Delhi, Sat Tal, Kausani, Jageshwar, Pangot
Shiva Walks in Himalayan 125 Hindu Temple Town of Jageshwar In 1 Week
Overview
The mesmerizing Himalayas will take you in awe and leave you with memories to last a lifetime. Start in Sat Tal, the land of seven mysteriously interconnected lakes, and enjoy the majestic views. Go back in time to Abbott Mount and enjoy its beautiful trails and serene surroundings of Deodar and Pine forests which are a habitat for many exotic birds. Move on to Kausani to enjoy the scenic views of the Himalayas and take in the fresh air and gorgeous views. Visit the 2500-year-old temple in Jageshwar and enjoy satvik foods here. Come to Pangot for the views and stay for the hospitality. Enjoy bird watching in the scenic hills and lush deodar forest of Pangot and enjoy traditional Kumaoni food. Create memories for a lifetime.
A week of culture (and a little birding) in Kumaon
Taking a change of pace from my usual bird watching in Uttarakhand, I decided this time to try one of the cultural tours in Kumaon. Of course, no trip of mine has zero birding and while I was here, I couldn’t say no to a quick trip each to Sat Tal and Pangot.
Those who know me know that I am in love with Sat Tal. Named after the seven freshwater lakes, this place is indeed a beautiful haven. It is an abode set amid the Himalayan landscape, crisscrossed with lush meadows and tall trees. Sat Tal is home to the Sattal Mission Estate and Methodist Ashram, better known as the Sattal Christian Ashram, which was established in the early 20th Century by a Christian evangelist and missionary. It is one of the heritage places in Sat Tal and provides an insight into the olden times. For me personally, these places are a place of peace, which reminds me of how tranquil life here can be. Another favorite site in Sat Tal is the beautiful waterfall, Subhash Dhara, which is a natural spring of crystal clear water that cascades down from the lush oak forest. And after all this exploring, a freshly prepared plate of local traditional delicacies is always welcome.
Sat Tal is also well-known for its rich biodiversity. The birds of Sat Tal, especially, are a big draw, with 150 species of resident and migratory species, and if you are a birder or photographer, or both, I would definitely recommend a combined Pangot-Sat Tal birding tour for the best birding experience. Some of the beauties I’ve managed to see here include Green-tailed Sunbird, Griffon Vulture, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Lesser Yellownape, various kingfishers, Blue-throated, Brown-headed, Lineated, and Coppersmith Barbets, Plum-headed and Slaty-headed Parakeets, and more. Many of the hotels and hides in Sat Tal are run by local birding guides and make for the best experiences. During this visit, I even managed to spot Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush and Slaty-backed Forktail, both lifers that I always seem to miss.
After getting some quality birding done in Sat Tal, I decided to return to the cultural aspect of my visit, traveled to Jageshwar via Kausani.
The hill station of Kausani is well known for its scenery. Although I was welcomed by a cloudy sky, the weather soon cleared, giving me the opportunity to get some great panoramic shots of the Trisul, Nanda Devi, and Panchchuli peaks. Mahatma Gandhi called this place the 'Switzerland of India', but I beg to differ. I think Switzerland is the ‘Kausani of Europe’.
One of the great pleasures of being up in the mountains, especially the Himalayas, is experiencing the unknown, the new, and the adventurous- the pleasure of soaking in the lush landscapes, the adrenaline rush of standing at the edge of a cliff thousands of feet high, feeling awed in front of the soaring earth and plummeting skies, or uncovering the mysteries of the enigmatic being that Shiva is.
It’s no surprise then that I fell in love with Jageshwar the first time I went there. From the early morning calls of Blue Whistling Thrush to the magical sunsets at our secret trails, everything about Jageshwar is beautiful and pleasing to the senses.
Of course, I had immense fun with all the touristy things, but there are subtle dimensions to it that I also managed to touch upon. Diving deep into the concepts of freedom, happiness, laughter, ecstasy, compassion, and many such terms, was a real eye-opener. Once I got a grip on these, I think I truly laughed with innocence after a long time. I wished the ground would open up and swallow me, but in a good way.
Apart from guided yoga and meditation sessions, we went hiking, and birding, and even spent quality time gaining ancient traditional knowledge from bubus and daaju's of Jageshwar. Cracking jokes, cookouts, and singing songs around a campfire seemed as normal as the bhajan kirtan and temple visits.
Couple this all with the delicious Satvik food at Van Serai, and I really felt I was in heaven. To be honest, when I heard the term “Satvik food”, I imagined something akin to tasteless diet food, but boy was I happy to be wrong. I could taste the love that went into each and every finger-licking-good dish that was served here.
After a few days of bliss in Jageshwar, I traveled to Pangot. You may think I was back here for some birding in Pangot and the nearby Kilbury Bird Sanctuary, but this time I decided to visit the Neem Kirori and Naina Temples, places I had heard about from my guides and the locals on previous trips but had never visited. Like almost every Himalayan temple I visited, these too were reverberating with a quiet but powerful energy that is calming and invigorating at the same time.
Sadly, a week of tranquility was all the time I could afford, and then it was time for me to return to Delhi. At least I could get back to life with a clear mind.
Please Note, the Acronyms in Bird Species
R stands for Resident Birds
S stands for Summer
W stands for Winter
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lavanya Resort
Your tour begins in Delhi, where you will be met by our driver and driven to Sat Tal. Today you will visit Ghorakhal Temple with your guide. This temple is dedicated to Golu Devta. The word Ghorakhal means "a pond for water to horses". Devotees come here in multitude to make wishes. Once their wishes are fulfilled, devotees offer bells here as their gratitude. One can see here thousands of bells hanging in the temple premises, from thousands of fulfilled wishes. Golu Devta is said to be the "God of Justice".
Overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Chevron Eco Lodge
After a morning birding session in Sat Tal, check out from your resort and drive to Kausani. In the evening you will visit Baijnath Temple
Overnight stay.
Key species: Blue-winged Minla(R), Himalayan Bulbul(R), Black Bulbul(R), Ashy Bulbul(R), Mountain Bulbul(R), Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush(R), Kalij Pheasant(R), Slaty-backed Forktail(R)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Van Serai - The Himalayan Spiritual Lodge
Today, we drive to a highly sought-after destination, Jageshwar, calling on Almora on the way to visit the Katarmal Temple, a monument of historical importance and also a feat of architecture. After spending time here, proceed to Jageshwar.
Overnight stay in Van Serai, a very charming lodge with local architectural sensibilities.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Van Serai - The Himalayan Spiritual Lodge
Today we will visit Dandeshwar, Vridh Jageshwar, and Jageshwar Temples.
The spiritual hamlet of Jageshwar is where you can explore its ancient 8-12th century Shiva temples. The tranquility of Jageshwar, coupled with the spiritual energy of the temples, makes this a spiritual retreat.
Visit Vridha Jageshwar in the morning, it is a 3 km trek and is the source of the river Jata Ganga. The view of the surrounding countryside is very imposing and 1.5 km beyond Hiriya Shikhar (2200 m), the view of the Himalayan peaks is awe-inspiring. Overnight stay in Van Serai.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Van Serai - The Himalayan Spiritual Lodge
Spend another day at Jageshwar. You can partake in a guided yoga and/or meditation session, or go for a meditative walk in the surrounding forest. A visit to the town with a guide is also an interesting experience as you can see everyday life in Jageshwar.
Overnight stay at Van Serai.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge
Our drive to Pangot is interesting as we visit the Neem Karoli and Naina Devi Temples en route. Stop en route at Nainital for lunch, boating, cable car ride, and shopping. The entire drive is through the delightful lake city of Nainital and through the forested area of Cheena Peak Range via Snow View Point and Kilbury, the main habitats for excellent flora and fauna. The forests make for excellent birdwatching and are home to birds like Himalayan Bulbul(R), Greater and Lesser Yellownape(R), Striated(R), Streaked, and White-throated Laughingthrushes(R), and many more.
Overnight at the quaint and idyllic Jungle Lore Birding Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: None
In the morning, check out from the lodge, and continue to Kathgodam. The last leg of your journey to Kathgodam commences at noon as you board the train to Delhi in the mid-afternoon, arriving in Delhi at 2200 hours.
Tour Ends
Highlights
- Experience the rich culture of Kumaon
- Admire the architecture of ancient Himalayan temples
- Spend time in serene surroundings
- Guided yoga and meditation
- Scenic Himalayan views
- Delicious vegetarian Indian meals
- Visit Kumaon’s best ecolodges
- Spend time reconnecting with nature
- Rich and diverse Himalayan flora and fauna
Included
- Accommodation on twin / triple sharing basis Meals as per the itinerary
- All surface transfers by a private vehicle A Temple guide | Yoga and meditation sessions in Jageshwar
Video
Location
Stories
Ladakh
North India, the land of Ladakh, looks as though it was made for birdwatching and photography.
Gir National Park Gujarat
Sometimes it is not just the species spotted but also the amazing moments. Some of our guests had the unique opportunity to witness the mating of Asiatic Lions in the Gir Forest, truly a special moment.
Delhi
Surajpur is an amazing wetland close to the nation’s capital. Apart from being one of the monsoon homes for the Bristled Grassbird, it is also home to another sought-after species: the Bengal Bush Lark.
Rajasthan
One advantage of living near the birding hotspot of Bharatpur is that you can see some amazing birds, like the graceful Sarus Crane, in your backyard during this lockdown
