India has around 1371 birds recorded till now. Out of that, over 940 species are found in the Himalayan region! But out of all the treks, there is one trek which is brilliant for birding. That is the Deoriatal-Chandrashila!  

Deoriatal-Chandrashila (situated in the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary) is famous for its dense jungle and wildlife On this trek, you can easily spot 70-100 varied species of birds.  

“I still have an old video that I was recording at Deoriatal. We have never published that video. Because in that video you cannot hear me at all. My voice is drowned by the chirping of birds,” recalls Arjun Majumdar, Founder-CEO, Indiahikes.  (Take a look at the birds on the Deoriatal-Chandrashila trek)

Once Deoriatal-Chandrashila gained popularity as the trek for birding, a lot of our trekkers who were also birders set foot on this trail. They were left stunned. Here is an interview with one such birding enthusiast, Ajit Hota

Top 5 most interesting birds to look out for while on a Himalayan trek

1. The Himalayan Monal - Probably the most well-recognized bird due to its vibrant feathers, it’s found in elevations from 7,000 to 15,000 ft.

Th vibrant Himalayan Monal. Photo by Ajit Hota

2. Himalayan Woodpecker- Recognized by a constant knocking sound. Spot them at altitudes ranging between 4,900 and 10,500 ft.

Himalayan Woodpecker seen on the ground. Photo by Ajit Hota

3. Tibetan Snowcock- They are found above the tree line, at altitudes over 12,000 ft. During winters, they descend to lower altitudes.

Tibetan Snowcock on the boulders of the Goechala trek. Photo by Sahana

4. Himalayan Griffon- With a wingspan of up to 10 feet, they are the largest and heaviest birds found in the Himalayas. They can be spotted at altitudes ranging from 3,900 to 18,000 ft).

A flock of Himalayan Griffons. Photo by Jay Gandhi

5. Snow Partridge- Beautiful striations characterize this bird that is found in the higher altitudes of the Himalayas.

A Snow Partridge moving swiftly on the Deoriatal - Chandrashila trek. Photo by Ajit Hota

What can you expect from our bird-watching trek? 

In spring, your bird-watching trek will be action-packed. "This is the migratory season for the birds. So you'll spot quite a few birds that are not traditionally from our mainland," says Jothiranjan, Head Photographer at Indiahikes, who specialises in wildlife photography. 

There's a lot you'll learn while spotting these various species of birds

Birds and their habitat: You'll learn in detail about the lives and habits of the birds. How do they look like, what they eat, how they build their nests, how to identify their unique birdsongs. This knowledge is crucial for spotting the birds in the dense jungle of Deorital-Chandrashila.

How to plan for birding: Birds become active during certain times of the day. On the birding trek, you'll learn to recognise their rhythm. This helps in spotting rare birds in the forest. 

Photography for birders: Capturing birds though your lens is not easy. You need to be observant and very nimble. "Your eyes are your primary tools for spotting birds," says expert birder Ajit. But taking a bird's photo needs specialised technical skills. "It's a part of wildlife photography," says Jothiranjan, "On this trek, you'll learn to take action shots, use telephoto lens and other technical equipment that help in taking great bird photographs." 

The experience will be facilitated by our Senior Trek Leader Sharwari Brahme who specialises in bird-watching.

Spotted a Jay Bird. Photo by Deepali Bansal. 

Whether you are an amateur looking to learn about birding or an expert birder looking to spot some rare birds, this trek is for you. 

Joining this trek means getting to spend 6 days together with like minded people who enjoy birding as much as you do. 

Why spring/autumn are great seasons for a bird-watching trek?  

You spot a variety of birds in the Himalayas all round the year. Even in peak winters. But during certain seasons you witness a large number of birds. These seasons are considered to be great for birding in the Himalayas. 

The forest is buzzing with birdsong. Birds get busy marking their territory, and attracting their mates during the spring season. They use their voice to attract mates. This is why in spring the forest comes alive with birdsong.   

A time for sunning. When temperatures get warmer, birds step out to sun their feathers. This is a natural way to control mites in their feathers. You’ll notice many birds flapping out in the warm sun, sunning their feathers in this season. 

Breeding birds: Spring/autumn in the Himalayas sees a lot of breeding birds. During this part of their life cycle you’ll spot them flying to and fro carrying twigs and other raw materials for making their nests. 

Migratory birds: Spring/autumn is one of the prime seasons of migration. This is the time to spot birds that don't originally belong to our mainland.  

If you are interested in going for a bird-watching trek, write to Nandana Kamasani, Head of Experience Coordination at Indiahikes. Her email id is nandana@indiahikes.com. 

A list of high-altitude campsites that are great for stargazing in the Himalayas. Make note if you are about to go on a Himalayan trek

5 Mesmerising Campsites For Stargazing In The Himalayas

In March, on Deoriatal-Chandrashila!

At Indiahikes, we believe everyone must trek. We want treks to have an impact on everyone. Here, special treks go one step further. They help you look at a trek in a whole different light. 

For example, trekkers on our stargazing trek did not imagine that they could see the universe the way it is. They saw distant galaxies, a behind-the-scenes peek at our constellations, our planets, and the stars around us. 

On our photography treks, people learned the finer aspects of composition, handling light, and telling a story. 

Arjun Majumdar, founder and CEO of Indiahikes, shared this story with me: 

“Once, I did a trek with a fellow trekker. He was an avid photographer and a nature lover. Through his lens, he showed me birds in foliage that I never knew existed. He took me on a magical journey through the Milky Way at night. Throughout the trek, he continued to show me things about the natural world I did not know. "It left me thinking very deeply after the trek.” 

“When we say everyone must trek, we want to show people how special the world around us is and why it is increasingly important for us to discover and connect with this world." "I fear this world may be lost soon.” "I want our special treks to help people connect to our world more deeply.” 

Our special treks have been very successful. Unfortunately, we can only open a few of these treks each year. If you find a special trek or group that suits you, grab the opportunity to sign up for it quickly.

We have seven special treks in the upcoming months. Here's a quick list:
Stargazing
Seniors Trek
Open Collaborative Leadership Program 
Below you have a quick snapshot of each special trek. 

We are introducing stargazing treks at Indiahikes — a special trek where you spend every night stargazing with an expert, diving deep into the mysteries of the night sky.

Whether you are an amateur looking to learn about stargazing or an expert astrophile looking to observe some of the greatest celestial shows, this trek is for you.

This trek will not follow the regular schedule of our Dayara Bugyal trek but will follow a pace that will match the strength and stamina of seniors. 

However, seniors will enjoy all the privileges and goodness that the Dayara Bugyal trek has to offer, including being in the Bugyals. 

We love this trek! It is picture-perfect, especially in spring. To get a better idea, I recommend you watch this film about Dayara Bugyal. It is our tribute to this wonderful trek.

World’s biggest organisations and leaders are veering towards collaborative leadership. It is critical to an individual’s growth, and consequently, the organisation’s growth. Earlier, collaborative leadership was expected only of the senior management. In the modern workforce, it is expected even at an entry-level. 

Unfortunately, the formal education systems in our country do not lend themselves to students developing Collaborative Leadership skills. The focus is still on individual development driven by a highly competitive environment. 

This is where our Collaborative Leadership Program comes in. 

A trek in the Himalayas, which is specifically designed for learning collaborative leadership skills, is an ideal setting for this program. In a short intense span of 4 days, participants take away lessons of collaborative leadership that they can fall back on throughout their professional lives. 

For the first time ever at Indiahikes, we have opened a Women Only trek to Kedarkantha this year! What’s even more special is that the all-women team will be climbing the Kedarkantha summit on International Women’s Day, March 8th. 

With so many special treks, you may have questions to ask me. Just write back to me on latika@indiahikes.com, and I’ll try my best to help. 

Please note that this is a special trek designed for stargazing enthusiasts. The trek fee is slightly more than the regular fee. Know more about the trek here. 

This is a trek specially designed for trekkers above 58 years. The trek fee is Rs 3000 more than the regular fee (Please note this is only for Himalayan treks) Know more about the trek here. 

Please note that this is a special trek. The trek fee is Rs 3000 more than the regular fee. Know more about the trek here. 

Please note that the family treks are meant for families with a child/children under 14 years of age. If you do not fit this criteria, you can register for any of our regular groups. Read more about family treks here.

You are joining our waitlist. Your chances of getting a confirmation are high, but not certain. We will notify you as soon as a trekker cancels their trek.

When we brought out new trails in Indian trekking, safety came with us. Back in 2012, we were the first to introduce microspikes, and two years later, pulse oximeters became standard thanks to us. Nobody does safe treks like Indiahikes. In the mountains, emergencies don't care who you're with – everyone knows that when trouble hits, you look for the yellow tents of Indiahikes.

We are India’s safest trekking organisation

We are pioneers in trekking. Since 2007, we have brought out treks that have become India's most famous treks: Roopkund, Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati, Kedarkantha, Kashmir Great Lakes, Tarsar Marsar, Brahmatal, Phulara Ridge—the list goes on. In 2023 alone, we brought out five new treks in Indian trekking. We know treks better than anyone. This comes directly from the reason why Indiahikes was born: to bring out trek information and enable trekkers to trek on their own.

We are pioneers of treks in India

More than 25,000 people trek with us every year. We are the largest trekking organisation in India. 24% of our trekkers come back to trek with us every year. Over 4,000 students from the top educational institutions trek with us every year. Aside from this, families with children choose to trek with Indiahikes knowing that our treks are the safest. We have taken over 8000 children trekking so far, and the number continues to grow. 

We are India’s largest trekking organisation

We focus on designing transformative experiences. Our trek leaders conduct thought-provoking exercises that help you reflect and contemplate. This impact stays with you for a long time. Trekkers return feeling energised, more confident, or developing abilities to deal with difficulties. Many have changed careers, rethought their core values, become more humble, shown gratitude to others, or started a new fitness journey. 

Our treks are transformative

Since 2012, we have pioneered sustainable practices that have become standard in trekking. Using eco-bags, our trekkers have cleared over 120 tonnes of litter from the mountains. We do not carry packaged foods; instead, we serve freshly made food. We do not light campfires; we carry coal to light angethis to keep you warm. Our bio-toilets not only keep our toilets odour-free but also enrich the soil. When you trek with us, you leave mountains better.

We are India's most sustainable trekking organisation

5 Reasons Why Indiahikes

If you are unable to complete a trek, or if you love a trek, you can repeat it with us anytime. You don’t have to pay us for it. See our thoughts behind this here.

You’re guarded with our trek again philosophy

Our thrice-a-day oxi-metre checks keep altitude sickness at bay, never allowing you to reach a point where you need evacuation.

Daily 3-time health checks keep you safe at any altitude

With around 30% of our trekkers being women, all women, including those travelling solo are comfortable to join any of our groups.

Join any group, they are all women-friendly groups 

Our kitchen teams understand your needs as a vegan (or a Jain). We will take special care of your food, even in the remote Himalayas. 

We have specially designed bio toilets to ensure you have no sight or smell in toilets, at the same time making sure the toilets cause no harm to the fragile ecosystem we trek in.

Be comfortable and sustainable with bio toilets

We’ll admit it. Our love for food surpasses our love for minimalism. Expect freshly cooked, multi-cuisine food at all camps, designed to meet your nutritional requirements and keep your taste buds happy!

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