Walk THE SANCTUARY

After a quick breakfast at the lodge I headed for the hilltop open air temple of Brahmasthali in the midst of this sanctuary, a favourite hour-long walk I have indulged in on every visit. This one wasn’t going to be an exception, except I had Mahesh to show me birds along the way. The walk itself which is a steep hour-long climb felt like a cake walk, immersed as I was in spotting birds. If the rufous-bellied niltava

Pit stops on the road led to many sightings—the peregrine falcon perched on a cliff ledge with the common kestrels gliding languidly in the skies above. The woodpecker point near the Vinayak Forest Rest House did not disappoint. We surely spotted our fair share

with its brilliant blue crown and blue and orange wing bars and belly was a colourful distraction, the flock of scarlet minivets, a small passerine bird with glaring scarlett (male) and deep yellows (female) dazzled like jewels on the pines.

Brahmasthali is an enchanted spot on a high point of the ridge and offers spectacular views of the Shivalik Ranges and the higher range of perennial snow capped peaks to the north, including Nanda Devi, Trishul, Nanda Kot to name

The sanctuary is also known as the Naina Devi Himalayan Bird Reserve taking its name from the much revered Naina Devi temple and namesake lake Nainital of the area. a few. It is an open air roofless temple top with an array of old idols adorning it and a very special 16-headed serpent made of a single slab granite that sits with its aged weight to one corner. The place is energising and the forest of oak, rhododendrons and pines leading to it is quite magical in the flowering season of mid March to April.