Bird Watching Tour in Pokhara: Birding Tour with Expert Guide

Destination
Nepal
Transportation
Local Bus, Car etc.
Meals Included
BLD (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Best Season
Summer
Duration
3 - 4 hours walking and driving
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Group Size
2-30

Overview

Nepal's geographical and climatic diversity provides a habitat for 915 bird species belonging to residential and migratory categories. Birds are useful indicators of global biodiversity because they have dispersed and are diverse in almost all terrestrial regions, altitudes, and habitats. For Nepal, birds are also an important natural resource with high economic value, as many eco-tourists visiting Nepal love bird watching, which also has a significant role in biodiversity conservation. Spiny Babbler is the only endemic bird of Nepal. There are nine protected species in Nepal: they are Danphen (National bird of Nepal), Cheer Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, Bengal Florican, Lesser Florican, Great Hornbill, Sarus Crane, Black Stork, and White Stork.

Pokhara Valley is full of many lakes, thus giving the name "A City of Lakes" in Nepal. Gandaki province of the western part of Nepal hosts Pokhara with a steep gradient in landform with an elevation rise of 600 to 2500 meters. Pokhara is headquartered in the Gandaki province of Nepal. The name Pokhara itself is derived from the word 'Pokhari', which means pond. The valley is considered the tourism capital of Nepal; It is the gateway for trekkers undertaking the Annapurna circuit and is famous for short treks within the Annapurna Conservation Area.

Pokhara Valley is highly rich in bird diversity; it significantly holds more than half of the total bird species found in Nepal. A total of 487 bird species have been reliably recorded from the valley so far. The valley is a popular route for raptors during migration season. It is also the only place to find Nepal's nine species of vultures. Some important hotspots in Pokhara Valley are Phewa Lake, Begnas Lake, Rupa Lake, Khaste and Neurani Lake, Gundhe Lake, Banpale Danda, Sarangkot, Dumping Site, Ghachowk Vulture Safe Feeding Site, etc.

Bird-watching hotspots in Pokhara Valley:

Phewa Lake

Phewa Lake, situated in the southern part of the Pokhara Valley, is a freshwater lake and the largest lake in the Gandaki province of Nepal. It covers a surface area of 4.43 square kilometers and has a maximum depth of 12.3 meters, making it the second-largest lake in Nepal. The lake is well-known for the Taal-Barahi temple and is one of the popular spots for bird watching, particularly water birds. As the main lake of the Lake cluster of Pokhara Valley, Phewa Lake boasts a diverse range of winter migratory waterfowl that can be observed in and around the lake.

Raniban and World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa)

The forest of Raniban, situated in the southern hills of Phewa Lake, is renowned for its diverse flora and fauna. The Nepalese government has proposed this forest as a site for the Biodiversity Zoological Park. Additionally, the World Peace Pagoda, a famous religious tourist destination in Pokhara, is located at the top of Raniban and boasts a rich variety of plant and animal life. These sites are well-known for their diverse flora and fauna.

Seven lakes of Lekhnath (Begnas, Rupa, Khaste, Depang, Maidi, Neureni and Gunde)

Lekhnath is situated in the southeastern part of the Pokhara valley, approximately 10 km from Pokhara. Due to the presence of seven lakes, it is also referred to as the "garden city of 7 lakes," all known for their water birds. These lakes are popular tourist attractions surrounded by forests, making observing a diverse range of forest birds possible.

Ghachowk Vulture Restaurant (Vulture Safe Feeding Site)

The restaurant, established in 2010 and is situated on the banks of the Seti River and the scenic view of the Annapurna range in the background can be seen from here. This community-managed vulture restaurant provides safe food (carcasses) to vultures in their natural habitat, and visitors can also observe the feeding behavior of vultures here. Ghachowk is an excellent site for vulture exploration and research, with eight of the nine species in Nepal visible in this area. Furthermore, visitors can explore the local Gurung culture in addition to birdwatching.

Dobhilla:

Dobhilla, situated just 4 km west of Phewa Lake, is conveniently accessible via local transportation. This area boasts a thriving community of vultures, with several species utilizing it as a roosting site. Additionally, Dobhilla is a crucial nesting ground for White-rumped, Slender-billed, and Egyptian vultures.

Bird Watching Tour in Pokhara: Birding Tour with Expert Guide Photo

Bird Tour in Pokhara Itinerary:

  1. day 1

    Phewa Lake, and Raniban(Queen Forest) and hike to World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa):

  2. day 2

    Birding on Begnas Lake and Rupa Lake:

  3. day 3

    Birding on Khaste, Neurani, and Gunde Lakes:

  4. day 4

    Birding at Dipang Lake and then drive to Ghachowk Vulture Restaurant:

  5. day 5

    Dobhilla, Landfilled Site, and drive to Sarangkot and Banpale Danda.

Bird Watching Tour in Pokhara: Birding Tour with Expert Guide Company Reviews

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