SATTAL — A BIRDER’S DELIGHT
“ Stillness Speaks, Listen to it.” — Letsbegenuine.com
A visit to Sattal, a beautiful lesser known lake forest in the Kumaon Valley of the Himalayas allows you to experience all the sounds of silence. Surrounded by the Himalayan range and thick, dense forests, this place is a Birder’s delight with over 200 species of Himalayan as well as migratory birds that make Sattal their home in the months between October to March.
Our visit to this beautiful haven of peace happened in October 2017. At first, we assumed that Sattal would be another crowded tourist place like Nainithal with some good stay options and the usual water sport activities like boating etc. However, we were taken aback as a pleasant surprise awaited us as we entered the Sattal region. The silence in the atmosphere and the sounds of the chirping birds as they were making their way back to their nests in the evening delighted us and we knew we were in for a visual treat of these beautiful and colorful Himalayan flying angels.
Our visit to this beautiful haven of peace happened in October 2017. At first, we assumed that Sattal would be another crowded tourist place like Nainithal with some good stay options and the usual water sport activities like boating etc. However, we were taken aback as a pleasant surprise awaited us as we entered the Sattal region. The silence in the atmosphere and the sounds of the chirping birds as they were making their way back to their nests in the evening delighted us and we knew we were in for a visual treat of these beautiful and colorful Himalayan flying angels.
The homestay serves very good food which is prepared by the caretaker who ensures that the food not just tastes good but is also presented well. We also met a local environmentalist Mr. Neeridev Bankoti, a young 20 something lad who offered to take us on a birding trip the next morning.
So early morning next day, we set out on our birding adventure with Neer. I must say that this was probably one of the best nature trails and birding trips I have ever had in the last couple of years. We parked our vehicle close to a viewing point near the mountains and got off to watch the birds as they made their morning plans just before dawn. We spotted around 11 varieties of Himalayan birds including — Streaked Laughingthrush, Scarlet Minivets, Verditer flycatcher, Oriental white eye, Blue winged siva, Himalayan Bulbul, Blue Magpie, Chestnut bellied Nuthatch, Drongo, Black Bulbul, Grey hooded warbler, sunbird, Fan tailed cuckoo, Black lowered tit, Blue throated barbet, Olive backed tit, orange headed thrush etc.
Aha! What a delight to the eyes this was! I was totally mesmerized by the beauty of these amazing creatures and the way they plan their day and provide for their families. I learnt some great lessons from Nature that day as to how collaboration is the key to survival. Everything in nature is interdependent and this was obvious from what we observed. We observed a mixed flock of different species of small birds as they all got together to hunt their prey and then happily shared their meal with each other. The other important life lesson for me was the way in which everything in Nature is so present and only focuses on what matters, very unlike us humans. The birds were busy working to collect their food as they were being watched and photographed by several wildlife photographers. At the same time, they were very aware and would keep escaping as they sensed any human movement. Our presence did not discourage them from doing what they were supposed to be doing yet, their ability to stay present and alert was deeply inspiring.
After spending a good 3 hours watching the birds in their natural habitats, we drove down to the two lakes of Garudtal and Sattal. Both beautiful natural water bodies, surrounded by trees, were a sparkling emerald green as the streaks of the rising sun gently kissed them. Having our breakfast on the lakeside, in the lap of the Mother Nature was an awesome experience. We spent a few moments, meditating and reflecting by the quiet lake and after clicking a few great pics, left for our journey back to Delhi, knowing fully well that we are going to return back soon.
So if you are seeking a Nature’s paradise close to Delhi which is relatively virgin and unexplored; If you are wanting to spend some time enjoying the mesmerizing beauty of nature; If you want to spend a weekend just relaxing and enjoying the sounds of Nature or if you are a Bird lover or a Nature photographer or if you are looking to get out in nature for an important strategy meeting for your organization or just seeking a fun outbound team building trip, Sattal is undoubtedly the place to be.
Enjoy Nature! Have a Soulful Weekend at Sattal!
