Birdwatching

The Jaldhaka Valley is exceptionally rich in avifauna. The river corridor, with its bouldered banks, fast water, and overhanging forest, is ideal habitat for the specialised community of riverine birds: species that spend their lives along turbulent mountain rivers and are found nowhere else.

The best locations for birdwatching are the riverbank below Jhalong (ideal times are pre-dawn or the hour before dusk), the Paren forest tracks (best visited in the mornings with a local guide), and the forest edge at Rongo. Rongo is about 10 km from Jhalong and makes for a good half-day excursion. Serious birders should allocate at least three days to do the valley justice.