Delhi
Today Post breakfast We will proceed on the guided tour of new Delhi and old Delhi that includes Qutab Minar, India Gate, Humayun tomb, drive past throught the presidents house, parliament house and secretariat buildings, Raj ghat the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi, jama masjid and drive past red fort. Also experience Modern metro transport System as well as the Traditional cycle rickshaw in the busy street of chandni chowk. Overnight from New Delhi to Pathankot by train or Cab Taxi.

Delhi – Paragpur
Morning on arrival at Pathankot drive to Garli Paragpur (100km). Paragpur, known as ‘country of pollen’ is unbelievably picturesque having held onto the essence of an earlier era with unchanged shops, cobbled streets, an ornamental village tank, mud plastered and slate roofed houses. Day is at your disposal, explore the local market and house. You can also enjoy the traditional kangri meal. Overnight stay in the hotel/homestay in Paragpur.

Paragpur – Pong Lake
Post breakfast Drive to Pong Lake (3hr) Bird watching at Pong Lake. This reservoirs or lake is well known wildlife sanctuary and one of the 25 international wet land sites declared in India by Ramsar convention. Then take a boat ride and get close to the birds – waterfowl and heronries. The 2 day birding at Pong Lake can result in check listing 150-200 avian species. You have a great chance to sight – Pheasant-tailed Jacana and Bronzed-winged Jacana, Brown Crake and Baillon’s, Ruddy-breasted Crake, Siberian Rubythroat and Blue Throat, Long-tailed and Bay- backed Shrikes, Common grey Hornbill, Black Bittern, Orange-headed Thrush, Syke’s, Yellow-browed Warbler, Red Avadavat, Silverbill, Rufous-tailed Lark . The Sanctuary has the finest wetlands and scub that constitutes excellent feeing grounds and habitat for birds in Himachal. Overnight stay in the camp/hotel/lodge.

Pong Lake
Pong Dam wetlands in the picturesque Kangra Valley has witnessed an increase in the arrival of feathered guests with 5000 more migratory birds arriving in winter. Maharana Pratap Sagar also known as Pong Dam Reservoir or Pong Dam Lake was created in 1975 building the highest earthfill dam in Himachal on the Beas River in the wetland zone of the Siwalik Hills of the Kangra district of the state of Himachal Pradesh, in India. The reservoir is bounded by the rugged Dhauladhar mountain range, the low foothills of the Himalaya on the northern edge of the Indo-Gangetic plains and the mountain streams cutting through valleys. Apart from the airports at Chandigrah and Amritsar which are far off, the closest airport to the reservoir is Gaggal at 40 km (24.9 mi). Overnight stay in the camp/hotel/lodge.

Pong Lake – Dharamshala Mcleodganj
Post breakfast Transfer to Dharamsala Mcleodganj 3 hour drive. McLeodganj is located close to the famous Dharmshala in Himachal Pradesh. McLeodganj is the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile, and home of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. McLeodganj is often called the Little Lhasa. This is the residence of His Highness the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan Government in exile has been here for almost four decades. Day is for leisure explore the market, monastery on foot. Overnight stay at Dharamsala Mcleodganj hotel.

Dharamshala Mcleodganj – Galu
After breakfast Dharamsala-Galu day hike for birding. Dharamsala is a alpine eco-system elevation 1500 mts to 3000 mts. Enjoy a mixed forest of Cedar, rohdodendorom and Himalayan Oak overlooking Dhouladhair Himalayan ranges. Check list White-tailed Nuthatch, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch and Tree creepers. Go birding in the terraced fields, Dark-throated Thrush and Striated Prinia can be seen there. Rusty-tailed shrike, Verditer flycatcher, Tickell’s flycatcher and Rufous-bellied Flycatcher can be seen I and around the tree canopy. Overnight stay at Dharamsala Mcleodganj/Galu hotel.

Dharamshala – Great Himalayan National Park
Morning drive further uphill to Great Himalayan National Park. The great Himalayan national park (GHNP) spreads over 754 sq km of the rugged mountain terrain in Kullu district, himachal Pradesh. With an altitude ranging from 1500m to 5800m, The GHNP sits beside the Pin Valley National Park, Rupi-Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary and the Tirthan and Sainj Wildlife Sanctuaries, making it one of the biggest areas for wildlife conservation in the whole Himalayan range. It consists of luxuriant oak forests, flaming rhododendron trees, crystal clear sparkling rivers, jagged virgin peaks and some of the rarest of animals, birds & medicinal herbs found nowhere else in the whole world. Its home to about 215 species of birds with pheasants like the Western Tragopan, Cheer, Monal, Koklash and Kaleej along with other birds like the white throated tit & the Lammergeyer. Dharamsala-Galu day hike for birding. Dharamsala is a alpine eco-system elevation 1500mts to 3000 mts. Enjoy a mixed forest of Cedar, rohdodendorom and Himalayan Oak over looking Dhouladhair Himalayan ranges. Check list White-tailed Nuthatch, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch and Tree creepers. Go birding in the terraced fields, Dark-throated Thrush and Striated Prinia can be seen there. Rusty-tailed shrike, Verditer flycatcher, Tickell’s flycatcher and Rufous-bellied Flycatcher can be seen I and aournd the tree canopy. Night at hotel. Overnight stay at Tirthan Valley Kullu.

Visit The Great Himalayan National Park
After breakfast Walk in Great Himalayan National Park (GNHP) for birding. One can see a variety of Himalayan species along the way such as Lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, Spotted & Slaty-backed Forktail, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Khalij Pheasant, a variety of thrushes and so many others. More than 200 avian species have been recorded in the surrounding areas. The numerous perennial & seasonal creeks are home to an amazing variety of flora and fauna including the leopard, Yellow-throated Himalayan Martin, Himalayan palm civet, ghoral, arkingdeer,sambhar,redfoxetc. Night at guest house/homesaty/tents.

Departure
Transfer to airport at Kullu or drive to Delhi. After that amazing birdwatching tour, it is time to head back home/ onward journey.

• Heritage village walk at garli paragpur.
• Boat ride at pong lake.
• Rich wildlife and Birding.

(1). This is the itinerary for a tour which we run regularly. It can be altered, and we like to discuss plans with clients and can make suggestions about special places to visit depending on our clients’ interests, and available time. The itinerary is planned in such a way that you gain altitude gradually , you get a good and proper time to acclimatise properly while travelling through the Central Himalayas . Every day there is enough free time to make walk / or to relax your own so you could experience the people and culture from much close on the tour.

(2). In case you require accompanying tour escort / local guide with you please tell us and we will be happy to arrange local, knowledgeable guide for your tour, as per your choice.

(3). Please do not hesitate to collect any travel information from us, before working a final tour programme for yourself. We would be glad to provide you all the travel information and hotels details etc. at the time of planning your holidays with us, before you book your tour with Incredible Himachal Holidays. Being local, we can provide you with a wonderful private, personalise, tailor-made holiday tour in India at a cheaper cost than the standard package / group holiday that you might find elsewhere. We believe in delivering the service, more than- promised to our clients.