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The White Desert of Kutch is also known as Great Rann of Kutch. It is a natural wonder that transforms into vast expanse of glistening white during dry season or winter season. Great Rann of Kutch is located in Gujarat  near Dhordo in Kutch District. Kutch is the largest salt production area in India. Also a largest evaporation rate per year in India. In Monsoon the Arabian Sea flood rann with sea water. Area is full of water during monsoon season so you can only visit during winter season from December to February. 

About White Desert Of Kutch :

Vibrant Life :  White desert of kutch becomes alive with diverse ecosystem, migratory birds, flora and wild Ass. 

Infinite White landscape : The most amazing features is infinite expanse of pure white salt. The layer of white salt create magnificent contrast against amazing blue sky .

Cultural Richness :  At White Desert Of Kutch surrounded areas are rich cultural heritage , with colorful tribes, crafts and cuisine. 

Things To Do at White Desert of Kutch :

• You can get a Camel safari or jeep safari for exploring a white desert and enjoy the beauty of it.
• Suggest you to see Sunrise or Sunset of Rann. At sunset or sunrise time you can see magical glow over salt  flats. So sunrise and sunset are stunning experience at Rann of Kutch.
• Immerse yourself in the culture of Kutch. You can visit local villages, attending traditional dance  and also you can enjoy local food.
• You can also see wildlife in Rann of Kutch.  You can see Indian Wildass or Onager which is found only in Kutch in India. Also a migratory birds like Greater Flamingo, Pelican and many more raptors found here. The endangered spices like Great Indian Bustard also found here. 

Best Time To Visit White Desert of Kutch :

The Best time for experience  white desert of kutch is November to February during winter season. During winter salt march completely dry . Also during this period Rann Utsav managed by Gujarat Tourism. In Rann Utsav you can see colorful festival showcasing the region's culture and traditions.  Also i suggest to plan in November or December because in February salt march are destroyed due to public foot fall and also a dirty too. 

Some Tips while visit White Desert of Kutch :

• You can choose luxury Tent of Rann Utsav or also some affordable tents available near white desert.  
• Comfortable cloths and lose fit cloths are suitable for desert.
• You can capture stunning landscape with vibrant colors during sunrise and sunset with white desert salt marsh. So bring good quality camera to capture stunning images of White Desert of Kutch.

Best Experience of White Desert : On Full moon day you can experience the best of white desert of Kutch.

White Desert of kutch is truly unforgettable destination of Gujarat. It offers unique blend of natural beauty , cultural richness and also adventure and wildlife. So i must suggest whenever you plan to visit Gujarat you must visit Rann of Kutch during  Rann Utsav in November to February. 

Nearest places to visit : Road To Heaven, Dholavira, Kadiya Dhro, Mandvi Beach, Vijay Vilas Palace, Kalo Dungar, Dholavira, Bhuj city, Bujyo Dungar, Smritivan memorial.

Famous dishes of Kutch : Kutchi Dabeli is one of the most famous fast food of Kutch. Also Khichadi - Kadhi,  Kachhi Thali , Odho, Mesukh and Pakwan are famous and must try it.

Famous Cloths of Kutch : Bandhani ( used in sari ,dress material and dupatta), Ajrak ( used in cloths, home decor and accessories)  , Rogan Art ( Used in saree and dress materials), Kutch Embroidery, Kala cotton ( used in home decor and clothing )

Photos Taken from : Samsung S22 mobile, Canon 6D, Canon 80D

Chhatardi Bhuj is also known as Royal Chhatris or Cenotaphs. Chhatardi is a collection of monuments dedicated to deceased rulers of the Jadeja Rajput Dynasty of Kutch. Chhatardi is located in Bhuj  near Hamirsar lake. At Chhatardi many monuments are broken and ruined due to earthquake . But Raydhanji , Desarji and Lakhpatji  monuments are still quit intact. The place is very quite and most people may not visit Chhatardi during Kutch Tour. There is a lot of open area around Chhatardi so place is quite silent  and peacefull during morning and evening. I suggest visit Chhatardi during early morning or evening because at afternoon its too hot. 

Facts and information about Chhatardi :

Architecture : The Cenotaphs of Chhatardi built by red sandstone. The most of the structure of Chhatardi is the Rao Lakha Chhatri and it was designed by Ram Sing Malam. It has a polygonal shape with balcony. It has blue dome  which is influenced by Turkish Architecture. It has two galleries with two entrances.

History : Chhatardi was constructed in 18th century by Jadeja ruler Rao Lakhpatji.  Chhatardis are blend of Rajputana and Mughal architectural style. It was carved out of red Sandstone.  The Rao Lakha Chhatri are designed by Ram sing Malam. A stone Slab near Rao Lakha Chhatri suggest that his 15 wives committed Sati ( Self immolation ) on his funeral. There are lots of figures and images on the pillar.

Current Condition of Chhatardi : The Chhatardi was damaged in 2001 earthquake in Gujarat. The restoration process is ongoing now. Many pillars and structures are damaged and fall down. 

Visiting Chhatardi is worth or not ? :  Well Chhatardi is a historical place so only who is interested in a historical places like it. The place where Chhatardi located is very peaceful and quite. I like place because i like to know about history and old ruler king activities. I like most of old architecture , constructions, designs, sandstone design, carving and domes are main attractions. So answer is Yes it is worth to visit Chhatardi during sunrise or sunset timings.

Chhatardi Timing to Visit :  Chhatardi is open from sunrise to sunset full day. There is no entry ticket for Chhatardi visit. There are not much restriction and also there is no guide facilities. The caretakers can guide you about the Chhatardi and also tell the history about it.  My suggestion is to make some restriction around the main buildings and pillars so people can care about our historical place. 

Best Time To Visit Chhatardi :  Best time to visit Chhatardi is early morning and at evening. During sunrise and sunset the beauty of Chhatardi is at another level. You can take some photos with sunrise or sunset with old architecture pillars make your image beautiful. Also tourist visit Bhuj and Kutch in the winter during November to February so plan your trip with inclusion of Chhatardi.

Location :  Chhatardi is located at southwest Hamirsar lake. It is around 4-5 km from Bhuj Railway station. Also near to Bhuj Airport around 5 km. If you travel from International Airport then Ahmedabad airport is the nearest international Airport. From Ahmedabad it is 350 km approx. and take 7-8 hours drive by car. Also two daily express train frequency from Bhuj to Ahmedabad named Bhuj Express and Kutch Express 

Nearest Places From Chhatardi  Around 5-7 km radius  :  In Bhuj there are some good places to visit in day time like Prag Mahal, Aaina Mahal, Kutch Museum, Swaminarayan Temple, Bhujio Dungar , Vande mataram Memorial, Smritivan Earthquake museum, Harmirsar Lake etc 

Nearest Places from Bhuj  : White Desert, Rann of Kutch, Road To Heaven, Dholavira, Kadiya Dhro, Mandvi beach, Vijay Vilas Palace etc. are the major attraction of Kutch and Bhuj. 

Kadiya Dhro is a fascinating natural wonder located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India. It is looks like a grand canyon site and similar to it. Site is not much big but it is far from main road of Ulat in Kutch. You have to drive around 5 km from main road. There is a local transport of Jeep get to the Kadiya Dhro site and come back in 1 hour . They charge 100-200 INR per person or hire a jeep around 1000-2000 INR depend on season. Most people not visited Kadiya Dhro site because it is not in the main route of Kutch , Bhuj and Rann of Kutch. But i think it worth to visit it.  Kadiya Dhro site was discovered by traveller Varun Suchday in 2020. Kadiya Dhro is located in between White Desert of Kutch ( Rann of Kutch )  and Bhuj City. 

• Grand Canyon of India: Kadiya Dhro is nicknamed the "Grand Canyon of India" due to its resemblance to the famous landmark in the United States. Layers of colorful sandstone have been carved by the wind and river over thousands of years, creating a visually striking landscape.

• Location: It's situated about 32 kilometers from Bhuj, near a small village in the Kutch district.

• Getting There: Reaching Kadiya Dhro requires an off-road drive of around 4-5 kilometers, so a jeep with good ground clearance is recommended. You can find jeeps available for hire locally 

• Best Time to Visit: The ideal time to visit is between November and February, when the weather is pleasant and sunny 

• Things to Do: Enjoy the scenic beauty of the rock formations, explore the surrounding area, and be on the lookout for the diverse birdlife. Keep in mind that crocodiles have been spotted here, so avoid swimming in the water .

• Hidden Gem: Kadiya Dhro was recently included in The New York Times' list of "52 Places to Visit in the World" in 2021, bringing it more recognition .

If you're looking for a unique and off-the-beaten-path destination in Gujarat, Kadiya Dhro is definitely worth considering. Also Kadiya Dhro is less crowded site so you can enjoy a lot without any disturbance. The local jeep allow you for 1 hour visit site but i suggest that reach early morning or late evening to watch sunrise or sunset and hire jeep for atleast 2-3 hours for better visit site. Also some places have good photographs to take with sunset and sunrise. We had  a limited time for visit Kadiya Dhro so we reach in the afternoon in very sunny but still is good site to capture in your camera.

Photos Taken with  : Canon 6D, Canon 80D, Samsund S22 mobile, DJI Mavic Air 2

Places to visit in Kutch : White Desert , Dholavira, Road To Heaven, Bhuj , Smritivan, Mandvi Beach, Vijay Vilas Palace 

The Indian pond heron is also known as the paddybird. It is a small heron bird which  found in southern Iran and east to the Indian subcontinent, Burma, and Sri Lanka. It's a widespread and common bird, but you might easily miss it while it's stalking prey at the edge of small bodies of water. I found it at Thol Bird Sanctuary in Gujarat. Also found in agriculture areas, canals, farms and many more sanctuary like Nal Sarovar, Velavadar sanctuary, Pariej Wetland etc.

Some interesting facts about the Indian pond heron:

• They are stocky birds with short necks, short thick bills, and buff-brown backs.
• In summer, adults can grow long neck feathers.
• Their dull colors transform when they take flight, and the white of their wings makes them very prominent.
• Indian pond Heron are similar to the squacco herons, but back is darker.
• During the breeding season, some individuals may have red legs.
• They are solitary foragers, but a large number of them may feed together during dry seasons when small wetlands have a high concentration of prey.
• Indian pond herons are semi-colonial breeders. They nest in small colonies, often with other wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs.
• Their diet mainly consists of insects, fish, and amphibians.

During breeding season, the Indian pond heron sheds its drab disguise for a more vibrant look. Males develop a reddish-brown back that pops against their yellowish head, neck, and breast. This colorful plumage is a sure sign that the heron is ready to find a mate and raise a family.

The Indian pond heron is a bird of freshwater wetlands. It is found at rice paddies, marshes, ponds, and canals, patiently stalking its prey in shallow water. Fish, frogs, insects, and even small reptiles are all on the menu for this opportunistic eater. Indian pond herons can sometimes be seen feeding in close proximity during dry seasons when prey concentrates in shrinking water bodies.

While typically solitary feeders, Indian pond herons come together for breeding. They form semi-colonial nesting sites, often in trees or shrubs near water. These colonies can sometimes house other wading bird species, creating a bustling neighborhood of feathered friends.

A Bird of Least Concern

Thankfully, the Indian pond heron is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN. Its widespread range contribute to its healthy population. However, threats like habitat loss due to pollution and development remain a concern.

Have you ever spotted an Indian pond heron? These remarkable birds are a testament to nature's wonders, showcasing both the art of camouflage and the beauty of transformation. Keep your eyes peeled next time you visit a wetland – you might just be lucky enough to witness this little wonder in action.

Location in Gujarat : It is widely spread bird in Gujarat also.Indian pond heron found in many bird sanctuaries in Gujarat like Nal Sarovar Bird sanctuary, Thol Bird sanctuary, Pariej Wetland, and many more wetlands, farms, agriculture areas and canals too. 

Vijay vilas palace is located in Kutch, Gujarat near Mandvi beach. Vijay Vilas Palace is popular tourist destination who visited Kuch and Bhuj.The resort was built as summer resort. It was built by Maharao shri Khengarji III for his sons Yuvraj shri Vijayaraji.  The palace was built by red sandstone . It described the Rajput architecture. Vijay Vilas Palace is about 21 km from Mandvi beach. Total time for visiting vijay vilas palace is around 1-2 hours. Vijay Vilas heritage resort has own private beach. Vijay Vilas Palace is also a heritage hotel which provide A/C tented rooms with beach facing and access to private beach. you can have more details on Gujarat Tourism Vijay Vilas palace.

About Vijay Vilas Palace :

• ·         Vijay Vilas Palace was built by Maharao Shri Khengarji III.
• ·         Vijay Vilas palace covered total 700 acre area.
• ·         It has central high dom on pillars and Bengal domes on sides.
• ·         Windows are covered with colored glass and Jalis.
• ·         The palace is in the middle of garden where marble fountain and water channel are passed.
• ·      The Jalis, Jarokhas, Chajas, Chatris , colored glass work and stone carving made by craftsman of Jaipur,Bengal, Rajasthan and Saurashtra.
• ·         On the top of central dome open balcony where you can view 360 of surrounding area.
• ·      Vijay Vilas Palace has its own private beach. You can stay at palace with chargeable basis.  Now its for museum purpose also.
• ·         In Vijay Vilas palace many bollywood movie shoots like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Commando, Lagaan etc.
• ·         Palace construction started in 1920 and completed in 1929.
• ·         Inside palace you can see drawing room.

Entry Tickets for Vijay Vilas Palace Bhuj:

Entry fees for Vijay Vilas Palace is INR 20 per person. Also Camera fees extra around INR 200 and photography charges around INR 50 .

Vijay Vilas Palace Bhuj Timings :

Timings for Vijay Vilas Palace visit is morning  10 AM to 1 PM and in evening 3 PM to 6 PM.

Vijay vilas palace is closed on Thursday for visitors.

Nearest places to visit :

Mandvi Beach is the nearest place to vijay vilas palace  around 20km distance. Beach is very neat and clean and lots of water activities are done here.  It is not white sand beach but you can say its almost white sand beach.

Bhuj city is another place to visit around 65-70 km distance. In Bhuj you can also visit Aina Mahal, Chatradi, Smruti Van, Vandematram Memorial, Bhujyo Dungar etc and also local shopping too.

You can stay at Mandvi there are lots of hotels and resorts near to Mandvi beach. Or you can drive to Bhuj city where you have lots of hotel options to stay and also bhuj is main city of Kutch so you can easily go to White Rann from Bhuj, Dholavira, Road To Heaven, Kadiya Dhro etc.

Road To Heaven is named to the road from Khavda to Dholavira in Kutch Gujarat. The road is so wonderful and scenery so it known  as Road to Heaven .  Khavda to Dholavira distance is around  58km but from Khavda there is a single line narrow road passes through small villages around 15-20 km approx. The main road starts after it and it is around 30-35 km approx. strait to Dholavira. Road is under constriction but almost 70-80% work done. The road heading to the city of Harappan Civilization Dholavira which is one of the largest site of Harappan Civilization and Indus valley Civilization.

Kutch is a largest district of Gujarat and also of India. Main City or Headquarter of Kutch District is Bhuj. Kutch is famous for White Desert or White Rann. In Every winter season from December to February celebrate “ Rann Utsav “ to attract foreigners and also locals. Tent City made in white desert to stay and also cultural programs arranged in it. The main Rann Utsav held in Dhordo of Kutch.

After visit White desert people also visit Dholavira which is nearest destination from Dhordo and also Kalo Dungar in between. From Dhordo you will have to go Khavda first and then from Khavda to Dholavira which is connected through “ Road To Heaven “. Dholavira is located at Khadir Bet. Khadir bet is separated because after monsoon the water filled outer side of bet. So the Road To Heaven is the way to connect Khadir bet to main city Bhuj.

About Road To Heaven Dholavira / Road to Heaven in Kutch :

• ·         It connected from Khavda to Dholavira.
• ·         Road to heaven distance around 30-35 km.
• ·         After monsoon the rain water on the both side of the road. You can see beautiful Greater Flamingo birds in between. Water level is low but muddy.
• ·         After winter in January –February the water on both side of the road is evaporated and turn into salt. Not all water but some areas during the road.
• ·         Water on the both side of the road or Salt/ white layer on both side of the road make the beauty of the road and that’s why it name as “ Road To Heaven “
• ·         When you are on the road there is hardly some traffic you face the open road with both side water or salt at morning or evening make the scenery like a Heaven.

I must suggest to visit Road To Heaven in Kutch while you visit Kutch. Also Visit Dholavira which is one of the largest Harappan Civilization site.

Places to visit near Road To Heaven :

Dholavira, Kalo Dungar, Dhordo, White Desert

Places to Visit near Bhuj : White Desert , Kadiya dhro, Chhatardi, Mandvi beach, Vijay vilas palace, Bhujyo Dungar, Smriti Van, Vande matram memorial

Camera Used : Canon 80D, Canon 6D, DJI Mavic Air2

Asian openbill is also known as Asian openbill stork. It is a large wader bird in stork family. Binominal name of it is Anastomus Oscitans and its family is Ciconiidae. It is generally found in South-east Asia region. Like other stork it size mostly similar to them. Only difference in color as openbill stork is greyish or white in color and glossy black wings. In Gujarat it is found in Thol bird Sanctuary , Nalsarovar Bird sanctuary, Pariej Wetland and agriculture areas at many places. It found in low level wetlands where it can find food easily. In Gujarat like Asian openbill stork other stork bird found like Painted Stork, Wooley Necked Stork etc.

Description and Facts about Asian openbill stork :

• Asian openbill stork is greyish or white in color. Its wings and tail are glossy black in color.
• As it name openbill the gap between lower and upper mandible of the beak. The gap between beak is not seen in young bird. The gap is very useful for gripping snails and shells .
• They are generally found in flocks. 
• Asian openbill generally found near river bank, wetlands, Irrigation canal and agriculture areas.
• It is very rare spices in Panjab and Sind region of Pakistan But it common in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand and Cambodia.
• They are mostly seen in Winter from September to February.
• Asian openbill feed snails and they separate shell with its beak. They also feed frogs, water snakes and large insects.
• Asian openbill breeding season is after monsoon in November to March in Southern India and Shri Lanka and in Northern India and Nepal starts from July to September .  
• In colonial India a sportsman shot Asian openbill for meat  calling  it the  " beef-steak-bird".

In Gujarat there are lots of bird sanctuary where migratory birds and also resident birds visit through all seasons. Thol Bird sanctuary, Nal sarovar , Little Rann of Kutch, Pariej Wetland, Velavadar National Park, Khijadiya sanctuary etc are famous sanctuaries for bird watching. Thol Sanctuary is famous for Flamingo bird, Pelican, Bar headed Goose and many migratory birds. I found 3 spices of stork bird name Painted Stork, Asian openbill stork and Woolly necked stork in thol bird sanctuary. Thol sanctuary, nalsarovar , Little rann of kutch are very near to my home so i visit all sanctuary often.

Gear Used : Canon 6 D, Canon 1000 D , Canon 100-400 mm lens

Location : Thol bird sanctuary, Sanand, Kadi , Gujarat

Dholavira is located in Bhachau taluka in Kutch District of Gujarat. Dholavira is archeological site and it is one of the largest Harappan site among 5 sites. You can go to Dholavira by passing Road to Heaven which is finest route both side salt water. It is also a world heritagesite of UNESCO. Dholavira is located on Tropic of Cancer. It is located on Khadir bet island in the Kutch Desert wildlife Sanctuary. It is in the Greate Rann of Kutch belonging to Indus River. The site was discovered by Shambhudan Gadhvi in 1960. After his effort site was officially discovered in 1967-1968 by archeological survey of India. Total 8 Harappan site and Dholavira is one of the largest site among them. Other major Harappan site discovered are Harappa, Ganeriwala, Mohenjo-Daro, Kalibangan, Rupnagar, Rakhigarhi and Lothal. Dholavira was important center for trade between central Asia, south Gujarat, Punjab and Sindh. The excavation was started by ASI in 1989. There were 13 field excavation between 1990 to 2005.

City Plan of Dholavira :

Dholavira city is in rectangular shape. It spread over 54 acers and total area measures length around 2530 ft and width around 2023.8 ft. City Dholavira is divided in 3 parts as The Citadel, The Middle Town and The Lower Town. The Castel is double in height and bailey area near the castle is where important officials were lived. Middle town has own defense, gates, streets , well systems and large open spaces. Lower town for lower workers which has no boundary walls. In Dholavira there are 2 rivers flown one is Manhar in the south and Mansar in the North side.

Water storage system/ Reservoirs :

Water harvesting and storage system of Dholavira says about advance hydraulic engineering in third millennium BCE. The unique features of Dholavira is water conservation system of reservoirs and channel systems which was never found anywhere in the world before. They store rain water which diverted into rivulets. The system for water harvesting is for long time preserve fresh water in Kutch climate where sometimes rain may not fall for years. Reservoir are cut through stone about 23 ft deep and 259 ft long. Total 16 or more reservoir created of different size.

A huge sign board found around 9.8 ft long on which 10 letters of Indus script. The costal route existed linking Lothal and Dholavira to Sutkagan Dor on the Makran coast.

Language :

The Harappan spoke an unknown language. The Script which was found on large sign board not yet deciphered.

Chronology of Dholavira :

While visit Kutch Dholavira is must visit site in your itinerary. You can visit Dholavira with family to know about old architecture, business coastal area via sea, living things and utensils and most important is water harvesting system. While visit Dholavira must take a guide to know every structure in detail it will cost around 500 INR per group but worth it.

How To reach Dholavira :

Dholavira is 130 km from Bhuj. Bhuj is main city in Kutch where you find airport , railway stations and bus transports. From Bhuj Dholavira around 2 hr 40 min distance. Road is very good just from Khavda road is single line and narrow for half an hour. After it the Road To Heaven started around 30-40 km long and the road is fantastic both side water after monsoon and after evaporate water you can see salt a white desert both side of road.

 Near by places to visit : Road To Heaven, White Rann in Rann Utsav by Gujarat Tourism, Kadiya Dhro, Bhuj City, Smriti Van, Bhujyo Dungar, Mandvi Beach, Vijay Vilas Palace. 

 Camera Used : Canon 6D, Canon 80D, 14mm lens, Samsung S22 Mobile

Painted Stork is a large wader bird. It is found in Asia, southeast Asia and South of Himalayas. Painted stork is not migratory bird. They can fly only short distance depend on weather and food. As per name it looks like beautiful paint on its body with black, white, pink and yellow color in different part of the body. They are generally found in wetlands, agriculture areas small farms and grasslands. In Gujarat they found at many bird sanctuary like Thol Bird Sanctuary, Nalsarovar Sanctuary, Jamnagar , Pariej Wetland  and many other wetlands and outside sanctuary agriculture areas where the water level is low they easily found.

Description And Facts About Painted Stork :

• Painted stork is 90-100 cm tall and wingspan around 150-160 cm. Weight of Painted Stork is around 2-3.5 kg approx.
• Painted Stork have heavy yellow beak. Beak is down curved like an Ibis bird.
• Head of adult painted stork is red or orange.  Legs are yellowish and wings are black and white on tip.
• Male painted stork are larger then female painted stork.
• Juvenile and young Painted stork are whitish grey bill and blackish skin.
• Painted stork are silent mostly.
• Painted stork widely distributed in Asia but they are absent from deserts, high mountain range, dense forest and dry areas.
• They mostly prefer freshwater wetlands, crop fields, irrigation canals etc.  
• They breed on large trees to secure their nest from predators.
• They feed mostly small fish.
• Flock size is not big just less than 5. Sometimes flock size may reach to 50 in agriculture areas.
• The well known nest site in south Indian Village near Kokrebellur near to human habitats. Locals protect their nest during nesting seasons.
• Painted Stork is in Least Concern of IUCN list. Its population is decreasing and is in nearest threaten list.
• Young painted stork call loudly But after 18 month they are voiceless.
• Painted stork can live 28 years .
• Total 19 Stork spices found in the world and among them 8 spices found in India. In India the rare spices of Stork is The Greater Adjutant stork.

In Gujarat i found painted stork at Thol Bird Sanctuary during morning feeding time and also near to my farm which is in agriculture area near Narmada canal. During flying painted stork colors are looks awesome because of multicolor. I just like to watch them feeding very slowly. It long beak attract more for shoot photos of it. Pink color with black wings tip make painted stork more attractive. During sunrise i shoot painted stork at Thol bird sanctuary i took beautiful shot with golden light of sunrise in water. its a silhouette shot of painted stork looks amazing with golden light. 

Camera used : Canon 6D, Canon 1000 D,  Canon 100-400 mm lens

Location : Thol Bird Sanctuary

Exif Data of Image : F-stop : F/8 , Exposure time or Shutter speed : 1/400 sec., ISO :125, Focal Length 400 mm, white balance : Shade

Gandhi Kutir is a convention center is located in Gandhinagar in sector 13 C. It is also known as Dandi Kutir. It is inspired by life of Mahatma Gandhi. It is spread in 34 acers area so it is the biggest convention center in India. Gandhi Kutir developed by Government of Gujarat. Many business summits like Vibrant Gujarat held here. Government of Gujarat developed Mahatma Mandir as a place of development and Unity. It was  built by L&T . The design and planning of Mahatma mandir is environment friendly. Gandhi Kutir is a 41 meter high dome represent the famous Dandi March by Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi Kutir Museum built on life of Mahatma Gandhi . It describe full life about Mahatma Gandhi from childhood to Purna Swaraj against British. In the Gallery there are different levels . At different levels different techniques used  like 3D mapping , 3D holograph, 360 degree projection, Interactive Audio , LED screens and photographs.

There are three part in Mahatma Mandir area :

• Convention Center :  Convention center is column free air-condition hall. Total capacity of convention hall is around 15000 people at a time. Theater style hall can accommodate around  6000 peoples. It has 4 seminar hall with capacity of 500 of 3 hall and 1000 of 1 hall. Convention and exhibition area has natural light and air spaces. It is also equipped with sufficient lighting and waste water management.
• Memorial : Memorial is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi . It was constructed by Shapoorji Pallonji and company limited. In the memory of Dandi March a suspension bridge was built. A dome like structure made by concrete and it represent salt mound  houses, library and research center. Outer side of Dome structure a beautiful garden made for sitting. Also a Chakra or Spinning Wheel was built.
• Central Vista :  A 3 km long and 162 mt wide road constructed to connect Mahatma Mandir and Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Road has three lanes both side and between road there is a garden.

Entry Fee for Gandhi Kutir : 

An entrance fee for Gandhi Kutir is 10 INR for Indians and 200 for foreigners. Free tickets for school and collage students but they have to submit request on school or collage letterhead. Free entry for disabled. 

Timings for Gandhi Kutir :

Timings for Visit Gandhi Kutir is Tuesday to Sunday 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM . Monday Gandhi Kutir visit is closed.

How To Reach Mahatma Mandir :

Nearest Airport is Ahmedabad. From Ahmedabad airport to Mahatma mandir is around around 20-22 km distance.

Nearest Railway station is Gandhinagar railway station.

Hotels near Mahatma Mandir : The Leela Hotel located on Railway station near to Mahatma Mandir . It is 5 star hotel so bit costly. Also cheap hotels available in Gandhinagar too. 

Places to Visit Near Mahatma Mandir : Adalaj ni Vav is the nearest place to visit which was in between Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. Also Narendra Modi Stadium which was world's largest cricket stadium.

Ruddy Shelduck is migratory bird in India and also in Gujarat. It is generally found in many wetland areas and bird sanctuary like Thol Bird Sanctuary, Nal Sarovar , Little rann of Kutch , Pariej Wetland etc. It is known as Brahminy Duck in India. They are resident in Northwest Africa and Ethiopia. Their main breeding area are southeast Europe, China and Mongolia. Ruddy Shelduck is common winter visitor in India during  October to April.  Ruddy shelduck generally found near lakes, rivers , reservoirs and water bodies. Ruddy shelduck is the member of shelduck Genus Tadorna in wildfowl family Anatidae.

Description and Facts about Ruddy Shelduck :

• Length of ruddy shelduck is around 56-70cm . With wingspan length is around 110-135 cm.
• Ruddy shelduck body is orange brown, head is paler , tail is black and wings feather during flight is black also.
• It is migratory bird in India during winter . It breeds in Central Asia, southeast Europe .
• Female Ruddy Shelduck lays around 8 eggs . Female incubate them for four weeks. 
• Ruddy Shelduck call loud nasal honking  notes in series. They can call from ground and from air also.
• Juvenile is darker brown shade but very similar to female.
• Ruddy Shelduck is mainly nocturnal bird. It is omnivorous and feed grass, plants, grains and aquatic invertibates. 
• Population of Ruddy shelduck is around 170000 to 225000 approx.
• Ruddy shelduck is in least concern bird list in IUCN list

Ruddy Shelduck found in pair and small groups. They rarely found in flocks. It had been recorded more than 4000 birds in Koshi Barrage and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in Nepal. Also a 10000 recorded at Lake Duden in Turkey. In Gujarat i found Ruddy Shelduck at Thol Bird Sanctuary and also at Little Rann of Kutch. It is also found in many other wetlands like Nalsarovar Sanctuary, Pariej Wetland etc.  Nearest bird sanctuary near Ahmedabad is Thol Bird Sanctuary where you can find more than 150 different spices of birds and also a migratory birds like Greater Flamingos, Great White Pelican, Ducks, Spoonbill , Bar Headed Goose etc.

Camera used : Canon 6D, Canon 80D, canon 100-400mm lens 

Meteor is a piece of rock in the sky. It is caused by meteoroid crashing through the Earth’s atmosphere. It looks like streak of light in the sky when it comes in the Earth’s atmosphere.  Millions of meteors occur in the sky. They are looks like shooting star. As per the size of meteor you can see vary of streak of light in the sky. Big meteor make big streak of light and small meteor make small streak of light.

Geminids  Meteor shower :

Meteors come from same place in the sky which is called Radiant. Meteors which appear to radiate from constellation Gemini is called Geminids Meteor Shower. Geminids Meteor shower appears in December every year. Geminids Meteoroids are 1000 years old.  Geminids Meteor shower caused by object 3200 Phaethon . Geminids are fast and bright and also it is most favorite meteor shower among all meteor shower. Geminids meteor shower rises from Northeast side and can bring 30-40 at minimum side and 100 -110 at maximum side per hour. The maximum visible of meteors are on peak day of it around 100-120 meteors per hour. Geminids meteor shower rising time around 7-9 pm and its on peak at 2 AM to early morning . At 2 AM you can see maximum meteors of Geminids.

Time-Laps Photography of Geminids Meteor Shower :

To see meteors we need a dark sky and also low pollution area.  First we need to choose best location for Astro photography or star trail photography or milky way photography or Meteor shower photography. We need to choose date when Geminids meteor is on peak . On peak date there is more chance to capture meteors in your camera. Choose an object  in foreground for time-laps photography. Set up your camera on tripod with Interval meter. Focus on subject in foreground which you choose or make your camera lens focus on infinity.  I had taken more than 200 photos in first frame and 150 photos in second frame. 

Time-Laps Settings for Meteor shower

• Set Aperture minimum as your lens supports. Best lens for star photography is 10mm, 14mm which lenses support low aperture like F/1.8 or F/2.8.
• Select manual focus for lens.
• Set interval meter shutter speed 20-25 seconds. More than 25 seconds your shutter speed may create star trail so set it to 20 or 25 seconds max.
• Set interval time around 20-25 seconds. Interval time you can decrease if you choose long exposure noise reduction off in your camera but I suggest to select interval time minimum 20 seconds.
• Set frames approx. 500 frames  
• Set ISO in your camera 1600-3200 depending on your camera noise. For low noise full frame camera is the best option.

 For finding best place for night sky photography or dark area near to you 

Best dark area finder app is

 https://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html#4/39.00/-98.00

https://www.darkskymap.com/nightSkyBrightness

For time and date of meteor shower visit

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/

Post Processing Time-laps photos

After taking more than 500 frames in time-laps you need to see them one by one and check how many meteors are captured in the frames. Those frames in which you captured meteors merge them in 1 frame in photoshop or lightroom.

Also you can make a time-laps video in many software with selecting all your frames. I made video in Picasa software which made time-laps video easily. Only JPEG files selected in picasa so make sure your frames may in JPEG or convert in JPEG.

Geminids meteor shower is one of the best meteor shower among all meteor shower. In India you can see Geminids meteor shower very clear from dark areas. In Gujarat Little Rann of Kutch and Rann of Kutch  area is best for Astro photography. Also Some areas near polo forest, Jessore Sanctuary and Dahod are good spots for night photography. There are also Perseids and Leonids meteor shower also most popular. But in India Geminids meteor shower is the best visible. Perseids meteor shower is occur in August but in India there is  a monsoon season during perseids meteor shower. So i guess for India Geminids meteor shower is the best

Gear Used : Canon 80D, Canon 18-55 mm lens

Common Kingfisher is also known as Eurasian Kingfisher or River Kingfisher.  It is sparrow size bird with blue color on top of the body.  It is widely distributed in North Africa and Eurasia. When rivers freezes in winter they migrate from their. In India common kingfisher also a widely distributed in all over region. They generally found near to the water areas like canals, rivers, river birdges, ponds etc. I took a shot of common kingfisher or Eurasian Kingfisher at Thol bird sanctuary located in Gujarat near Sanand.

Description and facts about Common Kingfisher :

• It is about 16cm long and 25cm with wingspan.

• Its weight around 35-44 gm.

• It has short tail as all kingfisher tail is short.

• It has green blue upperparts and it has green blue neck stripe.

• Juvenile is similar to adult but dull underparts.

• Main flight feathers moult between july to november and it will takes 90-100 days to grow.

• Kingfisher flight too fast on low water.

• It is widely distributed in Europe, Asia and North Africa ( winter visitor ).

• Common kingfisher eats 60% of its body every day.

• Common Kingfisher lays 2-10 eggs which are white glossy in color.

Common Kingfisher in Gujarat :

Common Kingfisher or Small Blue Kingfisher found in Gujarat at many places like Thol Bird Sanctuary, Nalsarovar Bird sanctuary, Velavdar Sanctuary and many other outskirts of Wetlands too. They are very small and cute in look. There are lots of kingfisher bird spices found in Gujarat also. 

Bahucharaji or Becharaji is located in Mehsana district Gujarat. It is a Hindu Temple of Hindu Goddess Bahuchara Mata.Bahucharaji Temple is in Bahucharaji town near shankhalpur village  Mehsana. Bahucharaji Temple is in center of town. Bahucharaji temple managed by State Government. Ma Devi Bahucharaji is worshipped here as Goddess Bala Tripura Sundari.

Story of Bahucharaji temple

As per old people says Dandasur demon was stayed near Becharaji and won Patallok, Mrutyulok and Devloka all three lokas. The Devil has boon from Lord Shiva that a godeess appeared against him in small girl form. All 3 lokas Devas went to Goddess Parambaa to save them from demon. The Bahuchar mata appeared in form of small girl for fist time at Varakhadi tree . So bahuchar mata known as Bala Bahuchara Mata. Goddess killed demon with Trishul and bought peace for people of earth.

• Main vehicle of Bahuchar Mata is cock.
• Bala Yantra of Crystle and encased In gold is worshipped at temple.
• Bahuchar Mata carries sward on top right hand, Abhay mudra on bottom right, a text of scriptures on top left and trident on bottom left.
• In my family we believed that new born male child first time hair removed ( Mundan ) after 1 year in temple.
• It is also believed that any new child don’t speak properly then bought here and on his behalf cock donated to Mata and in few days child can speak properly.
• All over from India devotee came here and pray for blessing of Goddess. On purnima ( full moon ) day is special for devotees. On Chaitri Poonam 5 days fair arranged near the Temple and in city.

Where to Stay in Bahucharaji or Bechraji :

There are lots of Dharamshala , Hotels, Guest Houses in Bahucharaji. All places are in good rate available. People can also go to Mehsana , Shankhalpur for stay . Also people can go to Modhera Sun Temple for visit.

Bahucharaji Mata Temple Darshan Timing :
Bahucharaji Mata temple darshan timing is from 5.30 AM to 10 PM .

Nearest Airport : Ahmedabad
District : Mehsana
Pincode of Bechraji : 384213
 

Bar Headed Goose is high flying geese generally found in Asia. Bar Headed Goose and Bar Headed Geese both name you can use and both are same. It breeds in central Asia. It found many states in India during winter. In India its a winter visitor and breeds also during the month of November to April. For identification its looks simple because of it looks separate from other goose. There are black bars on head makes them different from other goose. It found in lakes and grasslands. I shoot them in Thol Bird Sanctuary near Sanand, Gujarat.

Migratory Birds In Gujarat : Bar Headed Geese/ Bar Headed Goose

You can call Bar Headed Goose or Bar Headed Geese also. It is migratory bird in India and also it can fly long distance and also at high altitude too.  Some description and interesting facts about bar headed goose are as follow

• Bar headed goose size around 70-75 cm length and weight around 2-3.5 kg
• Bar headed Goose color is pale grey. It is easily different from other geese birds as it has black color bars on head so it is called bar headed goose.
• Bar Headed Goose call is like typical goose honking.
• Bar Headed Goose breeds in Central Asia near mountain lake. Also breeds in winter in south Asia.
• Bar Headed Goose lays 3-8 eggs at a time.
• Bar Headed Goose known for high altitude flying bird because it fly over the Himalayas. Before crossing Himalayas it migrate from South Tibet, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia.
• Bar Headed Goose is one of the Wolrd's Highest flying birds. 
• Some report says it fly over Mount Makalu ( fifth highest mountain in World ) around 27825 ft and also from Mount Everest around 29029 ft but this report has no verification but we must say that Bar Headed Goose is high Altitute flying bird. It is an interesting subject to study for Naturalist that why Bar Headed Goose flying so high and extream altitude.
• Bar Headed Goose built their nest in Tibetan Plateau.
• Bar Headed Goose has little large area of wing than other goose because of their weight.
• Bar Headed Goose can migrate around 1600 km in a day.
• Rajhans is the Gujarati name of Bar headed Goose.
• Bar headed Goose eat plants and invertebrates.
• Bar Headed Goose is Least Concern in IUCN list.
• Bar headed Goose Binominal name is Anser Indicus

In Thol Bird Sanctuary lots of migratory birds found and more than 150 different spices of birds found . Main attraction of Thol Bird Sanctuary is Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Great White Pelican , Bar Headed Goose, Ducks, Waders, Blue Throat, Flycatcher, Greater spotted Eagle, Pochard and many more. 

During winter to summer season this bird is found at Thol Lake. I often travel to Thol Lake because its very near to my house. I reach early morning and back after half day. This time Bar headed goose is very close to me. I am so lucky that i got very sharp and clear blurred picture.The bird looks awesome in solo picture and in duo and also in a group. Bar headed goose is very shy bird so its is too difficult to get them very close. They are also high altitude migratory birds and passes over Himalayas from migration time.

Camera Used : Canon 6D, Canon 80 D, Canon 100-400mm lens

Location : Thol Bird Sanctuary, Sanand, Kadi

Places to Visit near Thol Bird Sanctuary : Adalaj Ni Vav, Motera Sun Temple, Little Rann of Kutch, Mahatma Mandir Gandhinagar.

Caterpillar are insects and they are larval stage of  Moths and Butterflies. Caterpillar mostly eat leafs and plants. There are different types of caterpillar in the world. All caterpillar looks different and different in color too. But all caterpillar are larval stage of insects like butterfy and moths. Mostly caterpillar are seen in monsoon season. After the first rain of monsoon the butterflies season is rising and lots of different butterflies you can see. Also in my garden at home and at my farm i found lots of butterflies and moths. When i was travelling in night for Sharad purnima full moon photography i went to narmada dam near prantij village. I found catterpillar group eating a leaf on big tree. I also found moths, Mantis Insect, Different spices of Spiders and the Moon Double Exposure photo i clicked. 

About Caterpillar :

• Caterpillar have soft body. They can grow between moults.
• Size of Caterpillar may different depends on spices but it can be around 1 mm to 14 cm.
• Caterpillar have large number of legs. 
• Sawfly larvae have 2 simple eyes and caterpillar have 12 eyes each side head has 6 eyes.
• Caterpillar are rich protein so many animal feed caterpillar.
• Some caterpillar are camouflage in color so cannot find easily.
• Caterpillar are in feeding behaviour so they can easily hidden from predators. 
• Some caterpillar have bristles for their protection.
• Most caterpillar are harmless but some can harm like alergic reaction. But most caterpillar are safe even you can touch it.
• Caterpillar lifespan up to 15-29 days.
• Caterpillar eyes known as Stemmata.
• Out of Insects - Caterpillar is one big company of Caterpillar Machines, engines, components etc...

Above image of caterpillar moth on leaf make black and white after post processing and looks like black and white abstract image. 

Caterpillar most cause damage to leaves in farms. Some crops and some tree leaves can be damaged by caterpillar group and may some loss for farmers. So farmers spray some insects pesticides for caterpillar and other insects for preventing their crops in farms. 

Generally i saw caterpillar in a single or double but this time i see a huge number of caterpillar moth on leaf. I catch with my camera with macro lense and get good result of Caterpillar moth group on leaf. I also found some different caterpillar at my farm also. This time i got only single caterpillar and double caterpillar. At my trek to Ranituk i also found some group of caterpillar in my trek route. Caterpillar are most annoyed for me. Sometimes i shoot insects with macro lens so i am afraid of getting so closer to them. But my passion helps me to get closer to them and catch photos of them. Generally caterpillar are warms and it turns into insects like butterfly or moths.

Camera Used : Canon 6D, Canon 80D , Canon 100 mm macro lens

Egyptian Vulture is endangered spices as per IUCN list. It is also known as White scavenger Vulture too. In Gujarat i found it at Banaskantha district outskirts flying on farms with pair and one is juvenile. I cann't shoot juvenile because they are far away and far on height too. But my first record shot clicked of Egyptian Vulture in my camera and i am very happy for that. Egyptian Vulture spices is in endangered vulture spices and many conservative societies and bird lovers working on study and their habitats to increase their populations.

About Egyptian Vulture / White scavenger Vulture :

• They generally found in southeast Europe, North America and India
• They are spices of Neophorn percnopterus as per binominal name.
• Adult Egyptian Vulture plumage is white. It has black flight feathers. 
• Length of Egyptian Vulture is around 45-65 cm and weight almost 2kg average.
• They can fly and go over 2000 meter during summer.
• They can migrate from Europe to South Africa.
• They build nest on rocky cliff and on large trees often.
• They generally found in pairs .
• They feed animal carcasses and also small mammals, small prey, lizards, insects, small birds, reptiles, ahmphibians, rodents and dead birds.
• They can live up to 35 to 37 years long.
• Female Egyptian Vulture lay 1 to 3 eggs with splotched Redidish brown in color. Male and female both incubate eggs until 38-45 days approx. Their breeding season is from mid march to june.
• As per IUCN report approx 20000 to 60000 individual remaining.
• They use round stones as hammer  to break large eggs.

Egyptian Vulture in Gujarat :

Well there are many sites of Egyptian Vulture in India. In Gujarat i foun it at Banaskantha District. Lots of other sites but i don't know about it. While i was travelling in car to my home from Jessore Sanctuary i found pair of Egyptian vulture and one juvenile near road side farms. They are flying very high so i can not capture good images but got record shot of Egyptian Vulture. I was very lucky for it that i got atleast good shot to identify. One more tick in my birds of prey checklist. Also my first vulture capture in Gujarat. 

Gear Used : Canon 6 D with Canon 100-400 mm lens.

Location : Banaskantha District farm areas.

Black Tailed Godwit is a wader bird found in many places of Gujarat. It generally found in India, New Zealand , West Africa, West Europe and Australia during winter season. In Gujarat it found in many places like Thol Bird Sanctuary, Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Khijadia Bird Sanctuary and many other muddy areas where they can found their food easily. I got them at Thol Bird Sanctuary during may month.

About Black Tailed Godwit :

• It has long bill around 7 to 10 cm long.
• It has orange-pink base bill with dark tip.
• Legs of Black Tailed Godwit are dark grey or black.
• Adult has brown-grey breast and upperparts and in Juvenile has orange neak and breast.
• Total lenght is around 70-80 cm and weight is almost 250-350 gm.
• Call of Black tailed Godwit is weeka...weeka...weeka
• They build nest on shallow ground.
• They lay eggs and protect them up to 30-50 m.
• They lay 3-6 eggs and color dark brown or olive green.
• They eat insects like grasshoopers, beetles , flies, caterpillers, fish eggs etc.
• Black tailed Godwit hunted in France.
• Population of black tailed godwit all around the world is around 6 to 8 lakhs.

Black tailed Godwit At Thol Lake :

Thol Lake near Ahmedabad around 25 km is one of the best place for birding. Here you can find more than 200 spices of different birds. Waders and flamingos are resident birds here. During winter the lake is full of birds like Flamingos, Pelicans, Sarus Cranes, Demoiselle Crane and many more tree birds like Asian paradise flycatcher, Fantail, bee eaters , kingfisher birds , swamphen etc. Must visit place near Ahmedabad for bird watchers. 

I shoot Black tailed godwit very near in Thol Lake and take a ground level shot to make good bokeh image. I was too far but i use canon 100-400 mm lens so i got good result no too good but good enough. I shoot 2 Black tailed Godwit territory fight and also matting of black tailed godwit too. Well i was confused either they fight or matting . Their long bill looks dangerous when you are very close to them. Taking a ground level shot is little bit difficult if the crowiling area is full of mud or wet. Generally i shoot without disturbing birds and shoot from much distance.

Gear Used : Canon 6 D body , Canon 100-400 mm lens

Location : Thol Bird Sanctuary

There are lots of Spider spices in the world. Spiders are good subject to shoot as a macro photo. Actually spiders are everywhere along to home and gardens. Jumping spider are group of spider constitute the family  salticidae. This family contained over 600 described genera and over 6000 spices. Jumping spiders are easily identify from other spiders from their eyes and shape. The jumping spiders have faces that are roughly rectangular surface. The eyes are forward looking on flat face. The body length of jumping spider are around 1 to 25 mm. They generally found in forest , desert, scrub lands,temperate forest too. Toxicity of jumping spider is very less for humans. so jumping spider bite is not poisonous. Spiders are not insects because they belongs to family Salticidae and classified as Arachnids.

I found jumping spider during my trip to LRK ( Little Rann Of Kutch ). also its a live photography competition Name WILD CLICKS powered by canon in December 2019. Spiders in macro photography looks beautiful . For Macro Photography you need good light and good camera gears.

Some Facts about Jumping spider : 

• The life of jumping spider is around 6 month to 2-3 years. 
• Jumping spider are shy but you can easily catch them. 
• They have 8 eyes. 
• Once you will be familiar with spider then it enjoy your company. 
• As per research of Miami university spiders like music. 
• Generally they build their web in corners and dense trees , small plants etc.
• All spiders are predators.
• Jumping spider can change sudden blood flow in their body.
• Jumping spider do not use web for hunting.
• Jumping spider can dance also.
• Jumping spider can jump 10-50 times of their body.
• Jumping spider have 8 legs as all spider have 8 legs.

About Little Rann of Kutch : 

LRK or little rann of kutch is a Wild ass sanctuary of Gujarat. Sanctuary for Indian Wild Ass but its also very well known for raptors and migratory birds. During winter some migratory birds like flamingos, pelican, bar headed goose, raptors, falcons, eagles, owls  are regular visitors. So the sanctuary is more important for wildlife in Gujarat where you can find all birds, mammals and also 360 view of rann of kutch. Also some wetland areas near rann are beautiful for sunset and sunrise. You can also get some good macro photos of insects of rann for making good theme of COLORS OF RANN. I tried to shoot this spider with background of sun but its too hard for me . because it cant steady on one place for a second but got good pictures.

Gear used : Canon 80 D , Canon 6 D ,Canon 100mm Macro , Flash not fired

Location : Little Rann Of Kutch, Dasada

Demoiselle Crane is migratory bird in Gujarat. It is spices of Crane family. It is Winter visitor bird for India. In Gujarat it found in many places and sanctuaries. Demoiselle crane found in Gujarat in Thol Bird Sanctuary, Nalsarovar bird Sanctuary, Velavadar National Park and also outskirts of these sanctuaries. When we  are travelling to Nalsarovar sanctuary some local people tell us about Vadla village Wetland area and they told us about thousands of birds here. So we cancel nalsarovar and go their. And look what we found thousand of Demoiselle cranes are their. Very difficult to choose in your frame what to shoot. Also flying shots and group shots and solo shots of Demoiselle cranes we got. 

Description of Demoiselle Crane : 

• Demoiselle Crane birds similar to Sarus Crane only difference of color and its also a smallest crane too. 
• Demoiselle crane bird is about 100 cm long and its weight approx 3 kg. It is small from Sarus crane. 
• It has long black  on fore-neck and white strip on neck side. 
• It can live different environments. 
• They migrate from Siberia to china. 
• In India they spend winter for rest . 
• It migrate over Himalayas from India. Demoiselle crane can fly over Himalayas in high altitude about 25000 Feet. 
• They generally found in low water wetland area where they can fishing easily.
• Demoiselle crane's Gujarati name is Karkaro  and also have another name in Hindi is Koonj in North India.

Flying Demoiselle Crane looks awesome in frame. Also black and white photo of bird in flight looks beautiful. A group of Demoiselle Crane migrate and stay in Nalsarovar , Thol, LRK in Gujarat. Birds in flight in black and white looks like abstract image of birds. 

Crane is very shy bird and if you want to go close to them they run away faster than you. You must have patience to capture photos of Demoiselle Crane or Sarus Crane bird. 

Location :: Near Vadla village

Near Nalsarovar lake,Nearest place Ahmedabad.

The Time of the day between Daylight and Night or Darkness is Twilight. Simply means after sunset or before sunrise time you can see beautiful tri color sky with diffused and sometimes pinkish sky. At this moment The Sun is below the horizons but sunrays are disordered due to atmosphere of Earth and it make color of twilight.

Difference between Twilight And Dusk : 

Time between Sunset and Dusk is called Twilight. At twilight moment there is little bit light in the sky. When the Sun is at 18 degree below the horizon that point is called Dusk. There is no sunlight at Dusk point. 

Types of Twilight :

There are three types of Twilight

1.  Civil Twilight ( nearest to the Horizon ) 
2. Astronomical Twilight ( fareast from Horizon )
3. Nautical Twilight (  Fareast from Horizon )

About Thol Bird Sanctuary :

Thol Bird Sanctuary is located near Thol Village in Kadi in Mehsana District Gujarat. It was made in 1912 for irrigation tank. Later on the winter visitor birds and also lots of migratory birds came here it was declared as an Sanctuary in 1988. Thol Lake or Thol Bird Sanctuary is one of most favorite place for bird watchers. Here you can find lots of resident birds, Migratory Birds, Waders , Water birds, Serpents, Tortoies, Squirrels, Monitor Lizards etc. The different kinds of birds is the beauty of Thol Lake. 

Twilight Sky At Thol Lake :

I oftenly visit Thol Lake for birding. During winter season i went for flemingos and pelicans specially. Winter is best time for Thol Lake. When my cousine came from USA we visited Thol Sanctuary. Generally i went early morning at 7 AM but my cousine was very exited to visit thol so we came early 5 AM at Thol Lake. There was a darkness at Thol Lake and also The gate open at 6 AM. so we wait for open the gate. When the gate was open and we just enter the lake we saw Twilight sky . A tri color sky looks amazing. I had never seen that type of sky before. Different shade of sky before 10 minutes of sunrise. That was experienced that we are in heaven. My cousine was very happy to see Twilight sky. 

Gear Used : Canon 6 D camera, Canon 50 mm lens

How to Reach Thol Lake : Thol lake is near to Ahmedabad. Distance from Ahmedabad is around 25-30 km. So nearest Airport is Ahmedabad and Railway Station is Ahmedabad. You can go by road from Ahmedabad. 

What is Double Exposure Photography ? : Well Double exposure is a new technique of 2 photos combined and make a single frame. Simply Take 2 photos and make it 1 photo in camera. This technique is support in DSLR cameras ( not all Dslr cameras ) to click 2 different images and merge into 1 image. Actually you can do it in photoshop or some other software but in camera technique gives amazing experience of double exposure photography.

My first Double Exposure Photo : I just heard about this techniques from my friend and i was eagrly waiting to shoot good subject in Double exposure photography. Near days Sharad Punam Full Moon is coming and i plan for it to shoot Double exposure moon photo. I need good location so i choose Narmada Dam near Prantij village. I got good result but i could get better. That is my first time double exposure photography so result may be poor. I take 2 shots and camera merged it. First i take moon close up with 100-400 mm lens and then second image take in landscape and merged with first moon image. 

What you need for Double exposure photography : Tripod, Good DSLR camera, Different Lenses like zoom and wide angle, Remote shutter

Sharad Punam : Sharad Purnima :

Sharad poonam is also known as Kojagiri poonam and Raas Poornima. On that day the moon was very bright. This day is dedicated to Goddess Laxmi. In west Bengal this day is known as Laxmi Puja ( Lokkhi Puja ) . On the full moon day of the Lunar Month the harvest festival is falling. And its makes end of the monsoon season.

What Sharad Means : 

As per Hindu calendar it contains six seasons. Sharad is followed by Hemant and preceded by Varsha. The seasons are Vasant, Grishma, Varsha, Hemant, Sharad, Shishir. Each season of two months. Sharad season is from September to October. In Sharad season the sky is very clear after monsoon season.

Sweets of Sharad Poonam : 

After Goddess Laxmi puja it followed by some delicious sweets like Rice Kheer also known as Payesh or Doodh Pauha in Gujarati, Coconut Ladoo ( Narkel Naru ) offered as Naivedya to Goddess and Goddess Laxmi's Vahan Owl.

Full Moon Photo landscape : 

On Sharad Poonam day me and my friends going to a good landscape location where we find good Horizon and Moon Rising of Full moon. We get good location of Narmada Dam near to my place and we get some good Full Moon Double exposure photos with River Dam location. Double exposure photography is really interesting and get some good but manipulated results in one RAW file of your camera. In one frame i got full Moon photo with 400mm zoom lens and in another shot i take 30 sec long exposure shot with 18-55mm lens of dam and the merge image results are stunning.

How to shoot Double exposure in Mobile and DSLR ? :

There are also some apps on mobile may be paid basis for double exposure photography named Image Blender, Double Exposure , Enlight etc... New DSLR camera of Canon, Nikon, Sony etc may support double exposure photography up to 9 stops. So you can combine 9 images into 1.

I will try with new subject next time and post it . If any query for Double exposure photography feel free to write me i am happy to help you. 

Camera Used : Canon 80 D, Canon 18-55 mm lens, Canon 100-400 mm lens.

Indian Wild Ass known as Gudhkhur, Khur or Indian Onager in local Gujarati language. The population was estimated around 4450 before 5-6 years. Indian Wild Ass population increasing in numbers and extending its range from Little Rann of Kutch to Great Rann of Kutch. Little Rann Of Kutch where found  the world's largest population of Wild ass .The wild ass eat grass, leaves and fruits. Wild ass is very shy animal. If you want to go closer to them they ran away. I shoot photo from far distance with my tele lens. There was very low light at sunset and with tele lens u cant go much brighter image but i tried with sunset and wild ass together. Wild ass with sunset photo looks awesome. 

Facts about Indian Wild Ass :

• The range of Indian Wild Ass is western India, Pakistan and Afghanistan .
• In India Indian wild ass found only in Gujarat in Great Rann of Kutch , Little rann of kutch in Wild ass Sanctuary.
• In Gujarat Indian wild ass also found in small numbers in Banaskantha, Surendranagar, Mehsana and some outskirts of wild ass sanctuary.
• Indian Wild ass feed grass, leaves and fruit plants.
• Indian wild ass is the fastest animal of India.
• Speed of Indian wild ass is around 70 to 80 km per hour.
• Monsoon is matting season of Indian Wild Ass.
• Indian wild ass related subspecies are Mongolian Wild Ass, Turkmenian Kulan, Persian Onager and Syrian Wild Ass .
• In India there is another Wild ass spices named Tibetan Wild Ass found in Leh Ladakh and Tibet areas,

About Wild Ass Sanctuary Gujarat : 

Little rann of Kutch has two good sites one is Bajana where you can enter LRK from forest office. Another site is Dasada where good wetlands and outskirts area of amazing agricultural lands. From Bajana entrance route you can find amazing migratory birds and wild ass too. Lots of winter visitor birds and raptors found here. Best time to visit for raptors is November to February. Dasada village has good wetlands. Also some good wetlands area outside LRK where you can find migratory birds and some resident birds too. Also short eared owl found here and also endanger Bastard bird is found here. LRK is prefect sanctuary for wildlife and birders. Here you can find all types of birds and mammals. In little rann of kutch spices of invertibrates, insects, spiders, amphibians, reptiles, lizards, snakes etc are found. Sanctuary is in a desert of Kutch.

At the edge of sunset wild ass is beautiful subject to shoot. LRK has good horizon site  to capture 360 degree view . Little rann of kutch is very good sanctuary for birders too. In winter season LRK, little rann of kutch is best place to visit for raptors. Lots of migratory birds and raptors are found here . Wild ass is looks like a donkey. Same body structure as donkey but only the difference is color. LRK is good place for wildlife photographer bcz you found mammals , birds, migratory birds, raptors and also owls and endanger spices of Bastard found here.

The running wild asses make frame very attractive. Also a golden light with Indian Wild Ass looks beautiful frame and theme photo of colors of rann. 

Best time to visit LRK is November to march. You can go from Bajana wildlife sanctuary gate to enter.

LRK : Little rann of Kutch

Nearest village :: DASADA, BAJANA

From Ahmadabad to LRK distance about 100-120 km

Gear used : Canon 1000D, Canon 6D, Canon 100-400mm lens

Short Eared Owl is generally found in grassland. It is in family Strigidae. Its ear cannot be visible in regular pose so may be it called short eared owl. You can see its ears only in defensive pose of it. It is generally found in open area and grasslands. But the color of feathers is simillar to dry grassland so to find it is very difficult in grassland. In Gujarat it found in Little Rann of Kutch mostly and easily. Little rann of kutch is very popular place for birding and specially for Wild Ass.

Description of Short Eared Owl :

• It is medium size owl.
• Length of short eared owl is 34-43 cm and weight is 475 gm aprrox. 
• It has short , black and strong bill.
• It has big head, large eyes, wings are broad and a short neck.
• It is  described as moth and bat like in flight.
• Its wingspan almost 33 - 43 inch.

Some Facts to know about Short Eared Owl :

• It is simillar in looks with Long Eared Owl just difference is ear tuff of long eared owl can easily visible.
• It breeds in Europe, North and south America , Asia and Caribbean etc.
• It is known to relocate to area of higher population of its food.
• Breeding season is once in  a year around in March or April in Northen Hemisphere.
• It nests on ground in medow and it made by grass and vagitations.
• They hunts mostly at night and mouse or rat is favorite food of its. It also feed small mammals like squirell, mole, rat, bats etc.
• It is listed endangered in Mexico.
• 4 to 7 eggs approx. found in Short eared owl clutch and eggs  incubated  by female in 20-35 days approx.
• It is partially migratory.
• Call of short eared owl is waowk....waowk......waowk or toot.....toot......toot . During breeding it sounds also like eeee - yerp sound.

Birds of Little Rann of Kutch :

Little rann of kutch is very well known for Wild Ass. But its is heaven for birding too. Lots of migratory birds and Specially Raptors found during winter season . Short Eared Owl is also resident bird and breeds here too. Lrk is sanctuary that you can take 360 degree horizons view. Beautiful sunset and sunrise locations here. There are also many outskirts area near LRK is good for birding and horizons photos.

How to Reach LRK :  Little rann of kutch is about 165 km from Ahmedabad. You can go by own car inside sanctuary. 

Nearest Airport is Ahmedabad.

Gear Used : Canon 6 D, Canon 100-400 mm lens

Ants are generally found everywhere.They are also in home garden area and also inside home. Two types of ants found near you are small ants and Giant Ants. They also have different colors in small and giants like black and red color ants. Big black ants are also called Black Carpenter Ant. Giant black ants found mostly in forest environment.Carpenter ant have known for extensive tunnel construction. They pass their food from lead to end. Carpenter Ants are good example of Unity and strength. They eat small Insects and predators.

In my farm and in my home garden lots of small ants and Carpenter Ants are seen. They are really good subject to shoot. If you go for some Unity theme photography then ants are good subject. A huge number of carpenter black ants found at one small place. These both pictures taken at my home. Giant black ants or Carpenter Ant on flower plant and i never miss chance to shoot them. I like to shoot Miniature photography. But have too much patience to shoot them. Also you have to be careful that they dont bite you. Well Small ants and Giant black carpenter ants bite is not poisonous to human but giant black ant bite is painful like a small needle inject.

Things Know about Carpenter Ants : 

• Carpenter ants are not generally harmful to humans but they can damage your home wood items. 
• Mostly ants are attract by sweet items in your home. 
• So place your sweet items like sugar, honey, Syrups , jelly etc at covered place or at height so ants cannot reach easily their.
• The Queen of carpenter ant is about 13 to 17 mm length. 
• After mating with male the queen looks for new nesting site. 
• The queen runs colony and if you kill queen of ants then the colony will not survive.

Above two images of Carpenter ants in black and white looks beautiful. These two photographs i put into Abstract Category. Well i love black and white imges but if you have subject in black color then i suggest to shoot in black and white that make your frame outstanding. I am testing my canon 100 mm macro lens for these images so may be clearity is low but i got good results afterall.

How to get rid of Ants ? : It is difficult to find ant nest. Follow ants and find the nest. You can protect your house by ants with good cleaning surface and use of termite protection liquid. Just block their paths with white cements or inject some acid or vinegar or liquid medical treatment for ants . Best way is Anti Termite Liquid but it smells lot for few days.

Rudabai Stepwell : In Gujarati language stepwell called Vav. Adalaj Stepwell is located in Adalaj village very near to Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Stepwell also called stepped pond. Stepwell built in 5th to 19th centuries. Stepwell were made for collact rainwater. It is made from stones . Adalaj Stepwell is amazing example of architecture and designs. Thats why it attract more tourists in Ahmedabad.

History and things to know About Adalaj Stepwell :

• Adalaj stepwell also known as Adalaj Ni Vav or Rudabai Stepwell.
• It was built in 1498.
• Adalaj stepwell construction started by Rana Veer singh but after he killed in war so muslim king Mahmud Begada built it so the stepwell is Indo - Islamic architectural style.
• Adalaj stepwell is five stories deep. At the top it is octagonal in plan built on large carved pillars.
• The motif of flowers and graphics of islamic architectural bend well with symbols of Jain and Hindu Gods carved at various levels.
• Interesting thing to show carved from single block of stone is of Ami Khumbor and Kalp Vriksha.
• The temperature inside the well is 5 degree lower then outside temperature.

A story of Adalaj Stepwell :

Well like a Taj Mahal story there is a small story about Adalaj Ni Vav too. Adalaj stepwell construction started by king Rana Veer Singh of Vaghela Dynasty. Its kingdom is very small and his people suffering from water many times. Thatswhy he planned to built Stepwell and started it in 1498. Meanwhile Muslim king Mohammed Begda attack Rana Veer Singh Kingdom and Rana Veer Singh was killed in that war. Rana Veer Singh's Widow Rani Roopba also known as Rani Rudabai was beautiful lady. After death of Veer Singh she wanted perform Sati but Mohammed Begda offer her to marry with him. She agreed on condition of to complate the building of Stepwell. After complating building she jump into a well instead of Marry Mohammaed begda and end her life.

Adalaj Stepwell is located in Adalaj Village near Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. It is 18 km from North Ahmedabad and 5 Km from Gandhinagar city. It is old architectural design so it is added to Heritage buildings In Gujarat. Well managed now a days. A half day tour to Adalaj Ni Vav is must for tourist and worth to visit.  

Eastern imperial eagle is member of  Aquilinae family. It is also called booted eagle. It is winter visitor in LRK Gujarat, India. It migrate form southeast Europe. It also breeds in Southeast Europe. My first siting of Eastern Imperial Eagle at LRK ( Little Rann Of Kutch ) Gujarat. There are also other migratory raptors are found here. Little rann of Kutch sanctuary is known for Raptors during winter season. 

Description of Eastern Imperial Eagle : 

It is large in size and dark in color. White spots on its wings and wings color is dark grey. It has long and thick neck, square tipped tail and well feathered strong legs. Generally Male are little smaller than female. In talk of Eastern Imperial Eagle size length is around 70-90 cm . Average wing spawn is about 5 to 9 ft. Eastern Imperial Eagle is a predator and also called Birds Of Prey. It generally hunts small mammals, reptiles and birds. 

Some facts about Eastern Imperial Eagle : 

• There may be confusion between Eastern Imperial Eagle and Golden Eagle. 
• Difference is Eastern Imperial Eagle is smaller then Golden Eagle. Also Its head is larger than golden eagle. 
• Eastern Imperial Eagle migrate from southeast Europe to middle east . 
• Some Eastern Imperial Eagle is breed at Lake Baikal will migrate to south Asia. 
• In winter Eastern Imperial Eagle found in Gujarat, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
• Eastern Imperial Eagle weight around 2.5 kg
• Eastern Imperial Eagle bird call is owk owk..... gok gok or kraw kraw
• Best time to catch Eastern Imperial Eagle in Gujarat is November to February.

About Little Rann Of Kutch :

Little Rann Of Kutch is very well known for Raptors and migratory birds. During winter season there are lots of migratory birds like Flamingo birds, Pelican, Goose birds  etc and also Raptors, falcons, harriers etc. So that LRK is beautiful place to visit for wildlife lovers in Gujarat. Also small birds are good attractions for bird watchers of Gujarat. And the best think is the Horizons Of LRK.  A beautiful sunset and sunrise views from LRK you can see a flat surface looks beautiful. Amazing wetland areas also in LRK and also outskirts of LRK.

Little rann Of kutch is about 120 km from Ahmadabad. You can go Bajana Forest Entry gate for enter in LRK. Also some outskirts village area where you can find good wetlands for birds and sunset or sunrise shooting.

Location : Little Rann of Kutch

Best time to Visit LRK : November to March

Nearest Airport is Ahmedabad. 

Gear Used : Canon 1000 D with Canon 100-400 mm lens.

Nature Trek To Jessore Sanctuary : Jessore sanctuary is located in Banaskantha District of Gujarat. The sanctuary is at the border of Gujarat and Rajasthan near Iqbalgadh. The sanctuary is famous for Sloth Bear and so its called Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary. Sanctuary is located in Jessore and Aravalli Mountain Range. In 1978 It declared as a sanctuary. The area of sanctuary is around 180 sq km.

View from Jessore Sanctuary Forest Office :

Above photos are taken from Jessore Sanctuary Forest office. There is a small dam next to Forest office of Jessore sanctuary. In summer season water level in a dam is very low. During Winter and monsoon lake is full of water. Dam holds water for Sanctuary and for agriculture to surrounding areas. The view of mountain range is belongs to Jessore Sanctuary. So the view is awesome from Forest Office of Jessore.

Trek To Kedarnath Temple At Jessore Sanctuary : 

Well Jessore sanctuary is best for nature trail. Also there is a Temple Of Kedarnath Mahadev inside Sanctuary. So if you want to go for small trek in Gujarat then Jessore Sanctuary is best place. From Jessore Forest office to Kedarnath Mahadev temple is small and easy trek with stairs. You can enjoy jungle trail during this trek. Amazing view at Kedarnath temple 24 hours water in Kund of Temple no one knows where the water came from. 

Flora and Fauna Jessore Sanctuary : 

• Total 406 spices of plants found at Jessore sanctuary
• Among them 90 trees, 194 herbs, 33 climbers, 6 pteridophytes, 2 bryophytes, 31 grasses, 1 epiphyte and 2 fungi spices .
• There are also Leopard, Porcupine, Blue Bull, Sambar, Wild Boar and Specially Sloth bear found here.
• Jessore Sanctuary is also heaven for Bird watchers because there are more than 100 spices of birds including migratory birds found here like Grey Hornbill, Indian Pitta Hawk Eagle, Scops Owl , Rufous treepie, Asian paradise Flycatchers and many more.
• Also more than 10 reptiles spices found here like Indian Python ( endangered ), Saw scaled Viper, monitor lizard and kobra.
• Also Muggar, Turtle and Varanus found here. 

Trek To Muniji Kutiya :

From Base of Jessore to Kedarnath mahadev Trek is easy and with stairs. After Kedarnath mahadev to Muniji ni Kutiya is hill climb area and its really enjoyable trek in jungle. You can found different spices of trees during trek. At Muniji Ni Kutiya early morning you can see beautiful Sunrise as i captured in above image.

How to Reach Jessore Sanctuary :

Nearest Railway station for Jessore sanctuary is Iqbalgadh around 8 km from Sanctuary. Also outstat traveller can go to Palanpur railway station which 45 km far from sanctuary and hire car from palanpur. Nearest Airport is Ahmedabad. For resident of Gujarat i prefer go by own car or go to Iqbalgadh. 

Backyard Birds : Dove bird is symbol of peace. It is loveable bird. It is very friendly to humans. Dove bird is now backyard bird because you can find it in your backyard. There are lots of spices of dove bird. Generally i found blue pegion at my home but these time i found Eurasian Collared Dove at my home. And look what close image i got it amazing.

The spices Eurasian collared dove is native Asia and Europe. There are two subspices recognised of Eurasian collared Dove 

• Western Collared Dove
• Burmese Collared Dove

Western Collared dove ranges Europe to India, China and Korea. Burmese Collared Dove ranges Central Myanmar to southern China-Eastern China. eurasian collared dove is not migratory. Eurasian collared Dove has been great colonisers of the bird world. They travelling from its native range to colder countries and many of them permanently stay their. 

Facts and Description of Eurasian Collared Dove :

• Its a medium size dove but smaller then wood pegion and similar to rock pegion.
• From Beak to Tail length is 13 inch.
• With wingspan length is 19-22 inches.
• Weight of Eurasian collared dove is 120-240 g.
• Color of eurasian collared dove is grey buff to pinkish grey and blue grey underwing patch.
• The tail feathers are grey buff and dark grey and tipped white below.
• Legs are short and bill is black
• Eyes appear black from distance but iris is red and narrow rim of reddish brown iris can be seen.
• Juveniles differs from collar and iris.
• Eurasian collared dove make large sound call  goo-goo-goo

Breeding and feeding :

• It breed near to human habitats where food and trees are available.
• Females lays two eggs in nest which color is white.
• Eggs incubates by both male and female. Male incubates in day time and female incubates at night.
• Incubation period is about 14-18 days.
• They feed grains, seeds and insects.
• They feed in farms and grain stores in a flock.
• Flock of Eurasian collared dove is from 10-40 most probably but it has been recorded up to 10000.

Pegion or Dove is a bird living in a human habitations. So they are very familier to humans. I also put some grains to feed them at my home. Generally Pigeon or Dove is very comman so you can shoot them photo anywhere with close up. I never take a shot of pigeon in jungle trail but this time at home The dove sitting on my gate light and i see beautiful background of my backyard trees with green background of Dove. I cann't stop my fingers to catch a photo. And see the result is great enough that i think The dove with green background. I also happy that i shoot too close to its eyes that i can see red eyes of Dove. Thats the beautiful part of the photo. 

Gear Used : Canon 6 D with Canon 100-400 mm lens.

Birds Of Gujarat ( Dendrocitta vagabunda ) : Rufous Treepie bird is a member of Crow family. It found in open scrub, forests, urban area and agriculture areas. The bird with long tail and beautiful color combination of Tail is bullish grey and stipped black. I shoot it at Jessore sloth bear sanctuary during Kedarnath temple trek. It generally found in India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand and Bangladesh. 

Description About Rufous Treepie : 

• Body color is cinnamon and black head of Rufous Treepie bird.
• It has long Tail with bullish grey and black tipped.
• White patch in wings.
• The lower back and underparts are tawny brown to orange brown in color.
• Feet and legs are black.

Things to Know about Rufous Treepie Bird :

• In India Rufous Treepie breeding season is April to June.
• It generally lays 3 to 5 eggs.
• It built nest in bushes and trees.
• Rufous Treepie Bird call is bob - o - link  or ko - tree .
• Kotri is the local name of the Rufous Treepie bird.
• Gujarati Name of Rufous Treepie is Kherkhato
• Treepie also known for feed on fruits of which are toxic to mammals.

The bird Rufous Treepie is familier to get photographed. It has large sound so you can easily find him in a jungle by sound directions. Also a color is attractive so found easily. 

Photos Taken At Jessore Sanctuary, Gujarat.

Gear Used : Canon 1000 D , Canon 55-250 mm Lens

Asiatic Lions are only in Gir national park located in Gujarat near famous Somnath Temple. It is also known as Sasan Gir. The park made in 1965 . It cover 1412 sq km area. At the 19th century only few of Asiatic lions were survive and all of them only in Gujarat's Sasan Gir. It is the only area in Asia where Asiatic lion live. In 2015 lion census conducted and the population of lions has been count around 523  upside then 2010 . There are 109 male, 201 Female and  213 cubs. Gir national park is only a park in India where you can see Asiatic Lions aka lions of Gir. The park has also approx 300  species of birds, 38 types of mammals , 37 spices of reptiles and more than 2000 spices of insects.

Things to know about Asiatic Lion / Gir Lions :

• Asiatic lions surviving only in India And only In Gujarat 
• Asiatic lions found in Gujarat only in Gir National Park.
• Asiatic Lion is one of the pantherine cats in India.
• North and west African Lion genetic are closer  to Asiatic Lion.
• The post orbital area of Asiatic Lion is shorter than African Lion.
• Adult male skull length is around 340 mm. and female skull length around 300 mm.
• Mane is less developed of Asiatic Lion in compare to African Lion.
• Gir and Girnar hill systems are comprise for  Asiatic Lion habitat.
• Gir Sanctuary, Gir National Park, Pania Sanctuary, Mitiyala Sanctuary and Girnar sanctuary are five areas are to save and protect Asiatic Lions.
• Barda Wildlife Sanctuary recently established for second home for Asiatic Lions.
• Male and Female lions are associate for few days while matting. Male and Female Lion rarely live and feed together.
• Lion can live 8-10 years in wild also they may live more than 25 years too. It depends on weather, ecology, Health of lion, Critical illness etc.

Lions of Gir : Gir Lions 

Gir lion also known as Asiatic lions are found only in India and in Gujarat only. So Sasan Gir is the only place where you can see Gir lions Or Asiatic Lions. You can go to Gir safari via online booking and enjoy the jungle safari . The jungle itself beautiful even you can not find Lions during safari. Most Trees found in Gir National Park are Teak wood tree . There are also Banyan tree, Jamun, Kalam, Amli and many more trees found at Gir Forest. The Gir Lions mostly eat by Hunting Chital , Sambar , Deer etc . Also Gir Lions Hunts local Cow / Cattle and Carrion . 

How Many Lions are there in Gir National Park : 

As per letest in 2020 there are more than 650 Asiatic Lions in Gir National Park. The numbers are increase almost 28 to 30 % from 2015 counting. The lions are one of the five pantherian cat in India. It is also known as Indian Lion. Asiatic Lions population is increasing but still you can say Asiatic lions endangered spices because their area are restricted only in Gujarat. Population growing is good but still Asiatic Lions are in endangered spices in IUCN list.

Gir Safari Booking online : Gir Lion Safari

You can book only online safari for Jungle trail in Gir National Park. You can book from girlion.in .  Two timings for Gir safari  morning and evening. In morning safari timings are 6 AM to 9 AM and 6:45 AM to 9:45 AM and 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. and in evening safari timings are 3 PM to 6 PM and 4 PM to 7 PM.  Price for safari is approx 4000 INR per Jeep. It depends on members too.  More member (max 5 per jeep ) is cheaper for per person safari. Safari price includes Jeep, Driver, Guide and permit charges but may be some convenience fee extra charged. 

Asiatic Lions vs African Lions :

Main differance between Asiatic Lion vs African Lion is the male Asiatic lion is shorter then African lion. Also Asiatic Lion hair color is darker then African Lion hair. Also growth of hair (mane ) in African Lion is more than Asiatic Lions.

HOW TO REACH GIR ::

Nearest airport from Sasan Gir is Diu ( Domestic Airport ) but Nearest International Airport is Ahmedabad. Nearest railway station is Junaghadh . Lots of Hotels near Gir u can stay. Also some farmhouse can give room for rent. When u want to visit book safari online. Safari booking done online only so plan accordingly ur visit. Also take morning and evening safari as i prefer bcz no one lucky as first time to see lion in first safari. Also Devadia is reserve park for those who didn't see lions in safari in jungle. Here sure 100% to see lions and leopards. For resident of Gujarat people best way to go by own car. Find some good hotels and loudge near safari entrance.

Lions Breeding :

During breeding period you can not mess with lions. Also in monsoon the National park is closed but it not necessary that only in monsoon they breed. In Junaghadh Sakkarbaug Zoo made as breeding center. So it helps to study about lions behavour . And the sakkarbaug zoo successfully breeds 180 lions and more than 120 lions have been given to zoos in India and also in Foriegn.

Devaliya : 

Devaliya is an iterpretation zone where all habitats are covered in some area with fenses and also from entry gate. Here you can have half hour bus safari with 100 % sure see major animals like Lions and Leopard. It will promote nature education and also reduce some rush for jungle safari too. 

About Gir National Park : Flora and Fauna of Gir National Park

Gir National park is a wild life sanctuary and it also known as Sasan Gir. Asiatic Lions in India only here you can see. So the sanctuary is very important for wildlife and also for Asiatic Lions. There are also other mammals found here like Indian Leopard, Jungle Cat, striped Hyena, Golden Jackal, Fox etc. Also some reptiles like Cobra, Crocodial , Monitor Lizard and tortoise too. Also found more than 280 spices of birds here too so Gir national park is good for birding too. Some times Gir forest faces some cyclone and jungle fire too but its depends on ecology and nature so its not in human hand. So at end i must tell you that visit Gir National Park atleast once. Also Gujarat Tourism will helps you a lot in visit Gir forest and give more informations what you need. Gujarat tourism also promote to visit Sasan Gir as Khushboo Gujarat Ki. But i must say enjoying a Jungle ride even you cant see any animal is also a superb experience. Just enjoying nature.

KUNO Palpur in Madhya Pradesh may be the second home for Asiatic Lions in future. I am not sure about it i just heard some news about it. 

Note : All above photos are taken at Gir Forest none of above image is from Devaliya interpretation zone.

Gear Used : Canon 6D and canon  100-400 mm lens, Canon 1000D with 18-55 mm lens