Birding in Urulanthany: Exploring One of Kerala’s Hidden Forests for Wildlife Photography

A Lesser-Known Birding Destination in Kerala

My experience of birding in Urulanthany was very different from many of the other popular birding destinations in Kerala. This is a place that was suggested to me by one of the guides whom I met during the rainy season camping program at Thattekad Bird Sanctuary. According to him, Urulanthany remained fairly unexplored compared to mainstream birding hotspots, and because of that, it still retained a raw and untouched wilderness that attracts a variety of bird species.

Unlike tourist-heavy locations, this forest sees very little general public movement. That itself increases the chances of spotting birds in a relatively peaceful environment. However, one thing I quickly realized is that rare birding in such forests requires patience, proper tracking skills, and ideally a knowledgeable local guide who understands the terrain and bird movement patterns.

Visiting Urulanthany with My Cousin

I visited Urulanthany along with my cousin Alisha, who had come from the United States and wanted to experience birding in Kerala with me. We started early in the morning, hoping to maximize our chances before the forest became active with human movement.

As soon as we reached the forest area, we realized how dense the vegetation actually was. Even though the roads were accessible, the forest canopy was extremely thick. The atmosphere felt wild and untouched, very different from the more commercialized birding destinations.

We noticed a few forest officials conducting guided birding trips, but apart from that, there was almost no crowd. A few local villagers were seen collecting fruits from nearby trees, but otherwise the forest felt silent and isolated.

The Challenges of Bird Photography in Dense Forests

Initially, our birding session was not very fruitful. We spotted only a few flycatchers and some smaller unidentified birds. At one point, my cousin noticed a bird perched at a distance, possibly an owl, but before we could approach it properly, it flew away into the dense forest.

This is one of the biggest challenges with bird photography in forests like Urulanthany. Even when birds are present, the dense canopy and thick vegetation make spotting and photographing them extremely difficult. Lighting also becomes a major challenge because very little sunlight reaches the forest floor.

For photographers, this means constantly balancing shutter speed, ISO, and exposure while also trying to track movement inside dark foliage.

Warning About Elephants in the Forest

During our trip, I also happened to meet Sudhish, a guide who was conducting a private birding session for one of his clients. He told me that Urulanthany is an excellent location for birding, but one needs to be careful because wild elephants occasionally move through the forest.

That warning made us more cautious during the trek. Dense forests in Kerala can quickly become risky if you are unaware of animal movement, especially in less crowded regions like this.

Exploring the Rocky Viewpoint

As we continued trekking, we eventually reached a large rocky viewpoint inside the forest. Interestingly, this place had also been used as a shooting location for one of actor Mohanlal’s films.

At the viewpoint, we met a few tribal locals who were harvesting fruits and vegetables collected from the forest. They explained that locals were allowed limited traditional collection activities, but tourists were not permitted to either take forest produce or purchase it from them because of forest department regulations.

It was an interesting cultural interaction and gave us a glimpse into how local communities continue to coexist with the forest ecosystem.

Finally Spotting the Orange Minivet

Just when we were preparing to head back, the forest suddenly became active with bird movement. We noticed a small flock moving through the trees and quickly realized that it included Orange Minivets.

We managed to see both the male and female orange minivets together, along with a few smaller birds that we could not confidently identify. Watching the vibrant colors of the male orange minivet moving through the green canopy was easily the highlight of the trip.

Moments like these are what make birding worthwhile. You may spend hours without seeing much, but a single unexpected sighting can completely change the experience.

My Overall Experience at Urulanthany

Overall, I would describe Urulanthany as a promising but demanding birding destination in Kerala. For my cousin, who was experiencing birding in such forests for the first time, it was a memorable introduction to the wilderness of the Western Ghats.

For me personally, I think I had entered with slightly higher expectations because of the recommendations I had received earlier. However, I also realized that forests like Urulanthany are not places where one casually walks in and immediately sees rare birds.

To truly experience the place properly, one needs:

• A skilled local guide

• Multiple days of exploration

• Patience

• Early morning sessions

• Familiarity with bird calls and movement

Despite the limited sightings during this particular trip, I still believe Urulanthany remains one of Kerala’s hidden gems for wildlife and bird photography, especially for photographers who enjoy raw forest experiences away from tourist crowds.