{"id":12661,"date":"2021-08-15T10:31:52","date_gmt":"2021-08-15T09:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/?p=12661"},"modified":"2024-11-07T13:40:25","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T13:40:25","slug":"top-5-bird-sanctuaries-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/top-5-bird-sanctuaries-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Bird Sanctuaries in India for Nature Enthusiasts"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Alright, here\u2019s the thing. When you think of a holiday in India<\/a>, you\u2019re probably picturing tigers, temples, or maybe the Taj. But hear me out \u2013 India\u2019s a real gem for birdwatching too. I\u2019ve been trekking around this massive country about eight times now with ETG, and every trip, without fail, I\u2019m gobsmacked by the variety of birds fluttering about. It\u2019s not just about elephants and leopards here; India\u2019s birdlife is in a league of its own. So, if you\u2019re into nature and fancy a bit of a change from the usual safari sights, here\u2019s my rundown on the best bird sanctuaries in India.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

1. Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Kerala<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Deep in the lowland forests of Kerala, you\u2019ll find Thattekad<\/a> \u2013 known to the birding greats as \u201cSalim Ali\u2019s best pick\u201d for bird habitats. I mean, if the \u2018Birdman of India\u2019 rated it, it\u2019s definitely worth a look. With rare species and a chance to stay in the cosy Hornbill Camp<\/a>, it\u2019s the ultimate spot to mix village life with a bit of wildlife watching. Grab a bike, hop in a kayak, or head out on foot \u2013 our expert local guides will have you spotting everything from Malabar trogons to Sri Lankan frogmouths, often before breakfast.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”12662″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

2. Mangalajodi, Odisha<\/h2>\n

On the edges of Chilika Lake, Mangalajodi is a cracking place to watch migratory birds from as far away as Siberia. It’s home to birds from the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal and the Aral Sea between mid-December and February Like a lot of rural India, Odisha and northerly neighbour, West Bengal has a profusion of birdlife outside the cities.\u00a0 Picture this: you\u2019re out on a tiny boat, drifting along as flocks of birds take off around you. It\u2019s quite the sight. Best paired with a trip to Odisha\u2019s cultural gems like Dhenkanal Palace (and the sunworshippers of the mahima dharma<\/a>), this wetland area gives you that sense of discovery without the hordes of tourists. Just you, the birds, and the silent waters.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

3. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Goa<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Goa might be all about beaches for some, but swap the flip-flops for binoculars, and you\u2019re in for a surprise. In honour of Mr Ali himself<\/a>, this sanctuary has a mangrove ecosystem that\u2019s pure bird paradise. You can wander through on foot with our expert guides or, for the true bird nerds (no offence, I\u2019m right there with you), take a boat to get the best views. And let\u2019s be honest, watching herons and kingfishers beats sunburn and sand any day.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

4. Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ah, Bharatpur. It\u2019s a UNESCO site near Agra, and there\u2019s a reason birdwatchers across the world flock here \u2013 pun very much intended. Over 400 species, including the odd Siberian crane, pass through or call this place home. You\u2019ve got options: explore by foot, rickshaw, or even boat. Not many places let you take in the wildlife from a boat, and it\u2019s one of the best ways to spot waterbirds here without disturbing them. It is also considered by some to be the biggest bird sanctuary in Asia, although accounts differ![\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”12664″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

5. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The largest bird sanctuary in Karnataka<\/a>, Ranganathittu makes a fantastic day trip from Mysore or Bangalore. This place is known for its islets where migratory birds make their temporary home, so you travel around by boat. The rangers here are top-notch (we use the best of the best), and they\u2019ll take you out on a boat to get up close. Great for a day trip, but it\u2019s Karnataka\u2019s largest sanctuary, so it\u2019s well worth sticking around. It\u2019s like a David Attenborough doc right in front of you.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”12665″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

What is the best place for bird watching in India?<\/h2>\n

There are just so many bird sactuaries in India. Now, if you\u2019re a true twitcher, I\u2019d say head to Pangot, in the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, whilst staying at Jungle Lore Birding Lodge is the best place for bird watching in India, in our opinion.\u00a0 If you have flexibility then between December-January, when the bird activity is excellent, or around April-May when most of the birds display their breeding plumage are the best times \u00a0\u2013 think cheer pheasants, koklass, and other high-altitude gems. \u00a0It can be quite cold in December and January and quite hot in May so a good balance in conjunction with other areas you may want to visit in India is between mid-February and early April.\u00a0 For really keen birders we highly recommend combining your time in Pangot with time in Corbett National Park<\/a> and for the adventurous a few nights in the remote Vanghat Lodge on the northern edges of the park<\/a>. It\u2019s remote, it\u2019s rustic, and it\u2019s ideal for uninterrupted birdwatching.<\/p>\n

Shout-outs for incredible birdlife and bigger game also go to Kaziranga National Park, Satpura National Park and Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary.<\/p>\n

The main birding habitats in India are generally forests, scrub, grassland & farmland, deserts and wetlands, each of which is home to specific types of bird species.\u00a0 Thus,\u00a0 it’s worth noting that amazing birdlife experiences aren’t just restricted to bird sanctuaries and national parks in India. Areas like Kerala, Karnataka and Rajasthan team with a variety of birdlife as well states further afield like Gujurat and Assam. The diversity of landscapes alone is worth the trip, and you\u2019ll come back with a new favourite bird, guaranteed.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”20294″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Which is the most beautiful bird in India? A Twitchers Perspective…<\/h2>\n

I chatted with one of our in-country partners who is an avid twitcher.\u00a0 Here, Sinna, our head ETG man in South India operations talks about his favourite bird in India:<\/p>\n

My all time favourite bird in India has got to be the Great Indian Hornbill. As it mostly stays in the heavily wooded jungles, sighting one in the wild is not easy. Locally called Mallamuzhaki Vezhambal which literally translates as the hornbill that resonates the hills, their calls are very distinctive like a loud booming human laugh. You often hear the flapping sound generated by its wings as it flies before you actually see it. The Great Indian hornbill is the largest of the 7 types of hornbill found in India. Due to habitat loss and impact of human interactions the Great Indian Hornbill was an endangered bird. Of late the new wildlife regulations and conservation efforts have been a great help in protecting this magnificent bird.\u00a0 In Southern India they are found mostly in the dense rainforests of the western ghats. The main areas to spot them are the forests of Periyar Tiger Reserve, the Thattekad region, the Nelliyampati hills and the Anaimalais. Due to the availability of decent accommodation the best option to visit would be Periyar and Thattekad. My personal favourite place to see them is the Periyar Forest Bungalow, the only private estate in the core zone of the National Park.\u00a0 The stay here is comfortable but not luxurious.\u00a0 The upper region of the estate is not planted and allowed to grow wild and in addition there are parts of the estate reclaimed by the jungle making it a haven for wildlife. Its here that you often get to spot the Great Indian Hornbill on the early morning walks. Feb\/Mar is a good time for spotting them as that is their breeding season in the area.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As usual, Sinna\u2019s got it spot on \u2013 these birds are nothing short of legendary. If you see one, trust me, you won\u2019t forget it.[\/vc_column_text][vc_hoverbox image=”24709″ primary_title=”” hover_title=”Birds of South India Holiday” shape=”square” hover_btn_title=”Explore our Birds of South India Holiday” hover_btn_shape=”square” hover_btn_color=”orange” hover_add_button=”true” hover_btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.experiencetravelgroup.com%2Findia%2Fitinerary%2Fbirds-of-south-india”]Discover lesser-visited but beautiful areas of Southern India during this two week holiday. There is a particular focus on the region’s abundant birdlife, exceptional for casual and serious aficionados. Visit several sanctuaries and travel through the lush western ghats, known as\u00a0a treasure house of endemic species, as well as the strictly protected wildlife of Bandipur National Park.<\/a>[\/vc_hoverbox][vc_column_text css=””]

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Curious about birdlife in India?<\/h2>\n

Whether you\u2019re all in for the birding or just curious, India\u2019s wildlife scene is packed with surprises. If you\u2019re keen to take a proper birdwatching trip, ETG\u2019s got you covered for your trip to India<\/a>, please do get in touch on 020 3627 3086 or request a call back here<\/a>. We\u2019re always happy to chat through your options and sort a bespoke trip that\u2019ll tick every box. To see examples of birding itineraries check out our Birds of South India example<\/a> and our birdlife of North India trip.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Even if just for a day, bird sanctuaries in India are a great way to experience beautiful, tranquil landscapes, and of course great birdlife.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":12662,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[1358],"coauthors":[947],"class_list":["post-12661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-india","tag-birdlife"],"aioseo_notices":[],"views":27036,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12661","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12661"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12661\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12661"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12661"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12661"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=12661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}