Foothills Feathers

Possible Animal Sightings || Rhinoceros * Elephant * Indian Bison * Leopard

Introduction || This week-long birding Sikkim–North Bengal extension focuses on three of the most important protected landscapes in the foothill Himalayas of Northern Bengal — Buxa, Jaldapara, and Gorumara National Park. Designed as a structured Himalaya birding tour, this journey explores rich lowland and mid-elevation ecosystems that complement classic Eastern Himalaya birding experiences, offering remarkable diversity within a compact geographic range. The expedition begins at Buxa Tiger Reserve in the far north-eastern corner of the state, the largest protected area of Northern West Bengal. Spanning from foothill plains up to elevations of nearly 2,000 meters, Buxa represents a significant altitudinal gradient rarely matched in the region. This variation in height, combined with vegetation types ranging from moist deciduous forest with evergreen patches to broad-leaf forests, makes Buxa an outstanding habitat for diverse avifauna. For those seeking serious high altitude birding India transitions within the foothill Himalayas, Buxa presents an ideal starting point. The reserve supports rich birdlife including Hornbill, Pitta, Green Cochoa, Broadbill, and Parrotbill, positioning it as a powerful segment of any immersive birding Sikkim and Eastern Himalaya birding circuit. From Buxa, the journey continues to Jaldapara, covering approximately 300 square kilometres of mixed deciduous forest and extensive grasslands intersected by perennial river networks. These ecological characteristics create a unique biodiversity zone within the foothill plains of North Bengal. The luxuriant vegetation and open grassland mosaics provide excellent birding conditions, particularly for raptors and riverine specialists. Species such as Crested Hawk Eagle, Pallas’s Fishing Eagle, Shikra, Partridges, and Lesser Pied Hornbill make Jaldapara a rewarding location within this broader Himalaya birding tour framework. The landscape diversity enhances opportunities for observation and documentation, making sections of this itinerary suitable even for a focused Himalayan bird photography tour. The tour concludes at Gorumara, another significant birding landscape and Rhino habitat in the western Dooars. Its forest–grassland interface supports continued avifaunal diversity, ensuring that the final phase of this Eastern Himalaya birding journey remains productive. As part of this structured birding Sikkim and North Bengal program, Gorumara provides a fitting end to a week of exploring the foothill Himalayan ecosystem. This carefully paced itinerary across Buxa, Jaldapara, and Gorumara delivers habitat diversity, altitudinal variation, and species richness that define serious Himalayan birding experiences, while retaining the ecological integrity and landscape authenticity that shape meaningful Himalaya birding tours in eastern India.

Destinations Covered || Buxa Tiger Reserve * Jaldapara National Park* Gorumara National Park

Best Season || November to May