Sikkim may be the second smallest state in India, but what it lacks in size it makes up with its rich flora and fauna. In this article, I will share with you one of my favorite spots for birding in Sikkim, which I uncovered by chance with my parents, earlier this year – Assam Lingzey!
What to expect at Assam Lingzey
Few outsiders may have heard of Assam Lingzey. This picturesque region is a bit isolated from the hustle and bustle of the capital Gangtok. That said, the area is full of beautiful villages surrounded by refreshing green forests with the mighty Kanchenjunga snow capped mountain range forming a spectacular backdrop.
Assam Lingzey is also known for the best orchid farming in the entire Sikkim. The word “Lingzey” translates into a forest covered with Chilaune trees.
My dream experience began in the lovely Streamland Homestay, run by its genial owner Arun Rai and his charming family. As soon as we arrived at Pakyong airport, our host was waiting to whisk us away to his beautiful homestay, a scenic hour’s drive away.
This stunning drive gave me an excellent introduction to the region. As we got closer to Assam Lingzey, the greens became greener and the roads wrapped with small villages seemed right out of a fairytale. I couldn’t stop taking photos and videos throughout this refreshing ride.
My bird guide on this trip, which incidentally was meant just to spend time with my parents to celebrate the New Year, was Gureng Tamang, who knew my father from another birding trip in 2019, but at a different location. He was exceptionally talented and ensured we saw umpteen lifers.Â
Birding at Assam Lingzey
The area around the homestay is a forest of rhododendrons, the nectar of which attracts many species like sunbirds, fulvetta and yuhinas. No sooner had I finished my lunch we headed for a short hike uphill guided by Arun Rai and Gureng.
Our first spotting was the Asian barred owlet at a short distance from the lodge.
Soon our guide started pointing out laughing thrushes, barbets and the extremely rare Red Faced Lichola. A little further ahead, the Green-tailed sunbird sucking the nectar was a showstopper.
As it happens, while birding in the Himalayas, the astounding number of species one can spot in a short time is mind blowing. We could hardly keep pace with our guide pointing out one different bird after another.
The two hours we spent on the first afternoon resulted in over thirty birds and a couple of lifers such as, the Red Faced Lichola and the Slaty Backed Forktail.
Next morning at the crack of dawn we headed down the road towards a waterfall nearby. Needless to say, the rewards were outstanding. Our catch of the day were the three forktails, Little, Spotted and another Slaty Backed.
The star attraction of the morning was the extremely rare Black-throated Prinia, a pair that kept us regaled for nearly fifteen minutes.
Other beauties spotted were thrushes, warblers, tits, magpies, and the striking Greater yellownape woodpecker. In the end our two day bird count was around 70 species.
This was indeed a huge number for a small group of 3 unexpected birders who had little knowledge of the area and species found. If it wasn’t for our talented birding guide, we would have only spotted a handful and identified even fewer species.
Other stunning beauties birds of Assam Lingzey, Sikkim –Â
Tip – Other natural wonders to enjoy in Sikkim are – Fambong Lho Wildlife sanctuary, Tsomgo lake and Yumthang valley of flowers.Â
Streamland Homestay – Your base for birding at Assam LingzeyÂ
My description of the trip to Assam Lingzey would have been totally incomplete without enjoying a stay at this charming homestay. Located at a small height from the road, Streamland Homestay enjoys a scenic location in a peaceful area. It turned out to be the ideal place to stay and look for new birds and hear their chirping calls each morning.
Room types:Â The cozy cottage at Streamland Homestay has a spacious drawing room and two rooms that can accommodate a maximum of six guests.Â
Amenities: The interiors are neat and fully equipped with all basic amenities like double bed, sofas, TV, attached bathroom with hot and cold water facility (Though the place is quite perfect for peeing outdoors as well, if you need to go). The rooms open out to a large lush green lawn with garden umbrellas and a swing for the guests.
When visiting Assam Lingzey one must remember that it remains cold here throughout the year, so an umbrella and warm clothes are a must at any time of the year.
Tariff: Streamland Homestay serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with tea and snacks to its guests. Their dishes are mostly organic and home prepared as is the local liquor which they provide free on demand. For all this the charges are a very reasonable at 1500 INR per person per day.
For reservations contact Mr Arun Rai
Telephone: 83718 75088
So have you visited Assam Lingzey in Sikkim for birding or is it on your list? If not, I would highly recommend vsiiting this pristing piece of paradise and you will surely want to live there forever. The calm, peace and natural beauty of this remote find was unparalleled in my umpteen visits to Sikkim.
This alongside regular visits to Indian jungles in search of the Royal Bengal Tiger, fueled her zest for adventure, nature and wildlife.
Now she is a renowned travel blogger, outreach expert and has worked with over 500 travel brands in the last 15 years.
That spotted forktail looks so beautiful – I don’t think I have ever seen that bird before! Looks like a such a relaxing trip!
It was an amazing trip – the right dose of relaxation and adventure amidst nature 🙂 Fortails are utterly cute.
Oh, I really love this article and I love them birds. Bird spotting must be amazing here!
Oh yes it was incredible. I think the only comparable spectacle was in Zululand , Africa.
Beautiful
Thank you the birdies were indeed pretty 🙂
How lovely are the birds! I want to do this too. I’m not an early riser but maybe I will do it one day for bird watching.
Thankyou so much for exploring our Village, Assam Lingzey.
It helps a lot to know about our Village.
Wow so happy to read that my article reached a local 🙂 thank you for your kind comment and hope you find these birds in your village.
Aw, lovely birds!
Which month did you go?
Ooh I recall I went during winters – dec/ jan