Nahargarh Fort @ Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Nahargarh fort is located at the top of the Aravalli Hills overlooking a beautiful lake on one side and a densely populated "Pink City" on the other side, in the state of Rajasthan, India. Situated not far from the other two infamous forts in the city of Jaipur; The Amer Fort and The Jaigarh Fort, approximately 10 km from Jaipur city center. It can be reached in 30 minutes by car or three-wheeler, climbing the hills, from Jaipur city center. 

The best time to visit Nahargarh Fort is during winter, from November to March with the temperature between 10-20 degree centigrade and a clear blue sky. As for foreign visitors, the three forts can be visited in one day or two. It is recommended to visit Nahargarh Fort last. This is due to the altitude and orientation of the Fort makes it the best place to admire amazing sunset overseeing the "Pink City" while enjoying favorite drinks and foods at the restaurant just few steps away. Other attraction inside the fort is Wax Museum. 

The entrance to the fort is opened daily from 10.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. A small entrance fee is collected at the entrance to the fort which is charged differently between local and foreign tourists.

 

The Lake and "Pink City" viewed from Nahargarh Fort

Red-headed Trogon @ Fraser's Hill, Pahang, Malaysia

Red-headed Trogon (Harpactes erythrocephalus) is a colorful, very active and attractive bird among few hundred species of birds can be found in Fraser's Hill, Pahang, Malaysia. The bird usually can be sighted at the forest edges around the Hill. 

Fraser's Hill is definitely one of the best birding destinations in Malaysia and in Asia as it is a residence to many exotic birds. The hill covers a large area of tropical rain forest, waterfalls, trekking and streams. There are abundant accommodations, food and recreational activities provided at the Hill. It can be reached in approximately two hours from Kuala Lumpur by car. Fraser's Hill has the largest bird population and varieties. It certainly entices many birders from all over the world to be there. The main target birds in Fraser's Hill include different types laughingthrush, broadbills, cuckoos, flycathers, woodpackers, barbets, babblers, Niltavas, Minivets and Trogons just to name a few. 

As part of it's promotion and global recognition, Fraser's Hill holds Fraser's Hill International Bird Race annually. The hill is truly a heaven for bird and nature lovers.

Common Kingfisher @ Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is a colorful, attractive and active bird among many hundred of bird species can be found in Ranthambore National Park. It can be found at lower elevation in the forest of the park.  

Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park needs no introduction to the world. It is famous for Royal Bengal Tiger, the biggest wild cat alive today. The park has the most tiger population per square kilometer and it is also the largest national park in the state of Rajasthan, India. Originally as project tiger reserves in 1973, the park was declared as National Park on 1 November 1980. 

Inside the Ranthambore National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ranthambore Fort is situated. 

How to get to Ranthambore National Park

Located in a small town called Sawai Madhopur, the park can be reached in approximately 3.5 hours by car from Jaipur international airport for a distance of about 160 km. Train and buses are also available mode of transportation from Jaipur to Sawai Madhopur. 

Although Sawai Madhopur is a small town, to cater for both local and foreign tourists visiting Ranthambore National Park, there are abundant hotels, resorts, villas and guesthouses of different standards and prices. Not forgetting restaurants, cafe, convenience shops of all kinds and standards.  

Best time to visit Ranthambore National Park

For a purpose of tiger sighting, the best time to visit the park is during summer; from April to June. During this period the temperature can go up to 40 - 48 degree centigrade. Hence get ready with suitable clothing and a lot of water. Summer generally is non-peak period for Ranthambore National Park as tourists try to avoid very hot weather. However, for serious animal or tiger lovers and wildlife photographers, this is the best period to capture the mammal as they come out to find water at the designated water points.

The peak period where most tourists visit the park is during winter, from November to February where the temperature can drop to 4-10 degree centigrade in the early morning and below 15 in the afternoon. 

Ranthambore National Park is closed during monsoon season, from July to September and it is coincide with a mating season for the tigers. 

Safari at Ranthambore National Park

Safari can be pre-booked or booked from the local agents in the small town of Sawai Madhopur. However, it is advisable to pre-booked the safari as it may be fully booked and the price may be hiked during the peak season. Generally, there are two type of vehicles for safari which allowed to enter into the park, a small jeep with maximum 6 passengers, with a driver and a guide. The other type of vehicle is called Canter, a larger 20-seater modified vehicle. Both vehicles are opened top vehicle. 

The desired type of vehicle can also be chosen during the booking is made as it is different in price. 

For serious wildlife photographers, a small jeep is much desirable as vehicle can move much faster and can enter smaller roads to find animals in the park. 

The Untold Rules of Safari at Ranthambore National Park

Although the total area of the park is approximately 1,300 square kilometers, only less than 30% is opened to public. The area that opens to public is divided into 10 zones, Zone 1 - 6 are considered premium zones where possibility of sighting tiger is better than other zones and they are nearer to the town. Zone 7 -10 cover more hilly and rocky areas with less chances to sight the tigers and it takes about one hour to reach the entrance of the zone from town where hotels are located. 

Although, the zone for each safari vehicle visits is determined by the forestry department officer based on computerized system, speak to local agent where booking is made for desired zones. Beware, some local agents will charge more for the arrangement to enter the premium zones. 

Secondly, the park is opened in two time slots, morning from 6.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. and afternoon from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. At the end of each time slot, all safari vehicles must exit the park. Hence, the effective duration for safari for each time slot is only 2 hours. As such, arrange safari vehicle for early pickup so the jeep will be at the entrance of designated zone as it opens.  

For serious wildlife lovers and photographers, request for the entire day safari without exiting the park can also be made at the local agent where the booking is made so as to allow more time to search for animal in the park. However, do expect much more expensive fee. 

What to expect in Ranthambore National Park

Visitors to the park expect to see the Royal Bengal Tiger. During summer, the chances to sight this mammal is more than 70% whist only 30% chances during winter. Besides tiger, for wild cat family, leopard, caracal and jungle cat can also be found here. 

Other common animal can be sighted in the park include spotted deer, sambar deer, antelope, gray langur just to name a few. 

The park is also a home to more than 350 species of birds, 40 species of mammal and reptiles and few hundred species of plants.

Mangrove Crab @ Pulau Indah Klang, Selangor, Malaysia

Mangrove Crab is a very cute, colorful and attractive creatures among hundred species of creatures can be found in Pulau Indah Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. Mangrove crab can be found at the mangrove forest edges a long the main roads in the island.

Pulau Indah Klang is yet another wonderful birding destinations in Selangor, Malaysia as it is a residence to many exotic birds and has become migratory birds' destination too. The island has large area of mangrove forest, seashore, streams and lowland forest. Pulau Indah Klang is a popular weekend destination to the local for family get away, fishing, sailing, kite flying and even drone flying. Small number of accommodations, local food and recreational activities are provided along the seashore of the island. 

Pulau Indah Klang can be reached in approximately one hour from Kuala Lumpur city center by car, passing through the bridge connecting the mainland and the island. The island has a large bird population and varieties. It certainly entices many birders to be there. The main target birds in Pulau Indah includes different types of kingfisher, woodpeckers, land birds, shrikes, kites, pigeons, egrets and herons just to name a few.