This trek is a birder’s dream, set in dense woods and undiscovered by most tourists. Regular spotting of numerous species of Birds and Wildlife is possible. It is possible to drive to the gates of the Mountain Birding Lodge at Maheshkhan and then trek for 5 kms within the thick Deodar and Oak Forest to reach the Forest Rest House, a British-era Bungalow built in the year 1914. It is also possible to trek further to many other locations from here, including to Tagore Top.
Since it is located within the reserve forest area, prior permission is required to enter from the Forest Department.
Birds recently spotted here:
Red-billed blue magpie, kingfishers, blue-throated and brown-headed barbets, lineated barbet, golden-throated barbet, crimson-fronted barbet, coppersmith Barbet plum-headed parakeet, slaty-headed Parakeet, chestnut bellied rock thrush, titmouse, babblers, jungle Owlet, fish eagle, pied woodpecker, brown-capped pygmy woodpecker, grey-capped pygmy woodpecker, brown-fronted woodpecker, stripe-breasted woodpecker, yellow-crowned woodpecker, rufous-bellied woodpecker, crimson-breasted woodpecker, Himalayan woodpecker, lesser yellownape woodpecker, greater yellow-naped woodpecker, streak-throated woodpecker, grey-headed woodpecker, scaly-bellied woodpecker, common flameback woodpecker, Indian tree pies, blue whistling-thrush, lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, crested serpent eagle, flycatchers, cheer pheasants, Kalij pheasant, Koklas pheasants, dollarbird, leaf birds, flowerpecker, purple sunbird, brown headed stork-billed kingfisher, stork-billed kingfisher, crested kingfisher, white-throated kingfisher, pied kingfisher, common kingfisher, blue-eared kingfisher, Himalayan kingfisher, Mrs. Gould’s sunbird, green-tailed sunbird, black-throated sunbird, black-breasted sunbird, Crimson sunbird, fire-tailed sunbird, thick-billed flowerpecker, plain-leaf flowerpecker, fire-breasted flowerpecker, russet Sparrow, rufous Babbler, black-headed Jay, scaly-breasted wren-Babbler, black-capped sibia, blue whistling thrush, finches, mountain hawk eagle, black eagle, eurasian jay, white-rumped needletail, black-headed jay, black-lored, black-throated tits, black bulbul, ashy-throated warblers, black-chinned babbler, rufous-breasted accentor, red-billed blue magpie, grey-winged blackbird, Eurasian griffon, common buzzard, black-chinned babbler, pink-browed rosefinch, common wood pigeon, slaty-headed parakeet, laughingthrush, chestnut-tailed minla, lemon-rumped warblers, and many more.
How to reach there:
By car : 4 kms from Soulitude in the Himalayas towards Bhowali.
Trek timings are flexible since one can spend just an hour or the entire day in the woods. From the Gate to the Forest Rest House is approx 5 km (10 km return) and takes 1.5 hours (3 hours return).
Booking: To book connect with:
Divisional Forest Office DFO
Upper Danda, Tallital, Nainital
Uttarakhand. Tel: (05942) 236 718/469 or
Tel: 05942- 236790, 236718
write at dfo_nainital_uta@yahoo.com
Chief Conservator of Forests – Kumaon
Nainital
Tel: 05942- 236218