The Great Indian Himalayan Safari For Birds, Nature and Wildlife in 18 Days

This tour takes you to the best destinations of the Himalayas, including the Corbett National Park, one of India’s premier wildlife destinations, Pangot and Sat Tal, possibly the most well-known birding destinations of the western Himalayas, Jageshwar, a spiritual treasure trove that has been a pilgrimage site for countless generations, and much more. Not only will jungle safaris in Corbett help you see iconic Indian mammals like Tiger and Asian Elephant, but with the help of your guide you will get great pictures and sightings of birds like Brown and Tawny Fish Owls, Kalij, Koklass and Cheer Pheasants, Greater and Lesser Yellownapes, Brown Wood Owl, Himalayan, and Black Bulbuls. In addition, you will experience the rich culture, history, and spirituality of Uttarakhand, as well as get an immersive glimpse into everyday life.

 

Nestled amidst the Himalayas and the Shivaliks, and Rivers Ganges and Yamuna, Dehradun is one of the most popular hill stations in the country. Apart from being home to many tourist attractions, the Doon Valley is also a great birding destination, acting as a gateway to the rest of the Garhwal region, with species like Grey-headed and Scaly-bellied Woodpeckers, Crimson Sunbird, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Cinereous Vulture, and more. 

 

Chopta, in the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, provides some excellent winter and spring birding, and fantastic landscapes. A variety of montane habitats, from pine forests to alpine meadows, results in a rich diversity of birds. It is famous among photographers and birders for being the best and most easily accessible place in India to see the Himalayan Monal, as well as other pheasants, woodpeckers, laughing thrushes, rosefinches, and more. That alone would be worth the long drive, but the area has much more to offer.

 

Munsiyari has hidden away amongst the mountains in India's border district of Pithoragarh at a height of 7000 ft, this Himalayan settlement is probably the closest you can get to experience the Greater Himalayas from a hand-shaking distance. At Munsiyari, you have the majestic Panch Chuli peak looming all of 22600 ft right in front of you. This last outpost in Kumaon is the gateway to the famous Milam and Ralam glaciers. It is also your only access to one of India's highest mountains - Nanda Devi East (7434m). The valley is dotted by several beautifully laid out hamlets with a cultural lifestyle steeped in traditional Hinduism. Almost every village, populated by a cross-section of Indo-Tibetan tribals called Bhotias, is rich with handicrafts: hand-woven woolen carpets, pashmina shawls, and sheep wool blankets. Traditional folk dances like the Jhora, Cholia, and Chhapeli are great to watch.

 

In the midst of the deodar pine forests of Jageshwar, and inspired by local Kumaoni architecture, Van Serai serves the purpose for those who want to be in the most peaceful surroundings. The lodge is located between the two sets of ancient Shiva temples that render energy naturally. The quaint town of Jageshwar and the streams flowing through the dense deodar jungles make the ecosystem unique. 

 

Through guided village and forest walks, short treks, and temple visits, Van Serai introduces visitors to, and teaches them about everyday life in Jageshwar, including its history, architecture, and cuisine. Traditional farm-fresh and Satvik Kumaoni food showcases the culinary history of Kumaon, and cooking classes help these traditional dishes endure. Van Serai also practices responsible waste and water management practices, while adopting as many local traditional practices as possible.

 

Sat Tal, the land of Seven freshwater lakes connected mysteriously, is a beautiful haven, an abode set amid the Himalayan landscape, crisscrossed with lush meadows and tall trees. With a rich diversity of mammals, birds (both migratory and resident), and butterflies, the natural diversity of Sat Tal is truly awe-inspiring.

 

Birding in Sat Tal in winter is an especially special experience as the area plays host to many birds from higher altitudes who migrate down for the winter. With the help of a Sat Tal birding guide, you will be able to find species like Green-tailed Sunbird, Griffon Vulture, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, and many more.

 

The small town of Jageshwar has long been a pilgrimage hotspot, and with the calming and revitalizing energy that emanates from the peaceful town and surroundings, it’s easy to see why. Apart from the ancient temples that draw many to Jageshwar, the surrounding lush deodar pine forests are home to a variety of birdlife, whose song livens up this place.

 

Located about 15km from Nainital, in the state of Uttarakhand, Pangot is a quiet hamlet surrounded by the Himalayas. Lush forests surround this Kumaoni hamlet, making it the perfect place for the birds of the region to thrive. One can see a variety of Himalayan species such as Himalayan Vulture, Blue-winged Minla, Spotted and Slaty-backed Forktail, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Kalij Pheasant, a variety of thrushes, and more. Almost 150 bird species have been recorded at Pangot and the surrounding areas.

 

Apart from being India’s oldest birding lodge, and one of the earliest resorts in Pangot, Jungle Lore Birding Lodge is also at the forefront of the Zero Waste Pangot project, a project that aims to reduce waste by adopting responsible waste and water management practices, and teaching them to other lodges in Pangot. Through village walks, Jungle Lore also showcases local rural village life, while activities like cooking classes help traditional practices endure and spread.

 

Established as the Hailey National Park in 1936, Corbett is India’s oldest national park and tiger reserve. Located in the western Himalayan foothills, Corbett is one of India’s premier wildlife destinations. Apart from a healthy population of Tiger, Leopard, Asian Elephant, Indian Muntjac, Sambar Deer, Chital, and more, Corbett is also home to a wide variety of birds. One may expect to see birds like Lesser Fish Eagle, Cinereous Vulture, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Tawny Fish, and Spot-bellied Eagle-Owls, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Ibisbill, Wallcreeper, Golden-headed Cisticola, Rosy Minivet, and Himalayan Rubythroat to name a few. The park is home to a wide variety of habitats, from riverine belts, marshlands, and lakes, to forests and grasslands, adding to both its natural beauty and biodiversity.

 

My Himalayan sojourn

 

Each time I visit the Himalayas, I get enthralled by the quiet surroundings, lush meadows, tall Deodar and Oak trees, and, of course, the variety of bird species. This time, since I had the luxury of traveling for a longer duration, I decided to explore the rich Kumaoni and Garhwali cultures of Uttarakhand as well.

 

My first destination on this tour of the Himalayan foothills was the picturesque Doon Valley, home to the hill station of Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand. Dehradun is one of the most popular hill stations in the country and acts as a birding gateway to the rest of Garhwal. My main target here was the somewhat boring-looking Nepal Cupwing, a bird that was once thought to be endemic to Nepal until it was found in the ground of Kachnar Homestay in Dehradun, where I was lucky enough to be staying. Needless to say, my luck coupled with the skill of the birding guide was such that I got great views of this beauty.

 

The gardens of Kachnar Homestay were also a great place for Crimson Sunbird, and I managed to get some amazing sightings and decent photos of it, as well as several Phylloscopus warblers, woodpeckers, and a few babblers.

 

Leaving Dehradun on the third day of my trip, I headed to Chopta, a region that has gained fame among birdwatchers and photographers over the last couple of years. After checking in at the camp and a cup of hot chai and a plate of pakoras (my mountain favorite), I did a little time pass birding in and around the campgrounds. Although I could probably spend a week or even a month birding in Chopta alone, two days would have to suffice.

 

My first day of birdwatching in Chopta was spent with a day-long session around Tungnath. This temple is the highest Shiva Temple and looks stunning against the mountain backdrop. Not only was I able to get Lord Shiva’s blessings for my further adventures, but the trek itself was very rewarding. The fresh mountain air does indeed have a sense of piety and purity to it. 

 

For birders, this trek can be rewarding too. I managed to see Snow Partridge, Red-billed Chough, and two lifers: Red-fronted Rosefinch and, of course, my main target - Himalayan Monal. Needless to say, by the time I returned to the camp, I was a happy birder indeed!

 

My second day in Chopta was spent visiting several sites looking for my targets. I got better sightings (and better photographs) of Himalayan Monal, as well as Kalij and Koklass Pheasants, and even a shy and elusive Scaly-breasted Cupwing. The larger streams were perfect places to find Brown Dipper, and the list of warblers, laughing thrushes, and woodpeckers was endless! Boy, was I happy to have come here!

 

Of course, after coming so far it didn’t make sense not to experience the culture here. So it was that on my third and final day in Chopta, I kept my binoculars and field guide aside and took a guided walk through a local village. The everyday rural Garhwali way of life is fascinating. From harvesting in fields and fruit orchards to the beautiful temples here, I was lucky to experience such a rich dose of culture in one short day.

 

After three glorious days in Chopta, I traveled to Munsiyari for a few days. There is plenty of stuff to do here. For birders like me, there is the attraction of species like  Grey Bellied Tesia, Robin Accentor, Himalayan Cutia, Green-tailed Sunbird, Satyr Tragopan, Chestnut Crowned Warbler, and many more. 

 

The valley is dotted by several beautifully laid out hamlets with a cultural lifestyle steeped in traditional Hinduism. Almost every village, populated by a cross-section of Indo-Tibetan tribals called Bhotias, is rich with handicrafts: hand-woven woolen carpets, pashmina shawls, and sheep wool blankets. Traditional folk dances like the Jhora, Cholia, and Chhapeili are great to watch.

 

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 which I also managed to touch upon. Diving deep into the concepts of freedom, happiness, laughter, ecstasy, and 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, birding, and even spent quality time gaining ancient traditional knowledge from the babus and daajus 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 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.

 

But, of course, you can’t keep a wildlife enthusiast away from wildlife on any trip, and after getting my fill of culture, I headed to Sat Tal and Pangot, another two favorite destinations.

 

Sat Tal ‌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, these places are places of peace, which reminds me 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 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 experience. 

 

To say Pangot is a birding paradise is something of an understatement. The birds of Pangot find their homes in the lush montane forests and fields surrounding the region. With the help of the amazing guides here, I’ve had the luck to see a variety of Himalayan species such as Himalayan Vulture, Blue-winged Minla, Spotted and Slaty-backed Forktails, Black-throated Bushtit, Small Niltava, Kalij, and Koklass Pheasants, a variety of laughing thrushes including Streaked, Striated, White-throated, and more. In fact, almost 150 bird species have been recorded at Pangot and the surrounding areas.

 

The meals here are of another level altogether. Simple, yet farm-fresh and made with love, I always feel like I can taste the love. Not to mention the chai and pagodas, which are almost a staple for me here.

 

Occasionally, I have also had the chance to spend time at a local family’s home, sharing a precious cup of tea with them, sharing their stories and experiences, and dining on the wholesome local cuisine. The Governor’s House (Raj Bhawan) is another excellent site to learn more about the old-world charm of Pangot and its surrounding areas, and the Tibetan Market in the city of Nainital is a place where I can easily spend hours walking around the streets. Observing the way of life and understanding the heritage and cultural values of Pangot and its neighbors takes me back to the olden days, almost as if I were there then.

 

And, of course, being a wildlife buff, it made sense to end my journey at Corbett National Park. A favorite destination for a wildlife buff like me, this seemed like the perfect place to end my travels.

 

Corbett has always held a special place in my heart. From reading the stories of hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett to visiting India's oldest park, one named after him, was like a dream come true. My safaris in Corbett helped me explore these lush habitats, from the forests to grasslands. Asian Elephants, Tigers, a variety of deer, and a plethora of birds made my Corbett visit special, and I almost spent my entire camera memory card clicking everything wondrous I could lay my eyes on. 

 

Sadly, these days of tranquility were 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.