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Sattal is probably the most popular and easily accessible bird watching spot in Kumaon, Uttarakhand. It is an ideal getaway destination for you and your family. Waking up with the melody of different species of birds is truly a wonderful experience. Sattal lies in the lower Himalayan range near Nainital. It’s at a height of 1370 meters. Bird watching in the Sattal region has always given us the best of the Himalayan birds. It is a paradise for migratory birds. It is home to a few camps being operated mostly by local people serving to tourists looking for outdoor vacations. It has 500 species of resident and migratory birds.
Sattal literally means ‘Sat’ ‘Tal’ which is an interconnection of seven lakes. These seven lakes are- Panna Tal, Nal-Damyanti Tal, Sita Tal, Purna Tal, Laxman Tal, Ram Tal and Sukha Tal. One thing that makes Sattal truly worth visiting is its biodiversity. It is an abode to many migratory birds and gives shelter to different kinds of trees and plants.
The best spot to get a sight of these beautiful birds is the Sattal Studio which is on the right side of the main road to Sattal. This nature made studio is a heaven for both birds and birders, birds come here to make a stopover to take a small gulp or wash over in a small stream flowing below a bark. Birders have to maintain discipline and they sit still to focus on these birds and hopefully get a good click. Chaafi, a small village approximately 15 kms from Sattal, is another birding hotspot. You will get to see and photograph birds like the Crested Kingfisher, Brown Dipper, and various redstarts here.
The unique avian fauna of Sattal includes kingfishers, Blue-throated and Brown-headed barbets, Golden-throated Barbet, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Plum-headed Parakeet, Chestnut-bellied Rock thrush, Pied Woodpecker, brown-capped pygmy woodpecker, streak-throated woodpecker, grey-headed woodpecker, scaly-bellied woodpecker, Common Flameback Woodpecker, Crested Serpent Eagle, Koklas Pheasants, Crested Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Green-tailed Sunbird, Black-throated Sunbird, Black-breasted Sunbird, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Plain-leaf Flowerpecker, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Black-headed Jay, Black Bulbul, Ashy-throated Warblers, Black-chinned Babbler.
Different birds are sighted In different seasons. Winter is the best season to see the Upper Himalayan birds, which migrate in cooler months, like the Long tailed Broadbill. The news of its arrival spreads like fire and hundreds of birders get a chance to have a glimpse of this bird who is usually busy building its nest. Best time for the birders to visit Sattal is from March to July in summers or in winters, October to January.
The flora covers a wide and diverse range of plants ranging from Bryophytes, orchids, rare climbing plants, ferns, lichens, fungi, medicinal herbs and shrubs. All lakes of Sattal have different Diatom index. The Trophic Diatom Index uses the composition of freshwater diatom assemblages to assess water quality and ecological status.
There are many other birding places nearby which are Pangot, Nainital, Jim Corbett etc..
Other interesting activities you can enjoy in Sattal are;
By Air: The nearest airport is in Pantnagar which is 61 kms away and takes approximately 2 hours.
By Rail: The nearest rail head is Kathgodam, 27 kms and 45 minutes away. Ramnagar is also an option, 40 km and 45 minutes away.
By Road: Sattal is a seven-hour journey (306 km) from New Delhi by road, via Haldwani and Bhimtal. It is 27 km from Nainital.
Ramnagar is the gateway to the Corbett National Park, a famous tourist destination of India and bird watching destination in Uttarakhand. Garjiya Devi Temple and Sitabani temple, Sitabani Wildlife Reserve located nearby also attracts many visitors for birding. Ramnagar is home to more than hundreds of different species of migratory birds. This article covers how to reach, timing, bird gallery, birding guides, the best time to visit.
The Jim Corbett National Park is a popular birding destination in Uttarakhand that offers bird watching opportunity in the wild amidst the dense forest. Being in the proximity of the Himalayan mountain range, the deep forest of Corbett makes a perfect habitat for not only the wild animals but also for the great numbers of domestic as well as migratory bird species. This article covers how to reach, timing, bird gallery, birding guides, time to visit.
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