The Birds of Himalayas

The city dwellers often think of places to visit which are far away from the pollution, traffic and fast paced lifestyle. Himalaya tour is often an answer to their wishes to get away from it all. A popular place around this region is Almora in Kumaon District in Uttarakhand.

Himalayan Magpie

KalmatiaSangam, in Almora, a resort in the middle of tropical vegetation is a great place to unwind and indulge in activities which are pleasant to the body and mind. Some travelers also take a great deal of interest in bird watching as this region is famous for large number of native as well as migratory birds.

Our cottages are also named after the many birds that are found in this region. For a bird watcher it will be good to know a little about some of the birds found here. Himalayan Magpie or Red Billed Blue Magpie as the name suggests is a blue colored bird with a bright orange red bill. You can spot this bird in the thick foliage surrounding our property, hunting for small invertebrates, fruits and seeds.

The biggest and the most spacious cottage in KalmatiaSangam is Eagle’s Nest named after the Golden Eagle which frequent this area. They are dark brown in color with golden brown plumage on their napes. They like to nest in high elevation and can fly at a very high level.

Hoopoe

Hoopoe is an attractive bird found in this region. They are unmistakable with their erect crest, long curved bill, pinkish or buff colored body plumage and black and white striped tail.

The bird found in pheasant family in this region is Himalayan Monal. The males of this species are more attractive with multicolored plumage and green crest. They are endangered and their hunting is banned.

The Blue Whistling Thrush are dark violet blue in color. They are known for their loud humanlike whistling at dawn and dusk.  Another song bird found in this region is Great Grey Shrike.

A difficult to spot species of bird is the Bar Tailed Tree Creeper. This bird has striped feather patterned usually in black, brown, white or red. Because of their color they blend in well with the foliage.



The Scaly Breasted Munia found in this area is a small sparrow sized bird. It is brown in color with dark conical bill. They build domed shaped nests and eat berries, seeds and small insects.
The area along the Himalaya tour is scenic and beautiful with natural glory at its best.

A Visit To The Binsar Wildlife Santuary

The Kumaon region in Uttarakhand is famous for its natural beauty, fresh clean air and snow capped Himalayan peaks. Among such scenic surrounding Kalmatia Sangam offers you a holiday which will refresh your body and mind. It is a destination resort which is set on a hill top 10 KMs away from Almora town. The clean mountain air and the scenic beauty will rejuvenate you and help you appreciate the view of great peaks of Himalayas and the flora and fauna found in this region. The drive from Kathgodam to the resort is a wonderful experience when you get the first sight of the Himalayan peaks and look down upon the green valleys and rippling river below, while you head towards the resort.

We, at this destination resort aspire to spoil you with a comfortable stay with proper amenities and tasty food. We plan out some activities for you so that you are able to enjoy all the things that this place has to offer. A trip to Binsar Wild Life Sanctuary is worth a visit while you are holidaying with us.

Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is set in the deep forest, 33 Km from Almora. It is a home for many birds, out of which number of them are migratory. So if you are a bird watcher or interested in wildlife Binsar Sanctuary is the place which will hold your interest. The sanctuary is also meant to conserve and protect the broad leaf Oak forest which is an endangered species. There are about 200 species of bird found in this region like Laughing Thrush, Forktail, Nuthatches, Blackbirds, Parakeets, Monal, types of Pheasant, Magpies, and Woodpeckers etc.

Situated on the slopes of the mountain Binsar Sanctuary has Rhododendron and Oak forest at the higher level and a vast expanse of Pine forest at the lower level. The place is thriving with alpine flora, hanging moss, ferns and wild flowers. The serene atmosphere will allow you to enjoy the gifts the nature has to offer among their natural surroundings. The view of the Himalayan peaks from the sanctuary is spectacular.

The sanctuary is the home of many animals like Leopard, Musk Deer, Chital, Black Bear, Pine Marten, Langur, Fox, Monkeys, Porcupine, Ghoral etc. You will find a wide range of butterflies flitting in the forest as well as many reptiles and invertebrates.

Spend the day in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary walking through the Rhododendron forest along the gushing streams and enjoy the hearing the sounds of birds singing among the tranquility of the surroundings.

Kumaoni Way of Life

The northern hilly region of Kumaon offers one of the best holiday destinations in India. This region gives you an opportunity to stay close with the nature. With the abundance of flora and spectacular view of the Himalayas you will experience a kind of peace that is vastly missing in the cities. From mid September till April is the best time for Himalaya tour.

Kalmatia Sangama boutique resort near Almora is the best place where you can stay while you get familiar with the region. We at the resort organise a Kumaoni village trek to give you a glimpses into their way of life. While walking from one village to another you will experience the friendly nature of the people of this region.

Jageshwar Temple

The Kumaoni people are sturdy and hard working mostly working in the fields. They are also engaged in hand crafted artifacts which is a specialty of this region. Availability of variety of fruits also gives them an option to make jams etc. from fruit extract. Within their simple lifestyle they welcome guests and look after them with utmost hospitality.

The presence of a large number of temples show that they are religiously inclined people. The interesting fact about these temples is that they were built hundreds of years ago showing some unique architecture of that era. The most famous is the Jageshwar temple which is actually a cluster of number of temples.

The people of Kumaon are fond of festivals. They celebrate Dussehra, Diwali, Holi, Basant Panchami, Janmashtami etc. Sankranti is a festival which is celebrated with great fanfare during the harvest season. This festival has the attraction of holding village fairs too. A special mention should be made of the Ramlila plays that are performed during dussehra.

Village House

While on the Himalayan tour you will experience a great deal of Kumaoni cuisine. They are simple and are mostly made of pulses and vegetables. Most of the dishes are made from locally grown vegetables. Aloo ke gutke is a popular dish made with potatoes, whole coriander and spices. Papad ki sabji is made with colocacia leaves combined with spices and chick pea flour. Jhloli/Bhaat is also made with chick pea flour mixed with curd with pieces of radish cooked in the gravy.

The village walks through the interiors of Kumaon will show you the beauty of the place, cultivated fields in the hills, the prehistoric rock paintings and the spectacular site of the snow capped mountains right from your village house.