Bird Sanctuary Kumbhargaon (पक्षी निरीक्षण )

Bhigavan-Kumbhrgaon Bird Sanctuary

Bhigvan-Kubhargaon is a famous and popular bird watching point in Pune District. It is situated on the backwaters of Ujani Dam which in built on river Bheema ( a tributary of river Krishna).

How to Teach : It is approx. 105 km Via Pune Solapur NH-09. Take a left turn  4/5 km after Bhigavan village. There is a board on highway of Kumbhargoan Bird Sanctuary from where you will have to go 5/6 km to reach Bird observation point.

Google Map

Best Season to visit : Best season is December and better From September to February. Best time to watch birds are 6am to 10am and 5pm to sunset. Sun set is mind-blowing.

Food n Water :  A small local villagers have made arrangement of food and water. Veg and non veg are served. The local Fish called 'Chilapi' is the specialty. Stay.Stay facility rooms are available in the village for individuals and a group. Agnipankh Hotel is run by Mr. Sandip Nagare ( Mob 9960610615/8975017405) who has boats with trained guide and his hotel is approved by MTDC and provides quality food and stay.

Parking : Ample space for parking is available near the hotel and boating place for all type of vehicles e.g. Bus, car and bikes.

What to See : To watch birds you need to take tour on the lake by a boat. whole round may take 100 minutes. You will find different types of birds including local and foreign tourists species which comes from all the way Siberia. Flamingo and painted storks are the main attraction. Apart from these many birds can be found like little Cormorant, Purple Swamphen, Little Grebe, Spotbill Duck, Rubby Shelduck, Northem Shoveler, Asian Openbill, Kingfisher, brown headed Gull, Heron, Egret, Black-winged Stilt etc.
The book on birds are available on the spot. must purchase to make bird watch meaningful.
Guide/ Boat driver keeps fishes with him. He throws it towards birds to bring them closer. You can get best opportunity to click.
You need to take a boat on hire approx. rent is Rs.800 per boat. But can be available on per seat basis, then you will have to wait to fill all the seats.  

Precautions : You need Camera with max zoom, binocular, Hat/Cap, Sun glasses and water bottles. Protect yourself from Sunlight at boating. 
Do not feed birds man-made things like chips and packed food. 
Do not step down from boat to get close photographs, birds will fly away and will not come unless you leave the place. 
Hold kids properly, they may jump from boat due to excitement. 
Do not take risky position to click best photo or selfy.
Ask to guide continuously. Listen and follow the instruction given by a guide- boatwala.

Grey Heron

Painted Stork ( चित्र बलाक )

Painted Stork ( चित्र बलाक )

Painted Stork ( चित्र बलाक )

Painted Stork ( चित्र बलाक )

कुरव (Brown-headed Gull)

कुरव (Brown-headed Gull)

नदी सुरय River Tern

रोहित Flamingo

शेकाट्या Black-winged Stilt

Nearby Places : Bhigavan, Ujani Dam, Bhuleshwar Temple, Baramati City, Siddhatek Ganapati and Thwoor Ganapati
Petrol Pump : There are many petrol pumps on the NH-09.

(Information is based on the latest visit in Feb 2016)

Lohgad Fort Trek

लोहगड- Lohgad Fort

Lohgad is the most popular trek in the monsoon. Thousands of tourists visit on every weekend in the monsoon season.

How to Reach : There are three ways to reach Lohgad from Pune. its around 70/80 km from Pune.

1.Via Local Train - Take the Pune to Lonavla local train. Get down to Malavali(मळवली) Station then get out walk to left exist of the station. Inquire the route to shops nearby.  It is around Six km walk towards the fort. It is a vehicle road, so in good condition. You will reach first in Bhaje (भाजे ) Village. Then trek will start on ascending way! The trail is in good conditions, now vehicle goes by this road to the base of Lohgad.
There are Parking and restaurant facilities are available at Bhaje village. There are Bhaje Caves and Bhaje Waterfall are there. 
It will take one and half hour to reach Lohgad from Bhaje.

2.Via Mumbai Highway - Pune- National Highway to Mumbai- Talegaon-Vadgaon-Kamshet-Left turn to Kale Vasti-Pawna Dam-Dudhiware Khind(Pass)-right turn- rough road-Ghera Lohgad-Lohgad base village

3.Via Paud / Pavna Dam - Pune-Pirangut-Paud bus stand -right turn - Chhale-Kolvan-Hadashi-Javan-Tikona Peth-Kalewasti-Pawna dam-Dhudhiware khind(Pass)-right turn- rough road-Ghera Lohgad-Lohgad base village.

Food n Water : Veg-non veg food available on the base village.There are many small restaurants are run by local villagers. Bottled water available too. Maharstrian snacks like Vadapav, Kandabhaji, Pohe etc. are very tasty. Full meal also be prepared by order. 
On the weekdays of other than monsoon, few restaurants are opened. 

Stay : Stay facility is available at the base village to the local homes. The ample place is there on the top of the fort.

Parking :

About Trek - This is very Simple trek from the base of the fort. The trek is suitable for all the ages. It will take 20/30 minutes to reach on the top. To explore the fort one hour is essential. The complete cloud cover can be experienced in the monsoon season. 

What to See:

Best Season to Visit -
Since its a simple trek you can visit anytime of the year. Monsoon is the best with clouds on the top.

Precaution :

Nearby Tourists Attraction:

How to Reach : 
1) Pune-Pirangut-Paud-Left Turn Kolvan-Hadashi-Javan-Tikona Peth (Base)- Tikona fort (Total 75 KM)
2) Via AH47- Pune- Talegaon-Vagaon Maval-Kamshet-Left turn leave highway- to pawana nagar- Kale Vasti- Left Turn- Tikona Peth (Base Village)- Tikona fort (Total70KM)  

Food n Water : 
No Food and water on the top. Better to carry food. Lemon juice and tea stall may be there on weekends of Monsoon.
Water and Tea are available at the base village i.e. Tikona Peth. Marathi snacks like Kandabhaji, Pohe, Vadapaw are available on small local restaurant are there at the base. 

 Google-Lohgad

Google Lohgad (left)-Visapur (right)