Pangot is a scenic village nestled in Nainital district of Uttarakhand state in India. It is 17 km from “The Lake City” Nainital. Popular for bird watching and vibrant flora and fauna, Pangot is perched at an elevation of almost 6,300 feet from sea level in the lap of Kumaon Himalayas. It is a bird watcher’s paradise.
Nainital district of Uttarakhand is rich in flora and fauna. It covers the tropical, sub-tropical, temperate, sub-alpine & alpine zones. The region is well known for different kinds of wild animals, birds, plants, and trees. Pangot has both migratory and local birds.
The forests of this region and neighboring areas are full of Pine, Oak, and Rhododendron trees. A drive to this region from “The Lake City” Nainital is a whole different experience. The road is full of lush greenery along with Oak, Pine, and Rhododendron trees. The road passes through the woody region of magnificent China peak range.
Birds in Pangot
Pangot has been an important center of interest for bird scientists, bird watchers, and wildlife photographers for decades. More than 530 species of native and foreign birds have been recorded in this region. West-central Himalayan birds found in high altitude areas are one of the main attractions of this region.
Main bird species of this region are lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, Blue-winged Minla, various kinds of woodpeckers, black-headed jay, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, sunbirds, Laughingthrushes, babblers and flycatchers. Animals found in this region include Barking Deer, Leopard Cat, Leopard, Yellow-throated Himalayan Marten, Red Fox, Sambhar, Wild Boar, Himalayan Goral, Civets, Serow, Yellow-bellied Himalayan Weasel etc.
Pangot Overview
| State: | Uttarakhand |
| Exploration Time: | 1 Day |
| Best time to visit: | March to July |
| Languages: | Hindi and English |
| Summer Temperature: | Max 26°C & Min 13°C |
| Winter Temperature: | Max 13°C & Min -4°C |
| Nearest City: | Haldwani (67 Km) |
| Nearest Airport: | Pantnagar Airport (98.4 km) |
| Nearest Railway Station: | Kathgodam Railway Station (52 km) |
Activities to Do Apart from Bird Watching
Trekking
The region offers a few trekking trails surrounded by lush green forests and rich flora. Some of well-known trekking trails include Pangot to Naina Peak and Pangot to Corbett National Park.
Camping
Many Camping option are available in Pangot. Camping under the moonlight with your family with your loved ones in front of a campfire is a really is an experience to last.
Best time to visit Pangot
Winters are the best time for bird watching in Pangot as these months invite a lot of migratory birds to Nainital region. During the monsoons, only local birds are there to see. In the months of March-April when the flowers on Rhododendron trees start to bloom, the whole valley looks gorgeously pink with lush green surroundings.
Weather in Pangot
Summer in this region is calm and pleasant. Summers have a maximum temperature of 26 degrees but it drops down to 12 degrees at night. Winters have an average temperature of 5 degrees. After February the temperature starts to rise.
Snowfall in Pangot
The region witnesses snowfall during the months of December and January. Snowfall starts from the Mid or late December and lasts till January. From February onwards, the snow starts to melt and temperature remains calm.
How to Reach Pangot
While you are visiting Nainital, you can extend your trip to this region. Pangot is only 17 km away from the lake city Nainital. There are numerous taxis and buses available from Nainital to this region.
By Road
It is well connected to Nainital, Haldwani, and Kathgodam. Pangot is 67 km from Haldwani and 17 km from Nainital. Buses and taxis are available from Haldwani and Nainital. Haldwani is 332 km from Delhi via NH9.
By Train
Kathgodam railway station is the nearest railway station at a distance of 51 km. Trains such as Ranikhet Express and Uttarakhand Sampark Kranti from Delhi to Kathgodam are regularly available. It takes nearly 7 hours to reach Kathgodam from Delhi via train.
By Air
The nearest airport is Pantnagar airport at a distance of 86 km. Pantnagar airport has regular connectivity with Delhi airport. Taxis and buses are available from Pantnagar to Haldwani, Kathgodam, and Nainital. Haldwani is 27 km and Nainital is 68 km away from Pantnagar.