Continuing with our birdwatching explorations around Nashik, we recently revisited the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Van Udyan, located near the Panduleni area on the Nashik–Mumbai highway, close to Ambad MIDC. My last visit here was way back in the summer of 2017—more than eight years ago. You can read the post on that visit here.
This time, it eventually became a two-day exploration. On the first day, we could only spend about an hour and explore a fraction of the area. The experience left us curious and eager, so we followed up with a second visit the very next day. By God’s grace, we managed to carve out some free time in the late afternoon again.
Day 1 Experience
We set off at around 4:00 pm and reached the garden by 4:30 pm. Entry tickets are priced at ₹30 per adult, and only cash is accepted. Since we didn’t have cash on hand, we had to return to a nearby tea stall, pay him via UPI, and collect cash for the tickets. Parking is limited, but vehicles can be parked along the service road beside the tea stall if space near the gate is unavailable.
First Impressions
The garden has undergone noticeable revamping, with further renovations still in progress. The atmosphere felt welcoming right from the entrance. Informative plaques along the pathways provided details about local birds, butterflies, and other aspects of nature.
Exploring the Trails
We took the right-side trail leading towards a water body, hoping to spot birds nearby. To our surprise, the area opened up into a vast stretch of forestation, with tall trees, shrubs, and grassy patches interwoven with nature trails. This was far larger and richer than what we remembered from our earlier visit.
As we walked slowly along the trails, scanning the trees and shrubs, every step carried the anticipation of spotting a new bird. We managed to identify and photograph several species, though many remained elusive due to the dense foliage and the absence of binoculars.
Closing the Day
By 5:30 pm, the winter sun was setting, and security personnel began whistling to signal closing time. We had covered only about one-third of the garden, leaving much unexplored. Determined to return, we asked about the timings and learned that the garden is open from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. This dashed our hopes of an early morning visit, but we resolved to come back earlier in the afternoon the next day to make the most of the available time.
Though time was short, the garden’s potential was evident, and we left with excitement for the next exploration.
Day 2 Experience
We hadn’t expected to find time for birdwatching again the very next day, but to our surprise everything fell into place. By 3:00 pm we were free, and by 3:30 pm we reached the Butterfly Garden once more—this time prepared with cash for the entry tickets.
Being a Saturday, the atmosphere was quite different compared to the previous day. The garden was bustling with visitors—families with children, groups of friends, and couples enjoying the weekend.
Exploring the Left Trail
This time we took the left-side trail, which began with concrete-tiled pathways. The initial stretch was lively with people, but as we moved deeper, the noise faded and we found ourselves in quieter surroundings.
- The first highlight was spotting a Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, perched gracefully and offering a few good photo opportunities.
- Soon after, I noticed a Red-breasted Flycatcher, while Chaitali excitedly called out—she had spotted an Asian Paradise Flycatcher with its long white tail weaving through the bamboo thickets. I rushed over with the camera, but only managed a fleeting glimpse before it disappeared deeper into the grove.
The start was exhilarating, and we hoped for more surprises as we continued.
Covering More Ground
With only about an hour and a half before closing time, we tried to move briskly, scanning the trees and shrubs along different trails. The garden’s expanse made it impossible to cover everything, but the variety of bird activity kept us engaged.
One challenge we faced was the lack of a proper birding binocular. Many species were moving high up in the canopy or hidden deep within foliage, making identification difficult. A good pair of binoculars has now become a priority for our future birdwatching trips.
By 5:30 pm, the security whistles signaled closing time once again. Though we couldn’t explore the entire park, the two-day experience was immensely rewarding.
Consolidated Bird Species List
Across both days (approx. 2.5 hours of birdwatching), we identified the following species:
| # | Species | Day Spotted | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher | D2 | — |
| 2 | Red-breasted Flycatcher | D1 + D2 | — |
| 3 | Spot-breasted Fantail | D1 + D2 | — |
| 4 | Tawny-bellied Babbler | D1 | Lifer |
| 5 | Asian Paradise Flycatcher | D2 | — |
| 6 | Asian Green Bee-eater | D1 + D2 | — |
| 7 | Sulphur-bellied Warbler | D2 | — |
| 8 | Common Iora | D2 | Lifer |
| 9 | Asian Tit | D1 + D2 | — |
| 10 | Eastern Cattle Egret | D1 + D2 | — |
| 11 | Little Cormorant | D2 | — |
| 12 | Common Kingfisher | D1 + D2 | — |
| 13 | White-throated Kingfisher | D1 + D2 | — |
| 14 | Common Sandpiper | D1 + D2 | — |
| 15 | Red-wattled Lapwing | D1 | — |
| 16 | Large-billed Crow | D1 + D2 | — |
| 17 | Black Kite | D1 + D2 | — |
| 18 | Jungle Myna | D1 + D2 | — |
| 19 | Red-naped Ibis / Black Ibis | D1 | — |
| 20 | Coppersmith Barbet | D1 | — |
| 21 | Black Drongo | D2 | — |
| 22 | Ashy Drongo | D1 + D2 | — |
| 23 | Rock Pigeon | D1 + D2 | — |
| 24 | Greater Coucal | D1 + D2 | — |
| 25 | Ashy Prinia | D1 + D2 | — |
| 26 | Oriental Magpie Robin | D2 | — |
| 27 | White-browed Wagtail | D2 | — |
Non-bird sightings
Indian Softshell Turtle, Blue Tiger Butterfly (among others), Palm Squirrel.
Tips for Visitors
- Entry Fee: ₹30 per adult. Only cash is accepted, so carry change with you.
- Timings: Open from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. Early mornings are not allowed, so plan for afternoons.
- Parking: Limited parking near the gate. If full, you can park along the service road beside the small tea stall.
- Best Visiting Hours: Winter afternoons (around 3:00–3:30 pm) give you enough time to explore before closing.
- Crowd Factor: Weekends, especially Saturdays and Sundays, can be busy with families and groups. Weekdays may be quieter for birdwatching.
- Trails:
- Right trail → leads to water bodies and forested areas.
- Left trail → starts with tiled pathways, then opens into quieter zones with bamboo groves, forested areas. Both trails are interconnected.
- Essentials to Carry:
- A good pair of binoculars (highly recommended for spotting birds in dense foliage).
- Camera with zoom lens for photography.
- Water bottle.
- Other Wildlife: Apart from birds, you may spot spiders, butterflies (like the Blue Tiger), squirrels, and even turtles.
- Renovations: The garden is being revamped, so expect some ongoing work but also new facilities and informative plaques.
Conclusion
Our two-day birdwatching adventure at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Van Udyan was both refreshing and rewarding. The garden offered a rich variety of habitats that supported an impressive diversity of birdlife. Despite the short time and the challenge of not having binoculars, we managed to spot and identify many species—including a few lifers that made the trip extra special. We look forward to returning with better preparation (especially binoculars) and more time.