Andaman Birding

 

The Andamans bring to mind beautiful landscapes with clear waters, sandy shores and beautiful sunsets, or even exploring the mysterious world under the sea – an ideal summer getaway to destress from your everyday life.

 

It’s no surprise then that this is a place I have long wanted to visit. Egged on by movies depicting beautiful beaches, and water sports, I knew this would be the perfect place to kick back and relax before getting back to work.

 

While many here would go for the usual beach visits, scuba diving, snorkeling, etc, I wanted to do something a little different than the usual Andaman tour package for family. As a birder, I knew that bird watching in the Andamans would be amazing, with so many endemic species, so my itinerary was more or less decided.

 

I spent the entire week based more or less in Port Blair itself. Even birding tours in Port Blair can be highly enjoyable, with the amazing Mount Harriet National Park, Sippighat Swamp, Wandoor, and, of course, Chidiya Tapu. The birds here were so amazing that many times I didn’t even bother lifting up my camera, and just spent time watching them. From Andaman Teal and Andaman Green Pigeons, to the shy Andaman Crake, and of course, the variety of owls here! My week was simply stunning.

 

I won’t lie to you. My week here wasn’t all offbeat birding. I did a fair amount of touristy things. Scuba diving has long been something I wanted to try and thanks to this trip I got to do that too. And who can resist those pristine beaches! After a day full of birding, it was nice to kick back and watch a beautiful seaside sunset.

 

I didn’t even realize how quickly the week passed, and before you know it, it was time to go back home. Needless to say, my mind and heart would be back in the islands as I spent my days in office.

Amazing Birds and Mammals of Western Ghats

The Western Ghats range of southwest India is naturally abundant with wildlife, and is a paradise for birdwatchers, nature lovers, and photographers alike. Apart from many large mammals, including Gaur, Asiatic Elephant, Tigers, and more, the region is best known among birdwatchers for the 37 South Indian endemics, plus many birds shared with Sri Lanka, such as Malabar Whistling Thrush, White-bellied Treepie, Malabar Barbet, and many more birds with Malabar and Nilgiri in their names! This tour gives you the opportunity to explore Masinagudi, 

part of the Mudumalai National Park, as well as the popular hill station of Ooty, which few know is a birdwatching hub. Mudumalai National Park is located in southern India in the state of Tamil Nadu, although its boundaries border the states of Karnataka and Kerala as well.

 Located amidst the Nilgiri foothills, Mudumalai is home to a variety of birds and mammals. Adjoined by Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Bandipur National Park, Mudumalai has a fascinating topography that showcases a combination of valleys, plains, hills, swampland, and ravines.

Officially known as Udagamandalam, Ooty is a popular hill station in the Nilgiri Hills, often referred to as the “Queen of the Hills” by locals. There are a variety of tourist attractions here, including a “toy train”, many gardens and parks, historical buildings, and a tea factory. However, if you move away from the crowds, you find that the surrounding woods are a great place to go birding. Despite much of Ooty being “developed”, the birdlife here can still surprise you, with many endemic species and a host of migrants joining them in the winter.

Vibrant Garhwal

 The Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand denotes mainly the westernmost region of the state of Uttarakhand. In ancient times, this rugged mountain region was home to many forts, or ‘garhs’ which were then conquered and united to create the Kingdom of Garhwal. Apart from a rich history, this region is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, and some of the most famous birdwatching destinations of Uttarakhand.

Rishikesh is situated at the foothills of Garhwal Himalayan Range and offers fantastic views of hills covered with jungles. The Ganges river is visible (which runs at a speedy pace) from many places and the banks are full of ashrams. These ashrams have their roots in history and are popular worldwide for practicing yoga and meditation. 

It is said that in the Vedic age, many sages were attracted to Rishikesh as the calm surroundings of this place were best-suited for practicing yoga and meditation. This is why today Rishikesh is an abode for many sanyasis and sage. The place has popular spots like Laxman Jhula, which is believed to be built at a place where Laxman once crossed the holy river Ganges using a jute rope. 

Other than this, the place has various temples which have interesting religious back-stories. For the adventure lovers, the place offers water and mountainous sports like river rafting, skiing, trekking, hiking etc.

Historically, Dehradun was a part of the Garhwal Kingdom, and was also known as 'Kedarkhand'. It was founded by Ajai Pal, around 1400. The history of Dehradun is also linked to the story of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is believed that after the battle between Ravana and Lord Rama, Lord Rama and his brother Lakshman visited this site. Evidences such as ancient temples and idols have been found in the areas surrounding Dehradun which have been linked to the mythology of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The city was also an important site during the colonial British Raj, home to several military establishments even today.

Mussoorie lies about 30 km from Dehradun. This hill station, situated in the foothills of the Himalaya ranges, is also known as the Queen of the Hills, Being at an average altitude of 2,000m (6,600 ft), Mussoorie, with its green hills and varied flora and fauna, is a fascinating hill resort. Commanding snow ranges to the north-east and glittering views of the Doon Valley and Shiwalik ranges in the south, the town was once said to present a 'fairyland' atmosphere to tourists.