Birding in the land of Thunder Dragon - Bhutan ( Day 2 )

This White wagtail greeted us close to Hotel Jigmeling where we were staying in Paro

Siblings? Temperature in Paro was very very cold and these Male Eurasian Tree Sparrows seems to be warming up for the sun

We were off to Chele La Pass after picking up Deepa and Parimala from the airport

These wildfloweres looked awesome

Rufous Sibia too was fluttering

Spotted Nutcracker

 
Jomolhari Peak in the distance

 
It was freezingly cold out there !! 

 
Yet the landscape had vivid colours in display

 

 
A zoomed look of Jomolhari

 
Karma and Neema were tensed as none of us were  happy with the doors of the vehicle

 
Three big lens, one hand with glove and four smiles..:-)

 
Sunshine backed Yak..:-)

 

 
Prayer flags makes for a beautiful landscape at Chelela 

 

 

 
Clicked this one for future reference..:-)

Hoping that those patterns were created by the footprints of a snow leopard..!

Of course we stopped at many such interesting places

Loved this wall painting or was it rock painting?

It was one more long day. The plan for the next was drive to Thimpu for the permits for onward journey and then reach Punakha and stay the night there.

Birding in the land of Thunder Dragon - Bhutan ( Day 1 )

Perched high on the mighty Himalayan range, the Kingdom of Bhutan has defied globalization and chosen to remain a hidden paradise, now slowly opening up to the world! I was thrilled to go back again, this time for bird watching.

Our journey began here

The busy border gate at Pheuntsholing

Common Myna enjoying the shade around a busy street

This white pigeon seem to be saying " me too here "

School children and govt servants strictly follow to the Code of National Dress. Savitha met these students and they happily posed for us 

Street dogs and cats are a huge problem in Bhutan..This NGO seem to be doing some good work

Most of the workers around here are from Coochbehar . This very pleasant, warm and freindly lady has been working in the same hotel where we stayed for nearly 20 yrs now...Hard to get such employees these days

Our one night stay in Pheuntsholing..a no frills , fairly comfortable hotel ..we paid Rs.800/- for a four bedded room..:-) Not a bad deal...

We booked this Wagon-R to take us to Paro for the next day..

Passed through amazing scenery

Landscape was awesome

That was the interior of the taxi with the driver, who was affectionately called as "Psycho" by other taxi drivers for the idiotic mistakes he makes

We saw this raptor in the distance..

Sun seems to be spraying light here

Along the way Green-backed Tit showed us few acrobatics

Rufous Sibia was on a balancing act

After an adventurous detour thanks to Psycho who drove us to Thimpu inspite of asking him repeatedly how far is Paro . Had to shell out another Rs.600 for hiring one more taxi to drive us to Paro. I was happy to see the beautifully lit Dzong and the museum again as we approached the town of Paro

A bit closer look

It was a long day drive and the next day too was to be a busy one..we checked into my fav. hotel in Paro, Hotel Jigmeling and snored away the night 

Pangsu Pass Winter Festival - 2012

Photo Courtesy : Arif Siddiqui

The intention of the Pangsu Pass Winter Festival - 2013 is to transcend geographical frontiers by revealing the enigma of amazing Arunachal, including that of mesmerizing Myanmar. It has become a wonderful medium to commemorate the glorious bygone eras of the many lively tribes of the serene state. Pangsu Pass Winter Festival has been successfully scripting the triumphs of tribal heritage and ethnicity of the region.
 

The venue of the event, Nampong, the venue of the Pangsau Pass Winter Festival, is an EAC HQ of Changlang district (situated in the southeastern part of Arunachal Pradesh, North East India). A small hilly town along the Indo-Myanmar border and Namchik basin, it is covered with evergreen tropical rain forest and is designated as a global village as it conjoins the diverse tribes of the North East region and of Myanmar to display their customs and cultures in the broader perspective. The cultural carnival has cut across social barriers, inspiring the secluded regions to celebrate the ethnic existences that strongly bond all the distinct tribes with diverse cultures and different religious backgrounds.
 

Besides illustrating cultures and traditions, this mega event also offers "Kodak Moments" for the awestruck visitors. Located in one of the most peaceful and eco-friendly territories, Pangsau Pass is a nature’s storehouse. As the odyssey of discovery penetrates the heart of the ethnic extravaganza, events spontaneously begin to weave unforgettable memories. The rustic lanes, the endless greenery, the dense foliage obscuring the motor tracks, the plummeting rivulets near the historic Stillwell Road, the birds diving through the tree canopies, the insects in the forest floor, and the galloping animals make a sojourn here worthwhile. 
 

The surprise does not end on the festive ground, though; there is more in the package. As the journey moves into tribal territory, the fragrance of wild orchids enthralls the weary mind, the ballet of colorful butterflies gladdens the heart, the throng of lively birds hypnotizes - and those startling experiences encourage asking for more. The excursion from the mainland of Nampong to the No Man’s Land on the international border is remarkable.
 

During the three-day extravaganza, survive the heady thrill of the folk songs and dances, the ethnic food fiesta, traditional sports, the Pangsau Pass expedition, sightseeing, Burmese culture, as well as visits to the World War-II cemetery, the border bazaar, The Lake of No Return, The Hell Gate, WW-II medical ruins at Wintong, the ethnic museum...the list of pleasures is long.
 

Everything freezes in the memories, the incredible memories of that freezing January. Time halts, memories tumble on to the albums and life smiles. Relive eternally those nostalgic moments created by the ethnic fiesta called Pangsau Pass Winter Festival 2013. 

Join IT Nature Club in exploring this cultural extravaganza during the month of January 2013.

ITINERARY :

19th January 2013 - Arrive at Dibrugarh by flight/train and travel 5 hours to Nampong, the venue of Pangsu Pass Winter Festival. Acclimatize and overnight camping.

20th January 2013 - Attend the festival inauguration and the cultural performance, experience the local cuisine and crafts, mingle with the most colorful indigenous communities of Arunachal Pradesh. Overnight camping.

21st January 2013 - Visit the World War II Cemetery near Jairampur. Jeep expedition to Pangsau Pass and cross into Burma to visit the Burmese village of Pangswa and lake of no return(subject to permission from Army). Return to Nampong. Evening cultural show. Overnight camping.

22nd  January 2013 - Morning optional hike to Tangsa village to soak into their life and culture. Early lunch and transfer to Dihing River Camp. Evening Bihu celebration followed by traditional Assamese dinner. Overnight at Dihing River Camp.

23rd January  2013 - Morning village experience. After breakfast check out.

Cost : Rs.27,400 /- per person

Includes:
01 night at Dihing River Camp
02 nights at PPWF Tented Village
All meals ( Lunch on Day 1 to Breakfast on Day 4)
Inner Line Permits
Permits for Pangsau Pass expedition
English-speaking guide
All taxes

Cost does not include :Entrance/Permit fees not mentioned above
Any Kind of Personal Expenses or Optional Tours.
Extra Meals Ordered
Tips, Insurance, Laundry, Phone Calls.
Any Kind of Drinks (Alcoholic, Mineral, Aerated)
Any thing not specifically mentioned under the head  "includes”

For the booking confirmation deposit/transfer the as per the following details:

Account Type: Current Account
Account Name: IT Nature Club
Bank: Corporation Bank
Account No. : 128801601000060
Branch: Jigani
Code : CORP0001288

For more information and booking contact :--
IT Nature Club
C/O Avanti Holidays
1922.Nisarga Layout
3rd Main 4th A Cross
Bannerghatta Post
Bangalore-560083
Tel/Fax : 080 - 27824059
(M) : 9845383882 / 9902913882
Email :itnatureclub@gmail.com
Web : http://www.itnatureclub.in

Explore Great Himalayan National Park - Day 2

Myself ,Ghanshyam and Captain Chatterjee decided to go for the morning birding trail early in the morning. The sky was cloudy but the weather was pleasant. Around our cottages itself there was a pretty good number of birds were seen, verditer flycatchers,himalayan woodpeckers,flycatchers etc.

We went for around two km of walk from the main gate on the road.

The droplets of mist was afresh on the leaves

The valley was looking picture perfect!

We returned back to Mother's Lap for our breakfast.

After our sumptuous breakfast, we began our 6 km steep trail to Chaini Village .The weather kept worrying us from being clear to cloudy and a bit rainy. All of us enjoyed the trail. 

The bird life along the way was awesome

It was a tough trail, but both Mohan and Captain Chatterjee , both of whom I was worried ,managed it well.

The villagers on the way were curious about us and were peeping from the windows. I saw a kid busy doingher homework and curiously gazing at us

.

Captain of course kept resting his feet as often as he can !

Someone was enjoying her school holiday by just relaxing in the sun !! How lucky!

We were told that the villagers are also famous for their wood craftsmanship, which can be seen from these beautiful wooden houses on our way to Chaini

Small shrines are built in wooden structures can also be seen all over the place

The mountain hawk eagle soared high up in the sky!

And at last we could get a glimpse of the set of temple towers in the distance

We also passed by a small temple revered by the locals.

Enjoying our walk and the shoot..:-)

Finally reached our destination!

The structures were huge and intimidating. We were disappointed for not allowed to enter the interiors as a safety precaution

Visitors are also not allowed to enter this temple dedicated to Krishna.

Murali got interested in buying the locally woven shawls when we were passing by the village.

Their beautiful daughter happily posed with all of us 

Everyone was curious about us!

The hardship faced by the mountain people in their daily life, shatters the myth of living happily in the mountains.

And when we reached back Mother's Lap, we had a lifer for a sighting. Eurasian Hobby perched right at the entrance on a dry tree.

And as with many of my tours, this dog decided to escort us back to the guest house

I loved the view one got just lying on the bed and rested well till the evening

Enjoyed a nice bonfire