 "Harike Wetlands")
Living in a metropolis like the Delhi NCR can sometimes make you feel detached from nature. The noise, the pollution and the daily bustle make you feel that you're living in a concrete jungle. But fortunately, there are a few getaways - some a day's journey away and others more distant- around the capital where you can find some tranquillity, and also spot a few species of birds and animals.
Hastinapur Bird Sanctuary
Hastinapur is a name that one usually associates only with the Mahabharata and not with pristine wooded environs. It therefore comes as a surprise that just about 100 kilometres from Delhi, on the periphery of Meerut, you can find the home of 350 species of birds. One of the recent additions to sanctuaries in India, the Hastinapur Bird Sanctuary was founded in 1986 and has the Ganges flowing through it. One can spot the jungle owlet, kingfisher, barbet and the painted stork, among many other birds here. Not only that, wildlife conservation organisation World Wildlife Fund has released over 100 gharials - a critically endangered species - in the sanctuary in the last few years. So this is a must-visit site if you want to spot the elusive crocodilian species. And if you are lucky, you can also spy a jackal, a civet or even pythons in Hastinapur.
The ideal time to visit: Between November and April
Getting there: 110 km from Delhi by road
Duration: A day trip is ideal for Hastinapur
Harike Wetlands
It is one of north India's largest freshwater wetlands and lies about 60 kilometres from Amritsar in the Tarn Taran district. The Harike wetland is located at the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers and attracts migratory birds, especially in winter. Some of the birds which can be spotted here include the shoveller, pintail, common teal and Brahminy ducks. Besides these avian wonders, you can also spot the jungle cat, hog deer and jackal. However, over the last few years, encroachments on the wetland habitat have led to a decrease in the volume of water. Still, this remains one of the ideal spots for bird watchers in north India. It is best to make day-trips from Amritsar as Harike doesn't have many decent overnight stay options.
Ideal time to visit: January to March
Getting there: By road: 445 km from Delhi. Rail: Amritsar 60 km
Duration: A day trip from Amritsar
Rajaji National Park
While Corbett Tiger Reserve remains one of the more popular national parks in the region, Rajaji National Park is another excellent getaway. Located in Chilla, a village 13 kilometres from Haridwar, Rajaji is famous for being an elephant habitat. However, it is also a home to tigers, leopards and over 400 species of birds. The park is bisected by the Ganges and offers some beautiful landscapes. One can do jeep safaris in the mornings or evenings and there are a lot of government and private accommodations around the park. The state forest department has more than half a dozen resthouses that offer camping options as well. If you're staying in Haridwar, you can cycle down to Chilla and if you want to do some trekking, then there's always the option of walking down.
Ideal time to visit: November to June
Getting there: 230 km from Delhi by road or take a train till Haridwar
Duration: A two-day trip is sufficient for four safaris
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
The Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Bharatpur is perhaps the most well-known sanctuaries in India and also the closest to Delhi. A day's bird-watching at Bharatpur can easily throw up about 100 species of birds and it's very easy to walk around. There are paved walkways, cycling tracks and trained rickshaw-pulling guides who will take you through the sanctuary with ease. You can spot several species of owls, about 20 types of ducks and numerous other birds like the lapwing, sarus cranes, warblers and darters at the sanctuary.
Ideal time: All winter long
Getting there: 175 km from New Delhi and 60 km from Agra
Duration: A day trip will suffice
