Purbasthali is a village in Purba Bardhaman district in West Bengal. Also known as Chupi Char, it is situated on the banks of a large oxbow lake, which attracts thousands of migratory birds every year. It is a paradise for birders and bird photographers!
Also the landscape of the lake is one of a kind. The water is so clear that you can completely see and admire the underwater flora. It is also known for it’s growth of sweet water plants.
Taking a boat ride is the best way for bird watching and photography. Our boatman was quite cooperative and although he didn’t know the names of all the birds, he helped us in spotting them and took us as close as possible without disturbing the birds.
Our focus on this trip was more on videography than photography. So make sure you watch the video we made on this trip.
Tip: Try your best to avoid weekends & holidays for a better birding experience. .
We had visited Purbasthali on a Sunday in early January last year and when we reached, we realized that the ground surrounding this lake had turned into a picnic spot and it was crammed with careless picnickers who had no interest in the birds or their habitats. Loud music was being played which could be heard from far away, people in boats were playing antakshari in the middle of the river and boating directly into the water-birds resulting in them getting scared and flying away. We even heard people planning to drink alcohol while boating!
There are so many picnic spots across the city for people to have all the fun they want. Why spoil the environment for all the beautiful birds who fly here from miles away and make a home for themselves for a few months?
The number of migratory birds in Kolkata and around have gone down alarmingly over the years and we shouldn’t let such carelessness spoil things further. Let’s all contribute towards spreading awareness and consciousness and help in protecting the home of these beautiful birds.
Camera Gear Used For Photography:
- Canon EOS 77D 24.2MP Digital SLR Camera
- Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon DSLR Camera
- Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF] Lens for Canon DSLR Camera
Planning Guide
How To Reach Purbasthali:
- The nearest station is Purbasthali Station and the easiest way to reach is by taking a local train from Howrah or Sealdah. Catch a toto from Purbasthali station to reach your destination.
- You can also go by car from Kolkata and nearby areas.
Where To Stay In Purbasthali:
You can also do this as a Day Trip like we did and return in the evening. But if you are a birding enthusiastic or a photographer, it is definitely a good idea to stay the night and go for another boat ride the next day.
Chupi Kasthashali Pakhiralay located just adjacent to the oxbow lake is the best and probably the only place to stay in Purbasthali.
Purbasthali Boating Charges:
The boat ride costs Rs. 150 per hour. Atleast 3-4 hours is needed to spot some of the bird species and get a few decent pictures. The more time you spend, the more chance you have of spotting different species and learning a bit about their habitat.
I really hope you enjoyed reading this article and you’ll find the information useful whenever you plan to visit Purbasthali.
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Happy Travelling! 🙂
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