TRY BIRD WATCHING IN WEST BENGAL

Come winter, and thousands of migratory birds f ly all the way from the Himalayan foothills, China, and Siberia to join the resident birds in and around West Bengal’s capital, Kolkata. Hence, the city is a dream come true for birding enthusiasts who can spend hours spotting their winged friends at the pristine waters of the Santragachi Jheel, the 228-year- old Indian Botanical Garden in Shibpur, the Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary, which is also famous for hosting many species of butterf lies, ferns, and orchids, and the lake of Rabindra Sarobar. From the fulvous whistling duck, swinhoe’s snipe, Northern pintail, to the black-naped oriole, booted eagle, yellow-browed warbler, brown hawkowl, and more, the City of Joy turns home to a variety of migratory birds and becomes a birder’s paradise.

GETTING THERE

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is wellconnected to all major domestic and many international cities.

STAY

The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata (starts from ` 13,500/USD188; oberoihotels.com) and ITC Sonar (starts from ` 7,250/USD101; itchotels.in) offer luxury accommodation in the city.