August 26, 2017

Hingolgadh - In search of Indian Pitta

Hingolgadh, situated in Rajkot district, presents a stark contrast to the surrounding arid region of Saurashtra.  Declared as sanctuary in 1980 , it is a place to visit for birders. In 1984, nature education camp was started at the site , providing nature education to children of Gujarat. One can reach Hingolgadh via Ahmedabad  (180 kms) or via Rajkot (75 kms) by road. Our journey from Rajkot was bumpy as road was in bad condition due to incessant rainfall of few weeks. 75 kms journey took us almost two hours. Unfortunately sign boards were nowhere to be seen , requiring us to stop frequently and inquire about the sanctuary.

Hingolgadh - nature in all its glory
Indian Pitta, also known as  Navrang, bird native to the subcontinent come to Hingolgadh, somewhere in June, for nesting before the monsoon sets in. They migrate from Himachal Pradesh, plains of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. They return back to their native states by end of August. By the time we reached, Hingolgadh, all pairs except the one, had left Hingolgadh. We were lucky to see this pair and their nest.

Indian Pitta- Navrang at Hingolgadh August 2017

Water Strider - Hingolgadh
Other birds which can be seen at Hingolgadh are Tickel's Blue flycatcher, Paradise flycatcher, silver bills etc.

Silver Bills- Hingolgadh
For more information visit:

http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/12/241

Ticket Prices: Per Car:  500 Rs.
                       Per Camera: 250 Rs.




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