Bird Walk at Chandlai & Barkhera, Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Jaipur
- 4 October, 2026
- Punit Mehta
About Chandlai & Barkhera
About 30 km south of Jaipur, off the Tonk Road, the twin wetlands of Chandlai and Barkhera stand out in the dry, sandy countryside of eastern Rajasthan. Chandlai Lake is roughly 140 years old and began as a small village pond. It has grown into a wide, shallow sheet of water ringed by sandy embankments, muddy flats, grassy margins and farmland. Nearby Barkhera adds more shallow water and marsh. When the monsoon fills them and the water slowly recedes through winter, the two lakes become a rich feeding ground in a landscape where water is scarce. Babul and khejri trees dot the edges. Nilgai and jackals roam the surrounding fields.
For birders, Chandlai and Barkhera are among Rajasthan’s best wetlands, with more than 300 species recorded. In winter, thousands of migrants arrive from Central Asia, Europe and beyond. Greater Flamingos, Bar-headed and Greylag Geese, and big flocks of ducks join huge gatherings of waders on the mudflats, and rarities such as the Red-necked Phalarope have turned up. For years, though, these lakes suffered from bird poaching, disturbance from fishing, sewage inflow, garbage dumping and tree cutting along the shores. Local conservationists and villagers spent two decades campaigning and pushed the poachers out, and many birders now see Chandlai as a local success story. Still, pollution, litter and unregulated development remain a concern. Community care, clean water and protection of the wider wetland will decide whether these lakes keep drawing flamingos.
Bird Guide - Gp Capt Punit Mehta (Retd)
With sixteen years of birding across India, he has recorded more than 600 bird species. His extensive field experience and passion for birdwatching bring valuable insights and exciting sightings to every birding walk.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Chandlai & Barkhera
Chandlai’s shallow waters come alive as the migrants arrive. Greater Flamingos wade in pink lines, sweeping their curved bills through the water to filter food. Over the mudflats, flocks of more than a hundred Ruffs twist and turn together before settling to feed. River Terns, with their bright yellow bills, hover and plunge, filling the air with their calls. On the muddy edges, Common Redshanks flash red legs, and Green, Wood and Common Sandpipers bob and probe. Well-camouflaged Common Snipes stay hidden until they burst up in zigzag flight. Little Ringed Plovers run and pause along the shore, Black-winged Stilts wade on long pink legs, and Red-wattled Lapwings keep a noisy watch. Indian Spot-billed Ducks, Eurasian Coots and Moorhens dot the open water, and Gray-headed Swamphens and White-breasted Waterhens move through the reeds. The dry countryside around the lake has its own residents. Gray Francolins call from the fields, the Greater Coucal booms from thick cover, and Red Collared, Laughing and Eurasian Collared Doves feed along the bunds.
Greater Flamingo
Ruff
River Tern
Common Redshank
Common Snipe
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Little Ringed Plover
Black-winged Stilt
Red-wattled Lapwing
Indian Spot-billed Duck
Grey-headed Swamphen
Eurasian Coot
Eurasian Moorhen
White-breasted Waterhen
Greater Coucal
Grey Francolin
Red Collared-Dove
Laughing Dove
Summary of Walk
Eleven enthusiastic participants joined guide Punit Mehta at Chandlai and Barkhera near Jaipur on 4 October for a walk that celebrated the remarkable birdlife of the region’s wetlands and grasslands, with a total of 62 species recorded. The combination of open water, reedy margins, grassy stretches and scattered scrub creates a beautifully varied habitat, and the group enjoyed moving from one landscape to the next, discovering something new in each. One of the most memorable highlights was the Knob-billed Duck, a striking and unusual waterfowl with a distinctive knob on its bill that stands out among the waterbirds, and the Grey Francolin, calling from the grassland with its familiar rolling notes, provided a wonderful soundtrack to the walk. Wetlands in this part of Rajasthan are often popular with ducks, waders, herons and storks, while the grasslands and scrub nearby attract larks, shrikes, bulbuls and birds of prey, and the group had the opportunity to experience all of these in a single morning. Punit guided the walk with an easy, friendly manner, helping participants tell similar species apart and drawing attention to the calls and movements that give birds away. The participation was enthusiastic from everyone, and the shared excitement of every new species added to the sense of fun. With 62 species on the day’s list, the walk stood among the richest of the weekend, and it was a wonderful reminder of the value of protecting wetlands and open habitats, which support such a variety of life. Participants went home inspired, their binoculars full of memories and their notebooks full of new names.
Number of Participants
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