Bird Watching Tours in India

The feathered ‘lords of the air’ may not have as phenomenal a fan-following as the beasts that walk the earth, but those with a avian-fixation will know how crazy this sport can get. Sightings are, at times, about seconds - and priceless seconds they are - for your target may hit the air again anytime and be gone forever. Hats off to the ornithologists and the avifauna enthusiasts with their extraordinary patience and an eye for nature’s display of its impeccable color sense.

A ‘quiet’ ariel watch

India’s beeline of bird watching connoisseur from across the world is thronging by the day. A huge populace of widlife photographers too are included in this ambit. The Indian terrains are extremely avian friendly and welcomes a multitude of migratory birds from all over the world. In the Himalayan ranges, an enmesh of trekking expedition with your birding tour can add to the gambol. Down south, a enthralling river cruise through the dales camouflaged with multi-colored avifauna, where the air reverberates with relentless chirpings, can be an out-of-the-world experience. Tape recordings are also made, which, however, are prohibited in the Keoladeo Bird sanctuary. Be patient, be quiet, be attentive - are your bird watching mantras. Good luck!

Pack your bags to..

India! 2000 rarest of the rare species and god-knows-how-many bird-watching zones await your arrival!

Wild wild west: Rajasthans’s Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, more popular as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park is one of Inida's pioneer wildlife conservation centers. Its shot to fame is however the Siberian Cranes Cranes that come here every monsoon traveling 6,500 km. A dismal tide, however, is that the year 2002 saw this endangered guests for the very last time in India. So before you go to Bharatpur, hail pagan bird-gods and the Indian ones that you are the one who reports to the world ‘the return of the Cranes’. Crane-talk apart, the sanctuary’s marine vagetation, kadam and babul forests, shallow lakes shelter in them about 300 species of Indian birds. Flocks of cormorants, spoon bills, storks, egrets, herons, pelicans, ebis and grey herons can be sighted all over the park. Phalodi, in Rajasthan, is another spot where the lovely Demoiselle Cranes from Mongolia and Europe, abound.

The Aravalli foothills nestle the Sariska wildlife sanctuary (Rajasthan) with more than 200 species of birds including the Gray Hornbill, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black/Red Headed Bunting, Wryneck Woodpecker Babbler, White Breasted Kingfisher, Little Brown Dove, Small Minivet, Golden Oriole, Great Gray Shrike, Pale Harrier and Tailor Bird.

Himalayas: The Himalayan foothills are, needless to say, rich with avifauna. For a change at Corbett National Park let the tigers be, go there for the birds. Corbett’s 600 species of birds exceeds the total number of bird species found in Europe and is about one fourth of the diversity found in India.

Fly South: The Nilgiris are rich with species like the White-browed wagtail, Rufous treepie, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Black-rumped Flameback, Chestnut-bellied nuthatch, Indian nightjar, Black Drongo, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and the Indian cuckoo. The best times for bird watching are between October and April.

The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (Kerala) on the banks of Vembanad Lake, has resident birds like waterfowls, cuckoo, owl, egret, herons, kingfishers and water ducks. The migratory population include Siberian cranes (no more though), parrots, teals, larks, flycatchers, wood beetle, etc. House boats and motor boats offer lake cruises ideal for a quiet bird-watching adventure.

Renowned ornithologists, Salim Ali’s brainchild, the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary Kerala, houses 500 winged species including the Indian Roller, Cukoo, Common Snipe, Crow Pheasant, Jungle Nightjar, Kite, Grey Drongo, Malabar Trogon, Woodpecker, Large Pied Wagtail, Baya Sparrow, Grey Jungle Fowl, Indian Hill Myna, Robin, Jungle Babbler And Darter.

Other birding grounds are Gir National Park (Gujarat), Nandankanan (Orissa), Rajaji National Park (Uttaranchal), Kolleru Bird Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh), Manjira Bird Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh) and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh). Our Bird watching tours have the best picks - in case you don’t want to miss a thing!

Travel Tips

Binoculars are a must-must-must carry. Team it up with a hi-tech camera. Try pick clothes that have more of green shades - the birds are a shy lot. And some research can go a long way in recognising them instantly. Handbooks on birds like the “A Birdwatcher’s Guide to India” by Krys Kazmierczak & Raj Singh, Salim Ali’s more recent Ali/Ripley series, “The Pocket Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent” by Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp are recommended. Accommodation options abound.

Widlife Camping in India

It has been tried, tested and proved that vacationing days in the wilderness, recharges our faculties and results in better productivity. And when it is about going back in time (what else would you call camping in a jungle?), India definitely scores amongst the most sought one’s of the segment. And thanks to the Tourism industry, this adventure is no more about fatal combats with bandits or man-eating predators, or mad-rush for a cave during unpredictable weather catastrophes. Today, camping in the wild is about complete tour packages with all facilities and amenities.

What awaits you in Indian wilds...

The Himalayan foothills, the oasis recluses of Thar, the premises of the various wildlife sanctuaries, the beaches, you name it and your travel agent will give you detailed tour itinerary for one of your chosen spots. The days remain animate with activities like trekking, forests trails, angling, cycling, photography, bird-watching, river rafting, tiger-tracking, elephant/jeep/camel/horse safari expeditions, trip to the nearest tribal village - according to preferences. In such sylvan purlieu, poetry and paintings ooze without effort and there is no dearth of a quiet place to sit and let them flow on to the paper. The nights come alive with bonfires, grilled meat fiesta, jam sessions and you name it and of course the nerve-tingling sensation of sleeping with wild animals only ear-shot away.

India’s Favourite Camping Zones

Northern Hills: The Himalayan mountain ranges are an ideal choice anytime. Chitrauli, near Nainital (Uttaranchal) is a popular base camp for trekking expedition in jungles strewn with Oaks, Deodars and Pine. Bird lovers and wildlife photographers have ample scope in Chitrauli’s wilderness. Corbett National Park provides Tiger camping. And if you are with your family, Himachal Tourism organizes exciting camps at Sarchu in Lahaul, Sangla and Kalpa in Kinnaur and at Kaza in Spiti, Barog in Solan district, Baspa (Sangla) valley, Tabo (Spiti), Al Hilal (Taragarh) and Dharamsala (Kangra), Dalhousie (Chamba) and camps at Kullu-Manali are popular vacation hubs. Camps at Hatu (Shimla) at a height of 10500 ft, makes you want to touch the sky.

Westwards: Gujarat’s Gir has lion safari camps. The Siana camp and safari in Rajasthan is another ideal place for a wildlife camping. Ranthambore National Park has camping provisions at Dev Villas, with the Aravalli backdrop and adjacent to 13th century monuments. Rajasthan also has desert camping at Jaisalmer Sam sand dunes, for that unforgettable experience of living amidst the endless expanse of sand. Rann of Kutch Wild Ass Sanctuary’s has a choice of adventurous camping haunts. Just stay clear of rains for the desert is made of salt deposits and in case it starts to shower, in no time the region (Little Rann of Kutch), turns into a sea of mud.

Baywatch: The beach at Mandavi place by the Arabian Sea, Kutch, is dotted with beach camps. The Beach camps at Goa, however, remains the hot favorite. With Goa beach festival and the New Year bash there is more to tango.

Designer Camps: Karnataka’s Cauvery Fishing Camp, Kabini River Lodge Camps, Kali Wilderness Camp, B.R. Hills Wildlife Adventure Resort have a choice of tiled and colonial styled cottages, thatched log huts and swiss tents, hurricane lamps to illuminate your nights - all designed to give you a luxurious stay close to nature.These and many more camping joints await your arrival. All tenting provisions, a smart naturalist guide, the best of locales, travel tickets, loads of travel tips - all come in the package. Alternatively, you can pick one of Lonely Planet Guides for India, and set off on your own. And trust me, that would team better with your adventurous wildlife camping plans.

Do’s and Don’ts

Nature too has Her rules of hygiene. Please take care that your camping area is left as clean as it was when you arrived. Trying to steal in some wild flora or fauna is a strict ‘No No’. And while camping in the jungles, a check on your decibel level will help keep the ambiance just as it should be - let only the wild voice itself. A camera and binoculars are a must-carry.

Camel Safari

How about a jolly ride on the King of the Deserts? Challenging? But the King in question, here, is minus the kingly tantrums and will happily tour you around on its back. Just that you have to hold on real tightly for dear life as it wobbles along the arid spreads of the Thar, India’s west-end desert in the State of Rajasthan or the undulating ranges of Ladakh. Kudos to this fascinating animal who has befriended such stark terrains.

The humped-back escapade

You might initially feel a bit repulsed by the very look and smell of this giant and not-so-goodlooking animal, but after the ride you are bound to vie for a close-up snap with its otherwise preponderous torso.

Roosted on the camel you can venture into the open plains, sparse grasslands and the saline depressions called chapper or rann in the core area of the desert where you can feast on regular sightings of herds of blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), chinkara (Gazella bennettii), caracal (Felis caracal) and desert fox (Vulpes bengalensis). The deserts house a total of 41 animal and 141 avifauna species. The threatened great Indian bustard (Chirotis nigricaps) is also a natural denizen of this land, including some rare variety of cranes and flamingoes that pass by on their way to the Rann of Kutch.

The carrier of India’s arid hinterland can also give you a wobbly ride in the cold desert lands of Ladakh. July to September are the ideal months for a camel safari into the Valley of Flowers with its mysterious snow leopard and a sylvan cascade of flowers and the Palanmik hot spring famous for its thereupatic qualities. Besides, these Bactrian camels with two humps make the rides more comfortable along the craggy ranges of the area.


Your itinerary planner

In our Rajasthan itinerary, to add that element of antiquity, we arrange musical programmes and campfires for our tourists. Winters are the best seasons. And as you rollick through the rustic streets of on the camel, our giudes add tango to the tour by surprise visits to the nearby temples, palaces, forts and a little chat with the local people with multi-colored dresses and elaborate ornate embellishments. The camel carts, stuffed with food and water, can be a change in case your back starts aching on the toddling beast. The most enticing part is the overnight stay at one of the luxurious oasis camps that we book for you well in advance. The Ladakh camel safari too is frilled with exciting surprizes including a trip to the monastery. Feeling curious? Contact us fast then!
Safari Tips

A sunhat, sun-glasses and a sun-screen lotion with maximum SPF are a must carry. You can also get our representatives arrange for some blankets to layer your leather saddle with - the camel safari might give you a little sore sometimes. But wouldn’t that make an interesting memorabilia of a truly bewitching safari? And how about a glass-full of camel milk at Raika (Rajasthan) to energize you before you get homewards?

Horse safari

“Take most people, they're crazy about cars. I'd rather have a goddam horse” - J D Salinger of Catcher in the Rye stated once. Be they the war horses of our erstwhile Maharajahs, the sprinters of the racing course that men bet their fortunes on, the indigenous beasts of burden scooting on the Indian streets or the one’s that are readied for tourists - all have one element in common - speed! For all those who gets an adrenalin rush at the very mention of SPEED, the horse safari can truly be an unequalled experience.

The bumptious gallop

Your itinerary planner

The Horse safari tours are conducted in Rajasthan, hills of Uttaranchal and South India.
However, the most favored horse safari destination are the jungles at the foothills of Himalayas. The best trained and the handsomest of the beasts bred at Rajasthan await your arrival. Dart through the rugged terrain, plush grasslands along tracks where naturalist writer Jim Corbett’s too must have galloped once. Exploring the tiger reserve on your mare can be extremely pulsating.

If camel rides don’t excite you much, you can opt for a horse safari in the arid lands of Rajasthan. And as you trail through its animated streets veined with ancient architectural ruins and colorfully dressed localites, towards the forested countryside, you can halt at several points to take picture of its varied sightings of men and animals.

In case you feel lost with your romping equid, professional guides can also be arranged to accompany you. We design your tours in a way that you can blend trekking, hiking and jungle camping escapades with your horse safari - some respite for your intestines which might tire with the constant toddle. Our experience with speed- addicts have helped us chart out one of the most exciting horse safari expeditions. Check it out!

Safari Tips
Adventure mongers with a bit of horse-riding experience are better suited for the safari. Else your entire trip will be about holding on for dear life as the animal darts through unabated. And give your equine mate some rest every 5-6 hours. Wear breeches or jeans and Boots and stuff in a first-aid kit in your luggage.

Elephant Safari

Nature enthusiasts whose idea of an ideal vacation is to migrate to one of the wildlife recluses than fly away to the Dubai Shopping Festival - will know best the charm of riding an wild animal in the wilderness. Right from the days of the Maharajahs, domesticated elephant safaris have been the most preferred options for touring India’s stocky forests and rugged terrain - where our vehicles even today don’t dare to venture. And the animals’ slow and steady gait acts as apotheosis for those planning a photography spree.

The imperial ride

The very ride on this huge pachyderm is exciting and add to it the thrill of venturing into the densest nooks of the jungle where the wildest of the wild lark about in their natural habitat totally unaware of your roosted presence. “God, it was a safari of a kind!”, gasped one of our French clients, who wanted us to arrange for a jeep initially. At times we add zest to the tour by decorating the elephants with ceremonial umbrella and bright colored clothes as you foray into the streets cushioned on its back. And how about a shower with India’s largest mammals? Being what they are, only an elaborate bathing ritual at one of the reserve water holes can cool their bodies.

Your itinerary planner

Elephant safaris are a commonplace throughout almost all the reserve forests. South India’s Nagarhole and Periyar National Parks have one of the largest elephant population - both domestic and wild. The domestic carrier will take you to watch the wild ones in their herds. A boating cruise at the Periyar lake also can be a good option to watch the wild elephants rollicking on the banks.

Rhino watching in North-East India’s Kaziranga National Park, tiger tracking in the forests of Madhya Pradesh’s Kanha and Bandhavgarh, Corbett (Uttaranchal), Manas (Assam), Ranthambore (Rajasthan) and so on are all done on elephant backs.

Safari TipsThe domesticated elephants are a friendly lot, so don’t miss getting some cuddlesome snaps with them. Start off at the crack of dawn for the best sightings. Carry plenty of potable water and dab yourself well with suntan lotions.

Jeep Safari

The fastest and the most exciting of adventure safaris are made on wheels. For those with a passion for driving in undulating terrains, jeep safari can be an inexorable escapade. How about a jeep safari in the Indian wilderness infested with wild animals, some that can give you a chase for your life? Sounds hot? Read on....
Trails into the wilderness
Only last year one of our clients came back with his interesting tale of how in the forests of Kaziranga his jeep came to a screeching halt when the rhino appeared on their way from no where. His 7 year old daughter got so frightened that she gave the loudest srceam ever, startling the animal into a mad charge at them and the jeep jolted back to life and sped with the animal trailing behind. Reminds you of the dinosaurs chase scene in The Lost World? So what do you call this - electrifying?
Your itinerary planner
Nature enthusiasts have rugged mountainuous ranges to arid desert plains, cavernous kuccha tracks to dense forests to choose from for their wheeled-exploration. Stuff your bags with the camera, some durable food-items, a little folding tent and hit the road. The Himalayas are an all time favorite with adventure mongers. Besides, almost all of India’s multitude of 441 wildlife sanctuaries and 80 National Parks have jeep safari facilities. We can be your travel guru and can help you plan a classic sweep through the entire length and breadth of the nation at one go. Except for the monsoons, all seasons can be ideal touring time depending on the places on your itinerary. You can spice up your tour further with regular drop-by’s at spots of historical importance, fairs and festivals, antique villages, wildlife reserves and what not. And for where-to-look-out-for-what we are there!

Safari Tips
Avoid wearing stringent perfumes and bright colored clothes while on your wildlife jeep safari. Not that the animals hate fragnances and colors, just that they might be alarmed unnecessirily. And yes, please don’t go for catch-me-if you-can’s if one of the beasts takes on a chasing spree. Let them be!

Lion Safari

Asiatic lions - the insignia of power and chivalry for the Indian fraternity - have long been one of the major tourist attractions worldwide. India’s Gir forests in Gujrat, with its dry scrub land veined with hills, rivers and teak forests, make the only refuge of this majestic animal.

‘Beast’ly encounters
The regal spread of Gir’s 1,412 sq-km reserve can be explored atop an elephant or in a jeep accompanied by an intelligent and friendly forest guide. Your man will not only guide you to the possible hideouts of the Lord of the Jungle but also load you with interesting lion-lores. And if you the air suddenly reverberates with the rancorous calls of the langurs and the peacock, grasp your camera and get it ready. It must be the Beast itself passing your way languidly, totally unhindered by your presence. Our representatives can help you choose the best nearby accomodation for more of such exhilarating trips if one isn’t enough to satiate your appetite.

Your itinerary planner

In your Lion Safari itinerary, recommended inclusions besides the must-visit Gir are the Nehru Zoological Park (Andhra Pradesh), Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) and Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Maharashtra).

Andhra Pradesh’s Nehru Zoological Park, located at Hyderabad has enticing Big Cat safari packages. As you tour its premises you will for once forget that the lion is not its natural denizen.
Likewise, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is another tourist hub for Lion safari expeditions. And especially with its Crocodile Rearing Centre, Deer Farm and a Lion Safari Park, the trip promises a lot of eye-toasting.

Planning a Lion Safari this weekend? Contact us to make it an adventure par excellence.

Widlife Photography

Indian wildlife through the lens

Wildlife photography is one of the most challenging domains that requires not just skill-with-the-lenses but patience of epic dimension and unblinking concentration for that ‘perfect moment’.

India’s teeming human community is fast plaguing its hills and dales, true, but fortunately nature, with humanitarian aid, has still been able to guard a whole world of wilderness in its 80 National parks and 441 Wildlife sanctuaries with their treasure of the most exquisite flora and fauna. From the riverine southern territories to the icy peaks of sapphire blue in the Himalayas, the lush montane forests of the Nilgiri Bioshere to the arid deserts of Rajasthan, the moist rain forests of the North-east to the mangrove swamps of the Sunderbans - India lays open before nature enthusiasts a cascade of immaculate beauty, too alive to be stilled in a negative. Its wilderness is a home to a legion of world’s prized (read ‘endangered’) species. To name a few - the one-horned Rhino, Asian white-backed Vulture, Grizzled Giant squirrel, Great Indian Bustard, Salim Ali’s Fruit Bat, Kashmiri Markhor, snow leopard, the Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, Nilgiri Tahr, Hoolock Gibbon, Swamp Deer or Barasingha, the Siberian crane, Pygmy hog, Sangai Deer - the list is endless. Tailored out of this wilderness and its denizens is the booming tourism industry with well connected transport facilities (air/road/railways), regal resorts and resthouses to suit every budget a stone-throw away from the reserve areas, jeep / elephant safari, trekking, boating cruises, sauntering in groups - accompanied by official forest guides and much more to make it an indelible experience.

Popular Widlife Photography Safaris

Right from one of the Big Cats gorging on its prey and the magnificient herd of elephants that languidly crossed your way, to the enchanting peacock that sat looking skyward - options abound if you have the knack for adventure and the right machine to help you capture those moments forever. Of the 4500 known species of world’s mammalian population, 450 abound the Indian forests. Bandhavgarh, Kaziranga, Kanha, Periyar, Gir, Ranthambore, Bharatpur and Corbett are a few of the reserve areas that come first in the tourist hit-list. Instead of wandering clueless in the wilderness, why don’t you catch hold of our Busy Bee Wildlife counsellor first who will tell you exactly how, where and when to find your hunt. Recommended photoghaphy safaris are....

Bengal Tiger Safari: Tiger photography is perhaps the most popular and adrenalin-rushing photoghaphy escapades. For those with a tiger-fixation the ideal spots are the Tiger reserve terrotories of - Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Corbett, Sundarbans, Bandipur, Dudhwa, Manas, Pench, Periyar, Ranthambore, Sariska and so on. Both summers and winters can be ideal seasons depending on which destination you have picked.

Asiatic Lion Safari: The Gir Lion Sanctuary (Gujarat) veined with hills, rivers and teak forests and the Nehru Zoological Park (Hyderabad) are enticing destinations to photograph the Lord of the Jungle lazying about or prowling for a prey.

One-horned Rhino Safari: In the reserves of Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Orang National Park and also Dudhwa National Park you can easily spot this grazier amongst the grass thickets and the swamps.

Snow Leopard Safari: The paradisiacal Nanda Devi National Park and the Valley of Flowers boasts of rare sightings of this elusive animal. Hail all your luck as you venture into the highlands - about 5500 mt elevations in the Himalayas - for the most challenging of wildlife photoghaphy.

Elephant safari: Domesticated elephants, known for their loyality to their mahouts, take you into the jungles of the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Karnataka to watch their bretherns in the wild. Your camera would tire clicking herds of them in the forests of Corbett (Uttaranchal), Kaziranga (Assam), Dudhwa (Uttar Pradesh), Nagarhole and Bandipur (Karnataka), Periyar (Kerala) and Manas (Assam).

Nilgiri Tahr Safari: Plan a vacation to the Erivakulam and Periyar National Parks in Kerala, to see the mountain goat graze about in the undulating terrain, totally undisterbed by your presence. The tahrs in Kerala are a friendly lot. You can just walk upto them and get them pose for a snap together.

Avian Photography: The avian denizens encompass a total of 12.5 % of the world’s 1220 species. Your safari tours to the forest reserves of ornithologist favorites Keoladeo (famous for its Siberian Cranes), Ranthambore, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Corbett, Sariska, Salim Ali - all promise the best and closest of photographs.

How about an interesting itinerary that encompasses the best of wildlife safaris? Contact us before you grab your camera.

Bird Watching

The feathered ‘lords of the air’ may not have as phenomenal a fan-following as the beasts that walk the earth, but those with a avian-fixation will know how crazy this sport can get. Sightings are, at times, about seconds - and priceless seconds they are - for your target may hit the air again anytime and be gone forever. Hats off to the ornithologists and the avifauna enthusiasts with their extraordinary patience and an eye for nature’s display of its impeccable color sense.

A ‘quiet’ ariel watch

India’s beeline of bird watching connoisseur from across the world is thronging by the day. A huge populace of widlife photographers too are included in this ambit. The Indian terrains are extremely avian friendly and welcomes a multitude of migratory birds from all over the world. In the Himalayan ranges, an enmesh of trekking expedition with your birding tour can add to the gambol. Down south, a enthralling river cruise through the dales camouflaged with multi-colored avifauna, where the air reverberates with relentless chirpings, can be an out-of-the-world experience. Tape recordings are also made, which, however, are prohibited in the Keoladeo Bird sanctuary. Be patient, be quiet, be attentive - are your bird watching mantras. Good luck!

Pack your bags to

India! 2000 rarest of the rare species and god-knows-how-many bird-watching zones await your arrival!

Wild wild west: Rajasthans’s Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, more popular as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park is one of Inida's pioneer wildlife conservation centers. Its shot to fame is however the Siberian Cranes Cranes that come here every monsoon traveling 6,500 km. A dismal tide, however, is that the year 2002 saw this endangered guests for the very last time in India. So before you go to Bharatpur, hail pagan bird-gods and the Indian ones that you are the one who reports to the world ‘the return of the Cranes’. Crane-talk apart, the sanctuary’s marine vagetation, kadam and babul forests, shallow lakes shelter in them about 300 species of Indian birds. Flocks of cormorants, spoon bills, storks, egrets, herons, pelicans, ebis and grey herons can be sighted all over the park. Phalodi, in Rajasthan, is another spot where the lovely Demoiselle Cranes from Mongolia and Europe, abound.

The Aravalli foothills nestle the Sariska wildlife sanctuary (Rajasthan) with more than 200 species of birds including the Gray Hornbill, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black/Red Headed Bunting, Wryneck Woodpecker Babbler, White Breasted Kingfisher, Little Brown Dove, Small Minivet, Golden Oriole, Great Gray Shrike, Pale Harrier and Tailor Bird.

Himalayas: The Himalayan foothills are, needless to say, rich with avifauna. For a change at Corbett National Park let the tigers be, go there for the birds. Corbett’s 600 species of birds exceeds the total number of bird species found in Europe and is about one fourth of the diversity found in India.

Fly South: The Nilgiris are rich with species like the White-browed wagtail, Rufous treepie, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Black-rumped Flameback, Chestnut-bellied nuthatch, Indian nightjar, Black Drongo, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and the Indian cuckoo. The best times for bird watching are between October and April.

The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (Kerala) on the banks of Vembanad Lake, has resident birds like waterfowls, cuckoo, owl, egret, herons, kingfishers and water ducks. The migratory population include Siberian cranes (no more though), parrots, teals, larks, flycatchers, wood beetle, etc. House boats and motor boats offer lake cruises ideal for a quiet bird-watching adventure.

Renowned ornithologists, Salim Ali’s brainchild, the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary Kerala, houses 500 winged species including the Indian Roller, Cukoo, Common Snipe, Crow Pheasant, Jungle Nightjar, Kite, Grey Drongo, Malabar Trogon, Woodpecker, Large Pied Wagtail, Baya Sparrow, Grey Jungle Fowl, Indian Hill Myna, Robin, Jungle Babbler And Darter.

Other birding grounds are Gir National Park (Gujarat), Nandankanan (Orissa), Rajaji National Park (Uttaranchal), Kolleru Bird Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh), Manjira Bird Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh) and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh). Our Bird watching tours have the best picks - in case you don’t want to miss a thing!

Travel Tips

Binoculars are a must-must-must carry. Team it up with a hi-tech camera. Try pick clothes that have more of green shades - the birds are a shy lot. And some research can go a long way in recognising them instantly. Handbooks on birds like the “A Birdwatcher’s Guide to India” by Krys Kazmierczak & Raj Singh, Salim Ali’s more recent Ali/Ripley series, “The Pocket Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent” by Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp are recommended. Accommodation options abound.