When I visited the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, I didn't expect to spot an Indian Roller! The bird was singing for its mate even as it preened itself. I watched the bird in all its movements. The bird looked most concerned about looking for its mate. Unfortunately, in spite of its calls, the mate did not arrive.
The Roller Bird commences its song.
Gurgaon is home to a few exceptional wetlands that support amazing resident birds and serve as a stopover for migratory birds from far and wide. Developmental activities are, however, playing spoiler, and soon even these exceptionally important biodiversity hotspots will have to give way. The Basai Wetland, which once hosted numerous native and migratory bird species like the Bar-Headed Goose, has now disappeared, swallowed by towering buildings, highways, and flyovers. The future of the remaining major wetland, the Chandu-Budhera Wetland, is doubtful as real estate prices continue to surge. The Sultanpur National Park, a Ramsar-designated site, is also languishing due to the shortage of water resources.
It is indeed surprising how many Greater Flamingos flock to the Chandu Budhera wetland area. The birds can stretch across the wetland as far as the eye can see. By the time Winter is in full swing, the wetland is the favoured winter destination for Bar-headed Geese, including Greylag Geese.
In spite of being a fast-developing urban settlement, Gurgaon continues to attract some of the most exotic migratory birds, including some of the native bird species in India. It is surprising to see the resilience of these bird species that continue to fight back against developmental activities. They inspire resilience in the face of adversity, and they continue to flock at areas that no longer support them. I am surprised to see a large number of birds flocking at the Chandu Budhera wetland area and even the Sultanpur National Park.
Gurgaon is a surprising contradiction in terms of the migratory birds that visit the outskirts of the city even in the face of developmental activities. I am often surprised to spot migratory and native species of birds in an area that is being consumed by developmental activities driven by the need to create residential spaces. How do you explain the presence of Bar-headed Geese in an area that is earmarked for developing apartments and flats? It looks like the administration is ignoring the impact of developmental activities on the ecosystem. One wonders if environmental concerns really factor into the development of spaces to create premium flats for people. How can people in power ignore the fact that ignoring environmental issues can lead to the destruction of the ecosystem?
Mussoorie is a short hop from Delhi, and the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway has made it even more convenient for residents in the Delhi NCR to visit it. Mussoorie is about 305 kilometers from Gurgaon, and an early morning drive will take about five hours to reach your destination.
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| This is a very old Cinema Film Projector |
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| The Cambridge Book Shop |
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| The Central Methodist Church |
A note of caution: Unlike the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, there are no eateries, nor are there any filling stations so be prepared to manage the whole stretch without a major Bio Break! Moreover, the expressway feels bumpy at speeds exceeding 90 KMPH! I guess it's under construction; eateries and petrol stations will be ready in the coming few months.
When we visited Mussoorie some time ago, it was a short trip meant to wind down, so we limited ourselves to the city centre, strolled on Mall Road, and took the ropeway up to Gunhill. It was a great opportunity to relax and gorge on exotic food at Yeti Restaurant and Butter Chicken at My Shop.
The last time I visited Mussoorie was before the pandemic. That was when I discovered the Lovely Omelette shop. The Omelette shop is well known for the special omelettes served. This time I decided to give it a skip.
One interesting discovery was a quaint shop selling antique watches, especially HMT watches. The Time Star Watch shop has a treasure trove of watches, including some of the well-known brands like Seiko, Orient, and a few others. Inderjeet Singh Ji, the proprietor, and Mohd. Afzal Ji were very accommodating and helpful in guiding us through our purchases.
At the Antique Watch Shop
When in Mussoorie, you can not afford to miss visiting Ellora's Bakery, which was established in 1953. This is an outlet where you can purchase all kinds of bakery items, including chocolates and biscuits.
Of course, the winterline is an amazing streak of light spotted in Mussoorie and a few other hill stations. It is an ideal moment to take some amazing photographs.
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| The Potato Pickle was amazing! |
