This tour has been meticulously handcrafted with an intention to showcase the rare birds breeding in the grasslands and majestic mountains of India. What makes this journey one of a kind is that only in monsoon one do you get to see these otherwise shy and solitary species in their full glory. The journey will kickstart in Delhi followed by three night stays in Ajmer and a night stay in Agra. During the trip, you will come across some of the sought-after winged species in the world including Lesser Florican, Bristled Grassbird, Indian Pitta, etc. Led by a team of an expert naturalists and ground handlers we will ensure you tick off the target species from your lifer list.

The Surajpur wetlands are actually home to a mosaic of habitats, including shallow wetlands, reedbeds, and grassland patches. Unfortunately, it does not enjoy any official measure of protection and is frequently encroached upon. Up to 200 species of birds have been recorded here, including Bristled Grassbird, Bengal Bush Lark, Red Avadavat, Indian Silverbill, Black-breasted Weaver, various duck species, various waders, and other wetland species.

Established as a bird sanctuary in 1972, Sultanpur National Park is home to a variety of wetland and forest birds, both resident and migratory. When combined with the surrounding grassland flats, Sultanpur offers an amazing birdwatching experience relatively close to Delhi.

Once a sport hunting ground for the nobles of Jaipur, Jhalana is a leopard-rich forest that is the perfect quick addition to any Jaipur visit. Apart from Leopards and other mammals, Jhalana is also a great place for birding near Jaipur, with species including Indian Pitta, Dusky Eagle-Owl, Spotted Owlet, Jungle Nightjar, and more.

Sonkhaliya is a little hamlet, about 40 km from Ajmer. Over the years, it has become a hotspot to see one of the rarest grassland birds of India - the Lesser Florican. Apart from the small bustard species, many other grassland species, including quails, francolins, larks, and more, can be found here.

Keoladeo National Park, more popularly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is a famous bird sanctuary in Rajasthan, India. The man-made wetland was created more than 250 years ago by Maharaja Suraj Mal, then the ruler of Bharatpur, as a duck hunting ground.

Bharatpur was designated as a bird sanctuary in 1976, and established as a national park in 1982. Over 230 bird species are known to be resident here, and many more visit in the winter. The park consists of a mosaic of habitats, including forest patches, marshland, lakes, and more. This variety in habitats results in a rich bird diversity.

Home to one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal, Agra is also known as the city of love, heritage, and history. It used to be the Mughal capital back and was ruled from the Agra Fort, one of the most valued heritage sites in the city, and a UNESCO world heritage site. No visit to Agra is complete without visiting the majestic Taj Mahal, the white tomb, the intricate carvings and the history behind it will leave you awestruck. Agra is also known for the beautiful white structure called Itimad-ud-daula’s Tomb. The Persian-style gardens, state-of-the-art architecture,e and grandeur of the history is what makes it worth a visit.

My Monsoon Birdwatching Sojourn

Barring the Himalayas, my birding trips are usually done in the winter, so that I can manage to get a place’s winter migrants on the list too. This time, however, I decided to put the monsoon to good use, and explore some of the best grassland habitats closer to home with a short birding trip from Delhi.

The birds of the grasslands are usually shy, secretive, and well-camouflaged. Monsoon, however, brings out a change in them. This is the time that they court and breed, meaning that many of them spend a lot of their day calling and displaying out in the open, either to establish their territorial claims, or show off for the females in the area. This tour had two main targets for me - Lesser Florican and Bristled Grassbird, both of which are rarely seen in seasons apart from the rains.

My tour started close to Delhi, at the grasslands of Surajpur. Grasslands would be somewhat of a generalisation. Although the place is mostly grassland, there are also a few marshy spots, even more watery now with the rains. I made a mental note to check this place out in the coming winter for migratory waterfowl.

My guide was extremely helpful, knowing the area like the back of his hand. Like I said earlier, the usually shy birds are boisterous this season, and it didn’t take us long to find a Bristled Grassbird, calling from a tall grass reed to all that would hear him. Wow, that was quick! I am not one for “checklist birding” as I call it, and was happy to continue exploring this place. A muddy walk got us some great sightings and photos of Red Avadavat, Bengal Bush Lark, and also a lovely Baya Weaver nesting colony. I returned to the hotel in the evening to rest and reorganize my luggage for the remainder of the trip.

The next day, I left for Jaipur. I had been sightseeing here plenty of times with my family, so my plan here was restricted to the forests of Jhalana. Jhalana Leopard Reserve is the perfect quick addition to any Jaipur visit, whether you enjoy wildlife or not. With the help of expertly guided safaris, I not only got some great sightings of Leopards here, but also managed to see and photograph a great number of birds, including Indian Pitta, Spotted Owlet, Jungle Nightjar, and more. If you are in love with India’s national bird, the Indian Peafowl, then a leopard safari in Jhalana definitely will never disappoint. A rich density of these regal birds will give you great sightings and get you some amazing images to remember your tour by.

From Jaipur, I headed to Ajmer for the other main target on my list - the Lesser Florican. Birding in Sonkhaliya has in recent years become a popular monsoon activity, and the place is the hotspot for this endangered bird. With the help of my guide, I spent two lovely days here in search of this little bustard species (which we got at the end of my first day), and a lot of other grassland beauties, including Rain Quail, Grey and Painted Francolins, and more.

From Ajmer, I headed for some birding in Bharatpur, a place I have been a hundred times till now, and probably a million more before I finally hung up my binoculars. However, this time visiting in monsoon was a very different experience. Lush and green, Bharatpur was even more beautiful than usual, and the relatively small number of birders made for a relaxing time. Of course, the missing winter migrants did mean that my list wasn’t as amazing as usual, but it was still nice seeing the lovely residents of the park, including my favorite - the unusual-looking Knob-billed Duck.

So after this quick monsoon visit here, we traveled to Agra. Living in Delhi, I’ve been to the Taj Mahal countless times, but every time I come here, it’s like seeing this monument for the first time. The breathtaking beauty and elegance of this structure and the gardens always make me wish I could see it when it was first made, at the height of its beauty!

So it was that yet another birding week of mine came to an end. Yes, the rains and mud sometimes can get on your nerves, but the beautiful sights and the transformed landscapes totally make up for it.