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Sattal-Pangot

This freshwater habitat in Nainital is heaven for birdwatchers and wildlife photographers

Vinod Bartakke

Sattal-Pangot

Sattal or Sat Tal, in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, derives its name from seven interconnected freshwater lakes. At an altitude of around 1,370m, Sattal lies in the Lower Himalayan Range, nestled amidst forests of pine and oak. It is famous for its rich biodiversity. The region is home to 500 species of resident and migratory birds, over 500 species of butterflies and a variety of moths, beetles, bugs and other insects.

Pangot, also a major tourist attraction, is located about 15km from Nainital. It is an incredible place for birdwatching and adventurous activities such as mountain biking and trekking. The road from Sattal to Pangot passes through Cheena peaks, characterised by mixed forests dominated by thick oak, pine and rhododendron. Perennial creeks and streams crisscross the area, adding to its beauty.

Plan Your Trip

Getting there

Air

The nearest airport is in Pantnagar (61km; 2 hours away). Another option is Dehradun (260km; 5.5 hours away).

Rail

The nearest railhead is Kathgodam (27km; 45 minutes away). Ramnagar is also an option (40km; 45 minutes away).

Road

Sattal is a seven-hour journey (306km) from New Delhi by road, via Haldwani and Bhimtal. It is 27km from Nainital.

Pangot is approximately a two-hour drive (55km) from Sattal, via Nainital. Enroute, you should stop at Snow View Point and Kilbury.

best time to visit

The best time to visit Sattal and Pangot is from October to June.

Different species are sighted in different seasons – winter is the best time to see Upper Himalayan birds, which migrate to Sattal during the cooler months.

You might get to experience snowfall in Pangot if you visit in January. Temperatures in winter range from 0-24°C; in summer, from 10-30°C.

Stay

Sattal

High-end: Two luxury options worth considering are Sattal Forest Resort and Two Chimneys, a lovely property with friendly staff and superb birding opportunities. These hotels will charge around ₹5,000 per night.

Mid-range: Sattal Birding Lodge, Sattal Birding Camp and Country Inn are good mid-range options. Birder’s Den is a favourite among birders and photographers. Rooms are neat and clean, and the food is simple and tasty. The best part is the bird feeder on the premises which attracts more than 30 species of Himalayan birds. These are in the range of around ₹2,500 per night.

Pangot

High-end: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge is a good high-end option, and will cost you around ₹8,000 per night.

Mid-range: Rooms at Kafal House are around ₹4,000 per night.

Gallery

Kalij Pheasants (Lophura leucomelanos) are found in the forests of the Himalayan foothills.

The Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus) was formerly known as the Black Partridge. Locally, it is known as Kaala Teetar. It is the state bird of Haryana.

The Great Barbet (Psilopogon virens) is the largest of all barbets. It is a resident breeder in the lower-to-middle altitude Himalayas.

Male Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrushes (Monticola rufiventris) have a bright, chestnut coloured belly. The females are olive-brown in colour.

Himalayan Bluetails are also called Orange-flanked Bush-robins (Tarsiger rufilatus) . The males are bright blue in colour with white bellies. Pictured here is the female.

The Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron erythrocephalum) is found along the Himalayas in India, Nepal, Bhutan and China.

The Yellow-bellied Fantail (Chelidorhynx hypoxantha) is a lively and active bird. Its manner of holding its tail erect and spreading the feathers out like a fan gives the bird its name.

Photographers can spend an entire day in hides like these, and photograph more than 30 species of Himalayan birds.

This photo was taken on the way to Vinayak Point near Pangot. Vinayak Point is a good place to sight the Kalij Pheasant, Alpine Accentors and various thrushes.

The region around Sattal is postcard-perfect, and a delight for photographers.

See | Do

Famous birding trails in Pangot include Woodpecker Point (just 2km from Kafal House), famous for sightings of the Himalayan Woodpecker and Rufous-bellied Woodpecker; and Vinayak Point, known to be a good spot to see the Cheer Pheasant and Kalij Pheasant.
Chaafi, a small village approximately 15km from Sattal, is another birding hotspot. You will get to see and photograph birds like the Crested Kingfisher, Brown Dipper, and various redstarts here. If you’re lucky, you might even sight the Tawny Fish-Owl or the Fire-fronted Serin.
A popular trekking trail begins at Pangot and leads to Naina Peak. Another one leads to Corbett National Park, around 80km away.
Nainital Lake or Naini Lake is a natural freshwater body, situated in the centre of town. It is quite serene. Boating is a popular activity here, and costs ₹200 per person.
The Eco Cave Gardens, an interconnected network of seven caves, attracts huge crowds of tourists. The caves are reached through a narrow, winding road with amazing views along the way.
Around 6km from the city is China Peak, also known as Naina Peak. At an altitude of 2,615m, it offers one of the most panoramic views of the entire valley. It is a popular trekking spot.
The Butterfly Museum, in the premises of the Methodist Ashram, is another major attraction at Sattal. The museum is home to over 2,500 species of butterflies and 1,100 species of other insects. It is open from 10am to 5pm everyday.

Good to know

ATMs and petrol pumps can be found within a radius of 10-15km.
The best time to visit is from October to June, though birdwatchers should plan their trips between December-January, when the bird activity is excellent, or around April-May, when most of the birds display their breeding plumage.

What to pack

Warm clothing is a necessity during winter. It can get very cold; both at Sattal and Pangot.
Forest-friendly colours such as shades of green and brown are always a good idea.
Carry hats, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes as you will be travelling to various place by car and then going on short bird trails and treks.
Make sure to carry your binoculars.

For photographers

Most of the photographs will be taken at various hides in Sattal and Pangot. It is good to have lenses of a focal length of 400mm or higher to photograph birds. You will need a sturdy tripod.
To photograph species that aren’t found at the hides, you will have to travel to different birding hotspots by car. A lightweight monopod will be easier to carry while on a bird trail or trek. Do carry a wide-angle lens for habitat shots.
Make sure you carry extra camera batteries and memory cards, as the bird hide at the Birder’s Den resort will provide photo opportunities throughout the day.

The most common birds to look out for in Sattal-Pangot include the Great Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Streaked /Striated/Rufous-chinned Laughing-thrush, the Kalij Pheasant, the Red-billed Blue Magpie, the Black-headed Jay, Eurasian Jay, Brown Wood-Owl, Crested Kingfisher, Himalayan Woodpecker and Pygmy Woodpecker.
Although one can go birding on almost any road in Sattal, there are some birding hotspots which are famous among the photographers. Don’t miss out on visiting Sattal Studio – a magical place to sit with your camera or binoculars and watch the birds come to bathe in both summers and winters; and Maheshkhan – a place of calm and solitude within the dense forest.
To see photographs of some of the birds you are likely to see in Sattal, look at my photo story.

Budget per person

A four day-three night stay at Sattal and one night at Pangot will come to approximately ₹20,000 per person, inclusive of accommodation, all meals, guide charges, and local travel.

Personal expenses, and air, rail or road travel to and from the resort will cost extra.

Vinod Bartakke

Wildlife Photographer

Vinod Bartakke works with a software company in Pune. He finds happiness roaming in the wilderness. He has travelled to wildlife sanctuaries and national parks across the country to observe and photograph the denizens of the Indian jungles. In his free time, he makes sure to visit wildlife hotspots in and around Pune. He posts as @vinodbartakke on Instagram.

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Sattal-Pangot

Sattal-Pangot

Plan Your Trip

Getting there

best time to visit

Stay

Gallery

Add More Images

See | Do

Good to know

What to pack

For photographers

Budget per person

Vinod Bartakke

Story recommendations

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Sattal-Pangot

Sattal-Pangot

Plan Your Trip

Getting there

best time to visit

Stay

Gallery

Add More Images

See | Do

Good to know

What to pack

For photographers

Budget per person

Wednesday, 21 June, 2017

We love a good critique but are infinitely partial to compliments. Both, roars and birdsong are welcome at [email protected]

Vinod Bartakke

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