LODHI GARDEN

Spread over 90 acres, in the heart of New Delhi stands Lodhi Gardens and these gardens are unique. It not only carries a few eras of Delhi’s history in its folds but also is one of the rare historical places, that is living. For those like us who are fortunate to be living next to the gardens, walking across for a morning walk or a jog is a given. Sundays is generally not our preferred day because the garden is used extensively by families and picnic goers.

While walking through the numerous trails, you will often spot some young couples holding hands and spending some quality time together. The Gardens are very much an integral part of the life of Delhi’s people.

For a tourist, the gardens offer a host of 15^th century tombs belonging to Mohammed Shah and the Tomb of Sikandar Lodi. There is also the Shisha Gumbad and the Bara Gumbad and the small but impressive pond that has its resident geese and Comorin’s.

My first tryst with birding started at Lodhi Garden. It was in 2020, between the two waves of COVID, when my son and I ventured out armed with our cameras and face masks. Everything we saw was our first.

For example, as we entered the gardens, we were greeted by over fifty black kites. Some were enjoying the morning sun, others fighting over some scraps of food. Just seeing so many kites in such close proximity made our morning. But this was just the beginning. A few minutes into our walk and two Grey Hornbills flew over our heads and landed on a branch close by. Further down, near the lake we took pictures of Geese, Eurasian Moorhens, Ducks, Peacocks, Comorin’s and white-throated kingfishers. A five-minute walk away from the pond and you discover a completely different set of birds. There were large number of Alexandrine Parakeets and Rose-ringed Parakeets, both of whom were being fed by the guards. A little further down the road, were Red-vented Bulbuls, Jungle Babblers, Common Myna’s and the common House Crow.

What caught our attention were the Red-Naped Ibis’s. I had never see such a large bird before and now as it confidently walked past me, I couldn’t help but take pictures of the bird.

Overall, Lodhi Garden is a perfect for what I like to call ‘Early Birders’ and a must for all those visiting Delhi for birding.

From an early birding point of view, Lodhi Garden is a 8/10. But for a serious birder, a 5/10 would be considered generous.