SUNSHINE HIMALAYAN ADVENTURES
Bird Watching & Birding treks at Sunshine
It includes multiple Birding trecks such as Birding Walks around the cottage, Birding walks to GHNP Gate, Birding walks to Saipora Interpretation centre and back.
Also, Birding treks that include Birding Walks to Nadir for Cheer Peasants, Birding drives to Shojha & Jalori Pass, Treks in search for Western Tragopan
Importance of Tirthan as Birders' Paradise
Tirthan has been identified as an Important Bird Area by IUCN supporting over 300 species of birds. According to the endemic bird areas of the world, described by Stattersfield et al. (1998), Tirthan Wild Life Sanctuary would come under the Western Himalayas Endemic Bird Areas (EBA). This important EBA of India has 11 Restricted Range (endemic) birds, out which three have been identified from this site. This site also has biome-restricted species of Biome-7 (Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest) and Biome-5 (Eurasian High Montane- Alpine and Tibetan). BirdLife International (undated) has listed 112 species in Biome-7.
The GHNP is an Important Bird Area and one of the global hotspots for biodiversity according to the IUCN. This resplendent area is a home to diverse flora and is also an abode for various near-threatened, endangered and vulnerable species like the Western Tragopan, Snow Leopard and Himalayan Thar. Western Tragopan, a bird native to the region, is also the logo of the park.
Bird Watching
We assure you that Birding can’t get easier than this!
Day Birding walk around the Cottage
We provide the best experience there is for the Bird lovers out there. The best place to start will be our orchards where you can start to film the famous red-headed bull finch. As you plan to spend your day strolling across the place, sightings such as the famous Finch, the Ultramarine, the russet sparrow, the Pink-browed rosefinch and the favourite fire-fronted serine will take you to eternity. Along side the orchard, we have the dining hall and you can sit and enjoy the chirping and visits of these godly creatures all day long from the windows.
A 30-minute walk to a near-by Waterfall, is the best way to sight the little forktails, Black Bulbul, Streaked Laughingthrush, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Oriental White-eye, Blue Whistling Thrush, Grey Bushchat, Blue-capped Rock Thrush, Black-throated Tit, Grey-hooded Warbler, Verditer Flycatcher, Russet Sparrow, Rock Bunting and documenting the feeding sessions of the plumbeous water redstarts.
Birding Walk to GHNP Gate
This 3 to 4-hour trek to the GHNP Gate via Gusaini village will make you gasp for the birding sights along the way are just mesmerizing. A little part of Rolla trek, You can witness the great Yellow-bellied fantails, the Whiskered Yuhinas, the black-throated tit, the grey wagtail the beautiful Koklas. Other famous sightings are Green-backed Tit, Whiskered Yuhina, Great Barbet, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker.
Birding walk to Sai Ropa Interpretation Center and Back
Close to 5 km trek from the Gushaini Village and you will find yourself into the lap of Sai Ropa Interpretation Centre. Sai Ropa Centre is a simple adventure-oriented resort from where the GHNP is accessed. With a 520 m “Biodiversity Trail”, the trek itself will let you sight the small & big Niltava, the Asian Paradise Flycatchers, the Crested Kingfishers and the crimson-sunbird to name a few.
Birdirng Treks
We assure you that Birding can’t get easier than this!
Birding Walk to Nadar for Cheer Pheasant
Documenting Cheer Pheasants is something that a birder would never like to miss. This Birding Walk to Nadar for Cheer Pheasant will serve this golden opportunity along with the trek to this beautiful place. It is a 2-Day and 1-Night Trek that confirms to and fro duration. In and around Nadar, you will get a chance to sight the Milky way, the Common Kestral, Black-eared Kite, the Variegated Laughingthrush and the Yellow-throated Martin among others.
Birding Drive to Shojha and Jalori Pass
The forests of Shojha have the potential to take your birding experience to a whole different level altogether. The Jalori Pass is an easy trek to one of the best and scared ponds around. The birding attractions to be sighted here are Western Crowned Warbler, Himalayan Bluetail, Black-and-yellow Grosbeak, vultures, and the little Indian Pika.
In Search of the Western Tragopan
The search for western Tragopan starts in the early morning from the Shilt Thatch. This famous but endangered bird is also called Jujurana ("Juju" means the bird and "rana" means the king) by the locals. The thick forest cover will help you transform into a proper hiker altogether – sometimes crawling without making any sound.
Next, we move on to the Nada Thatch, which is one of the pristine meadows of the Great Himalayan National Park and a prime habitat for the Western Tragopan.
This is the place where the first proper picture of the Western Tragopan was clicked.
Our crew members have countless experiences and have been called as “the best instinctive trackers” by several tourists in the past that ensures your experience will be enriching and amazing.
Bird Gallery
Our Affiliations with Birding and Local Chapters
We have Affiliations with Birding and Local Chapters which will make your trip seamless and enriching.
Some of the highlights are:
North India Birding Tour
- See India’ s oldest national Park and Trek in the India’ s newest national park-The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP)
- A pristine, undeveloped park with minimal tourism/trekkers, uncluttered, clean trails, large and unique animals
- Spectacular Himalayan vistas
- Opportunities to observe on of the world’s most endangered species (the rare Western Tragopan pheasant) and animals that are supported only by the unique ecology of the Western Himalayas
- Rich and dense flora and fauna of the Himalayas
- Cultural Evenings by BTCA members
Trans Himalayan Birding Tour
Trek Highlights Adventure and Wildlife:
- Trek in India’s newest national park-The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) A pristine, undeveloped area with minimal tourism/trekkers, uncluttered, clean trails, large and unique animals
- Opportunities to observe one of the world’s most endangered species (the rare Western Tragopan pheasant) and animals that are supported only by the unique ecology of the Western Himalayas Rich and dense flora and fauna of the Himalayas. The Park falls within one of the globally important Endemic Bird Areas (D02: Western Himalaya) identified by the ICBP Biodiversity Project (ICBP 1992). 183 bird species including 132 passerines and 51 non-passerines have been recorded from the Park which is comparable with 71 non-passerines and 150 passerines recorded throughout the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh above 1,500 m altitude
