Travel special: Visit Amboli for a croaking experience

Whatrsquos awesome about Amboligtgt Located at the height of above 2000 feet nestled deep within the dense foliage of the Sahyadris in the Western Ghats Amboli is a rich biodiversity hotspot It forms the southernmost tip of Maharashtra Away from the hazards of commercialisation and tourism Amboli remains a rarelydocumented spot mainly because it is remotely located from big cities like Mumbai and Pune and has lesser connectivity in terms of infrastructureThe Malabar Gliding Frog aka Malabar Flying Frog is native to Amboli in Maharashtra Pic courtesy Caesar SenguptagtgtBritish political agent Colonel Westrop developed Amboli as a hill station after the opening of the Ghat Road from the coastal town of Vengurla now in southern Maharashtra to Belgaum in KarnatakaFungoid frog PIC CourtesyCaesar SenguptagtgtIt is perhaps the only hill station in Maharashtra that is located on the crest line but is politically located in a coastal district Sindhudurg from the Konkan regionBurrowing Frog Pic CourtesyKapil VishtgtgtThe hill station receives an average rainfall of 7446 mm the highest in MaharashtragtgtSince Amboli is located on the crest line it has taller evergreen and semievergreen forests Some attractions in Amboli include the Shirgaonkar Point Parikshat Point and Mahadevgarh PointAmboli Toad is endemic to the hillstation Pic Courtesy Caesar SenguptagtgtAmboli is home to the Malabar Gliding Frog an arboreal species that is also known as the Malabar Flying Frog The other endemic species include Amboli Bush Frog and the critically endangered Amboli Toad Malabar Pit Viper is also native to AmboliNight FroggtgtThe origin of Hiranyakeshi River is near AmboliEggs of a Night Frog Pics Courtesy Caesar SenguptagtgtMonsoon is the best time to visit Amboli as you can spot caecilians frogs and forest flowers as well as cloud shrouded mountains Whereas avid bird watchers can plan a trip in summerJumping Spider Pic courtesyMumbai TravellersgtgtSome of the cities close to Amboli include Belgaum known for its dairy products Kolhapur famous for its Mahalakshmi Temple and leather chappals and PanjimLand crab Pic CourtesyCaesar SenguptaOn a spotting spreeFrogs and toads Malabar Gliding Frog Tiger Toad Amboli Tree Frog Philatus amboli Bombay Bush Frog Raorchestes bombayensis Indian Rock Frog Indirana leithii Night Frog Beddomersquos Burrowing Frog Wrinkled Frog Fungoid Frog and Koyna ToadBeddomes Keelback Pic courtesyKapil VishtSnakes Malabar Pit Viper Banded Racer Green Keelback Olive Forest snake Beddomersquos Keelback Shield Tail Snake Common Vine Snake and Checkered KeelbackMushroom Pic CourtesyCaesar SenguptaMammals Leopard tiger Gaur Sambar Barking Deer Small Indian Civet Wild Boar Grey Mongoose Blacknaped Hare and Giant Squirrel in the forests of AmboliAmboli landscape Pic courtesy Caesar senguptaBirds Malabar Whistling Thrush Whitecheeked Barbet Redwhiskered Bulbul Yellowbrowed Bulbul Crimson Sunbird Scimitar Babbler Grey Junglefowl Brown HawkEagle Shama and Crested Serpent Eagle Bird sightings are better during the summerSign upParticipate in a threeday camp starting from Sawantwadi Organised by BNHS the trip includes a night and a morning forest trail as well as an evening trail to a sacred grove of Amboli Ghat From July 3 to July 5Call 22871202 Cost Rs 5900 for members Rs 6500 for othersLearn the basics of wildlife photography through this threeday workshop conducted by Amit Rane an inhouse expert with DCP Expeditions The expedition includes trails to Shirgaonkar Point Parikshat Point and near Mahadevgarh in Amboli From August 21 to August 23Call 61818464 Cost Rs 9000 excluding Mumbai ndash Amboli ndash Mumbai travelExplore the forests of Amboli at nightfall with Mumbai Travellers and learn the basics of macro photography through expertguided tours From August 14 to August 16Call 8692022777Cost Rs 7000