Thoughts.com

Though less popular for birding Indian tiger reserves are goldmine for birders. The forests of Madhya Pradesh are habitat of large number of avian species that dwell in the dense canopy and bushes. The tiger reserves are host to many wetland species but not in numbers that equal Bharatpur or other major wetlands in the country.  

The swampy grasslands attract many passerine as well as wetland birds like waders, storks, darter, snipes, sandpipers, stints, swallows, pipits, wagtails and so on. Some of these birds are unique not easily seen at other places.  But the forest birds dominate and as Many as hundred plus species can be seen in a three day trip with tiger sighting thrown as a bonus. 

The emerging birding destinations are  Kanha, Satpura, Pachmarhi, Nauradehi,  Bori WLS, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Amarkantak, Panna and some lesser known places. A good bird survey has not taken place in most of these places hence many surprises are in offing. The winter attracts some interesting warblers and raptors to these destinations and increase the bird count.

Since these  places are in the heart of India there should be a greater influence of avian sp. from all directions of India. a systemic survey has not been carried out at most of the spots in MP. The survey will yield better population dynamics and mapping of their movements.

Places like Madhav National Park and Karera Bustard Sanctuary near Shivpuri are not popular among tourists arriving in India for many reasons. The lack of infrastructure, good transportation and security are important factors. Anyway in time to come the state is going to witness bird watching tourism on increase. Besides infrastructure development  a large number of professional birding guides should arise by training and practice.

Nowadays  comprehensive Indian birding packages are offered by tour operators in India for MP.  These are affordable and guided by professional guides. Madhya Pradesh is well connected by road and rail major towns like Jabalpur are connected with air with New Delhi and Mumbai. Jabalpur is the access point to some of these destinations.  

India is no more the land of snake charmers, man eating tigers and magicians displaying Indian rope tricks as traveler to India expects. It is a modern secular democracy on its way to become a major industrial Nation.  Though India still lives in villages as majority of the populace is rural surviving on agriculture the paradigm is changing as modern technology and industry take hold into India. From IT to Engineering good and chemicals, India is unto everything that makes a modern Nation.

A first time traveler to India from distant lands carries an impression of an exotic and ancient country where he aspects to see snake charmers and bullock carts on the road and electricity is conspicuous but absence. This I only partially true and it is decreasing. By any means India is an exotic, multi cultural, ethnically diverse and a colorful land steeped in diversity and sometimes uncertainty.

Not only Taj Mahal, India spell bounds tourists who find the colors, smells and exotic culture amazing. India exists is harmony in spite of such disparity and dissimilarity spread all over. India exists as a modern country with remainents of the past. Ancient historical sites with archeological significance abounds...Khajuraho temples in Madhya Pradesh...is one such example.

The co-existence is intriguing and at times incomprehensible to a visitor from western countries where such diversity is practically non – existent.  India is truly is pluralistic society that is progressive and all encompassing upholding the virtues of non violence and peaceful co-existence. 

India is an upcoming tourist destination with modern travel facilities and infrastructure in place. India hotel industry has kept pace with top rated hostpitality industry and travel arrangements are easy to make thanks to online tour travel agencies offering accomodations and travel bookings in India on the net.