Bird Santuary Archives

Into the Wilderness of Benog Wildlife Santuary

Located 11 km away from the Library point in Mussoorie is Benog Wildlife Sanctuary, surrounded by pine trees and views of snow-capped mountains. This sanctuary is a part of the Rajaji National Park in the ‘Queen of Hills’. The place is popular among bird-watchers since it is a haven for rare bird species. Set among dense forests, it also gives the nature lover something to be enthused about and also the mesmerizing sights of the peaks of Chaukhamba and Bandar Punch.

What to do there?

Benog Wildlife Sanctuary is a beautiful place and there are plenty of attractions here, of course, everything is connected to nature because that is the biggest highlight of the place. Major ones being:

Flora

The whole sanctuary is surrounded by pine-covered slopes and there are plenty of medicinal herbs and plants in the area as well. Benedictory pines old cedar trees and Fir trees are seen all around the place and as we walked amidst that dense forest, we felt like we were lost in a fairy tale.

Fauna

This is one of the major attractions of the place—its wide range of rare and beautiful bird species. It is a hub for bird-watchers who can spot White Capped Water Redstart birds, mountain quails and Red Billed Blue Magpie among other wide variety of birds. There are also many wild animal species such as Himalayan bear, deep, leopard and panthers that can be spotted.

Trekking:

The sanctuary offers multiple trekking opportunities for the area within or surrounding areas. We took a trek from cloud’s endpoint to Benog Sanctuary, watching amazing views on the way. Since the sanctuary is located amidst the solitary region of Mussoorie, it is perfect for people looking forward to spending some alone time in solace. It is away from the hassle of the crowded city.

Our experience:

The place gave us a complete ‘Into the wild’ feeling as we explored the wilderness on foot, with our camera in our hands. There were just so many places where we just wanted to sit and not move for hours at end. Benog Wildlife sanctuary is one place that is still unmarked by degradation through heavy tourism. Everything is still natural and raw there. There were so many beautiful birds, some of which we were able to capture in our camera. Trekking with such incredible views was a delight as well, and the snow-capped mountains just added a cherry to the top. It is the perfect place to escape from the city and take a day off. Mussoorie is one of the top tourist attractions, and this wildlife sanctuary showed us exactly why that is. Our visit to Benog Wildlife sanctuary turned out to be a perfect mix of leisure and adventure holiday.

Travel Tips:

The timings for the sanctuary are 7 am to 5 am so it is preferred to leave early since vehicles are not too easily available and one should have enough time to explore the place.

Best Time to visit would be April to November, though the sanctuary does remain open throughout the year.

Where to Stay?

There are plenty of accommodation options near the sanctuary itself ranging from luxury hotels, resorts to budget hotels.

How to Reach?

From Library point, public and private buses are easily available and it is 11km away by Road.

The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport which is 60 km away from Mussoorie.

The nearest railways station is Dehradun Railway Station which is 30 km from Mussoorie.

So hurry up and start planning your next getaway to Mussoorie! The natural beauty, scenic views, natural wilderness is all worth it.

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary – a mini paradise in the dry state of Rajasthan

Keoladeo National Park, earlier known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is a famous avifauna sanctuary, a destination for more than 350 avian species including a good number of rare and migratory birds that come here in flocks, especially during the winters. It is among the top rated bird sanctuaries in India and the world. This UNESCO world heritage site, locally known as Ghana, is a mosaic of dry and wet grassland, spread over an area of 29 sq. The mini paradise is located not very far from the most popular three Golden Triangles: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur and hence visited by a large number of visitors.

Important Info

The park remains open throughout the year from sunrise to sunset. From August to November, the national park is home to resident breeding birds, while from October to February migratory birds inhabit the place. The entrance fee for Indian citizens is Rs. 25 whereas for foreign nationals the fee is Rs. 200.

The pathway

Lined by the trees on the both sides, the pathway inside the park is gleaming with the exotic visuals of some rare and beautiful birds. The sanctuary in its entirety shall best be visited on the cycles or by foot in order to get the best of it. Along with the birds of some exotic species and the most common ones, the sanctuary also serves as a great shelter for some butterflies. Not only that, some scavengers like the Indian fox can be seen roaming around fearlessly with no intention of harming any human being.

Bird watching

Out of the different species of birds one could have the pleasure of witnessing birds such as the Herons, Kingfishers, Cormorants, Eagles, Kites, Parakeets, Pigeons, Cranes, Stilts, Lapwings, Storks, Woodpeckers, Owls, Wagtails, Waterhens, Moorhens, Swamphens, Bulbuls, Babblers, Doves, Duck’s, Egrets, Ibis, and Pelicans. Although it isn’t really needed, but carrying a binocular would help greatly in case the tourists want to have an up and close view of the birds. Differentiating among the domestic Indian birds with the migrating ones would require you to have a professionally trained guide with you.

When it comes to the antelopes, the Nilgais are more frequently seen here than any other animal. The low-lying wetland’s lush greenery is the perfect habitat for them. On the other hand, the Serpent Eagle is also there to feast on and scare off the small birds. Parakeets, on the other hand, can, however, steer them away while making some noises which are known to be the eagle repellent.

The man made islands are located in the middle of the sanctuary where ducks, egrets and cormorants live in their natural habitat. In the winters, they can be seen having warm sunbaths after the cold winter nights. There are about a dozen such islands inside the sanctuary where the ducks can be seen flapping their birds freely in all their glory.

Not to miss

One must not miss out on a boat ride, which is less known yet promises an incredible experience for both birders and nature lovers.

While at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, you can opt to stay at Bharatpur Forest Lodge.

Food

Foodies won’t find many places to eat in the vicinity of the park. Salim Ali road in the town offers so many food joints to eat. The restaurant at Hotel Sunbird offers a sumptuous breakfast. ITDC hotel is an ideal place to grab Rajasthani cuisine, also it offers the yummiest Mughlai and Continental feast.

Conclusion

In short, the Bharatpur bird sanctuary is one of those very few places in the country where the bird enthusiasts have ample opportunities to witness and photograph an ample number of birds and animals in their entire wilderness. The trip to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary can be combined with Deeg Palace and Fort & Mathura Museum visit.