Kumbhalgarh is famous for Kumbhalgarh Fort, which has the second largest wall in Asia, after the Great Wall of China. But adjacent to this great fort, there is Kumbhalgarh Wild Life Sanctuary ( likely to be declared a National park soon) which is home to many bird species. Recently, we went to Kumbhalgarh Wild Life Sanctuary on 13th October 2013 with Dr. Durgesh Sharma of Udaipur.
Kumbhalgarh WLS is approximately 80KM from Udaipur by road. The best time to visit this sanctuary for birding is in January to March in the year. I think, Kumbhalgarh WLS is best for spotting grey jungle fowl, painted spur fowl, Crested Hawk Eagle etc.
At Kelwara, which is the adjacent town, one can book for Gypsy Safari. A guide is required and charges for foreign national are different than Indian nationals for entry to the wild life sanctuary line any other national parks in India.
We saw the following birds in our trip:-
1. Changeable Hawk Eagle
2. Yellow Crowned Woodpecker
3. Common Kestral
4. Scaly Breasted Munia
5. Grey Junglefowl
6. Brown headed Barbet
7. White Throated Fantail
8. Plain Prinia
9. Spotted Dove
10. Indian Scoops Owl
11. Indian peafowl
12. Jungle Owlet
13. Tickels Blue Flycatcher
14. Alexandrian parakeet
15. Plum headed Parakeet
16. Asian Koel
17. Lesser Golden Flameback
18. White Breasted Kingfisher
19. Great Tit
20. Oriental white eye
21. Oriental Honey Buzzard
ard
22. Shikra
23. painted spurfowl
24. Coppersmith Barbet
25. Long billed Vulture
26. Egyptian Vulture
27. Oriental Magpie Robin
28. Yellow Tit
29. Clamourus Reed Warbler
30. White Throated Fantail
We saw couple of other warblers which we could not recognise.
The trip lasts for 3 hours in the morning and it is recommended that one goes to Ghasa Wetland for birding in the afternoon to make it a full day birding trip. One can reach Ghasa Wetmand ( Ghadhel Talab) from Kumbhalgarh WLS via Iswal, Nathdwara and distance would be approximately 80KM.
