Home to over a billion people reflecting the world’s richest cultural kaleidoscope, the Indian Subcontinent also boasts an almost unparalleled geographic diversity, ranging from lowland rainforests to deserts and the world’s mightiest peaks. India is famous also for its rich avifauna and charismatic mammalian megafauna, foremost of which is undoubtedly the royal Bengal Tiger.
Our Northern and Central India circuit is one of the world’s classic “must-do” birding, wildlife and cultural tours! It combines the famous birding sites on the Himalayan slopes with Bandhavgarh in Central India, the best place on Earth to see the most magnificent of the world’s Big Cats. In between we take time to marvel at the breath-taking Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri.
After astonishingly productive birding on the outskirts of bustling Delhi, we relocate northwards to the Himalayan foothills for exploration of the riches of Corbett Tiger Reserve. This scenically spectacular area affords some thrilling birding with excellent chances for Tawny and Brown Fish Owl, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Wallcreeper, 3 species of elegant forktails, skulking wren-babblers and bird flocks often containing over 30 species! We then ascend to the welcoming Hill Station of Nainital, right in the lofty Himalayas themselves. Amidst endless forested vistas and towering snowcaps, we seek pine forest specialties including Kalij and Koklass Pheasant, Black-headed Jay, no less than five species of exciting Zoothera ground thrushes, the lovely Golden Bush Robin, Nepal Wren-Babbler, Chestnut-headed Tesia and much more.
In Bandhavgarh National Park, we will take to elephant-back to ensure unforgettable encounters with the mythical Bengal Tiger, one of the greatest wildlife experiences imaginable. Other game abounds and we stand reasonable chances of observing Leopard, Sloth Bear and Dhole (Asian Wild Dog). Our tour also takes in a boat trip on the Chambal River, one of the last strongholds of the strange Gangetic Dolphin and Indian Skimmer. We end on a high at the world-famous waterbird sanctuary of Bharatpur. From our fabulously luxurious hotel, we take rickshaw rides around the jam-packed wetlands that teem with vast numbers of waterfowl, pelicans, herons, storks, cranes, raptors, waders and migrant passerines. This fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable tour is taken at a leisurely pace and its multi-faceted focus means that it will be enjoyed by birders and non-birding spouses.
Southern India and Sri Lanka are recognized as some of the most important endemic bird areas in Asia. Our Southern India and Sri Lanka tours also offer fascinating cultures and splendid mammals, including the formidable Guar (Indian Bison), Water Buffalo, good numbers of Asian Elephant, and further chances for Bengal Tiger, Leopard and Sloth Bear. We begin in Bangalore at the “village of herons” where Spot-billed Pelicans and Painted Storks nest inside the town. We then concentrate in earnest on the many South Indian endemics as we bird various woodlands, including one of the largest forest reserves in India. Here we will search for Malabar Whistling-Thrush, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Nilgiri Laughingthrush, Black-and-orange Flycatcher and White-bellied Shortwing. We move onwards to the Western Ghats where extensive rain forest still supports Wynaad Laughingthrush, Malabar Trogon, the spectacular White-bellied Treepie and the endangered Broad-tailed Grassbird, as well as one of the world’s rarest primates, the beautiful Lion-tailed Macaque.
From Southern India we fly to the friendly island nation of Sri Lanka. We commence in lowland forests for endemics such as Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Hanging-Parrot, the vibrant Sri Lanka Blue-Magpie and Spot-winged Thrush. Next we ascend the terraced highlands of central Sri Lanka, continuing our search for endemics including Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri Lanka Whistling-Thrush and Dull-blue Flycatcher. Over-wintering specials here include Indian Pitta, Slaty-legged Crake, Pied Thrush and the lovely Kashmir Flycatcher.
After passing through mammal-rich Yala National Park (where Leopards reputedly occur at the highest density in the world), we will arrive at the saltpans of Bundala to scan through a host of wading birds. We end off at Sinharaja Forest to ‘clean-up’ the remaining Sri Lanka endemics, including Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, White-faced Starling and the recently described Serendib Scops Owl. Along with our impressive bird tally, we hope for over 70 species restricted to this region. From exciting mammals, fascinating culture and incomparable birding, Southern India and Sri Lanka are a captivating combination of destinations not to be missed.
Tour details:
Northern and Central India - Birds and Tigers: 21 January-7 February (18 days).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
US$ 3,850 per person, US$ 725 single supplement.
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
India
Sri Lanka
Birdwatching
Wildlife Viewing
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