Bird Walk at Ganjeshwari Temple, Bondla, Goa
- Bondla
- 24 August, 2025
- Rs 100/- per head
- Fee collected goes entirely to the bird guide. Ataavi does not retain or profit from this amount.
About Ganjeshwari Temple
Tucked within the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa’s Ponda taluka, the serene Ganjeshwari Temple lies enveloped by moist deciduous forest and dense undergrowth. Though lesser known than Goa’s beaches, this sacred grove offers a tranquil escape into the Western Ghats’ lush biodiversity. The temple, dedicated to Goddess Ganga, is surrounded by perennial streams, moss-laden boulders, and towering forest trees that provide ideal habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna.
This patch of forest teems with birdlife—over 206 species have been recorded in the area, including Malabar Trogon, Indian Pitta, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, and the Grey Junglefowl. Troops of Hanuman langurs, barking deer, and wild boar are frequent visitors around the temple grounds. The Ganjeshwari Temple zone not only holds cultural significance but also acts as a micro-refuge for wildlife within the protected Bondla landscape. For nature lovers and pilgrims alike, it offers a quiet immersion into Goa’s wilder, spiritual side.
Partnered with
Bird Guide: Jalmesh Karapurkar
He is the coordinator of the Goa Bird Atlas initiative and serves as the eBird Reviewer for Goa, playing a key role in documenting avian biodiversity across the state. He also runs an inclusive ecotourism initiative aimed at making nature and wildlife experiences accessible and enriching for all.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Ganjeshwari Temple
Ganjeshwari Temple, nestled within the verdant Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary of Goa, is surrounded by moist deciduous forests that teem with avian life. The sacred grove and its adjoining trails support a rich assemblage of over 200 bird species, thanks to the area’s dense canopy, stream-fed glades, and undergrowth thickets. Common residents such as the Indian Peafowl, Spotted Dove, Common Tailorbird, and Oriental Magpie-Robin are frequently spotted around the temple grounds, while canopy-dwellers like the Black-hooded Oriole, Brown-headed Barbet, and Greater Racket-tailed Drongo animate the forest above. Woodpeckers including the Malabar Flameback, Black-rumped Flameback, and Heart-spotted Woodpecker add rhythmic drumming to the woodland soundscape.
Understory birds like the Puff-throated Babbler, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, and Ashy Prinia thrive in the forest’s shaded thickets, alongside flocks of Jungle Babblers and Fulvettas. Raptor sightings include the Crested Serpent-Eagle and Brahminy Kite, often circling overhead. Seasonal highlights come in the form of vibrant visitors like the Indian Pitta, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, and Forest Wagtail, while flowering trees attract sunbirds such as the Loten’s, Purple, and Crimson-backed Sunbird. With its mix of spiritual serenity and ecological richness, Ganjeshwari Temple offers a compact yet immersive birding experience in the Western Ghats’ foothills.
Malabar Starling
Malabar Grey Hornbill
Crimson-backed Sunbird
Purple-rumped Sunbird
Little Spiderhunter
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Bronzed Drongo
Jungle Babbler
Malabar Flameback
Dusky Crag-Martin
White-rumped Munia
Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
Black-naped Monarch
Puff-throated Babbler
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Red-vented Bulbul
Common Tailorbird
Black-hooded Oriole
Black-rumped Flameback
Greater Coucal
- Fee collected goes entirely to the bird guide. Ataavi does not retain or profit from this amount.
