Birding in SIKKIM - A dream destination, 7th to 13th May, 2012

The long wait is over... Get ready for a birding feast in one of the "Best birding hotspots in the World". With over 550 species of birds, this has to be a dream destinations for any bird-watcher.

Nature India is immensely happy to announce, meticulously planned & organised, Bird-watching trip to Sikkim (North-East India) from 07th May to 13th May 2012. Only 12 seats are available, so you know what to do!! Book fast...
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Bird-watching in Sikkim - A Dream Destination

With around 600,000 inhabitants, Sikkim is the least populous state in India and the second-smallest state after Goa in total area, covering approximately 7,096 sq. km. Sikkim is nonetheless geographically diverse due to its location in the Himalayas.

Over the years Sikkim has become the most favored location for birders all over world. Sikkim is like a small piece of land surrounded on all sides by mountain walls. Within an area of 80kms, the elevation rises from 225 mtrs in Tista river valley to 8600 mtrs at Kanchendzonga, India highest & World's third highest mountain peak. Separated by Singhalila Range from Nepal in the west & Dongkya Range from Tibet to the east, Sikkim, is like a "bird catchment area." Nowhere in the world in such a small area can one find flora and fauna of all varieties - Tropical to the Alpines.

Nature India announces, for the first time, an exclusive bird-watching trip to this dream destination from 07th May to 13th May 2012…. The details are given at the end. Amongst the places that we intend to cover are Meanam WLS, Ravangla / Damthang area, Yuksam, Kanchendzonga National Park, Pemayanste etc...

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Meanam Wildlife Sanctuary

The Maenam wildlife sanctuary is famous for Satyr Tragopan (Tragopan Satyra) which is one of the rare species of Pheasants found in Eastern Himalayas, the other star bird species to look for is Fire-tailed Myzornis. Also Rufous vented Tit, Grey Crested Tit, Rufous- fronted Tit, Green Shrike Babbler, Tibetan Siskin, Dark breasted Rosefinch, White browed Rosefinch, Spotted Laughingthrush, White collared Black Bird, Darjeeling woodpecker, Crimson breasted Woodpecker, Himalayan Cutia etc... can be seen. In The lower valleys of Tashiding the birds that habitat are the great Sultan Tit, Puff-throated Babbler and Streaked Spiderhunter. Some common birds in the surrounding are the Great Himalayan Barbet, Grey Treepie, Green Magpie, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Black Bulbul and many more. Maenam wildlife sanctuary is also home to the rare beautiful state animal of Sikkim the Red Panda or Firefox.

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Damthang / Ravangla Area

Damthang is located at an altitude of 1650 meters above sea level and Ravangla at 2100 mtrs. This area is very famous among the bird-watchers visiting Sikkim. Ravangla is on the state highway connecting Gangtok and Pelling/Pemayangtse and rests at the foot of snow capped Mt. Narsing (19600 ft). This silent valley is favoured stop for birding the nearby Damtang forest (2 kms). Ravangla itself has scrub forest which attracts a rich variety of Himalayan birds. Verditer Flycatchers, Blue-fronted Redstarts, Grey Bushchats, Dark-throated Thrush, Blue-whistling Thrush, Green-backed Tit and White- browed Fantails are very common and cannot be missed. The forests around Ravangla resound with the unmistakable calls of Laughingthrushes, Babblers, Cuckoos and Hill Partridge. The rare Satyr Tragopan makes Maenam a home and the lucky can hear its breeding call from the higher reaches of Ravangla.

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Kanchendzonga National Park

The term Kanchendzonga means 'the Abode of Gods consisting of Five Treasure Houses'. The Kanchendzonga National Park is situated in the North District of Sikkim, spreading over an area of 850 square kilometers. The elevation range from 1800 meters to 8600 meters approximately, one of the highest park in the country. The area of the park of spectacular wilderness with one of the highest mountain peaks towering above virtually undisturbed forest cover. The variation of altitude and vegetation has enriched the park area with rich variety of flora.

The birds that you might encounter are as following Streak breasted Scimitar Babbler, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Striated Bubul, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Himalyan Cutia, Black-eared Shrike Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler,Hill Prinia ,Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler and so on.

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Pelling and Pemayangtse Monastery

Pelling is on the state highway connecting Gangtok and Yoksum and rests at the foot of snow capped Mt. Kanchenjunga. The important Pemayangtse monastery is a few kilometers from Pelling and is situated on a hilltop (2133 mtrs) which is covered by moist temperate Oak forests decorated with moss and lichens.

Pelling and Pemayangtse are well wooded and the moist forests hold Maroon-backed and Rufous-breasted Accentors, Green-tailed Sunbirds, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatchers, Blue-fronted Redstarts, Brownish-flanked Bush Warblers, Scarlet and Long-tailed Minivets, White-tailed Robin, Coal, Green-backed and Black-throated Tits, various Yuhinas, Fulvettas, Shrike Babblers, Scimitar Babblers, Laughingthrushes and Babblers.

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Trip Details & Itinerary :

Date: 07th May 2012 (Monday) to 13th May 2012 (Sunday) (travel days included)

Mode of Travel :
Mumbai - Bagdogra - Mumbai (by Air/Rail on personal expenses)

Local travel in jeep from Bagdogra – Sikkim – Bagdogra (By Nature India)

Travel Details:

By Air: We suggest you to book tickets for following flight;

Mumbai - Bagdogra: Jet Airways flight no. 9W615, 07.35 (Mumbai) to 10.10 (Kolkata) & Jet Airways flight no. 9W2452, 12.25 (Kolkata) to 13.30 (Bagdogra)

Bagdogra - Mumbai: Jet Airways flight no.9W2481, 14.15 (Bagdogra) to 15.15 (Kolkata) & Jet Airways flight no. 9W616, 18.10 (Kolkata) to 20.55 (Mumbai)

There are other flights also available.... Please check the arrival & departure timing at Bagdogra for to & fro flights. Book fast to get concessional rates.

Detailed Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Monday, 07th May, 2012 - Bagdogra- Kewzing

South Sikkim

We will meet at airport @ 14:00 Hrs, lunch stop in Bagdogra town and drive towards Sikkim - 05 hours straight but we will drive birding all the way as we come across the Tendong RF, part of Maenam WLS.

The species you will encounter in this forest are as follows.... Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Streak- breasted Scimitar Babbler, Red headed Bullfinch, Lesser Shortwing, White-browed Shortwing, Indian Blue Robin, Red flanked Blue Tail, Large Niltava, Yellow billed Megpie ,Fire tailed Sunbird, Fire Tailed Myzornis, Nepal House Martin and Fork-tailed Swift nesting on the rock slope after Damthang and many more birds.

Overnight Stay @ Mt Narshing .

Day 2: Tuesday 8th May, 2012 - Maenam WLS

Early morning after breakfast head via vehicle crossing Ravangla town and towards Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary entry gate 10 Km – 25 minutes drive [Maenam WLS has an altitudinal gradient ranging from 2300 m – 3263 m. The sanctuary is most famous for Satyr Tragopan ( on the top of the hill) a rear Pheasant found in Eastern Himalayas, Fire tailed Myzornis, Rufous vented Tit, Grey Crested Tit, Rufous- fronted Tit, Green Shrike Babbler, Tibetan Siskin, Dark breasted Rosefinch, White browed Rosefinch, Scaly Laughingthrush, White collared Black Bird, Darjeeling woodpecker, Crimson breasted Woodpecker, Himalayan Cutia and many more. We will scan for the state animal of Sikkim Red Panda.

Time taken to reach the top –four to six hours - Pack -lunch will be served during the trek....After the lunch trek horizontal towards Bhaleydunga birding to find Satyr Tragopan...Once reaching Bhaleydunga trek back to Ravangla about two hours down hill.

Overnight stay @ Mt Narshing.

Day 3: Wednesday 9th May, 2012 - Ravangla-Damthang road + Ralong

West Sikkim

Full day biding in Damthang and Ralong Road

Lunch in Ravangla ..... Overnight stay @ Mt Narshing.

Day 4: Thursday 10th May, 2012 - Tashiding- Yuksam

West Sikkim

After Breakfast head via vehicle towards lower valley of Kewzing and Tashiding (02 hours straight drive) and full Day birding to look out for low altitude species like Sultan Tit, Streaked Spiderhunter, White bellied Yuhina, Black-chinned Yuhina, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, White-browed Piculet, Ashy Bulbul, Puff-throated Babbler, Long-tailed Broadbill, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Velvet fronted Nuthatch, Crested Kingfisher, Brown Dipper and Ibisbill ,little forktail in Ranjit River and many more

Overnight stay in Yuksam

Day 5: Friday 11th May, 2012 - Yuksam

Early morning before Breakfast Head towards Kanchendzonga National Park through the trekking trail birding all the way.... The birds that you might encounter are as following Streak breasted Scimitar Babbler, Slinder-billed Scimitar Babbler, Striated Bubul, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Himalyan Cutia, Black-eared Shrike Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler,Hill Prinia ,Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler and so on.

Afternoon session in on the way to Dubdi Monetary

Overnight stay in Yuksam

Day 6: Saturday 12th May, 2012 - Yuksam- Pemayangtse

The entire day will be done on the way to pelling and pemayantse monastery. This monastery is renowed for the abundance in birdlife. A very small area surrounding the monastery environs may produce gems like White-tailed Robin, Snowy-browed, Little Pied, Verditer, Blue-throated Flycatchers, Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers, Red-tailed Minla, Small & Large Niltava, Green Shrike Babbler, Grey-sided Laughing Thrush and a variety of birds that will mesmerize you. ......overnight stay in Pelling.

Day 7 : Sunday 13th May, 2012 - Pelling to Bagdogra

After breakfast head towards Bagdogra to the airport to catch a flight @ 14:00 Hrs, while birding on our way

Conclusion and farewell of the tour.....

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Trip Charges: (Bagdogra to Bagdogra only)...

Rs. /-only

Includes Stay on twin sharing basis at Mt. Narshing, Tashiang Resort & Pelling resort, Local transport by Jeeps, Park entry charges, Local Expert charges, vegetarian food, Entry permits for Sikkim, Articles on Sikkim and bird checklist, on board mineral water and snacks, Camera Charges if any………

Individuals will have to pay additional entry charges IF there is any increase in charges by forest dept. as per the rules.

PS: Unfortunately, if the flight from Bagdogra to Mumbai is cancelled due to bad weather or for any other reasons, Nature India will not to be responsible for making stay arrangements. Although, Nature India will assist for hotel bookings.

Stay Arrangements:

Mt. Narshing, Ravangla

Tashigang Resort, Yuksom

Registration: You can register by sending a confirmatory mail to natureindiatours@gmail.com and by paying a non refundable Advance of Rs.20000/- after getting a registration mail from us.......the remaining amount will be collected later in 3 phases as mentioned below.......Please Register at the earliest as only 12 seats are available.

Payment terms:

Phase 1 - Rs. /- as non-refundable Advance to be paid immediately, to confirm the participation. We need to forward this as an advance for logistics & to block our seats.

Phase 2 - Rs. /- (Non-refundable) by 01st April' 2012

Phase 3 - Balance amount (Rs./-) to be paid before 20th April 2012.

Resource Persons:Mr.Adesh Shivkar, Mr.Mandar Khadilkar & Mr.Chewang Bonpo (Local Expert)

Mode of Payment: You can either

Transfer non-refundable advance amount of Rs. /- directly to the HDFC A/c : (please call Mandar @ 9930318665 for A/c no.) .... please mention your name, date and other details….

Courier a cheque of Rs./- to the following address and forward the details.
Name: Mr. Mandar Khadilkar
Address: B/702, Neha Apartments, Ashish Complex, Dahisar-East, Mumbai-400068.

Please Note:

• Once registered, the advance amount of Rs./- (Phase 1) is strictly non-refundable
• Alcohol & Smoking is strictly prohibited on Nature India Tours
• This is primarily a Bird-watching trip

Please revert on naturindiatours@gmail.com ID, in case you need any clarification.

For any other queries we are available on 9930318665 / 9967518665 (Mandar) or 9869071091 / 9820455713(Adesh)

Hope to see you for this wonderful trip

Thanks for your patience.

Warm Regards,

Adesh Shivkar & Mandar KhadilkarNature India
Appreciate, Respect & Conserve