Birding in Bhutan and other travel stories: August 2020

Tucked away under the glitzy skyscrapers of cyber city Gurgaon (now called Gurugram), is this little piece of heaven called Aravali biodiversity park. (Not to be confused with Aravali biodiversity park, Vasant Kunj)


Aravali Biodiversity Park, Gurugram

It’s rare to see humans go against their grain and, for a change, do something that doesn’t destroy the environment. This is one such example. I’m reminded of the story of Auroville in the 1960s when a colossal plantation effort converted a piece of barren land into the piece of heaven that it is today. The story of this park is almost similar, though on a much smaller scale.

Some right thinking and motivated people managed to save this part of the denuded Aravalli range from the clutches of miners and builders in the 1990s and undertook major conservation effort resulting in what we see today.

The place is amazingly clean and well maintained. Surprisingly it opens at 0530 hrs including holidays, unlike most of the green spaces in Delhi which follow office timings!!.

Even more surprisingly, there aren’t any entry or parking or camera tickets. It seemed to be a favourite among the Gurgaon locals out for a morning walk. There was an equal number of Nature and Bird watchers in evidence.

The greenery is spectacular and calming and one doesn’t help noticing that there is a plethora of species of plants and grasses. Something very different from the ubiquitous natural kikar scrublands that one is used to seeing around Delhi.

That’s because it is a painstakingly planted forest, boasting of a huge variety of local trees and shrubs that have happily taken root. This variety is perhaps the reason for the abundant avifauna which affords ample habitat for the Sunbirds, Shrikes, Drongos, Weavers, Prinias and Cuckoos alike.

We had a very satisfying morning of “backyard jungle birding” and came away marvelling at Mother Nature’s capacity to heal...if only given half a chance