Bats in Southern India

Ian McAllister · Mar 15th, 2005, 06:29

I'll be in the south (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka) with my family this July and August. We'll start from Chennai, head towards Bangalore, Halebid and Mysore (possibly going as far north as Hampi) then turn south through Ooty to Kerala down to Alleppy, then east through Madurai to the area around Kumbakonam and finally Mamallapuram.

My 11 year old girl is a keen student of bats and I'd love to find some camps or colonies of bats that we can view. So far I've heard of bats in Borra Caves and Hyderabad in AP, and some near Goa, but these are all north of where we plan to go. Does anyone know of any easily viewable bats on or near our planned route? Flying foxes would be fabulous, but any bats thrill her.

thanks, Ian

Nick-H · Mar 15th, 2005, 11:29

My last stay at Coconut Lagoon Hotel, Kumerakom, Kerala (a favourite haunt of mine in my salaried days) I had a fruit bat living in my toilet/shower room.

The toilet/shower rooms there are open to the sky and have a banana tree growing. One getssome interesting wildlife sometimes. The staff will always remove the less welcome examples.

When I told them how pleased I was to be sharing with a fruit bat they bemoaned the fact that most of their guests would be complaining!

I never got more than a couple of seconds view of it flying away as I turned on the light, and I'm afraid I never got a photo.

Happy Batting

pooch · Mar 15th, 2005, 12:51

I don't know if this would be common to most infrequented temples but in Tanjore I found them to have bat colonies, the caretakers strikes a bell and they all come out

lonelyaztec · Mar 15th, 2005, 12:59

Hi Ian,

come to Bangalore.

there is place near Bangalore, on teh way to Mysore...called Rangana Thittu..bird sanctuary....there are 1000s of bats hanging upside down there, in the day time.

What they do the rest of the time, your little girl can figure it out.

Indojingai · Mar 15th, 2005, 13:41

Bats...
I used to live in Chennai for 2 years and had a rooftop to sleep on... aah the breeze from Marina beach... anyhow get night vision goggles and rooftop of any house or hotel in southern India will give plenty of views of random bats.

Talking of bats, i saw the biggest bats in my life in a par'u'k (punjabi i am..

... ) in Chandigarh. They were big ,, i mean BIG .. really HUGE..
err not saying i saw Batman in a tree.. but yeah go to Chandigarh if you want to see big black bats.

Nick-H · Mar 15th, 2005, 16:08

If you sleapt on my Chennai rooftop you'd just see the biggest Mossies you ever saw

Indojingai · Mar 15th, 2005, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

If you sleapt on my Chennai rooftop you'd just see the biggest Mossies you ever saw

Did i mention there was beer involved.

Perhaps it was the intoxication that i didnt feel the bites or what i took for bats were actually mozzies...

But seriously i lived right across the famous Kapaleshwara temple in Mylapore and didnt have to deal with blood-suckers. My north-Indian 'chamdi' (skin) maybe...

kaushiks · Mar 15th, 2005, 16:52

I thought cricket bats. Sorry, no idea.

Nick-H · Mar 15th, 2005, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indojingai

Did i mention there was beer involved.

Perhaps it was the intoxication that i didnt feel the bites or what i took for bats were actually mozzies...

But seriously i lived right across the famous Kapaleshwara temple in Mylapore and didnt have to deal with blood-suckers. My north-Indian 'chamdi' (skin) maybe...

Ahhh... the mylapore bats are really god-fearing bats, they stay only on my side of the canal, where there are fewer big temples

apmk · Mar 15th, 2005, 19:28

Hi...
Since you are visiting Kumbakonam, you might find a few bats in the Chakrapani and Sarangapani temples there. Both the temples are big and beautiful... unfortunately there hasn't been much done to get rid of the bats.

Also when u r travelling to Kumbakonam, try visiting 'Gangai Konda Cholapuram' which boasts of a bigger architectural marvel than the Big Temple of Tanjore (Thanjavur).

Ian McAllister · Mar 15th, 2005, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by apmk

Hi...
Since you are visiting Kumbakonam, you might find a few bats in the Chakrapani and Sarangapani temples there. Both the temples are big and beautiful... unfortunately there hasn't been much done to get rid of the bats.

Also when u r travelling to Kumbakonam, try visiting 'Gangai Konda Cholapuram' which boasts of a bigger architectural marvel than the Big Temple of Tanjore (Thanjavur).

Also when u r travelling to Kumbakonam, try visiting 'Gangai Konda Cholapuram' which boasts of a bigger architectural marvel than the Big Temple of Tanjore (Thanjavur).

This sounds interesting. Where is it? Can you give more details? thanks.

Number Six · Mar 16th, 2005, 00:05

I dont mean to scare you but if youre really into bat watching it is essential to have rabies immunisations (the vaccine 'rabipur' is only 300rs a shot and there have been 30 million doses administered so far with very few problems) as rabies can be spread just by breathing in bat dung dust.

Krishnika · Mar 16th, 2005, 00:28

You can get a local bus to Gangakondacholapuram from Kumbakonam, it's about 30kn away. Just make sure not to arrive midday, 2-5pm or thereabouts since the place closes and there's really NOTHING to do. We unfortunately arrived at that time and were so harassed by young boys and mangy dogs that we couldn't manage to wait it out. Probably the most disastrous picnic attempt of my life. Just saw the exteriors which have wonderful sculpture, but missed the interior.

Of course, now I have an excuse to go back!

rangss · Mar 16th, 2005, 01:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

If you sleapt on my Chennai rooftop you'd just see the biggest Mossies you ever saw

Nick, this is a pan-forum obsession you have with mozzies

I see the picture, though, for I am from Chennai too.

rangss · Mar 16th, 2005, 01:18

Bats????

Bllaaaaaaoooouuuuughgg!!

Mar 15th, 2005, 06:29	#1
Ian McAllister Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Guangzhou, China Posts: 21	Bats in Southern India I'll be in the south (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka) with my family this July and August. We'll start from Chennai, head towards Bangalore, Halebid and Mysore (possibly going as far north as Hampi) then turn south through Ooty to Kerala down to Alleppy, then east through Madurai to the area around Kumbakonam and finally Mamallapuram. My 11 year old girl is a keen student of bats and I'd love to find some camps or colonies of bats that we can view. So far I've heard of bats in Borra Caves and Hyderabad in AP, and some near Goa, but these are all north of where we plan to go. Does anyone know of any easily viewable bats on or near our planned route? Flying foxes would be fabulous, but any bats thrill her. thanks, Ian

Mar 15th, 2005, 11:29	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	My last stay at Coconut Lagoon Hotel, Kumerakom, Kerala (a favourite haunt of mine in my salaried days) I had a fruit bat living in my toilet/shower room. The toilet/shower rooms there are open to the sky and have a banana tree growing. One getssome interesting wildlife sometimes. The staff will always remove the less welcome examples. When I told them how pleased I was to be sharing with a fruit bat they bemoaned the fact that most of their guests would be complaining! I never got more than a couple of seconds view of it flying away as I turned on the light, and I'm afraid I never got a photo. Happy Batting __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Mar 15th, 2005, 12:59	#4
lonelyaztec Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,408	Loads of bats in Bangalore Hi Ian, come to Bangalore. there is place near Bangalore, on teh way to Mysore...called Rangana Thittu..bird sanctuary....there are 1000s of bats hanging upside down there, in the day time. What they do the rest of the time, your little girl can figure it out. __________________ Aztec My photoblog

Mar 15th, 2005, 13:41	#5
Indojingai One in a billion member. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 996	Bats... I used to live in Chennai for 2 years and had a rooftop to sleep on... aah the breeze from Marina beach... anyhow get night vision goggles and rooftop of any house or hotel in southern India will give plenty of views of random bats. Talking of bats, i saw the biggest bats in my life in a par'u'k (punjabi i am.. ... ) in Chandigarh. They were big ,, i mean BIG .. really HUGE.. err not saying i saw Batman in a tree.. but yeah go to Chandigarh if you want to see big black bats. __________________ I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.

Mar 16th, 2005, 01:18	#15
rangss Bulk Carrier Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,838	Bats???? Bllaaaaaaoooouuuuughgg!! Attached Thumbnails Last edited by rangss : Mar 16th, 2005 at 06:06.

Mar 15th, 2005, 12:51	#3
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Middle East <---->India Posts: 384	I don't know if this would be common to most infrequented temples but in Tanjore I found them to have bat colonies, the caretakers strikes a bell and they all come out

Mar 15th, 2005, 16:08	#6
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	If you sleapt on my Chennai rooftop you'd just see the biggest Mossies you ever saw

Mar 15th, 2005, 16:52	#8
kaushiks Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: don't live anymore Posts: 446	I thought cricket bats. Sorry, no idea.

Mar 15th, 2005, 19:28	#10
apmk MK Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: UK Posts: 12	Hi... Since you are visiting Kumbakonam, you might find a few bats in the Chakrapani and Sarangapani temples there. Both the temples are big and beautiful... unfortunately there hasn't been much done to get rid of the bats. Also when u r travelling to Kumbakonam, try visiting 'Gangai Konda Cholapuram' which boasts of a bigger architectural marvel than the Big Temple of Tanjore (Thanjavur).

Mar 16th, 2005, 00:05	#12
Number Six Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London Posts: 46	I dont mean to scare you but if youre really into bat watching it is essential to have rabies immunisations (the vaccine 'rabipur' is only 300rs a shot and there have been 30 million doses administered so far with very few problems) as rabies can be spread just by breathing in bat dung dust.

Mar 16th, 2005, 00:28	#13
Krishnika taking a break Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 233	You can get a local bus to Gangakondacholapuram from Kumbakonam, it's about 30kn away. Just make sure not to arrive midday, 2-5pm or thereabouts since the place closes and there's really NOTHING to do. We unfortunately arrived at that time and were so harassed by young boys and mangy dogs that we couldn't manage to wait it out. Probably the most disastrous picnic attempt of my life. Just saw the exteriors which have wonderful sculpture, but missed the interior. Of course, now I have an excuse to go back!

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