By Abhishek Choudhury(25th June, 2008)
Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan largest saltwater lake is a resting place for
numerous migrator from Siberia who flock in the shimmering lake. Sambhar
Lake lies about 60km west of Jaipur, shaped in a perfect elliptical and home
to thousands of birds. The place is best visited in the winter when the only
sound you hear is the voice of the birds.
We started our journey just after dawn from Jaipur. There are two roads
lead to Sambhar Lake. We took the National Highway 8 to Dudu and then head
north to Sambhar. We rested at Nawa, a small village that adorned with
ancient buildings and typical rural Rajasthani ambiance. The people here
were extremely hospitable. The men sported a giant colorful turban and wome
attired in colorful saris. We spent little bit of our time strolling around
the village, exposing rural streets and lanes. A good place for photography.
An old villager insisted us to visit the temple of Goddess Shakambari, who
believed to bestow the lake upon the people of the area some 2500 years ago.
Finally, we were at the vicinity of Sambhar Lake and already saw some
unknown variety of aves. We saw some waterfowl, such as flamingo who
attracted by the delicious spirulina algae that flourishes when the water
reaches a medium degree of salinity. Though post monsson months are
considered the best time to see falmingos and we reached there in winter. We
also spotted pelicans, shifting and murmuring on the glassy water and dark
mud. We also spotted many other species such as storks, sandpipers, red
shanks, black winged stilts, coots, shovelers and many more we couldn't
identify.
Three of us decided to walk around the lake and collected some pink and
white feathers. During sunset, the water changed it hue to molten gold and
then shades of peach and orange before the mauves and the purples of dusk
took over. Soon the wilderness turned to midnight blue and silver amidst the
contented baritone of shovelers in that heart twisting desolation. The day
ended with a stark silence, the sky was velvet black with diamond dots and
we were preparing to leave the place with ample of good memories.
Famous Bird Sanctuaries In India
Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary
Periyar National Park
Rajasthan Cities
Jaipur
Ajmer
Jaisalmer
