ButterflyIndia & IndianMoths Meet 2017 : Garo Hills, Meghalaya 15-22 Oct 2017

Destination: Butterfly and Moth India Meet at Garo Hills, Meghalaya

Dates: 15 to 22 October 2017 (8 Days/7 Nights)

Minimum/Maximum number of people: 5/10 people

Meet cost per person: Rs. 18,000/-.

Special rate of Rs 16,000/- for students based on production of valid ID. Limited seats for students.

Areas being visited: Balpakram National Park, Siju Wildlife Sanctuary, Baghmara and Rewak Reserved Forest.

Specialties: Currently recorded 350 species of butterflies and 448 species of moths.

Organised by: DiversityIndia, Indian Foundation for Butterflies, Titli Trust and NatureMates supported by Siju Ecotourism and Conservation Society (SECOS) and Karawani Ecotourism and Conservation Society (KECOS).

• Focused on butterfly watching during the day, moth watching during the night.

• Theory sessions on butterfly and moth identification.

• Sessions on butterfly and moth data recording through BOI/MOI websites.

• Visit to Siju Caves.

• Presentation by local community conservation organisations, SECOS/KECOS.

• Meet being led by Sanjay Sondhi, Titli Trust.

For more information, write in to: Sanjay Sondhi at sanjay.sondhi1@gmail.com, or Arjan Basu Roy at naturemates@gmail.com or visit http://www.titlitrust.org/About_Garo.html

Literature on the area: Book titled “Butterflies of the Garo Hills”. More information at http://www.titlitrust.org/Garo_Hills_Book.html

And a paper on the Butterflies of the Garo Hills at http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/bibliography/publications-butterflies-of-the-garo-hills

Inclusions & exclusions:

The cost includes

-Accommodation on twin sharing basis.
-Three vegetarian meals and tea per day.
-Pick up and drop off at Guwahati (Non-AC sumo).
-Transfers to camp sites and field visits.
-Local guide costs.
-Community fee, park entry fee and cave entry fee.

The cost excludes:
- Any kinds of personal expenses such as: tips, telephones bills, laundry and beverages
-Domestic and international airfare and train fare to and from Guwahati
- Insurance and Medical claims
- Food during the drive from Guwahati to Baghmara & return to Guwahati.
- Camera charges at Balpakram National Park.

Accommodation:

Accommodation at the Siju Tourist lodge will be on twin sharing basis, consisting of  mix of tents and cottages. Siju Tourist lodge has electricity facilities for charging cameras batteries only.

Accommodation at Karwani will be at home-stay/guest houses on twin sharing basis (with Indian commode).

The accommodation at Balpakram National Park Forest IB/FRH on twin sharing basis. Be prepared to rough it out!

Meals:

Three meals will be providing you during your entire trip- breakfast, lunch and dinner and morning and evening tea. Packaged lunch in the field, wherever necessary.

Meal timing: Meal timing on all days (tentative). Morning tea: 6:00 am, Breakfast: 6:30 am. Lunch: 1:00 pm (packed lunch, if in the field). Evening tea: 4:00 pm and Dinner: 7:00 pm.

Payment Schedule:

A 50% advance payment for booking your place and the balance 50% to be paid one month before the actual meet. A 15% of the total cost will be deducted if you cancel your visit after making payment. 100% refund will be made if the organizers cancel the tour on account of unforeseeable reasons.

Payment:

Payment to be made to
Bank account name: Vikash D. Sangma
Bank account number: 20306697108
Bank: State Bank of India, Baghmara Branch
IFSC Code: SBIN0004885

Send confirmatory email after payment to Sanjay Sondhi (sanjay.sondhi1@gmail.cm) or Arjan Basu Roy (naturemates@gmail.com)

Detailed Schedule:

15 October 2017 (Sunday): Depart from Guwahati by noontime. Proceed to Baghmara via Siju. Night halt at Karwani. 8 hour drive. Pick up at Guwahati airport.

16 October 2017 (Monday): Butterfly watching at Karawani stream of Baghmara Reserve Forest. Night stay at Karwani. Moth watching in the night at Karwani.

17 October 2017 (Tuesday): Butterfly watching at Panda or Halwa Ambeng. Night halt at Balpakram National Park. Moth watching in the night at BNP.

18 October 2017 (Wednesday): Butterfly watching at Moheshkola stream. Night halt at Balpakram National Park. Moth watching in the night at BNP.

19 October 2017 (Thursday): Butterfly watching at Balpakram National Park. Proceed to Siju Wildlife Sanctuary by 1:00 PM. Night halt at Siju.

20 October 2017 (Friday): Butterfly watching at Siju WLS. Visit to Siju Cave. Moth watching in the night. Night halt at Siju.

21 October 2017 (Saturday). Butterfly watching at Rewak RF and Siju WLS. Moth watching in the night. Night halt at Siju.

22 October 2017 (Sunday Butterfly watching at Rewak RF. Proceed to Guwahati after lunch at 12 AM. Arrive at Guwahati by 8 pm.