Birdlife of Rajasthan

Birdlife of Rajasthan

This is a fantastic birding adventure where you’ll visit stunning National Parks and Bird Sanctuaries across Rajasthan. Be captivated on this 13-day tour that is designed as exciting itinerary, covering some of the best birding sites in Rajasthan including Delhi, Jodhpur, Khichan, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Bharatpur and Chambal. This birding holiday will introduce you to the wonderful and varied birdlife (and other wildlife) of Northern India, as well as providing a fascinating insight into rural village life. 

Visit Okhla Bird Sanctuary home to over 300 bird species. Explore Khichan Bird Sanctuary in Khichan village, also known as Demoiselle Crane village due to the large numbers of cranes that are welcomed by the villagers. In Jaipur, visit Chandlai Lake where thousands of migratory birds can be spotted. Enjoy two days of jeep safari into Ranthambore National Park, renowned for its outstanding heronry as well as being home to many other migratory and resident birds and rich wildlife. It’s also a well-known tiger sanctuary home to resident Bengal tigers. 

Keoladeo National Park is another bird paradise, with more than 370 bird species recorded here. Enjoy a relaxing River Safari at Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary where you can expect to see dramatic landscapes and bird species including Indian Skimmers, Sarus Cranes, Black Necked Storks and many more as well as Gangetic River Dolphins, Mugger and Gharial Crocodiles and freshwater turtles and more. You’ll stay at luxury and heritage hotels and safari lodges on this fantastic trip filled with avian beauties, unique landscapes and heritage, rustic charm and rare wildlife.

Itinerary

• Day 01

  Arrive Delhi

  Welcome to India! One of our local representatives will be waiting to greet you in the arrivals hall after you’ve cleared immigration and custom formalities to assist you and for the transfer to your hotel. India’s capital and a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is today a truly cosmopolitan city that juxtaposes modern and traditional in a unique heritage. After check in to your hotel, the rest of today is free to rest and relax after your flight, ready for your tour starting tomorrow. Enjoy dinner at your hotel or at a nearby restaurant.  

  Overnight: Hotel, Delhi.

• Day 02

  Visit Okhla Bird Sanctuary

  This morning you'll meet your naturalist guide at your hotel, who will brief you about the flora and fauna of the region and outline the schedule for today and tomorrow. After your briefing, it’s time for the drive through Delhi to Okhla Bird Sanctuary, officially known as Shaheed Chander Shekhar Azad Sanctuary, based at the Okhla Barrage over the Yamuna River. The sanctuary is around 4 square kilometres and is located at a point where the Yamuna River enters into the state of Uttar Pradesh as it leaves the territory of Delhi. It’s one of 15 bird sanctuaries in the state with a mix of thorny scrub, grasslands and wetlands. It’s one of the 466 Important Bird Sanctuaries (IBAs) in India. As many as 300 bird species have been spotted here and our focus for the day include two endemic species, the Striated Babbler and the White-tailed Stonechat, besides several other birds such as the Eurasian Collared-Dove, Laughing Dove, Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon, Greater Coucal, Asian Koel, Grey-headed Swamphen, White-breasted Waterhen, Black-winged Stilt, Red-wattled Lapwing, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Temminck's Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Whiskered Tern, Oriental Darter, Great Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, Grey Heron, Cattle Egret, Indian Pond-Heron, Black-headed Ibis, Black Kite, Spotted Owlet, Indian Grey Hornbill, Common Kingfisher, Green Bee-eater, Brown-headed Barbet, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Black Drongo, Long-tailed Shrike, Ashy Prinia, Plain Prinia, Sykes's Warbler, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Plain Martin, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Indian White-eye, Rosy Starling, Bank Myna, India Robin, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Bluethroat, Pied Bushchat, Citrine Wagtail, Paddyfield Pipit, and the Red-headed Bunting. After a day spent spotting many of these beautiful birds in the different areas of the sanctuary, we return to the hotel where your evening is at leisure to rest and relax.

  Overnight: Hotel, Delhi (Meals included: Breakfast).

  
  

• Day 03

  Fly Delhi to Jodhpur

  After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred by private vehicle to Delhi airport to board the short flight (1 hour 20 minutes) to Jodhpur. Upon arrival at Jodhpur airport you’ll be met and assisted by our local representative for the transfer and check-in to your hotel. Rich in history, Jodhpur is one of the most vibrant places in India to explore. Also known as the Blue City, due to the traditional blue colour of the buildings in the oldest part of the city, it’s a place of many palaces, forts and temples. Looming over this city and soaked in legend, the Mehrangarh Fort at once impresses and is well worth exploring as well as enjoying the views over the city. Jodhpur is also known for its exquisite handicrafts, folk dances, music and the brightly attired people. The bazaars of Jodhpur offer a wide range of items from textiles to embroidery, leather goods, antiques and classic silver jewellery. Optional Activity: This afternoon visit the impressive Mehrangarh Fort, one of the largest and most magnificent forts in Rajasthan, built in the 15th century at the centre of the city on a hill. Inside its boundaries there are several palaces known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards. Evening at leisure to rest and relax, enjoy dinner at your hotel or explore locally. Overnight: Hotel, Jodhpur (Meals included: Breakfast).

• Day 04

  Jodhpur to Khichan Village

  After breakfast, your guide will meet you and accompany you on the drive towards the Khichan village, around 3 hours and 150km. Khichan is a village in the state of Rajasthan, located in Jodhpur district. The village is known for a large number of Demoiselle Cranes that visit it every winter. This annual bird migration began with around a hundred cranes in the 1970s, when a local couple started feeding the birds. Other villagers joined their efforts and Khichan now hosts over 30,000 Demoiselle Cranes from as early as August each year to as late as March. After reaching Khichan village we’ll take time to explore the village with our key focus on getting great views and a chance to observe the Cranes. A picnic food box will be provided to enjoy at a suitable place outdoors. Later today we head back to Jodhpur and your hotel where your evening is at leisure to rest and relax, enjoy dinner at the hotel or explore locally. Overnight: Hotel, Jodhpur (Meals included: Breakfast).

• Day 05

  Jodhpur to Jaipur and Chandlai Lake

  This morning after breakfast it’s time for the drive of around 6 hours (with rest stop) and 350 km to reach Jaipur. Where Jodhpur is known as the Blue City, Jaipur is often referred to as the Pink City, relating back to 1876, when Maharaja Ram Singh had most of the buildings in the city painted pink (then the colour of hospitality) to welcome a visit by Britain's Queen Victoria. Today, the city is known for its bazaars, forts, temples, palaces, and wildlife sanctuaries. After checking in to the hotel we’ll head out to visit Chandlai Lake which hosts a huge number of migratory birds. One of the rare bird species that can be seen here is the Pied Avochet. Other bird species such as the Common Red Shank, White Wagtail, Little Ringed Plover, Rudy Shelduck, Black Winged Stilt, Brown-capped Night Heron, Common Teal, Pallas’s Gul, Ruff and many more are also found here. After time to see as many species as we can, we’ll head back to the hotel. Rest of your evening is at leisure to rest and relax. Overnight: Hotel, Jaipur (Meals included: Breakfast).

• Day 06

  Jaipur to Ranthambore National Park, afternoon jeep safari

  After breakfast at the hotel you will be transferred to Ranthambhore in your private vehicle. The drive from Jaipur to Ranthambore takes around 4 hrs (approx. 180 kms). Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest national parks in northern India. It is named after the historic Ranthambore fortress, which lies within the park. The park used to be the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Jaipur but in 1972 came under the Project Tiger scheme. Ranthambore National Park is famous for its tigers and is one of the best places in the country to see these majestic predators in the wild. The park also has a variety of other mammals and birds including Langurs, Spotted (Chital) and Sambar Deer, Nilgai (the largest of India's antelopes), Barking Deer, monkeys, boar, crocodiles and more. The extensive bird life here includes Baya Weaver, Grey Francolin, Red-wattled Lapwing, Hoopoe, Indian Peafowl/Peacock, Jungle Fowl, Indian Scops Owl, Black Drongo, Partridge, Quail, Crested Serpent Eagle, Woodpeckers, Flycatchers and many more. After checking in to the hotel, this afternoon enjoy a game safari drive in Ranthambhore National Park by shared jeep and chance to see some of the many animals and birds that live here. After your game drive, the rest of your evening is free to rest and relax. Overnight: Hotel, Ranthambore (Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).

• Day 07

  Ranthambore National Park – full day birding

  After breakfast you’ll meet your naturalist guide who will accompany you today and set out to scour the areas around Ranthambore National Park for a full day of birding. One of the locations you’ll visit is Padam Talao, the largest of the many lakes in the park and a good location where we may see a lot of aquatic birds. There are grasslands, meadows, and lush woods that host several interesting bird species of North India. We’ll look for birds such as the Black Francolin, Painted Francolin, Grey Francolin, Common Quail, Rain Quail, Blue-breasted Quail, Jungle Bush Quail, Rock Bush Quail, Painted Spurfowl, Indian Peafowl, Lesser Whistling Duck, Greylag Goose, Bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Common Shelduck, Comb Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Spot-billed Duck, Common Teal, Garganey, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveller, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Tufted Duck, Small Button Quail, Yellow-legged Buttonquails, Barred Buttonquails, Eurasian Wryneck, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Black-rumped Flameback, White-naped Woodpecker, Brown-headed Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet and Indian Courser. We’ll visit various locations today and keep a look out for the many bird species. En route we’ll also spot some of the animal species that live here and may be lucky enough to spot a tiger or leopard! After a busy day of birding at Ranthambore, we return to the hotel for dinner and rest overnight. Overnight: Hotel, Ranthambore (Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).

• Day 08

  Ramthambore to Bharatpur by train

  After an early breakfast today you’ll be transferred to Sawai Madhopur Railway Station to board the Jan Shatabdi train to Bharatpur, around 2 hours travel time. On arrival at Bharatpur railway station, you will be met and assisted by one of our local representatives and helped with check in to your hotel with the rest of your day to relax. Bharatpur is an Indian city in eastern Rajasthan and will be our base for exploring Keoladeo National Park tomorrow. A good day of birding at Keoladeo National Park can yield up to 100 bird species, if not more. The prized sightings here include the Indian Courser, Sociable Lapwing, Imperial Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Indian Spotted Eagle, Dusky Eagle-Owl, Darters, Large-tailed Nightjar, Indian Nightjar, Grey Nightjar, Sarus Crane, Demoiselle Crane, Black-necked Stork, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill Storks, Common Pelican, Dalmatian Pelican, Black Bittern, Greater Painted Snipe, Marshall's Iora, Brook's Leaf Warbler and Siberian Rubythroat. Overnight: Hotel, Bharatpur (Meals included: Breakfast).

• Day 09

  Keoladeo National Park

  We’ll get an early start today for our first visit to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, also known as Keoladeo National Park. The park is a vast bird sanctuary and former royal game reserve in the north Indian state of Rajasthan. South of the ancient city of Bharatpur, the park’s woods and man-made wetlands protect over 350 species of migratory and resident birds, including herons, cormorants and eagles. Our target birds to spot today include raptors such as the Egyptian Vulture, White-rumped Vulture, Indian Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, Eurasian Marsh Harrier, Shikra, Indian Spotted Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Booted Eagle, Common Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon. A birding session along the wetlands of Keoladeo reveals the likes of the Bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Comb Duck Egrets, Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Painted Stork, Open-billed Stork, Cormorants, Darters, Ibises, Spoonbills, Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew, Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Spot-billed Duck. The whole of today is dedicated to a birding adventure at Keoladeo. After our morning visit we’ll return to the hotel for breakfast and in the afternoon we’ll visit the bird sanctuary again. After completing our afternoon visit, the rest of your evening is at leisure to rest and relax at the hotel. Overnight: Hotel, Bharatpur (Meals included: Breakfast).

• Day 10

  Bharatpur to Chambal

  After breakfast today, you’ll be transferred to Chambal in your private vehicle. The drive from Bharatpur to Chambal should take around 3 hrs (approx. 140 kms). Arriving at Chambal you’ll be able to check in to the Chambal Safari Lodge – a welcoming oasis of peace, tranquillity and hospitality. The sprawling grounds of the Lodge are home to numerous birds and small mammals – around 198 species - including Palm Civet Cats, Jungle Cats, Foxes, Jungle Hares, Fruit Bats, Hedgehogs and the Indian Striped Hyenas. The Chambal River originates in the Vindhya mountains of Madhya Pradesh in central India, from where it flows first in the north-westerly direction into Rajasthan and then towards southeast into Uttar Pradesh. Though the river’s course through Rajasthan isn’t long, its passage through Dholpur attracts a lot of avian species, and it’s this birding area of Chambal National Park that’s our main focus of our stay. The most sought-after bird here is the Indian Skimmer, but there are a lot of other winged beauties to watch and photograph. Overnight: Safari Lodge, Chambal (Meals included: Breakfast).

• Day 11

  Chambal River Safari

  This morning you’ll be transferred to the start point for your Chambal River Safari. The River Safari provides spectacular opportunities to view the wildlife, and the boatmen are exceptionally skilled at cutting the boat engines and manoeuvring as close to the birds and animals as possible without disturbing them. On the safari, you may sight the critically endangered Gharial (the fish eating crocodile native to the Indian sub-continent), Marsh Crocodiles, the Red-crowned Roof Turtle, Striped Hyenas, Wolves, the Ganges River dolphin and the Indian Skimmer – an IUCN red- listed endangered bird that breeds and lives here. Trained naturalists accompany visitors and provide expert information on the Chambal wildlife. The River Safari is a wonderfully relaxing, enjoyable and special experience. You may spot Indian Courser, Black-bellied Terns, Great Thick-knee, Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Sarus Crane, Bar-headed Goose, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Pallid Harrier, Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Darters, Gull-billed Tern, River Tern, Little Tern, Black-bellied Tern, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Tern and several others. After your river safari we return to your safari lodge with the rest of your day at leisure. Overnight: Safari Lodge, Chambal (Meals included: Breakfast).

• Day 12

  Drive Chambal to Delhi, optional visit to the Taj Mahal

  After breakfast today you’ll begin the drive to Delhi in your private vehicle. The drive takes around 5 hrs (approx. 300 kms) with rest stops. Optional activity: You may opt to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra with a stop en route. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history as well as an enduring and well-known monument to power and love. Please note the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. Arrive Delhi and check in to your hotel with your evening at leisure to rest and relax, or perhaps explore or do some last-minute shopping in the local area. Overnight: Hotel, Delhi (Meals included: Breakfast).

• Day 13

  Depart Delhi

  This morning you’ll be transferred to Delhi International Airport for your flight home, on to your next destination or start any additional optional trip extensions or visits to neighbouring regions.