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Bhaktapur in Kathmandu
Ever since Nepal made front page news for its political troubles, it has been struck off as a holiday destination by most Indians. But surely Nepal’s charms must still be holding good? Ajay Jain hit the road in his SUV to re-discover Nepal he last visited in the 1980s as a school boy. And came back giving a thumbs up to the country. [continue reading…]
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Cruising down the Karnali River along the Bardia National Park in Nepal
I never thought I would have the patience to spend a full sunny day cruising down a river in an inflatable raft. Surprisingly, I managed very well along the Karnali River at the Bardia National Park in Nepal. Our mission was to spot some dolphins. Even though we missed seeing them, it was one of the best picnics I ever had. With all kinds of birds – especially the Rudy Shelducks – for company, and complete silence around, there is little more one can ask for. Not even an espresso.
This cruise took place on Day 4 of The Great Himalayan Drive I am undertaking from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. See more images on Facebook even if you are not a member.
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Rangantathittu is 15kms north of Mysore and is accessible to scores of bird lovers from Bangalore to make an easy day trip. It was advocated by India’s famous Ornithologist Salim Ali and was established in 1940. Bird lovers can forever be thankful for this lovely sanctuary – hordes of visitors throng this sanctuary to get their fill of birdlife.
Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary is fascinating. Birds supposedly come from as far away as Siberia and Australia during migratory season. Vast colonies of birds make this an ideal destination for one to observe various bird behaviors. Time flies by as one observes these amazing creations in their natural habitat.
Six islets have been created to provide the best possible environment for migratory birds for breeding & feeding. Visitors can rent boats to get close to the islets which houses several colonies of these birds. During our visit last week (mid-Jan), the most common birds sighted were Openbilled Storks, Black Cormorants, River Terns, Painted Storks, Little Egrets, Night Herons, Spot billed Pelicans, Darters. I missed sighting the Stone Plover however. Apparently a lot of other varieties such as Kingfishers, Hornbills, Wagtails and many other species can also be found. Marsh Crocodiles were lazing on the rocks. While I spotted a Golden-Oriole, I could not get a clear shot of the bird. However two River Terns who have gotten quite accustomed to humans getting so close, allowed for some really wonderful shots (one closeup shot below in article). [continue reading…]
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If you see three Brown-headed gulls in a lake, how do you make add another fifty to give them company? Throw a few bread or biscuit pieces in their directions – and you will have dozens appear like magic to be the early bird who gets the crumbs.
[Click on any of the images for a larger view]
I discovered this when I started feeding the few birds in the lake, and did not even realize when the others came in. It was a delightful experience playing with them after that. Every bit of biscuit I threw amongst the birds saw them flap and waddle to get it, jostling each other in the process. Those flying around would swoop down and add to the commotion, even as some would just wade around with the peaceful countenance of the Buddha. The latter either had full stomachs, or preferred finding food in a more dignified manner. [continue reading…]
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