EJI's Birding Trails of North India - 17 Days

Delhi • Corbett National Park • Pangot • Sat Tal • Kathgodam • National Chambal Sanctuary • Agra • Bharatpur • Ranthambhore National Park

DAY 1 - Delhi

Arrive Delhi in the morning. You will be met and transferred to hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure and briefing from the Tour Operation Manager in the evening.

Meals: Dinner.

DAY 2 - Delhi - Corbett National Park

Transfer to Corbett. Afternoon birding at Kosi river. Overnight stay at Tiger Camp.

Meals: Lunch & Dinner.

DAY 3 - Corbett National Park (Dhikala)

After breakfast, drive onward for Dhangarhi gate for entry to Dhikala tourism zone. Visit the Interpretation Centre. Jeep safari through the stately dense Sal jungle and the wildlife adventure of Corbett begins. Jeep Safari by the lower jungle track along the Ramganga River accompanied by an expert guide. A great opportunity for viewing wildlife, especially the tiger in its natural habitat. Cross the river at Gethia Rao Bridge for the Kanda Range, where Jim Corbett shot the famous Kanda man-eater. Arrive at the main tourist complex, Dhikala. Lunch and relax a bit in the serene. Afternoon visit to the grasslands & forested area for birding. Birding in the lower jungle track along the Ramganga river is very rewarding for water birds such as river lapwings, waders, mergansers and other waterfowl. While relaxing at the lodge or visiting the grasslands one can see long-tailed nightjar, jungle owlet, spot-bellied owl, common stonechat, black francolin, purple and crimson sunbird, golden-fronted & orange-bellied leafbird, black-shouldered kite, hen harrier, changeable hawk-eagle, chestnut-tailed starling etc. Overnight stay at Dhikala Forest Lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

DAY 4 - Corbett National Park

Morning elephant safari through the grasslands and dense forests. This is the best mode of transport for wildlife viewing. Return for breakfast and then spend time till lunch on a watchtower overlooking a water hole. Drive to Tiger Camp. Arrive at Tiger Camp for dinner & overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

DAY 5 - Corbett National Park - Pangot

Morning walk at Kumeria. Return for lunch. One can look for black bulbul, brown-eared bulbul, brown fish owl, little & spotted forktail, yellow-bellied and white-browed fantail, crested laughing thrush, black-winged cuckoo shrike, little heron, wallcreeper, red-breasted parakeet, short-billed and long-tailed minivet, brown dipper, ashy-crowned sparrow lark etc. Afternoon drive to Corbett Falls stopping en route at Dabka causeway to look for ashy crowned sparrow lark. After birding at Corbett Falls continue to Pangot. Arrive for lunch. Afternoon leisurely birding in and around the lodge.

One can see crested woodpeckers such as greater yellownape, scaly-breasted, speckled piculet etc. Large flocks of slaty-headed parakeets, numerous spotted and oriental turtle doves, grey bushchat, russet sparrow. Cuckoo: indian, oriental, large-hawk and eurasian. Large-billed crow, grey treepie, black-headed jay, maroon oriole, large cuckoo shrike, tits such as rufous-naped, black-throated & yellow-browed and smaller numbers of black-lored and green-backed. White-tailed nuthatches, chestnut bellied nuthatches and bar-tailed treecreeper. Overnight stay in a cottage at Jungle Lore Birding Lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

DAY 6 - Pangot

Full day birding at Cheena Peak, Kilbury & Timla Pani. Overnight at Jungle Lore Birding Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

DAY 7 - Pangot

Another day of birding at Pangot village, Baggar and Gughu Khan. These walks can be very rewarding. One can see crested serpent-eagle, mountain hawk-eagle, Woodpeckers such as brown-fronted, stripe-breasted, rufous-bellied etc. Thrushes such as dark-throated, mistle etc. Striated prinia can be see in the terraced fields. Warblers such as tickell's leaf-warbler, greenish, golden-spectacled, grey-hooded. Flycatchers such as Asian brown, rusty-tailed, ultramarine, verditer, tickell's blue, rufous-bellied Niltava etc., orange-flanked bush robin, blue-capped redstart. Laughing thrushes such as white-throated, striated & streaked, chestnut-crowned etc. Look for accentor, upland pipit, blue-winged minla, whiskered yuhina etc. Overnight stay in a cottage at Jungle Lore Birding Lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

DAY 8 - Pangot - Sat Tal

Drive to Sat Tal (2 hours) in the morning. Birding along the way. Birding around Sat Tal. The entire drive is through the forested area of Cheena Peak Range via Snow View Point and Kilbury. One can see a variety of Himalayan species along the way such as lammergeier, Himalayan griffon, blue-winged minla, spotted & slaty-backed forktail, rufous-bellied woodpecker, rufous-bellied niltava, khalij pheasant, variety of thrushes etc. More than 200 species have been recorded at Pangot and surrounding areas. The numerous perennial & seasonal creeks are home to an amazing variety of flora and fauna including the Leopard, yellow-throated Himalayan martin, Himalayan Palm Civet, ghoral, barking deer, sambhar, Red Fox etc. Overnight stay in a camp / guest house.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

DAY 9 - Sat Tal - Kathgodam

Full day birding with a guide. One can see a variety of Himalayan species such as red-breasted accentor, chestnut-headed tesia, greater & lesser yellow-naped woodpecker, blue-throated barbet, rufous-chinned laughing thrush, black bulbul, dark-throated thrush etc. Transfer to Lal Kuan. Connect overnight train to Delhi. Overnight in air-conditioned sleeper class train.

Meals: Breakfast.

DAY 10 - Delhi - National Chambal Sanctuary

Arrive at Delhi in the morning. You will met and transferred to Chambal early in the morning. Afternoon boat cruise with a guide to see Indian skimmer, black-bellied tern, flocks of migratory waterfowl, cranes such as common, demoiselle and sarus; fish-eating crocodile and marsh mugger; Gangetic dolphin; turtles etc. Overnight stay at Chambal Safari Lodge.
Meals: Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 11 - Agra - Bharatpur

Morning visit to the Taj Mahal. Proceed to Bharatpur. Afternoon birding in the wetlands of Bharatpur. Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner.

DAY 12 - Bharatpur

Full day birding in Keoladeo Ghana National Park on foot and cycle rickshaws with a birding guide. The birds to expect are Indian Courser, Sarus Crane, Dusky eagle Owl, Large tailed Nightjars, Common Pochard, Great white Pelican, Greylag and Bar headed Goose.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 13 - Bharatpur

Another day of birding in Keoladeo Ghana National Park.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 14 - Bharatpur - Ranthambhore National Park

Drive to Ranthambhore National Park in the morning stopping en route at Bund Baretha for birding. Afternoon birding outside Ranthambhore National Park. The birds that one can expect around the resort are grey francolin, sirkeer malkoha, painted sandgrouse, Indian courser, yellow-wattled lapwing, southern grey shrike, Isabelline wheatear, desert wheatear, variable wheatear, ashy-crowned sparrow lark, greater short-toed lark, blue rock thrush, common buzzard etc. Overnight in the resort.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.

DAY 15 - Ranthambhore National Park

Morning & afternoon tiger-tracking in Ranthambhore National Park. You can have the option of going to the park for tiger-tracking or visiting the 1000-year old fort. Connect train from Sawai Madhopur (railhead for Ranthambhore National Park) to New Delhi.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.

DAY 16 - Delhi

Arrive in Delhi in the morning. One can have the option of city tour of Old and New Delhi or birding in the city forest or Sultanpur wetlands on own, the vehicle and the driver will be at your disposal.

DAY 17 - Homebound

Depart on your onward journey.

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Elephant Safaris available only in the morning. Jeep Safaris are available in the morning and in the afternoon. Number of safaris are restricted in different zones of the park at the sole discretion of wildlife authorities.
The park remains closed from May to October due to monsoon.
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