If twittering birds call your heart to the great outdoors, plan your next holiday in Gujarat. With more than 600 number of bird species and extraordinary sighting, it's a paradise for bird watchers and wildlife photographers.
A curtain of birds flies into the horizon, their chatter and songs catch your attention from afar, and you point your binoculars and cameras in the direction of their flight. For hours, you hold back all your thoughts, mesmerised by this play of nature before you.
Gujarat has a special place in the hearts of bird watchers. With bird sanctuaries, lakes, and national parks, it invites bird lovers in big numbers and allows them to enjoy nature without encroaching on it. Whether you’re a seasoned bird watcher or merely pursuing a hobby, there are many places in the state—some widely known, some less so—that will help you in your quest.
KUTCH AREA
Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch
The endangered Indian Wild Ass calls this sanctuary its home—the only place on earth it’s found. Other than that, the area has blackbucks, hyenas, wolves, insects, frogs, and crocodiles. For bird watchers, it will be a delightful experience since 75,000 birds nest here. From the European Blue-tailed beeeater to the Egyptian ceraneous vulture, the variety of migratory birds is astounding. Then there are ibis, spoonbills, shanks, shrikes, and bulbuls.
The Details: The nearest airports are Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Bhuj, while the nearest railway station is Dhrangadhra. You can also drive down from Ahmedabad to Dhrandgadhra (two hours) and stay at wildlife photographer Devjibhai Dhamecha’s homestay. Entry fee for Indians on weekdays is Rs 250 and on weekends is Rs 310; additional Rs 100 for camera.
Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, Kutch
If you’re trailing the Great Indian bustard, Lesser florican bustard, and Macqueen’s Bustard, you can’t miss this sanctuary. The two-square-kilometer area was declared a sanctuary for the Great Indian bustard in 1992 and it is the only place it is found.
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