Bird Watching in Nepal

Bird watching in Nepal is one of the best natural tours to observe the birds as it is a habitat of resident, wintering and migrant birds. Nepal is very rich in biodiversity though geographically it is a small country. Surprisingly, there are 862 species of birds in Nepal that is suitable residence for both residenting and migrating birds. Around the Kathmandu Valley, there are some best places for bird watching, including Nagarjun and Ful Chouki Danda (hill) and Godawori Botanical Garden. Shivapuri is one them. Shivapuri, the smallest National Park in Nepal, is the house of 318 species of birds. 

The Chitwan National Park, Bardiya National Park and Koshi Tappu Wild Life Reserve are perfect places for depth study on birds in Nepal. Koshi Tappu is one of the best spots to explore the birds. One can watch more than 170 species of birds in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve situated in an area of 17,500 hectares.

Pokhara, the houristic hub in Nepal, getting popular for bird watching in addition to other adventure activities. Phew Lake, Sarangkot, Peace Stupa, Raniban, Kadhe, Dhampus and Australian Camp, among others, are famous places for bird watching in Pokhara. There are around 500 species of birds in Pokhara and adjoining areas, including Begnas Forest Area and Annapurna Conservation Area.

Low land Lakes in Nepal for bird watching

Beeshazar Tal (Lake)

Beeshazar Tal, including associated Lakes, is in Chitwan district, a tourist hub in Nepal. Bishazari Tal, also known as Bishajari Tal, covers an area of 3,200 hectors at an altitude of 286m. It is very popular Lake for bird watching. This Lake, declared a Ramsar site, falls within the Buffer Zone of Chitwan National Park, a World Heritage Site.

Jagdispur Tal (Lake)

Jagdispur Tal in Kapilvastu district is best to watch wetland birds. This Lake covers an area of 225 hectors at an altitude of 197m in Jahadi Village Development Committee of  Kapilbastu in Lumbini zone to the southwest Nepal. This Lake is listed in the world wetland area. Jagdispur Tal, 10km south of east-west highway, is a habitat for resident, wintering and passage migrant wetland birds.

Badhaiya Tal (Lake)

Badhaiya Tal in Soraka Village Development Committee in Bardiya district is a popular place for bird watching.  The well known Lake in mid-western Nepal covers an area of 105 hectors. Post monsoon makes this Lake more beautiful as it is surrounded by the rice field. And the water depth is up to 4m in monsoon. An estimated number of birds in this Lake is 1,800 of 38 species.

Ghodaghodi Tal (Lake)

Ghodaghodi Tal, surrounded by tropical deciduous forest, is in Darakhnidi VDC in Kailali district in far-western Nepal. It is a perfect place to watch birds. Being just 100m north of the east-west highway, this Lake provides an easy access to people wanting to visit the Lake. This Lake is a Ramsar Site that covers an area of 2,563 hectors at an altitude of 205m.

Ghodaghodi Tal is an Important Bird Area (IBA) in Nepal and also an important religious shrine as it is named after the Ghoda Ghodi goddess. Tourists interested in the local rituals, in addition to bird watching, should make a tour to this Lake in December when they can observe the annual traditional festival 'Agan Panchami'  celebrated by Tharu indigenous peoples.  

Bird watching tour itinerary (one)

01 Day: Arrival to international airport and transfer to the hotel

02 Day: Drive to Budhanilkantha and start trekking to shivapuri and overnight there in tent
03 Day: Bird watching around there. After lunch at 2:00pm walk down to Narayanthan and drive to Godawori and stay overnight there
04 Day: Bird watching and after lunch drive back to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner
05 Day: Drive to international airport to fly onward destination

Bird watching tour itinerary (two)

01 Day: Arrival to Kathmandu international airport and drive to hotel
02 Day: Sightseeing in Kathmandu valley
03 Day: Drive to Chitwan National Park
O4 Day: Full day jungle walk and bird watching
05 Day: Full day jungle walk and bird watching
06 Day: Drive back to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner
07 Day: Drive to Kathmandu international airport to fly back

Bird watching tour itinerary (three)

01 Day: Pick up from Kathmandu airport to the hotel with our guide
02 Day: Sightseeing in Kathmandu valley
03 Day: Fly from Kathmandu –Biratnagar. Drive to Koshi Tappu
04 Day: Bird watching in Koshi Tappu
05 Day: Bird watching in Koshi Tappu
06 Day: Fly back from Biratnagar-Kathmandu. Farewell dinner
07 Day: Drive to international airport to fly back

Bird watching tour itinerary (four)

01 Day: Pick up from Kathmandu airport and transfer to the hotel 
02 Day: Fly or drive from Kathmandu –Pokhara

03 Day: Bird watching in Pokhara

04 Day: Fly or drive back to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner
Day: Drop off at the airport and fly back home

Bird watching in Nepali Lakes - itinerary  

01 Day: Pick up from the airport and transfer to hotel

02 Day: Drive to Kapilvastu. Tour to Jagdispur Tal for bird watching in the evening

03 Day: Back to Jagdispur Tal and enjoy bird watching

- Drive to Bardiya. A short evening tour to Badhaiya Tal and watch the birds

04 Day: Morning tour to Badhaiya Tal to observe the birds

- Drive to Kailali - Sightseeing in Ghodaghodi Tal in the afternoon

- Drive to Bardiya National Park for overnight stay

05 Day: Back to Ghodaghodi Tal early morning and watch the birds

- Drive to Chitwan. Visit Bishajari Tal for bird watching in the afternoon

- Drive to Chitwan National Park for overnight stay

06 Day: Morning bird watching tour to Bishajari Tal

- Drive back to Kathmandu

07 Day: Drop off at the airport and fly back home