Mumbai / Day 01
On arrival in Mumbai you will be greeted and escorted by our executive to your hotel. Take rest on this day.
Jamnagar / Day 02
Connect flight to Jamnagar. Jamnagar also known as the "Jewel of Kathiawad" is a sizeable city way off the tourist trail. It's best known today for the Bala Hanuman Temple where, since 1964, there's been 24 hour continuous chanting of the invocation `Shri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram'. At sunset the area around the temple becomes lively and animated when people come to promenade, and chai and kulfi stalls set up and ply their trade.
Khijadia / Day 03
Khijadia Bird Sanctuary is a unique wetland area with sea water on one side and fresh water on one side. The area of this Sanctuary is 605 Hectares. There are 3 Watch Tower for bird watchers, as well as inspection paths leading deep into the foliage There are also provisions for Paddle boats, in the main as well as the Jamnbuda watch tower area. One can find both types of sea and shore birds. Watching the arrival of the Cranes during sunset for roosting is a fantastic experience. Some of the notable birds found here are Black Ibis, Black-winged Kite, Brahminy Kite, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Great Thick-knee, Common Greenshank, Grey Francolin, Imperial Eagle, Indian Pond Heron, Little Tern, Black-tailed Godwit, Comb Duck, Common Crane, Common Teal, Dunlin, Garganey, Marsh Harrier, Northern Pintail, Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon, Pale Harrier, Demoiselle Crane, Sanderling and Darters. Later in the afternoon drive to Marine National Park, which is 30 kms from Jamnagar. The Northwest coast of Saurashtra, bordering the heavily tidal Gulf of Kutch, is fringed with more than forty small islands, whose ever-depleting mangrove population gives rise to some of the richest marine life off mainland India. The park is spread over an area of 458 sq kms. Here you will find plants that look like animals and animals that look like plants. Turtles, shrimp, sponge, eels, sea urchin lurk among corals.
Bhuj / Day 04
On this day we drive to Bhuj and obtain permission to go the local Banni villages. Rest for the day.
Bhuj – The Great Rann of Kutch / Day 05
Not just the variety but the sheer numbers of birds seen here is amazing. This is due to the varied habitat types that include deserts and wetlands, vast grasslands, scrub lands, and mangrove swamps. For many bird species Gujarat is a gateway to India coming in from Europe, Siberia and the Middle East. During the months of Dec-March this whole region becomes a birding Paradise of sorts with hundreds of Common and Demoisele cranes, Waders, Eagles, Harriers, Buzzards, Falcons, Warblers, Buntings, Ducks, and other passerine birds. Not to mention the Great Indian Bustard and Macqueen's Bustard. It has now become a norm for any birdwatcher to visit the Great Rann every year.
Dasada / Day 06 - 07
After breakfast drive to Dasada. Dasada is famous for Desert wild life and magnificent birds at the lakes and to visit the Kolis at the salt works. Dasada is the base to visit the bird-rich Nawa Talao lake, a number of seasonal wetlands near Dasada, the village lake of Dasada, the wetland near Patdi fort, Viramgam town lake and many reservoirs of Surendranagar district that offer good winter birding opportunities. Birds like rose-coloured starling and green pigeon are often seen at Dasada village. In the monsoon months of July, August and September, lesser florican visits the grasslands of Surendranagar District to breed and the vegetation around the wetlands becomes the breeding area for painted storks, several species of resident ducks and other waterfowl. Lesser flamingo breeding colonies have been recorded and photographed in the Little Rann of Kutch during these months. In fact the site is called Flamingo City near the Solanki Bet. Also, the reserve houses the White Pelican and the Avocet, which have made this their breeding grounds. The Great Indian Bustard, Stolzca's Bushcat, painted sandgrouse, larks, tits, raptors, steppe eagle, tawny eagles and various water-fowls can be seen here. Today, there is morning drive to Wild Ass Sanctuary which is located in the Little Rann of Kutch, that covers an area of 4954 Sq. km. The sanctuary is named after a sub species of wild ass, the last population of which it harbours. The Rann is one of the most remarkable and unique landscapes of its kind in the entire world. It is a vast desiccated, unbroken bare surface of dark silt, encrusted with salts which transforms into a spectacular coastal wetland after the rains.
Dhariyawad / Day 08 - 09
After breakfast drive to Dhariyawad. Dhariyawad was founded in the middle of the 16th century by royal prince Sahasmal (the second son of Maharana Pratap, the legendary hero of Mewar, Udaipur. Situated on the confluences of the Jakham and Karmoi rivers, Dhariyawad is located in the south of Rajasthan and is surrounded by thick subtropical forests of the Aravali Hills. Bhils and other tribal people inhabit this area.This region is unspoilt by modern civilization, and the best cultural heritage can be experienced here. The fort of Dhariyawad has been converted into an exclusive heritage hotel maintaining the decor, and the traditional splendor of the fort. Morning and evening enjoy birding in Sita Mata Century and in & around Dhariwayad.
Siana / Day 10 - 11
fter breakfast drive to Siana. The village of Siana featured in David Attenborough’s Epic Life of Mammals as the place where a leopard wandered at night past the silent houses, for this is probably the best place in India to look for this rarely seen creature as the local people do not harm them. In the late afternoon we will go out on jeeps safari to look for Leopards and we have a very good chance of an encounter. Next day, enjoy birding in Siana. The area around Siana, which consists of dry desert plains and rocky desert hills rising dramatically out of the plains, partly clothed in scrub jungle, also provides great birding. Specialities of the Indian Subcontinent’s arid zone include Indian (or Long-billed) Vulture, Indian Thick-knee (split from Eurasian), Rock Bush Quail, Painted Sandgrouse, the skulking Sirkeer Malkoha, the impressive Indian (or Rock) Eagle Owl, Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark, Indian Bushlark, the uncommon and nomadic White-bellied Minivet, Large Grey Babbler and Bay-backed Shrike, while more widespread species include Red Collared Dove, Little Swift, Common Hoopoe, Dusky Crag Martin and Red-rumped Swallow.
Jodhpur – Delhi / Day 12 & 13
After breakfast transfer to the Jodhpur airport and connect flight to Delhi. On arrival check in at the hotel. Onward journey.
Enquire
