Sambhar Lake

Sambhar Lake is located in the Jaipur and Nagaur districts of the state of Rajasthan and is the largest inland salt lake of India. It spreads over approximately 230 square kms with a circumference of nearly 100 kms. It is also a designated Ramsar Site i.e.it is a wetland area of international importance especially as a waterfowl habitat.

It is due to this reason that I decided to go in winters as this area is a heaven for migratory birds from northern Asia when they come here in huge numbers from October to March each year.

Waterfowls

Sambhar town is located about 100 kms from Jaipur. It took me nearly eight hours to reach (including breaks) due to the fact that Delhi- Jaipur National Highways nowadays in a complete mess due to the six laning project.

Nilgai

I stayed in the Sambhar Salt Works Circuit House which gives a wide angle view of the whole area as it is located at a height. But I would write about the Circuit House in another post.

Peacocks

The best time to see the birds and other wild life activity is the morning period as they are more active at this time therefore I ventured out before the dawn the next day.

A huge Banyan tree

Besides the migratory birds I was also able to see lots of pheasants, peafowls and peahens as well as several Nilgais. Nilgai is the biggest antelope that can be found on the Indian sub continent.

Nilgai giving a pose

The waterfowls and various kind of migratory ducks were in abundant numbers. The area is dotted with water bodies and some bodies have abundance of one variety whereas the other water bodies were home to other varieties.

Waterfowls

Besides the waterfowls I was able to spot a few Indian Pond Herons as well.

A nesting Pond Heron 

Picture perfect

A paradise for birdwatchers

The area is also host to vast number of flamingos but they will not come near the human habitations and prefer the bigger water bodies which are surrounded by marsh land. Due to this one cannot go too near to view them properly. One can only make out flocks of them but cannot see them clearly with naked eyes so it is advisable to carry powerful binoculars and telephoto lenses.

Dried up part of the lake

I took my car on the dried part of the lake as far as possible before the marsh prevented me to go further. In the photo above the car can be seen on the lake bed with the Sakhambari temple and the cenotaph on the hill in the background.

Marsh land in front and the lake shimmering in the background 

To move around it is essential that you have a vehicle as the area is vast as for example the distance from the town to the Sakhambari temple is about 22 kms. Also one should avoid cars like Honda City which has very low clearance from the ground. As I knew that I can expect rough roads in the interiors of Rajasthan therefore I took the Swift for the journey.

Shakambari Temple at Sambhar

The Sakhambari temple does not receive many visitors on a normal day. It seems that only during the fair large number of people come and visit. I was the only visitor, for example, on the day I reached there. Like so many other temples in India, the vicinity has not been kept clean as one can see polythene packs lying around the temple area as well as in the small temple baoli (water reservoir).

Sakhambari Cenotaph

The cenotaph on the hill above the Sakhambari temple is an excellent spot to view the area far and wide. The trees in the photo below look like patches of grass as the photo was taken from above.

View from the cenotaph of the Sakhambari temple

Rajasthan Tourism has unfortunately not developed this area nor are they advertising about it though it is definitely a paradise for the ornithologists.

Flora at Renuka

Renuka does not only have a rich fauna but equally a rich flora also. I went there when it is not really a flowering season but still there were several flowering plants and trees. Also there were several kind of creepers as well as water plants. 

In abundance were these red, orange and yellowish flowering plants with a height of 5-10 foot.

Red and Orange flowers

Around the Renuka lake there are trees with huge girths denoting that they are quite old trees.

A huge tree with multiple trunks

Some of the creepers make very beautiful patterns. The creepers would climb any tree be it the Dates or any other tree with a strong trunk.

A creeper on a Date tree

Then there were beautiful water flowers growing in the lake itself.

Beautiful White small flowers with big leaves

The Date trees I think are not part of the local ecology but has been planted there.

A monkey resting on a Date tree

The Renuka lake is located in the Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh and the nearest town is Nahan.

General vegetation around the Renuka lake 

Renka has only one hotel by the same name itself run by the HPTDC whereas all other properties are at least three kilometers away.

Water on a Lotus leaf

The water in the lake is relatively clean though some parts of the lake are now being consumed by the silting and the weeds.

A creeper completely covering a tree

Renuka is a serene little place away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist circuits.

White flowers and lemon like wild fruit

Best time to be at Renuka would be from October to March.

Wild flowers

Once you gain height above the Renuka lake the Pine trees start. At lowers heights these are small in size but become larger and larger with the increase in altitude. These are replaced by deodar once one reaches areas where in winters there is snowfall.

Pine trees

More red flowers with dense vegetation in the background.

Flowers

I would write on the aquatic life is another post.

Fauna in Renuka

I had gone to Renuka in Himachal in 2011 but I was not able to write all the posts due to work commitments and also due to my travelling to Canada and China.

I have written four posts earlier about Renuka and these can be accessed here - 

Accomdation at Renuka

Renuka - the Reclining Woman

Pray Without Effort?

Nature...

This time I decided to write about the fauna of the place. I found a snake lazing around - either it was its siesta time or it was not hungry as it was almost not moving.

A snake enjoying the sun!

Of course the place was full of colourful butterflies

The Troika of the butterflies

The place had its share of monkeys and sometimes they can be quite a bully and would alsomost try and snatch stuff from your hands. Noticed this happening with lot many people when they were trying to feed the fish in the lake. Though the particular monkey in the photo below was quite content to sit on this sloping date tree.

Monkey on a Date Tree

Then there were 'Langurs'. Now these are very different in nature compared to the monkeys and would normally not disturb you as long as you do not disturb them.

A Langur on the roof of the Hotel at Renuka

If one goes around the circumference of the lake one would be able to see several kinds of deer as well as other animals.

Deer at Renuka

I could spot Barasingha deer. The place also had bison, tiger, lions and bears. The roar of the lion could be heard even a kilometer away!

Barasingha

What you see in the picture below is not hanging nests on the tress but are huge bats hanging upside down. The area is a habitat to thousands of these huge bats who are hanging on these tress for most part of the day.

Hanging Bats

But in the evening they all get out of their slumber and then fly around and then one can see the huge wings of these bats.

Huge Bats flying

Thought there were several birds that I saw I can hardly name a few except for example the kingfisher. The bird below that I clicked is probably the Yellow wagtail.

Yellow Wagtail?