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(An eighteen day birding tour in hidden land Mizoram & Garo
hills of Meghalaya close to Burma and Bangladesh covering 01
wild life sanctuary and 03 national parks. Moreover, there is
the coverage of 02 wildlife sanctuaries in Assam during the
overnight stays one of which is a Ramsar Site)
Day
01: Aizawl airport-Dampa Wild Life Sanctuary(90 min.):
Our
tour manager will welcome you upon your arrival at Lengpui
Airport, Aizawl. Later transfer to Dampa Wild Life Sanctuary.
Overnight at Forest IB/camps.
 Dampa
Wild Life Sanctuary which is a Project Tiger is situated at
the western part of Mizoram along the international border
with Bangladesh at a distance of 127 Km from the capital of
Aizawl.
It is
situated at 920 13’ 12’ – 920 27’ E and 230 32’ 42’ – 230 41’
36’ N at an altitude of 200m – 2100m above sea level. Dampa
consists of moist deciduous forest at lower reaches and
evergreen and semi-evergreen forests with natural grassland at
higher altitudes. It is the largest sanctuary of Mizoram
notified in 1985 covering an area of 500 Sq.km which later
became a Project Tiger in 1994. The list of animals found in
the area includes Tiger, Sloth Bear, Leopard, Elephants,
Sambar, Barking Deer, Hoolock Gibbon, Malayan Giant Squirrel, Flying
Squirrel, Wild Dog, Wild Pig, Porcupine, Slow Loris, Gaur,
Leaf monkey, Capped langur, Rhesus macaque, and some species
of small cats. So far 215 birds have been recorded here and an
ardent birder is likely to find more.
Birdlist:
 Spot-breasted Laughingthrush, Striped Laughingthrush, Greater
necklaced Laughingthrush, Common Iora, Lesser necklaced
Laughingthrush, Striated Laughingthrush, White crested
Laughingthrush ,Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, Oriental Turtle Dove,
White bellied Yuhina, Collared Pigmy Owlet, Baya Weaver, Brown
Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill , Wreathed
Hornbill, Blyth’s Tragopan, Grey-chinned Minivet, Blu-naped
Pitta, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Tree Sparrow, Bronzed Drongo,
Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Mountain Bulbul, Brown Wood- Owl,
Spotted Forktail, Olive-backed Tree Pipit, White-throated
Bulbul, Coral billed Scimitar Babbler, Thick-billed Green
Pigeon, Black-capped Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Lesser
Adjutant Stork, Slaty-headed Parakeet, Black Bulbul, Ashy Wood
Swallow, Brown-throated Tree Creeper, Black Eagle, Crested
Serpent Eagle, Bar-tailed Cuckoo-Dove, Crested Honey Buzzard,
Oriental Hobby, White-rumped Vulture, Peregrine Falcon,
Red-whiskered Bulbul, Indian Lorikeet, Chestnut vented
Nuthatch, Barn Owl, Bay Owl, Crested Finch-bill Bulbul,
Black-crested Yellow Bulbul , Golden backed Woodpecker, Great
Slaty Woodpecker, Red-eared Bay Woodpecker, Brown Fish Owl,
Chestnut Tailed Starling, Great Eared Nightjar, Large-tailed
Nightjar , Striated Bulbul, Fairy Bluebird, Bamboo Partridge,
Khalij Pheasant, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Asian
paradise-flycatcher, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Sultan Tit etc.
Days
02-03: Dampa: Full two days birding by trek.
Day
04: Dampa-Aizawl (03 hr):
After
some final birding transfer to Aizawl. On the way we shall
bird seeing the potentialities. Overnight at Tourist Lodge.
Day
05: Aizawl-Murlen National Park( via Champhai)(07-08 hr):
Transfer to Murlen National Park via Champhai.
Overnight at Forest IB/Camps.
Murlen
National Park is located in the north east corner of Mizoram
bordering Myanmar. It is 245 Km east of Aizawl at 230 32’ –
230 42’ N and 920 13’ – 920 27’ E. It is close to Chinhills of
Myanmar.
Murlen
covers an area of 150 Sq.km and has an altitudinal variation
of 400 meters to about 1900 meters above sea level. The Sub
tropical, Semi evergreeen and Sub montane Forests of Murlen
are home to a rich variety of Flora and Fauna. About 15
species of mammals, 150 species of birds, 35 species of
Medicinal plants. 2 species of bamboos & 4 species of orchids
so far have been recorded in this Park.
The
list of animals include Tiger, Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear,
Hoolock Gibbon, Sambar, Barking deer, Wild pig, Gaur, Serow,
Goral etc.
Bird
list:
 Crested
Serpent Eagle, Wreathed hornbill, Great Hornbill, Brown
Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Mrs.Hume’s Pheasant, Kalij
Pheasant,White Crested Laughingthrush, Black-capped
Kingfisher, White-rumped Vulture, Blyth’s Tragopan,
Grey-chinned Minivet, Blu-naped Pitta, Mountain Imperial
Pigeon, Tree Sparrow, Bronzed Drongo, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl,
Mountain Bulbul, Brown Wood- Owl, Spotted Forktail,
Olive-backed Tree Pipit, White-throated Bulbul, Coral billed
Scimitar Babbler, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Black-capped
Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Slaty-headed
Parakeet, Black Bulbul, Ashy Wood Swallow, Brown-throated Tree
Creeper, Black Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Bar-tailed
Cuckoo-Dove, Crested Honey Buzzard, Oriental Hobby, White-rumped
Vulture, Peregrine Falcon, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Indian
Lorikeet, Chestnut vented Nuthatch, Barn Owl, Bay Owl, Crested
Finch-bill Bulbul, Black-crested Yellow Bulbul , Golden backed
Woodpecker, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Red-eared Bay Woodpecker,
Brown Fish Owl, Chestnut Tailed Starling, Great Eared
Nightjar, Large-tailed Nightjar , Striated Bulbul, Fairy
Bluebird, Bamboo Partridge, Khalij Pheasant, Pompadour Green
Pigeon, Asian paradise-flycatcher, Rose-ringed Parakeet,
Sultan Tit, Scaly breasted Wren Babbler, Slender-billed
Oriole, Red-rumped Swallow, Broad-bill Roller, Grey Peacock
Pheasant, Scarlet Finch , Oriental Turtle Dove, Green-billed
Malkoha, Little Spider Hunter, Grey-chinned Minivet, Grey Tree
Pie etc.
 Days
06-07: Murlen NP: Two full days birding at Murlen National
Park.
Day
08: Murlen -Champhai-Aizawl (07-08 hr):
Transfer to Aizawl. On the way we shall bird seeing the
potentialities. Overnight at Tourist Lodge.
Day
09: Aizwal-Guwahati (Fly):
Fly to
Guwahati. Afternoon visit Deeporbeel bird sanctuary.
Deepor
Beel Lake, a bird sanctuary on the outskirt of the city near
Assam Engineering College not far away from the airport, is a
vast wetland having fluctuating depths of about 04 metres in
the monsoons to about 01 metre in the winter. The lake with an
area of 40 Sq. Km. is the only Ramsar site in Assam. It was
declared a Ramsar site (Wetland of international importance)
in 2002. 4.14 Sq. Km. area of the lake has water.
The
surrounding agricultural field supports Bengal Bushlark, Ashy
Woodswallow, Striated Grassbird, Bluethroat, Richard’s and
Blyth’s Pipits etc. The lake has recorded interesting species
like the wintering Ferruginous Pochard and Grey-headed Lapwing
and the resident Watercock, Cinnamon Bittern, Fulvous
Whistling-duck, Greater Painted Snipe, Greater and Lesser
Adjutants amongst a host of other species.
Among
the raptors Brahminy Kite, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, White-backed
and Long-billed Vultures, Himalayan Griffon, Marsh and Pied
Harriers, Steppe, Booted, Spotted and Black Eagles are
recorded.
Overnight at Brahmaputra Jungle Resort.
 Day
10: Guwahati-Tura(06-07 hr):
Transfer to Tura in the West Garohills of Meghalaya.
Overnight at hotel Rikman/Sundare.
Days
11-12: Nokrek National Park:
Making
the base at Tura we shall bird at Nokrek National Park for two
full days.
Nokrek
National Park ((25°20’–25°29’N 90°13’–90°35’E) is just two
kilometers away from the Tura peak and is located in the Garo
Hills of Meghalaya, spread over parts of three districts,
namely, West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills.
It is
one of the biggest biosphere reserves of India. This national
park is home to various species of reptiles and invertebrates.
The Nokrek national park is also famous for the natural
limestone caves. Smoky Leopard, Tiger, Wild Buffaloes,
elephants, hoolock gibbon and different species of Wild cats
dominate the Park. Nokrek was declared as a national park in
1997, covering an area of 47.48 sq km. The park area acts as
the core area of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve covering a total
area of 820 sq km.
Teeming
with wild life, Nokrek hill is the home to a very rare species
of citrus locally known as Memang Narang, orange of the
spirits. This Memang Narang is considered to be the most
primitive and progenitor of all other varieties of citrus
plants in the world. With a view to preserve this rare species
of citrus indica, the first Gene Sanctuary of the world has
been established here.
Nokrek
is also believed to be the home of Mande Burung (jungle man or
ape man) and reported cases of sightings abound in and around
the villages of Nokrek.
Birdlist:
 Black
stork, Ashy minivet, Wreathed hornbill,
Great Hornbill, Grey-chinned Minivet, Blu-naped Pitta,
Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Tree Sparrow, Bronzed Drongo,
Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Mountain Bulbul, Brown Wood- Owl,
Spotted Forktail, Olive-backed Tree Pipit, White-throated
Bulbul, Coral billed Scimitar Babbler, Thick-billed Green
Pigeon, Black-capped Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Lesser
Adjutant Stork, Slaty-headed Parakeet, Black Bulbul, Ashy Wood
Swallow, Brown-throated Tree Creeper, Black Eagle, Crested
Serpent Eagle, Bar-tailed Cuckoo-Dove, Crested Honey Buzzard,
Oriental Hobby, White-rumped Vulture, Peregrine Falcon,
Red-whiskered Bulbul, Indian Lorikeet, Chestnut vented
Nuthatch, Barn Owl, Bay Owl, Crested Finch-bill Bulbul,
Black-crested Yellow Bulbul , Golden backed Woodpecker, Great
Slaty Woodpecker, Red-eared Bay Woodpecker, Brown Fish Owl,
Chestnut Tailed Starling, Great Eared Nightjar etc.
Day
13: Nokrek-Balpakram National Park (05-06 hr):
Transfer to Balpakram National Park.
The
Balpakram National Park is located to the extreme South Garo
Hills of Meghalaya at a distance of 167 km away from Tura, the
district headquarter of west Garo Hills district and 90 km
from Baghmara, the district headquarters of South Garo Hills.
This pocket of pristine beauty named Balpakram National Park
is also close to the international boundary of Bangladesh.
 Balpakram, which was declared a National Park in 1987, is the
land of scenic beauty, lying at an altitude of nearly 3000 ft
above sea level covering an area of 220 sq km. It is a vast
tableland of dense forest, teeming with wild life, undoubtedly
one of the richest spot in biodiversity in the country. It has
varied types of floral and faunal compositions. Elephants and
Tigers are the flagship of the park. It is home to one of the
rarest animals in the world - the Lesser Panda or the Red
Panda as it is commonly known. Hoolock Gibbons, the only ape
species found in India can be seen here. Other animals found
in the park are black bear, sambar, barking deer, serow, gaur,
wild buffalo, leopard, clouded leopard, golden cat, malay
bear, binturang, slow loris, wild dog, flying squirrel, wild
pig, hedgehog etc. Among the plants very rare species like the
Pitcher Plants (Nepenthes Khasiana), orchids and Drosera
flourish abundantly which often attract wildlife biologists
and researchers.
The
western part of the park adjoins with Siju bird sanctuary
along the banks of Simsang river.
The
literal meaning of Balpakram is the "land of perpetual winds".
There is a great precipice or deep gorge in Balpakram and is
popularly compared to the Grand Canyon of U.S.A. It is
believed that here, the spirits of the dead dwell temporarily
before embarking on the final journey. Balpakram is sacred to
the local Garo tribe as the abode of the dead spirits. The
Garos are deeply spiritual and believe in myths as interesting
and awe-some as the Greek mythologies. In support of their
beliefs, Balpakram has many mysterious and unnatural phenomena
that cannot be satisfactorily explained by modern science and
logic. Some of these mysterious sites are Boldak matchu karam,
Chidimak, Matchru, Areng patal, Goncho Dare, Dikkini ring,
Rongsaljong Agal, Rongsobok Rongkol.rie
Balpakram is also an Important Bird Area. Over 270 bird
species have been recorded in the area.
Birdlist:
 Grey
Peacock Pheasant, Blyth's Kingfisher, Bay Woodpecker ,Black &
Jerdon's Baza, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Chestnut-winged Cuckoo,
Mountain Bamboo & White-Cheeked Partridge, Dusky &
Eastern-Crowned Warbler, Olive Bulbul, Eye-Browed
Wren-Babbler, Crested Finchbill, White-winged Duck,
Chestnut-fronted Shrike-babbler, Tawny-breasted Wren-babbler (Spelaeornis
longicaudatus-rare & endemic), Flavescent Bulbul, Collared
Pigmy Owlet, Baya Weaver, Brown Hornbill, Great Hornbill,
Oriental Pied Hornbill , Wreathed Hornbill, Grey-chinned
Minivet, Blu-naped Pitta, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Tree
Sparrow, Bronzed Drongo, Striped Laughingthrush, Greater
necklaced Laughingthrush, Common Iora, Lesser necklaced
Laughingthrush, Striated Laughingthrush, White crested
Laughingthrush ,Oriental Turtle Dove, White bellied Yuhina,
etc.
Overnight at Forest Rest House/camps.
Days
14-15: Balpakram National Park:
Two
full days of birding by trek.
Day
16: Balpakram-Tura (05-06 hr):
Transfer to Tura. On the way we can bird wherever we find the
potentialities.
Overnight at hotel Rikman/Sundare.
Day
17: Tura-Guwahati (06-07 hr):
Transfer to Guwahati. Overnight at Brahmaputra Jungle Resort.
Day
18: Guwahati- PobitoraWLS-Guwahati airport (02 hr):
Early
morning have a short drive to visit Pobitora Wild Life
Sanctuary close to Guwahati.
 This
small sanctuary of 38.81 sq km is known for having the world’s
highest density of one horned rhinoceros. The vegetation
comprises of Assam Alluvial Grassland and hilly forests. The
sanctuary is listed as an Important Bird Area.
As per
an estimation in April, 2006 a total of 81 rhinos were sighted
at Pobitora. The list of other mammals includes Leopard,
Leopard cat, Fishing cat, Jungle cat, feral buffalo, Wild pig,
Chinese pangolin etc. A total of 375 species of both resident
and migratory birds of 46 families have been recorded so far
with 14 listed in the Indian Red Data Book. Apart from these,
27 species of reptiles and 9 species of amphibians have been
recorded. The wetlands of Pobitora also support a variety of
fishes.
Enjoy
an elephant safari followed by a jeep safari. Later after
lunch transfer to Guwahati airport to catch the late afternoon
flight to Delhi.
The end
of the tour.
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