Location:
Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve, Nainital District, Uttarakhand
Distances:
Pawalgarh is 20 km from Ramnagar, 45 km from Haldwani. Pawalgarh is 256 km from Delhi and 258 km from Dehradun.
Dates:
24th Oct (Thursday) to 27th Oct 2019 (Sunday)
Timings:
Start: First trail will begin at 0800 hrs on 24th Oct 2019
End: Last trail will end at 530 pm on 27th Oct 2019
Background:
Uttarakhand with 65% forest area is home to some terrific biodiversity. With more than 500 species of butterflies, and innumerable moth species, it is a haven for butterfly and moth watchers. Titli Trust, with support from local communities and the Uttarakhand Forest Department, plans to hold annual butterfly and moth festivals in the state. It is intended to have two “Titli Utsavs” every year at different locations, pre- and post-monsoon, based on suitability of the location. The first of these festivals was held at Devalsari from 31st May to 3rd June 2018; the second of these festivals was held at Devalsari from 9th to 12th May 2019 and this, the third in the series is being held between 24th and 27th Oct 2019 at Pawalgarh.
Purpose:
The primary purpose of the Titli Utsavs is to promote lesser-known destinations in Uttarakhand, ensure benefits to local communities through community ecotourism and to support the conservation of butterflies and moth through citizen science.
About Pawalgarh Prakrati Prahari:
Pawalgarh Prakrati Prahari (PPP) is a registered non-profit society established at Ramnagar in 2016 that works on uniting communities, livelihoods and conservation. It runs conservation and livelihood programs in the Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve landscape. Its livelihood programs include trained nature guides, community and individual homestays in villages in the landscape. More about Pawalgarh Prakrati Prahari at www.pawalgarh.org.
About Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve:
The home of the Bachelor of Pawalgarh The “Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve” (PCR), located in the hill state of Uttarakhand, derives its name from the village Pawalgarh, situated in the foothills of Nainital District. Pawalgarh, home to some marvelous forests, became famous after the publication of the story “Bachelor of Powalgarh” in the book “Maneaters of Kumaon” published by the legendary hunter-turned-conservationist, Jim Corbett, in 1944. Nicknamed the “Bachelor of Powalgarh” the tiger was the largest ever hunted by Jim Corbett, and took over a decade to hunt. It was finally shot in 1930.
Lush green forests of the Himalayan foothills adorn Pawalgarh with the River Kosi to the west and River Dabka in the eastern part of the Reserve. The Khichdi River bisects the Reserve from north to south, and flows into the Dabka River. The Siwalik ranges bound the northern side and the southern area is bounded by the villages of Pawalgarh, Mankanthpur, Kyari, Bailparao, Gaibua & Chhoi lying on Ramnagar-Haldwani highway. These have agrarian populations, which are more or less heavily dependent upon the forest resources leading to the degradation of forest habitat. If properly managed, the Reserve can fulfill the forest-based needs of the local people as well as providing alternative livelihood opportunities. PCR is a very strategic part of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) and Siwalik Elephant Corridor flanked by Corbett National Park on the west and Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary on the east.
Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve: Facts and Figures
Area: 58.25 sq. km. Altitude: 300 to 700 msl Average annual rainfall: 1,500 mm
Min-Max Temperature: 2° C to 43° C
Habitat: Lying mostly in the Bhabhar belt, Pawalgarh has primary and secondary growth of tropical forest in riverine and low altitude montane terrain.
Best time to visit for birds: October to March
Best time to visit for butterflies: April to June, September to November
What is special in Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve?
137 species of trees, 58 species of shrubs and 27 species of climbers, 52 species of herbs and 71 species of grasses & bamboos. 32 species of mammals - tiger, elephant, leopard, leopard cat, serow and ghoral are just some of the mammals seen here. 365 species of birds - Ibisbill, Great Slaty Woodpecker (and 15 other species of woodpeckers), Red-breasted Parakeet, Green-billed Malkoha, Common Green Magpie, Long-tailed Broadbill, White-bellied Erpornis and White-rumped Needletail are just some of the special birds seen here. A hard copy of the checklist of birds of Pawalgarh is available in every homestay. The checklist of birds of Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve can be downloaded from here
120 species of butterflies have been recorded from Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve, with the expected checklist possibly exceeding 175 species. The Redspot, Common Ciliate Blue, Apefly and Giant Redeye, are species that were recorded for the first time in Kumaon/Uttarakhand from Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve. A hard copy of the checklist of butterflies of Pawalgarh is available in every homestay. The checklist of butterflies of Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve can be downloaded from here
More than 100 species of moths have been recorded from Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve. A hard copy of the checklist of moths of Pawalgarh is available in every homestay. The checklist of moths of Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve can be downloaded from here
Separate brochures for birds, butterflies and moths of Pawalgarh are available for sale for visitors @ Rs 100/brochure. Pawalgarh Prakrati Prahari will use proceeds from these brochures for conservation action.
For more information
Sanjay Sondhi,
sanjay.sondhi1@gmail.com,
Titli Trust, Dehradun,
+91 9412052189
