5 Destinations for Bird Lovers in

India
Posted by Travelyaari on February 19, 2015
By Amrita Das.
It is one of those passions that take years to nurture and once it develops as a habit, there is no looking
back. Bird watching is a passive skill of the very persevering people. Needless to say that it requires the
eye to spot these beautiful creatures, but once you do witness the wide diversity of bird life in our country,
it continues to grow forever. So next time if youre looking to visit these feathered wonders, here are some
places we can recommend.

Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan

Spotted Owlets. Photo by amitd.

A favourite destination of every bird watcher, Keoladeo National Park or famously called Bharatpur Bird
Sanctuary, is located in the colourful state of Rajasthan. Just like the state, the sanctuary sees the richest

and the most coloured variety of flora and fauna. With over 380 resident and migrant species, you can
expect to see birds including the Siberian Cranes, Shikra, Dusky Eagle Owl, Spotted Owlets, Kingfishers,
Flycatchers, Pelicans and many others. The national park is also rich in wildlife which include Jackal,
Striped Hyena, Nilgai, Blackbuck and Sambar.
Best time: October to March
Getting there: Bharatpur is well connected by road and regular buses ply from Delhi, Jaipur and Mathura.
Book your bus seat to Bharatpur, exclusively on Travelyaari.

Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh

Have you seen the Grey Nightjar yet? Photo by Koshy Koshy.

In the scenic Arunachal Pradesh, Eaglenest is one of the finest spots for this activity in the country.
Sprawling across 218 sq. km., here you can expect to see some of the most exquisite species of birds
from Rufous Necked Hornbill, Common Hill Partridge, Crimson Breasted Pied Woodpecker, Tawny Wood
Owl, Golden Throated Barbet, Beavans Bullfinch, Bulbul, Thrush, Parrotbills, Blue Fronted Robin, Slender
Billed Scimitar Babbler and other species of Babblers, Flycatchers, Gold Naped Black Finch and
Sunbirds. With such an extensive list to see, would you rather be anywhere else?

Best time: November to May

Getting there: The sanctuary is connected from Tezpur. The Tawang-Tezpur road has regular buses for
this sector.
Also read 6 Awesome Road Trips in India

Pangot and Sattal, Uttarakhand

Bird watching at Pangot. Photo by gkrishna63.

Only 330 kilometres away from Delhi, Pangot creates ideal environs of birders with its thick cover of pine
and oak forests. Towards the south of this region lies the twin lakes of Sattal which are equally
frequented. The bright Sunbirds of Uttarakhand will welcome you, alongside Swallows, Bulbuls, Tits, Redbilled Blue Magpie, Eurasian Jay, Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker and the Brown
Fish Owl, amongst others.
Best time: October to March
Getting there: From Kathgodam, which is the nearest railway head, Pangot and Sattal are approximately
an hour and 30 minutes away, respectively.

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Silent Valley National Park, Kerala

A scenic beauty! Photo by Vijay S.

Hidden away amidst the rainforests of Western Ghats, the Silent Valley National Park is the biggest one in
Kerala. Amongst the rare species of birds, you may be hopeful of sighting the Great Indian Hornbill here.
The other probabilities include Malabar Grey Hornbill, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Malabar Parakeet, Rufous
Babbler, Grey Headed Bulbul, Nilgiri Blue Robin, Wynaad Laughing Thrush, Nilgiri Laughing Thrush,
Nilgiri Pipit, Black and Rufous Flycatcher and Nilgiri Flycatcher, White-Bellied Blue-Flycatcher and the
beautiful Crimson-Backed Sunbird.
Best time: December to April
Getting there: The nearest railway station is Palakkad. Thereafter, head towards Mannarkkad and
Mukkali and these places are well connected by private buses.
Plan your travel here with us!

Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Goa

Resting amidst the mangroves. Photo by ptwo.

This bird sanctuary is actually on a mangrove belt, which is not only one of the prime locations for birding
in the country but also a perfect place for all those who wish to explore Goa off-beat. Even though mud
skippers are widely prevalent here, amongst birds you will see the Western Reef Egret, Lesser Adjutant
and Woolly-necked Stork. Goa is blessed with a variety of species from Kingfishers and Bee-eaters which
you may include on your list of bird sighting.
Best time: October to March
Getting there: Ribandar Ferry is the jetty connect to the sanctuary, across Mandovi River. Once on the
other side, the entry to the sanctuary is just a walk away.
Explore the mangroves in Goa exclusively with Travelyaari.
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How often do you visit the wild side of India?

***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Perpetually bitten by the travel bug, Amrita has travelled across twenty states in
India and Nepal, Switzerland, Italy, Singapore and Paris. She shares her experiences best through
writing, photography and blogging. She engages in all types of outdoor adventure, explores the local way
of life, listens to stories strangers tell her and is a firm believer of serendipity and constant change. She
blogs athttp://travellingidesofmarch.com/ and tweets at @Amrita_dass.