The Pollachi Papyrus

26/04/2024

Purple Frog - an Evolutional Wonder! A short film featuring exclusive footages, a rare glimpse into the elusive life of a pre-dinosaurs era species, a living fossil that has seen the earth itself evolve.

Streaming on our handles from 6:00 p.m. today.

Come Monsoon, the rainforests of Anamalais will come alive with a variety of life, in all forms and shapes, some of which can only be found active during the rainy days.

One such species is the purple frog that gets out of its burrow for a short period of about two weeks in a whole year to breed.

A small and unusual frog, which may come across as alien to the common eye, the purple frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis), is one of the most unique frogs in the world. Being a relict from the age of the dinosaurs, this strange beauty and perhaps its ancestors decorated the rainforest streams of the southern Western Ghats including the rainforests of Valparai in the Anamalais, for over 130 million years.

Watch the film to know more about the purple frog, an endangered species that’s also an evolutional wonder that’s a living testament to the rich biodiversity our forests host.

Images - .paran
Poster design -

Cinematographer- .paran
Edited by
Script - Achyuthan Srikanthan
Curated by

16/04/2024

The season of the Jacaranda. I love these flowering trees . When I was a kid and these trees bloomed in our school and as the flowers fell . You could pop them . So we used to try and get the loudest pop .

An amazing spectacle to see . Anyone seeing it for the first time it is truly a wonderful sight to behold .

Images and words -

21/12/2023

Highlights from our star-gazing event during the Geminid Meteor shower! Reposted from Geminids 2023. Easily my best experience of a meteor shower ever.

Observed and photographed the Geminid meteor shower from a Bortle 3-4 site, while guiding an enthusiastic group of observers. It was a pleasure to introduce them to not just the meteor shower, but stargazing and astronomy in a wider perspective as well. Had a great time taking some questions, but the gasps and squeals brought out by each bright Geminid meteor made for the best moments! It was pure joy for all of us under the night sky. The event was organized by of . Thank you .nandhi and for inviting me to conduct this session.

This stacked image shows over 50 meteors streaking across the winter night sky. You can even spot a smoke trail on top right. Please view the second image for a close up.

Although the image shows only 50+ meteors, we were thrilled to observe hundreds of meteors. We observed well over 60 meteors per hour and the number went up with every passing hour. Clouds were a major challenge. The overhead was fairly clear to the naked eye, but layers of high altitude cirrostratus clouds got in the way of photographing the sky.

“When the sky is clear, a bright, slow moving Geminid fireball crossing the sky is truly one of nature’s most awesome sights.” - David H. Levy, famed astronomer and one of the most successful comet discoverers in history, says in his book Guide to Observing Meteor Showers.

Canon EOS R5
Sigma Art 20mm f/1.6
ISO 3200, 11x13 sec for sky, 53x13 sec for meteors
Untracked
DSS, Lr & Ps
.

20/12/2023

A stunning night sky image of one of the most instagrammed spots from Nilgiris. Reposted from .david.j - “My initial try of this favourite place for tourists, everyone would have seen them during day light with clouds, sometimes bluesky, but I wanted to see it under the milky way, I tried this out during this summer when I got a chance to shoot it under the milky way, though the visibility was quite less with a hazy weather I still managed to get a shot. I’m hoping to do more with better results in the future!”

Captured on R5 + 16-35

13/12/2023

Since it’s star-gazing week here’s some trivia for you! Our sessions in the foothills of Anamalais start from tonight. More updates in the coming dates.

02/12/2023

01/12/2023

Anamalais - the home of the Asian Elephants! A stunning image of a herd among the pristine, lush shola grasslands of Anamalai Tiger Reserve captured by .paran

01/12/2023

Anamalais

25/11/2023

Elephant herd stepping out for the evening and the ephemeral rainbow arching above. Here in the Anamalais, they are the most iconic. The place gets it very name and identity after these gentle giants. And this image perfectly portrays the kinda promise land that shelters them. May they continue to roam free and grace this blessed land!

Image - .paran

06/11/2023

Reposted from - “The jungle is full of surprises. And no matter how many times you tread the beaten path, every now and then, you get to witness something that will be a “first time”. Sometimes, even the most craziest you’ll ever see.

A few days ago, I had taken my friends on a nature walk along a path I’ve been on a million times, a path I’ve frequented so often over the years. But I keep taking it because it has never felt the same twice. There’s always a bird I observed new, or the breeze felt different or seen the elephants create a new path, beheld a different kinda sunset - and best part of it all being so close to home, it’s very close to my heart.

So that morning too felt new and special. For starters, we heard the cacophony of the giant squirrel and grey langurs so loud, and so close. I suspected a predator on the move. I guessed it could be a pack of wild dogs, remembering the past sighting I had of them a few years ago on that stretch.

We stood in silence and waited patiently, but no such sight to avail. We walked a little further, called it a walk and got back into our cars to return to the property. It was then claimed in glee and excitement, “leopard, leopard” .

And never did I think I’d see a leopard swimming in the emerald green waters along the irrigation canal. It looked like she had fallen into it accidentally, the how and why remained mysterious. However, she quickly got out, climbing on a wooden log that was on the edges.

With bewildered eyes I told my guests who were equally surprised and confused that what they’d seen was not a usual sight and that we had witnessed something special that morning.

A gentle reminder to keep my senses super sharp, sight, sound and smell while in the jungle. Another special memory made. Thank God for these special mornings! 😇

During Nature walks by for “

01/11/2023

The core of man’s spirit comes from new experiences goes a famous wanderlust quote. That’s why we at always look for new, authentic, immersive experiences that will connect you further with nature and its elements.

In partnership with , one of India’s expert Stargazing tour organizers, we bring to you, Pollachi’s first star-gazing itinerary on the event of the most awaited Geminid Meteor Shower, the most spectacular of all meteor showers, that’s expected to peak during the 10-17th of December 2023.

Link in bio, for more details.

DM for enquiries.

Image -

28/09/2023

Wildlife Safaris. Star-gazing. And magical music evenings around the crackling bon-fire listening to the soulful voice of !

A first-of-it’s-kind travel experience to the most desired place for wildlife and nature enthusiasts in the planet - the Masai Mara meticulously curated and organised by the night sky experts .

Only a limited seats left. Don’t miss it. For more - [email protected] | Phone : 9677242120

27/09/2023

Reposted from - “Beauty Bomb🤩
Bio-Indicators , Did you know ?
Read more👇Zooom in👉👉👉

If there are lots of frogs in an area, that indicates a healthy environment. A frog die-off indicates a problem with water, air or soil in their habitat. Frogs in one ecosystem habitat might be thriving while frogs in a different habitat of the same ecosystem are disappearing.

Frogs have definitely leaped great heights to find a special place in our life. Since they have two life stages, they make for good bio-indicators to ascertain the ecological status of the habitat.

Frogs and toads, together with salamanders and caecilians, are called amphibians. They are called so because they go through two stages in their lives and not just because they live in both water and on land. The first stage is the tadpole stage, also called larvae or pollywog, when they are fish-like and generally live in water. 

: Raorchestes uthamani
: Uthaman's Reed Bush Frog

Canon EOS R5
Canon RF100mm 2.8

monsoonphotography

12/08/2023

Kozhikamuthi is a place like nowhere in the world for captive elephants. What constitutes the establishments here in the Anamalais as one of the most ethical captive elephant establishments in the world, who are the people who make it possible and how the elephants here are leading a very healthy, sustainable life? Find out in this film.

Made by , and for

Installed in the late 1800s to accommodate the elephants capture from the wild for timber logging purposes, the captive elephant camp at Kozhikamuthi is prob...

21/07/2023

Reposted from .kumar.shiv - Lost in his thoughts 💭 the Wanderoo from the mesmerising Western Ghats ❤️

13/07/2023

“This tusker suddenly noticed our presence, and froze, picking scent and displaying foot swinging behaviour. Foot swinging is usually seen during vigilance behaviour, where animals are seen freezing, and swinging their foreleg, often signalling uncertainty in making a decision. The alert posture, with raised head and open ears, combined with the early morning light streaks falling through the canopy maybe seen in the image.”

Words and image -

24/06/2023

The cliff hangers! Nilgiri Tahr treading on the rocky outcrops in the Aliyar reserve forest.

Image -

20/06/2023

Monsoon, where are you? 🥺
Image -

09/06/2023

Call to support for a good cause! Reposted from - “Ever thought of helping wildlife conservation and community livelihood by giving out a loan?

If not here's your chance to be a part of something big! has partnered with
and we bring to you a loan donation system.

The loans can be of any amount and you get a 6% pa interest rate!

Read the link in bio for more details!”

08/06/2023

Reposted from

A Great Indian shoots its head out of the canopy to feed on a swarm of Wandering Glider Dragonflies. This migratory species is also known as Globe Skimmers or Globe Wanderers.

             

24/05/2023

A bit late on the schedule but it’s never too late to celebrate and appreciate our incredible natural world. Here’s a series of educational posts made by our wonderful friends at

The range of the Asian elephant is home to a vast and rich diversity of interesting wildlife. And all these species play a very crucial role in maintaining the ecology of the land.

We thought it would be great to share interesting facts about some of them!

Do you know other animals/ birds that coexist with the elephant? Tell us in the comments!

Illustration by .thattari

17/05/2023

Paradise land! 🤩😇 what an absolutely tranquil frame ! Reposted from

15/05/2023

Golden evenings in the Sholayar backwaters! Repost from

Late evenings ✨️

06/05/2023

Under her mom’s watchful eyes, exploring the new world around her. Reposted from
Mommy and Baby

04/05/2023

Drama in skies! A little prelude to the greatest show on earth- the monsoons!

Image -

03/05/2023

“It’s today! What a magnificent being we share space with here in Anamalais and it’s fringes all around Pollachi! Here’s an excerpt from the article written by for on the conflict and co-existence between the Leopards and the Residents of Valparai.

Images -

The boundaries between wild and human settlements are porous in places like Valparai. Plantations in particular, are a fascinating habitat in their own right, frequented by big cats and mega-herbivores like gaur and elephant. Though the landscape supports and hosts a rich diversity of wildlife, none is as contentious as the leopard, whose diet flexibility has enabled it to thrive in a variety of ecological settings. It adapts its preferences and hunting techniques to match available prey native to the region”

14/04/2023

Reposted from - “Time flies...

Tremella fungi age on a rotting log, swarmed by a symphony of swirling, pirouetting dipterans.

A calling of rains”

21/03/2023

On - The pristine evergreen forests of Anamalais that teem with wildlife!

Image -

20/03/2023

We are extending it!! To accommodate the overwhelm of enquiries and requests, we have planned to go on an entire week of star-gazing as the skies are predicted to be super clear and the meteor shower expected to unfold during the same time!

We have made ourselves available from 15th - 21st of April throughout the week! Our telescope and field experts who lead the tour will be here in Pollachi for the said time to assist and guide you.

Based on the availability of slots, you can confirm your booking.

Contact us at 91235 55031 or 96772 42120 for consultation and confirmation

More details DM us or click link in bio!