Rathika Ramasamy Thatterkad and Munnar, Masterclass January 2026
Workshop : Rathika Ramasamy Bird Photography Masterclass
Venue : Thattekad and Munnar, Kerala, India
Dates : 4th January to 8th January 2026 (4 Nights/5 Days)
Costs : INR 44,500/- (Inclusive of tax) Twin sharing
Limited seats only.
If you would like to join and register, Please click here.
Itinerary:
Day 1 : January 4th 2026, 4th noon all participants have to reach Thattekad.
Day 2 : January 5th, 2026 Full day birding session at Thattekad.
Night safari : 7 pm - 8 pm, We will look for Owls and Night jar.
Day 3 : January 6th, 2026 Full day bird shooting at Munnar.
Day 4 : January 7th, 2024 Full day shooting session at Thattekad.
Night safari : 7pm -8 pm
Day 5 : January 8th 2026th, 3 hr Morning birding session and breakfast, workshop ends.
Detailed schedule will be send once the registration is complete.
Cost includes :
- Mentor fees inclusive of tax
- Guide charges and sanctuaries entry charges
- Accommodation at Thattekkad -Twin sharing
- Food
- Night birding guide charges
- Local transport and birding trip to Munnar
Cost excludes :
All other individual expenses :
- Air fare, transport from hometown to workshop destination
- Any kind of personal expenses, Bottled water, soft drinks, laundry and phone calls
Payment Terms:
You can register paying 50% amount as registration confirmed(Non refundable).
Balance to be paid one month before the masterclass.
You can pay GPay or Direct bank transfer. Once registration is confirmed, will send the mode of payment details.
About the Rathika Ramasamy Masterclass:
The purpose of this workshop is to fine-tune your bird/wildlife photography skills by learning from and shooting alongside Rathika Ramasamy. You'll enhance your knowledge of subjects and photography techniques. Rathika has visited Thattekad and Munnar multiple times, documenting over 150 Western Ghat bird species. This workshop will be highly interactive, with in-field discussions. All participants will receive instant feedback and have their images reviewed every evening.
The number of participants is kept limited so that Rathika can spend more time with each participant, shooting alongside them and sharing her experience and knowledge. If you are already doing bird photography, this field learning experience will help you understand wildlife habitats, create inspiring and storytelling images, and capture emotions in your frames. We try to cover most of the endemic western ghat birds.
Who Can Attend:
This workshop is open to all bird/wildlife photographers, hobby photographers, and anyone who wants to learn bird and wildlife photography from Rathika Ramasamy. It is suitable for those with previous knowledge of photography.
About the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary:
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, also known as the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, is one of the finest birding hotspots in India. Located in Kerala, near the Periyar River, it is a dense tropical evergreen forest home to over 300 bird species. The sanctuary was named after Dr. Salim Ali, India’s famous ornithologist, who described it as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India. January is best time to spot and photograph the all owls and migrant birds, endemic birds and flycatchers.
Why Thattekad is a Birding Paradise
• Diverse Birdlife: It hosts a mix of endemic, resident, and migratory birds, including the Malabar Trogon, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Black Baza, Indian Pitta, and White-bellied Treepie.
• Endemics of the Western Ghats: Thattekad is a key spot for sighting endemics like the Wayanad Laughingthrush, Malabar Grey Hornbill, and Flame-throated Bulbul.
• Varied Habitats: The sanctuary comprises evergreen forests, riverine patches, and grasslands, attracting a wide variety of bird species.
• Night Birding: One of Thattekad’s highlights is the chance to spot nocturnal birds like the Ceylon Bay Owl, Jungle Owlet, and Indian Scops Owl.
Munnar : We spend one day birding session at Munnar. Munnar is rich in Western ghat endemics.
Accommodation:
Eldhose Birding Lodge (Home Stay). Eldhose Lodge is renowned among birdwatchers and photographers seeking to capture Western Ghats birdlife and explore Thattekad Bird Sanctuary.
Please click here to see checklist
Mode of Transport :
By Air : Nearest airport Cochin
Participants are advised to book early morning flights from their respective cities.
Return tickets, evening / afternoon flight from Cochin.
If participants book their flight by same arrival time, from airport free pick up could be arranged.
Nearest railway station: Aluva, Kerala
By Train : From Mumbai, Chennai or other northern part of the participants can take train, it will reach early morning. From South India, all Cochin bound trains will stop Aluva, from there Thattekad is 1 hr drive. Pick up taxi could be arranged.
Trains from Chennai Central to Aluva
Two convenient overnight trains from Chennai Central to Aluva.
1.Trivandrum SF Mail (12623) Departure : 19.45 pm and reach 5.58 am
2.Allepey SF Express (22639) Departure: 20.55 pm and reach : 7.48 am
Terms and conditions :
*The workshop charges for Indian National Only. Foreign nationals write to us for charges.NRI’s have to pay extra for entry tickets.
*Rathika Ramasamy Photography is organising the workshop. It does not own or operate or control any transport company, hotel etc. We will take care of all arrangements with most care, but it since it has no control in their operation, it cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage, injury or death which may be caused by the act or default of the management or employees of any, hotels, airlines, transport company.
*Littering and taking anything from nature trails is strictly prohibited. All parks has certain rules to follow, everyone has to follow the rules. Breaking the rules is series offence.
*All our photography workshops we follow ethics of wildlife photography, Nesting Photography and sharing information about nesting places are not permitted.
*Group video, photographs we will use for promotion purpose. If any individual does not agree, feel free to inform us via email or whatzup message before the workshop.
*Don’t take locals and other participants without their permission. Don’t share them without concerned person permission.
*Flash photography inside the national park is not allowed.
*Alcohol & Smoking is strictly prohibited during the workshop.
*Rathika Ramasamy Photography will not be held responsible in case of any legal action mentioned above points.
*It is wildlife, Rathika Ramasamy Photography does not guarantee any wildlife sightings. Participants should come with open mind. Though we try capture all check list birds.
Please register only if you agree with Rathika Ramasamy Photography workshops terms and conditions.
