We stayed at Club Mahindra Dharamshala from the 10th to the 16th of October 2023. There is no need to go far and wide to spot birds in the Dharamshala-McLeod Ganj area. Just take a leisurely walk through forested wastelands and villages on the outskirts of Dharamshala or McLeod Ganj and you will be pleasantly surprised with your encounters with these beautiful winged denizens frolicking near a mountain stream or picking wild berries and fruits around farmlands and forest glades.

We spotted these birds around Naddi village near McLeod Ganj. A basic thumb rule to spot birds is to keep not just your eyes peeled but your ears on alert because in nine cases out of ten, you will hear a bird before you see it. This is true for birds found on trees, wild bushes, and undergrowth. As far as mountain streams are concerned you will probably see the smaller varieties of birds hopping from one rock to another along the flowing water.

There is a mountain stream flowing five minutes walk from the Club Mahindra Resort and if you get up before sunrise and take a walk upstream you will definitely spot some of the birds shown in the above photos. In fact, we spotted the Blue Whistling Thrush on the lawns of Club Mahindra Resort during the early morning hours. The birds spotted during our nature walks from top to bottom are: Stonechat, Black-headed jay, Plumbeous redstart (female), Streaked laughing thrush and the very pretty Grey bush chat.

So next time you plan a stay at Club Mahindra Dharamshala, come with your binoculars and cameras and enjoy a walk through the wastelands, wild bushes, and fields: Into the wilderness I go, Where mountain brooks under the tall Pines flow, Where wildflowers and berries among the green foliage like gems glow, When will it rain, when will it snow? Only the forest birds know... Rupa Abdi