Snow Leopard: The Grey Ghosts of Himalayas

Climbing up the lofty hills and rugged terrain of Ladakh will bring you to the ethereal world of Snow Leopard- an apex predators who is reigning in the world’s greatest mountain range - the Himalayas.

For centuries Ladakh has been guarding and preserving the ancient practices of Tibetan Buddhism. It has become the epitome of natural wonders through the bewitching beauties of Pangong Tso, Tso Morari, and Nubra Valley. But it is the discrete lives of Snow Leopards that has motivated several illustrious wildlife photographers, filmmakers, and feline lovers to make their way in this part of the world. Being native to the mountains of Central and South Asia, Snow Leopards manage to strike mystery amongst the onlookers. Not every day you get a chance to cross paths with this stealthy hunter who is wrapped in smokey grey fur with a tint of yellow all over its body. Similar to African and Asian Leopards, Snow Leopards also carry black spots which go down to its thick white tail and prefer to hunt at night over broad daylight.

So what makes these elusive cats extraordinary in the world of Felines?

It is noteworthy to see how these Snow Leopards also dubbed as 'Ounce'

manage to survive in the hostile environment of the world's greatest mountain range. Their wide-cushioned paws allow them to hold a firm grip on the towering cliffs and steep slopes. Unlike their brethren, these cats don't roar instead let out a piercing yowl which can often be heard during the breeding season. Unlike their brethren, these cats don't roar instead let out a piercing yowl which can often be heard during the breeding season.

Being a silent predator, a Snow Leopard ambushes its prey from the top and cover long distances in a short time span in pursuit of killing animals three times its size. However, one strange thing about this meat-eater is that it also eats a lot of twigs and fairly a large amount of vegetation- an unusual habit no one has understood till date.

Today this magnificent cat is on the brink of extinction due to the loss of habitat and a stark decline in their prey species. Poaching, hunting and the killing of snow leopard prey are big problems. It is easier to kill a snow leopard than see one. Hunters kill and trap snow leopards and their prey with bait, snares, pitfall traps, and poisons.

Through our upcoming Snow Leopard Tour, this September, Asian Adventures and its team of experienced ground handlers and knowledgeable naturalists are all set to showcase you the rare and fleeting glimpse of Snow Leopards who are always on the move gregarious mountains of Himalayas. This exclusive trail will not only cast a permanent spell in your mind, it will also be a big boost for the Snow Leopard Conservation.

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Jageshwar Dham Temple

Taj Mahal, Food, Spices, Festival, Colors are some of the few things that often clouds your mind when you think of India. However, as you start penetrating it's vast and diverse topography, you will discover a different India altogether. An India that is veiled under the curtain of mysticism and spiritualism. The country is a passage to several consecrated spaces established by the Awakened Beings who are said to have achieved the highest level of consciousness and has the desire to share their knowledge with the world. The temples have a crucial role to play in creating a distinct image of India on the world map. For some these temples is the place for worship, for some they reflect the intricate architecture prevailed in the glorious civilization that thrived in the past. But not many people know that these temples are also a form of consecrated spaces- giving an opportunity to tab in the dimension beyond the physical world. Jageshwar is one such place reverberating with divine energies. Perched at an elevation of 1,870 m the Himalayan village of Jagehwar is dotted with several ancient temples and caves. Jageshwar Dham, Dandeshwar Temple, Jhankar Saim, Vridh Jageshwar, PataalBhuvaneshwar Caves & Airavat Caves being the notable ones.

 Jageshwar Dham

Believed to be constructed between 7th-century to 8th-century B.C, Jageshwar Dham is a cluster of 124 temples. Each temple is dedicated to Shiva or the demigods revered in the sacred books of Vedas and Upanishads. It is interesting to see how the entire community of the village has taken up the responsibility in preserving this 2500-year-old   temple complex

Dandeshwar Temple

Situated slightly upstream from the Jageshwar Temple Complex, Dandeshwar Temple stands tall amidst the panormic vistas and sky-kissing trees of Himalayas. According to the folklores, Dandeshwar temple is where Lord Shiva stays with septarishis and protected the region. The aura it exudes is a melody of spiritual ecstasy, ancient impressions and melodious cosmic sounds. The gurgling sounds from nearby flowing streams add to the ambience.

Jhankar Saim

Legends have it that one day when Shiva was meditating on this very place,  a group of demons tried to attack him. Lord Jhanker Saim came in the form of Trinetra and assassinated the demons.

Vridh Jageshwar

This temple about 3 km uphill Jageshwar, called the Old Shiva, is said to be the abode of Shiva before he came down to Jageshwar. The unremitting peace they emanate is one of the most fascinating aspects of both Jageshwar and Vriddha Jageshwar.

PataalBhuvaneshwar Cave

Patal Bhuvaneshwar is one of the most mysterious and spiritual place of Uttarakhand. This hidden pilgrimage situated at 1350 mts above sea level is mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva. Patal Bhuvaneshwar is a limestone cave situated 13kms from Gangolighat in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand state. The way to the Patal Bhuvaneshwar cave goes through a long and narrow tunnel. Other than Lord Shiva the forms of Sheshnag, Kal Bhiarav, Ganesha and several other gods can be seen in Patal Bhuvaneshwar. It is believed that the cave is the abode of 33 crore Gods and Goddesses.

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A random trip that ended up being the most memorable journey of my life!

Being a wildlife enthusiast, it was uncanny from my end to not have visited Corbett National Park- A wilderness destination which was yet to be ticked from my bucket list. So when the long weekend was yet to be ticked from my bucket list. So when the long weekend was not far away I was resolved to explore the oldest and largest Wildlife Sanctuary of India. From the good reviews and nice photos that I gathered from Trip-advisor and google review, I decided to book my three nights stay at Tiger Camp, a nice eco-resort situated on the banks of river Kosi.

 It took me approximately six hours drive to reach the place. By the time I checked-in the resort the dusk was falling rapidly, I freshened up and had a relaxing time at the balcony of my river facing cottage. The sound of gurgling water, soft breeze gently moving the trees, the serpentine flow of river mixing in the dense thickets of the jungle, it seemed everything was perfectly placed for a poet's muse. The cacophony sounds coming from the window was enough to wake me up for my early morning safari. With the brand of new DSLR in my hand, I was seated with four unknown but enthusiastic faces sharing the same level of excitement that I was carrying as we entered the turf of Bengal Tigers. The safari was kickstarted and we headed towards uncovering the Bijrani zone- one of the core zones of Corbett National Park.

The region was an amalgamation of the large beds of grasslands and dense thickets of trees. The riots of colors invoked by the colorful plumage of birds fixated my eyes completely. Not everyday one can witness to such a wide spectrum of birdlife. Grey Hornbill, Maroon Orioles, Brown Dipper, Crested Hawk Eagle, Common Kingfisher, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Rufous Turtle Dove are just a few names filling my camera with their dazzling images. We were moving smoothly when a sudden jerk stopped our car what we saw next was a wilderness marvel to spectate at- a herd of elephants was crossing our path.

Looking at the mere sight brought me the air of excitement and the tears of sorrow. Because although I was enjoying my proximity with these incredible mammals, deep down in my heart I was experiencing their pain of habitation loss and the constant threat of remaining under the poacher's radar for the possession of their ivory. It is one of those moments when my mind gets overshadowed by the dark side of jungle and I am powerless to do something for these vulnerable species.

 The morning safari came to an end, we returned to our resort. After resting for a while post lunch, we were all set to explore Dhikala region- yet another core zone of Corbett National Park. The morning safari came to an end, we returned to our resort. After resting for a while post lunch I was all set to explore Jhirna - yet another core zone of Corbett Park. As we were navigating through the vast meadows, we came across a group of spotted deer grazing, I was busy taking their photographs when our naturalist alerted us feeling the presence of a predator nearby.

Suddenly we saw two juvenile tigers coming out from the large clumps of grasses pouncing at one of the Spotted Deer. Under the garb of two felines and an adult deer, it was a fight between amateur and expert players where the success chose to take the side of the experienced one which in this case was the adult Deer. But every battle teaches us something significant to learn and I am sure these cubs who are lacking a big leap to adulthood will surely keep their mistakes in my before putting the best foot forward for the battles to come ahead. The twilight was peaking and we retired back to the resort. It brought an end to my thrilling journey at Corbett National Park.

Birds of Nepal

Flanked between two of the world's giant economies - India and China, Nepal is a nation known for its antiquity, divinity, and surreal landscape. From carrying the highest peak and deepest canyon in the world to becoming the center for Hindu and Buddhist devotees, this glorious country has always allured people from all walks of life. Every year thousands of travelers visit the land just to find solace in the tranquil atmosphere of Nepal. Some come here to fulfill their dream of mounting the majestic Mt. Everest while others seek to instill spirituality through the reverberations of consecrated spaces which was established several thousand years ago.

Rich and exuberant wilderness is one more domain by which this mystical land has invariably been identified with. Spread across 147, 181 Sq kilometer, Nepal is a blend of temperate, tropical, alpine forest housing some of the rare and endemic species across the world. After India, it is in this very land where the vulnerable One-horned Rhinos who are leading a blissful life. Nepal is also lauded for supporting an array of wildlife including Bengal tigers, Mugger crocodile, Asian Leopards, Clouded Leopards, Snake Star Tortoise, Red Panda, Water Buffalos and many more.

Nepal boasts around 800+ bird species forming around 8% of the world's recorded population. The hills around the valley such as Godavari, Phulchowcki, and Nagarjun, and Taudaha Lake have become a humble abode for rare and endemic birds Himalayas including Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Tibetan Siskin, and the Spotted Forktail. Chitwan and Bardiya National Park are also some of the nice stakeouts for birdwatching offering an incredible variety of both resident and migratory birds. One can get an astonishing sight of the shy and endangered Bengal Floricans, Impeyan Pheasant, Nepal’s national bird Danfe and the Spiny Babbler.

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in the Eastern Terai is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Entrenching its tentacles across the wetlands of Sunsari, Saptari, and Udaypur district, the wildlife reserve is a humble abode for more than 450+ species of birds including Spotting Wren-Babbler, Olive Warbler, Pallas's fish eagle, Greater Adjutant, Rufous-Vented Grass Babbler, Gull-billed tern, Swamp Francolin, Bengal Florican, Striated Grassbird and etc. Realising the rich avian life residing in this Himalayan wonderland, we have meticulously handcrafted a tour

Realising the rich avian life residing in this Himalayan wonderland, we have meticulously handcrafted a tour see more at Jungle 

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Garden of North India “Ranikhet”

Ranikhet is a perfect weekend gateway from Delhi(350km).it is nestled in Almora district of Uttrakhand situated at the elevation of 1,869 meters above the sea level, it offers stunning views of western peaks of Himalayas. It is enveloped with pine trees and lush green forest with rich flora and fauna. Whenever you go to Ranikhet, do not forget to indulge in nature walks, which will help you in appreciate the beauty of Ranikhet in the best possible way.

Ranikhet is the Hindi meaning for “Queen’s Meadow.” History has it that, a queen, Rani Padmini fell in love with this wonderful place and the King, Raja Sudhardev had to compel to her and built her a palace here. The queen decided to make it her residence, and that is how ‘Ranikhet’  got its name. Though no clue of the palace is found in present times, the beautiful green lands against the backdrop of Himalayas, whereas it genuinely justifies the mythology associated with the place.

Ranikhet has a different environment in every season, its a perfect destination for nature lovers and for people who want to get out of there busy schedule.

How to Get There

Because of its location, it cannot be reached directly by railways and flights. The nearest railway station(Kathgodam) and airport (Pantnagar)is 89km and 119 km away respectively. However, this hill station has excellent connectivity by road. Hence, a road trip with family and friends from places like Delhi, from where it is 350 kilometers, would be a great way to reach Ranikhet. The spectacular drive throughout is sure to leave you speechless.

Accommodation

There are numbers of hotels, homestays and other accommodation facilities in Ranikhet but if you are looking for a beautiful, comfortable and pocket-friendly accommodation. 

Snow View Hotel in Ranikhet is a lovely weekend getaway, as well as a recommended stay for travelers who are on their way to discover the Kumaon Himalayas.it gives you a stunning view of Himalayas and to book Uttarakhand tour package and hotels in Ranikhet 

Perfect time to visit Ranikhet

As you would presume of a common hill station, Ranikhet encounters a lot of rainfall and generally has a cold climate all year long . which makes it a magnificent place to tour throughout the year. However, unless you love snow, to avoid hassles and problems due to the heavy snowfall, the best time to visit Ranikhet is from March to October. The summers are mild, with a max. of 25 degrees. This makes it an excellent getaway during this time, especially for people living in the hotter parts of India.

Places to visit in Ranikhet

 Kalika Golf Links –  golf course with nine holes is located just outside the main town, and it is managed personally by the Indian Army. It welcomes professional as well as recreational purposes people, which makes it an excellent place to have some fun.

 The Kalika Temple, housing the idol of Goddess Kali, is also found very close to the Golf course.

Jhula Devi Temple – Whether you are fond of rich history, or looking for spiritual blessings, this temple is the best place for you. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga, who as history says, shielded the villagers from the critical wildlife in times of need. People from all over India gather to this place to make a wish to goddess Durga, and whenever it is fulfilled, they come back to tie a bell to the temple as a thanksgiving. These bells are the part of this temple, and it is well-known for this too.

Bhalu Dam –This place situated at a distance of 3 km from Chaubatia. It has a small human-made lake which is the water storage for the Bhalu Dam built on the Kosi River. This supplies water to Ranikhet and nearby areas. It is a very picturesque location that leaves an enduring impression on tourist.

Chaubatia Gardens – Located at a distance of 10 km from the town, these gardens have an ample plantation of apricots, peaches, and chestnuts. However, they are mainly known for the apple orchids and the fantastic scenic view that they offer of the snowcapped hills of the Himalayan range.

 Majkhali- is a small place located Ranikhet on Almora road one can quickly get there by hiring a taxi or a car from Ranikhet. It offers a magnificent view of snowy mountains with the natural biosphere.It also has a forest nursery which consists of different varieties of flora and fauna.there is also a beautiful school named Birla girls school which is situated at Majkhali.

Ashiyana park

If you’re looking for some fun things to do in Ranikhet, then the forest themed Ashiyana Park is the heart of the town it is a great place to spend some time. There are lots of entertainment for kids also they can enjoy the swings, walk through the herbal gardens and marvel of the colorful fountains, it is also an excellent place for mesmerizing views of the Himalayan peaks. It is also known as Deodhar Udhyan for its green forested area, its first theme park of city and perfect place for some fun family time.

Timings: 7 AM to 7 PM

Entry Fee: INR10/person

               Things to do:-

Ø  Go for a refreshing walk into the orchards at Chaubatia Gardens.

Ø  Seek divine blessings at Haidakhan Babaji Temple.

Ø  Boating.

Ø  Trekking through unknown and strange paths.

Ø  walking in the woods.

Ø  Sightseeing.

 For more details log on to:-

http://ranikhet.in/

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Email: info@asianadventures.in
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E: info@asianadventures.in

The land of Sleeping Buddha

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched" - these words of Helen Keller are fitting for this enchanting destination which is entrenched in the  Eastern Himalayas.

 

Crowned by Mount Kanchenjunga and jeweled by the outpouring beauty of the alpine forests, Snow-fed lakes, and lush green meadows, Sikkim is one of India's hidden treasures that is bundled with the euphoria of natural beauty and the charm of ancient heritage passed on for centuries.

Although the destination is laced with the gleaming mountains of Himalayas, it is the centuries-old Buddhist monasteries that have managed to intrigue travelers from all corners of the world.

Rumtek Monastery is one such site. Established in the sixteenth century by the Ninth Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje, the place is surrounded by the vast vistas of the Himalayas and stream overlooking the picturesque town of Gangtok. The place is enshrined with beautiful murals, the monastery has a four-storied main temple with a golden sculpture on its roof.

Yumthang Valley in Sikkim is yet another seamless beauty that is known to cast a magical spell through its rolling meadows donned with beds of rare and endangered flowers and trees along with streams and hot springs. Sitting at an elevation of 3500 meters above the sea level, Yumthang Valley truly punctuates the ethereal beauty of Himalayan region untouched till date.

Tsomgo Lake, also known as Changu Lake is a glacial lake in Sikkim and located at an altitude of 12,310 feet. Around 40 km away from Sikkim, the reflection of surrounding trees makes the lake even more beautiful and attractive. In Summers and Autumn, the lake is ringed by the colorful Primula flowers while in winter the lake transforms into a spectacular snowfield. A small Shiva Temple by the roadside denotes that the lake is considered sacred by the locals.

Engulfed with Snow-clad mountains, Lush green garden,m pristine lakes, and beautiful trails and ancient monasteries, Sikkim is the mystical land of North East prompting the travel enthusiasts to explore the splendour of nature and sightseeing spots offering aesthetical significance. Join 

India Tours by Asian Adventures India”s  Summer Tours and experience Sikkim a meanigfull Journey.

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Himalayan Birding Tour Trip Report

Travel Date- 8th May to 12th May

Naturalist - Deepak Kumar (Asian Adventures)

Tour Summary

Seasons last birding tour kickstarted in the verdant hills and the dense thickets of Pangot- a small Himalayan Hamlet in the topsy turvy lanes of Uttarakhand. I met the guest in the evening at the reception area of Jungle Lore Birding Lodge. As the dusk was falling rapidly in this sleepy village we chose to commence our birding trail early in the morning. While having dinner I briefed the guest about the places we were going to cover the next day in order to find their target species.

We left the lodge at the crack of dawn and headed towards Cheer Point - a few kilometers away from Pangot the place is transformed into a crucial belt for birdwatchers to spot the endangered Himalayan Pheasant. Compared to Pangot, Cheer Point is nestled at a higher elevation offering a grand view of the snow-clad mountains range. The birding trail in the region commenced with a fabulous start of sighting two Koklass Pheasants foraging in the precinct, followed by White-tailed Nuthatch, and Rufous-bellied Woodpecker perching at close proximity. We also came across Himalayan Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Lesser yellow-nape, Brown-fronted woodpecker, and Grey-headed warbler. Although we crossed paths with many unique species our quest to find the rarest and endangered Cheer Pheasant nonetheless we continued our journey in the arable land of Baggar which is about 6 km down from Pangot. Crisscrossing this humble village yielded many beautiful Himalayan birds including Common Rosefinch, Yellow-breasted greenfinch, Slaty-Headed Parakeet, Striated Prinia, Black Francolin.

 Nestled at a height of 1,370m, Sattal was our next destination in focus. We left the lodge early morning and made way to this picturesque hamlet known for supporting a diverse variety of birds. While walking through the lush green forest and pristine lakes we spotted Grey Treepie, Greater Yellow Nape, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Brown wood owl, Long-tailed broadbill, Common emerald dove, and Aberrant bush warbler. Post lunch we continued 

birding in india in  the Chanfi area where we caught hold of Crested Kingfisher, Spotted Forktail, Great Barbet, and Blue Throated Barbet before retiring back to Jungle Lore Birding Lodge in Pangot.

In our pursuit to see Cheer Pheasant, we once again moved towards Cheer Point and also explored the village of Gugu Khan. Although we were not blessed with a favourable situation to lay our eyes at this elusive bird, we managed to get some enticing birding sights of Green-tailed Sunbird, Mountain Hawk Eagle, White Browed Shrike- Babbler, and Bar-tailed Treecreeper.

The last day of the tour was designated for the lush green forests of Nainital and Kilbury. The region yielded us some amazing birding sights including Chestnut-crowned laughingthrush, Striated laughingthrush, Scaly bellied woodpecker, Ultra Marine Flycatcher, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Green Backed Tit, Black Throated Tit, Black Lore Tit, Cinereous tit, Crimson Sunbird, Black-throated Sunbird.

Birds (30 birds in total)

9th May to 12th May

1. Male Koklass Pheasant

2. Female Koklass Pheasant

3. White-tailed Nuthatch

4. Rufous-bellied Woodpecker

5. Himalayan Woodpecker

6. Grey Headed Woodpecker

7. Lesser Yellow-Nape

8. Brown-fronted Woodpecker

9. Grey-headed Warbler

10. Common Rosefinch

11. Yellow-breasted Greenfinch

12. Slaty- headed Parakeet

13. Striated Prinia

14. Black Francolin

15. Grey Treepie

16. Greater Yellow Nape

17. Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch

18. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

19. Brown Wood Owl

20. Long-tailed Broadbill

21. Common Emerald Dove

22. Aberrant Bush Wabbler

23. Crested Kingfisher

24. Spotted Forktail

25. Great Barpet

26. Blue throated Barbet

27. Green-tailed Sunbird

28. Mountain Hawk Eagle

29. White Browed Shrike- Babbler

30. Bar-tailed Treecreeper

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Stay away from madding crowds on your Holiday

So DANGEROUS to get caught in the hills amongst the madding crowds in Summer!

Even preparing for a holiday brings the entire family together, only an excuse to have a meal and a drink together. Yes, that’s how happiness starts filling the air days before one departs for the holiday.

Recently, my family and I headed out to a different hill destination, the summer heat was getting unbearable and kids’ vacations started. The idea of visiting Nainital or Mussoorie and facing the crowd, limited parking etc. was scaring the day lights out of me as I wanted to drive myself. ‘No more malls roads’ everybody said. I was happy to know everyone chose to go close to nature. My family is filled with corporate honchos, so I know how stressed and fearful they always are. They realize it themselves but this is the first time they all wanted to stay away from their laptops and wanted to spend some quality time with each other. We are five of us by the way, my parents, my elder brother and sister and all work except me. I’m still in college and not looking forward to getting out of it, considering what’s happened to my elder brother and sister. Although I’m the youngest I get to plan and book all holidays… Only book, dad pays. Searching for the perfect place was difficult – I mean - Mom, Dad, Brat Bro and my 2nd Mom - my elder sis. Too much to handle when it comes to holiday planning.

Read travel websites, online material was turned upside down and then finally we shortlisted Binsar, Naukuchiatal and Mukteshwar. All in the hill state of Uttarakhand and about 2-3 hours apart. Quick round of elimination over dinner and Naukuchiatal was rejected as it was reporting +40 Deg C during June first week and we sure were wanting some place much cooler. Binsar was sounding wonderful in all aspects but then my, ever demanding, brother was not happy as it did not have much to offer in terms of activities. I was not very happy really, had read great things about the views from Binsar. So Mukteshwar, not very far from the lake towns of Nainital and Bhimtal, say about and hour and a half drive from both lakes, was finally the hill station everybody liked. Dad was very happy about the temperature, which was showing a cool 16-28 Deg C and the height of the hill station, which was 8000 ft. Mom was gaga, even before she tasted them, about the Chocolates which were being handmade at the resort we had finally selected. My elder sis was very happy that we would be staying inside a fruit orchard as the resort, fortunately, was spread out in one and my brother, the brat that he is, was excited about the adventure activities that Mukteshwar offered like rock climbing, rappelling and trekking. Well for me, I think I was happy because everybody was happy. I was happy because finally we would be spending some great times together as a family. Forgot to mention the one thing I liked the most about this place – They had no TVs in the rooms. Sad part was that the mobiles worked here full signal but then it can’t all be great.

We stayed at this resort in Mukteshwar called MountainTrail. It was a nice place, natural, green, gave you a feel of being in the hills. I mean it had a character to it unlike regular hotels in Nainital etc. The best part about them was the personalized service, the ever-smiling staff and the great food. My mom made friends with the owners. The wife made the chocolates my mom so wanted to taste and trust you me…. If you ever visit this side of the country, don’t miss these delights, they are from heaven. The chocolate shop had some brownies as well - my favorites and they were clearly were the best I’ve ever had. There was loads that we carried back home.

So Mukteshwar is about 8-9 Hrs. from Delhi. Same Nainital Route. Although we drove but I later realized, didn’t share with my family else I would have been disowned, that the better way to travel is by train. There are three options and the best being the Shatabdi which reaches the last station, Kathgodam in under 6 hours at about 11:40am. From here Mukteshwar is about 2 Hrs drive and you get taxis easily, book in advance if you want things hassle free. This Delhi – Nainital highway was mostly impressive except a few bad patches and some dense villages en-route. The hill drive beyond Bhowali (a junction) was just wow.

Mukteshwar is known as the fruit basket of Kumaon and it truly was, nothing much was ripe for plucking but it was all there, hanging on the trees and looking wonderful, Apples, Apricots, Peaches. We were about 10-12 days before they could be actually eaten but the manager at the resort made sure we tried some from another orchard lower down in the valley. It was very thoughtful of him. Visit this cute little hill station if you’d like to just unwind, distress, spend time with your family and just chill. It’s really pretty, with dense forests, scenic views. The most spectacular sunrise where our guide even served us hot tea with Tiger Biscuits. Remember dipping these into my milk when I was much younger. Took us all down the memory lane actually. Super cute experience. The highlights for all of us were the nature walks and stream picnic. The resort packed us delicious food and hot masala tea was made at the spot. Must ask these guys to organize outdoor activities as they know their job well and it becomes a truly memorable experience.

By Ashish Kumar 

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Email: info@asianadventures.in
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Pangot bird watchers paradise

It is located regarding 15 km from Nainital that may be a common hill station. The drive to here passes through the wooded space of Cheena Peak via Snow view point and Kilbury that are birding spots. The best attraction of Pangot are its birds; around 200 bird species are recorded during last season.

 Pangot is beautiful hill station and best destination for bird watching in India, walking through the paths of Pangot is like walking through the remote village of Himalayas and at each step you will find a different bird species they have different colors of wings eyes and will make you mesmerized by their beauty, it is a very calm place away from all pollution of city that’s why it’s also an ideal place for honeymooners too.

There are various types of birds some are migratory and some are local birds but other than bird watching there different types of mammals such as sambhar, wild boar, red fox, leopard cat, serow, barking deer, etc. but while going through the jungle safari and trekking one should be very attentive and follow all the rules and guidelines of that place and do not hurt or harm the animals, nature and them self . For bird watching one should have some basic equipment like binoculars, trekking shoes, comfortable clothes, sunglasses, and a good camera.

                                                                          

A large amount of tourist come here and its been weekend gateways for people of Delhi and UP. One will see different and unique types of birds species like-  Himalayan griffon, blue-winged minla & slaty-backed fork tail, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied niltava, khalij pheasant, thrushes, etc.

Activities to do-

Bird watching.

Trekking to cheena peak.

A city tour to Nainital (15 km)

Visit Hariyal

Excursion to Kilbury forest house and Satyanarayana temple.

Best Hotel in Pangot The Jungle Lore Birding Lodge

By Ashish

Phone : +91 8010450000
Email: info@asianadventures.in
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In the lap of Adi Yogi

When it comes to hill stations or the snow-capped mountains, people often reach to Himachal Pradesh. But what many people fail to understand is there are numbers of hidden gems spread all over the state of Uttarakhand, It has unexplored villages to find, mind-numbing peace and ancient temples.

Jageshwar Temple is one such treasure this nature is hiding. It is situated at an altitude of 1,870 mt above sea level and situated at a distance of 37 Km from Almora in Kumoun Region. The mystical setting of Jageshwar makes it the perfect stop to rejuvenate once mind and soul. Many years ago Jageshwar temple is used to be a halt in the popular Kailash- Mansarovar yatra but now is an off-beaten destination for the pilgrims. The dense deodar forest cover and the Jata Ganga which flows in the backyard are a treat for every tourist.

There are around 124 temples and numbers of statues spread over the deodar forest. The main temple complex is surrounded by a little market for eating and resting places serving local food. The entire area is perfect for meditation due to its ambiance and natural environment.

 Two best festivals are celebrated in the town of Jageshwar and which are the Jageshwar Monsoon Festival which is held in the month of August and the Shivarathri Mela(fair) which is held in the springtime. The weather of Jageshwar can be classified as subtropical.

This place gets a good amount of rainfall during the monsoon season. Summers are warm and temperatures are always comfortable. The winters are generally cold and temperatures can fall during the peak winter period.

Things to do:-

Morning and Evening Prayer at Jageshwar.

Peaceful stay in beautiful lodges.

Visit Dandeshwar.

Photography.

Yoga and meditation.

Trekking in jungles.

Patal Bhuvaneshwar.(120 km from

Best Hotel in Jageshwar Van Serai


By Ashish

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