In a week, tourists will be able to stay at the forest guest house located at five places in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) and enjoy the fauna and flora and also go on bird and butterfly watching in the forest.
To promote eco-tourism at STR, the Forest Department had in November 2017 introduced a weekend wildlife safari named “Vanaporni Nature Education Programme” on six routes, to take tourists by vehicles into the forest in the morning and evening. Due to summer, the programme was stopped from February to April.
With Talamalai and Hasanur experiencing rain, the department decided to resume the programme, but with a change.
Since the safari programme is common at many places and the STR needs uniqueness, the department proposed to introduce a package for tourists and named the programme “Maya Ecological Tourism” after River Moyar that passes through the STR. “It combines both safari and accommodation”, said Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director of STR V. Naganathan.
After arriving at the spot at 4 p.m. tourists will be provided tea and then taken into the forest from 4.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in vehicles. A video presentation on the importance of forests and their protection will be made. Later, they will be accommodated at the guest houses at Hasanur, Jeerahalli, Talamalai, Kadambur and Makkampalayam and provided food.
Next morning, they will be taken into the forest for bird and butterfly watching after which breakfast will be provided. The programme ends with this.
Officials said tourists should make online bookings at https://www.str-tn.org/ and no offline bookings will be encouraged. The cost of package is available at the portal. For details, contact, 73975-02528. The programme is proposed to start from May 15.