephant, gaur, Nilgiri Tahr, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, wild boar, pangoline, crocodile, varanus, pond terapin, cane turtle, gecko, skunk, chameleon, snakes like king cobra, spectacled cobra, krait, viper, python, green keel back, rat snake, vine snake, etc. Also found hre are a wide variety of fish and birds such as aral, bral, vattudi, thilopia, noovi, mooshu, poochuti, kollottie, exyprius, taral, etc. and darter, little cormorant, black eagle, lesser adjutant stork, black capped kingfisher, great Indian hornbill, broad billed roller, black woodpecker, to name some.

Where to stay:

Governement Rest Houses and private lodges.

How to get there:

Good roads and rails connect the sanctuary with Kozhikode, Mysore and Ooty - all within a 110 kms. radius. The nearest airport is Kozhikode. Sulthan Bathery, Tholpetty and Muthanga are important centers of the Sanctuary.

Contact:

The Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Thiruvananthapuram - 695 014. Telefax : 0471 - 322217.

Divisional Forest Officer, Parambikulam, Thoonacadvau P.O. 678661 via Pollachi, Palakkad, Dist. Tel. : 04253-877233

Related Links :

01. Nature and WildLife of India : WildLife Protection Act 1972 - 1
02. Wildlife in Jammu and Kashmir - 2
03. Corbett National Park (Project Tiger) : Wildlife in Uttaranchal - 3
04. Rajaji National Park - 4
05. Wildlife in Uttar Pradesh : Dudhwa National Park - 5
06. Wildlife in Rajasthan : Bharatpur National Park - 6
07. Wildlife in Rajasthan : Ranthambore National Park (Project Tiger) - 7
08. Wildlife in Rajasthan : Sariska Tiger Reserve - 8
09. Wildlife in Gujarat : Gir National Park and Sanctuary - 9
10. Wild Ass Sanctuary - 10
11. Wildlife in Madhya Pradesh : Bandhavgarh National Park - 11
12. Wildlife in Madhya Pradesh : Kanha National Park - 12
13. Wildlife in Bihar : Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary - 13
14. Wildlife in Jharkhand : Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary - 14
15. Wildlife in Jharkhand : Palmau Tiger Reserve - 15
16. Wildlife in Jharkhand : Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary - 16
17. Wildlife in West Bengal : Sunderbans National Park and Tiger Reserve - 17
18. Wildlife in West Bengal : Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary - 18
19. Wildlife in Assam : Manas Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve - 19
20. Wildlife in Assam : Kaziranga National Park - 20
21. Wildlife in Arunachal Pradesh : Namdhapa National Park (Project Tiger) - 21
22. Wildlife in Orissa : Tikarpara Gharial Sanctuary - 22
23. Wildlife in Orissa : Ushakotih Wildlife Sanctuary - 23
24. Wildlife in Orissa : Bhitarkanika Sanctuary - 24
25. Wildlife in Orissa : Similipal Tiger Reserve (Project Tiger) - 25
26. Wildlife in Orissa : Nandankanan Biological Park and Chandka Elephant Reserve - 26
27. Wildlife in Orissa : Chilika Lake - 27
28. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Nehru Zoological Park and Kwala Sanctuary - 28
29. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Pranahita Sanctuary - 29
30. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Pakhal Santuary - 30
31. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Kinnerasani Sanctuary - 31
32. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Papikonda Sanctuary - 32
33. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Coringa Sanctuary - 33
34. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Kolleru Sanctuary - 34
35. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Krishna Sanctuary - 35
36. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Pocharam Sanctuary - 36
37. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Manjira Sanctuary and Nagarjunasagar - Srisailam Sanctuary (Project Tiger) - 37
38. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Rollapadu Sanctuary - 38
39. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Gunda Brahmeswaram Sanctuary - 39
40. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Sri Lankamalleswara Sanctuary - 40
41. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Pulicat Sanctuary - 41
42. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Kaundinya Sanctuary (Project Elephant) - 42
43. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Sri Venkateswara Sanctuary and National Park - 43
44. Wildlife in Karnataka : Bandipur National Park (Project Tiger) - 44
45. Wildlife in Karnataka : Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary - 45
46. Wildlife in Karnataka : Bhimeshwari Wildlife Sanctuary - 46
47. Wildlife in Karnataka : Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary - 47
48. Wildlife in Karnataka - Nagarhole National Park - 48
49. Wildlife in Karnataka : Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary - 49
50. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Anamali Wildlife Sanctuary (Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctaury) - 50
51. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park - 51
52. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Mukkurthi National Park - 52
53. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Kalakkadu Wildlife Sanctuary (Project Tiger) - 53
54. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Mundanthurai Sanctuary - 54
55. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary - 55
56. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary - 56
57. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Guindy National Park - 57
58. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Kunthakulam Bird Sanctuary - 58
59. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Vallanadu Black Buck Santuary - 59
60. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Vedanthangal and Karikili Bird Sanctuaries - 60
61. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Arinagar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai - 61
62. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park - 62
63. Wildlife In Kerala : Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary - 63
64. Wildlife in Kerala : Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary - 64
65. Wildlife in Kerala : Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Thekkady) - 65
66. Wildlife in Kerala : Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary - 66
67. Wildlife in Kerala : Eravikulam National Park - 67
68. Wildlife in Kerala : Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary - 68
69. Wildlife in Kerala : Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary - 69
70. Wildlife in Kerala : Chimmini Wildlife Sanctuary - 70
71. Wildlife in Kerala : Pecchi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary - 71
72. Wildlife in Kerala : Silent Valley National Park - 72

Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park - 51

Guys Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is about 60 kms. away from Ooty (Now known as Udhagamandalam). This sanctuary is spread over 321 sq. kms.

The vegetation is varied and the fauna includes elephants, gaur, bonnet macaque, common langur, tigers and leopards, chital, dhole, panther, sloth bear, python, barking deer, four-horned antelope, otter, crocodiles (mugger), giant flying squirrel, sambar, hyena, wild dog, wild boar, mouse beer, spotted deer, jackal, hare, porcupine and mongoose.

The birds listed in the sancuary are peacok, grey jungle fowl, red spur fowl, grey partridge quail, goggoel-eyed plover, malabar whistling thrush, large racket tailed drongo, shama, margpie-robin, spotted babbler, small green barbet, green pigeons, little brown dove, Malbar grey hornbill, bulbuls, mynahs, etc. Among birds of prey, eagles, hawks, buzzards, harriers, falcons and king vultures are predominant besides some migratory waterbirds.

When to visit: September to May

Where to stay:

Hotel Tamilnadu (TDC Ltd.), Forest Guest House, Abhayaranyam, Kargudi, Masinagudi and Theppakkadu with catering arrangements.

How to get there:

By Air:

Coimbture (160 kms) is the nearest airport.

By Rail:

Ooty (66 kms.) and Mysore (95 kms) are the nearest stations.

By Road:

NH passes through the sanctuary, one has to stop at Theppakkadu. From Ooty (base camp at Parson's Valley), you can trek to this sanctuary and the Mukkurthi National Park.

Contact:

The Wildlife Warden, Mahalingam Buildings, Coonoor Road, Udhagamandalam - 643001, Tel. : 0423 - 444098

Related Links :

01. Nature and WildLife of India : WildLife Protection Act 1972 - 1
02. Wildlife in Jammu and Kashmir - 2
03. Corbett National Park (Project Tiger) : Wildlife in Uttaranchal - 3
04. Rajaji National Park - 4
05. Wildlife in Uttar Pradesh : Dudhwa National Park - 5
06. Wildlife in Rajasthan : Bharatpur National Park - 6
07. Wildlife in Rajasthan : Ranthambore National Park (Project Tiger) - 7
08. Wildlife in Rajasthan : Sariska Tiger Reserve - 8
09. Wildlife in Gujarat : Gir National Park and Sanctuary - 9
10. Wild Ass Sanctuary - 10
11. Wildlife in Madhya Pradesh : Bandhavgarh National Park - 11
12. Wildlife in Madhya Pradesh : Kanha National Park - 12
13. Wildlife in Bihar : Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary - 13
14. Wildlife in Jharkhand : Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary - 14
15. Wildlife in Jharkhand : Palmau Tiger Reserve - 15
16. Wildlife in Jharkhand : Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary - 16
17. Wildlife in West Bengal : Sunderbans National Park and Tiger Reserve - 17
18. Wildlife in West Bengal : Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary - 18
19. Wildlife in Assam : Manas Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve - 19
20. Wildlife in Assam : Kaziranga National Park - 20
21. Wildlife in Arunachal Pradesh : Namdhapa National Park (Project Tiger) - 21
22. Wildlife in Orissa : Tikarpara Gharial Sanctuary - 22
23. Wildlife in Orissa : Ushakotih Wildlife Sanctuary - 23
24. Wildlife in Orissa : Bhitarkanika Sanctuary - 24
25. Wildlife in Orissa : Similipal Tiger Reserve (Project Tiger) - 25
26. Wildlife in Orissa : Nandankanan Biological Park and Chandka Elephant Reserve - 26
27. Wildlife in Orissa : Chilika Lake - 27
28. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Nehru Zoological Park and Kwala Sanctuary - 28
29. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Pranahita Sanctuary - 29
30. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Pakhal Santuary - 30
31. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Kinnerasani Sanctuary - 31
32. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Papikonda Sanctuary - 32
33. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Coringa Sanctuary - 33
34. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Kolleru Sanctuary - 34
35. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Krishna Sanctuary - 35
36. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Pocharam Sanctuary - 36
37. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Manjira Sanctuary and Nagarjunasagar - Srisailam Sanctuary (Project Tiger) - 37
38. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Rollapadu Sanctuary - 38
39. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Gunda Brahmeswaram Sanctuary - 39
40. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Sri Lankamalleswara Sanctuary - 40
41. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Pulicat Sanctuary - 41
42. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Kaundinya Sanctuary (Project Elephant) - 42
43. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Sri Venkateswara Sanctuary and National Park - 43
44. Wildlife in Karnataka : Bandipur National Park (Project Tiger) - 44
45. Wildlife in Karnataka : Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary - 45
46. Wildlife in Karnataka : Bhimeshwari Wildlife Sanctuary - 46
47. Wildlife in Karnataka : Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary - 47
48. Wildlife in Karnataka - Nagarhole National Park - 48
49. Wildlife in Karnataka : Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary - 49
50. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Anamali Wildlife Sanctuary (Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctaury) - 50

Adventure India : Hang Gliding - 6

Himachal Pradesh has been offering sites for hang gliding since 1984 when the International Hand Gliding Rally was organized at Billing, 20 kms from Palampur in Kangra district. In the month of May/June a tented colony is set up by Himachal Tourism to facilitate hang gliders. There is also an Adventure Sports hostel at Dharmshala and Aero Sports Complex at Bir.

Other excellent locations are at Kasauli, Dharmshala, Satara, Sinhgarh, Shimla, Pune, Kamshet, Mhow, Indore, Mysore, Ooty and Shillong. Hang gliding in Yumthang in North Sikkim and Jorethang in West Sikkim is also available.

Hang gliding clubs in India are concentrated at Pune, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Shimla, Deolai, Bangalore and Kalahati. Most of the clubs have their own hang-gliders which are manufactured in house by Raj Hans Aero sports Ltd. at Mysore.

Best Time : Mid May to Mid October

Related Links :

01. Adventure Sports : Active India - The Real Adventure - 1
02. Adventure India : Land of Snow - 2
03. Adventure India : Rock Climbing - 3
04. Adventure India : Mountaineering - 4
05. Adventure India : Climbing Precautions in India - 5