Breathe in the crisp, clean air where the tranquil waters of Gangapur Dam meet the sprawling skies of Nashik. Imagine a place where vibrant birds paint the dawn, stars blaze in the inky night, and the lens captures moments of pure, untamed beauty. This isn’t just a getaway; it’s a sensory immersion into nature’s masterpiece.

1. Birdwatching at Sunrise
2. Photography Workshop
3. Sunset Vistas
4. Stargazing
5. Planning Your Green Trip to Nashik
6. Nature Walks: Dos & Don’ts
7. Best Time to Visit Nashik
8. How to Reach Nashik

Twee, tweee, tweeee… the trilling sound pierced through my sleep. There was no light in or around my luxury tent—equipped with a comfortable bed, electricity, and an attached bathroom. My phone was off too, but the song kept weaving its way through the canvas walls. Groggy, I squinted at my phone clock… 3 am! Where was this song for tea coming from? Snuggled in my warm quilt, I traced it to the top of the tent. With a big yawn, I switched on the Merlin app to identify the singer serenading the moon—a little Pied Bushchat.

Starved for these natural musical notes in the city, I ventured out. The bird had flown, but the stars, the full moon, the swaying trees, and the lamps lighting the tent city were awake. I looked around, and there it was, the birdie perched on another pole, singing its heart out. How come the song never seemed this vibrant in the city park? The noise and air pollution, vehicles and people, drowned its voice. Experts claim birds sing when they feel safe; I believe they sing because they are angels visiting us from another realm.

Maharashtra Tourism’s Eco Glamping Festival turned out to be the perfect nature escape for me—the nature lover, the birdwatcher, and the peace-seeker. An opportunity to hone my ‘rediscover and reconnect with nature’ skills.

Wide awake, I sat at the edge of my luxurious bed to do some pranayama and meditation. The electric kettle in the room whistled as I checked the camera and phone batteries. A refreshing cup of tea before heading out to see the colours of dawn.

Birdwatching at Sunrise

The Gangapur Dam backwaters shimmered as the waders waddled along the shores. Brahminy Ducks, Cormorants, Egrets, Sandpipers, Citrine and Yellow-tailed Wagtails were all looking for their breakfast.

The song of Asian Tits, Purple Sunbirds, Indian Robins, Taiga, Red-Breasted Flycatchers and Ashy Prinias became louder as the purple and pink sky changed to orange and blue. Asian Green Bee-eaters, Zitting Cisticolas, and a Black Kite perched by the onion fields. The Pipits flew through the fields, Siberian Stonechat clung to a branch and Black-Winged Stilts stood in a row. The flock of migratory gulls searched for food in the deeper waters. I couldn’t have asked for anything more magical.

Walking through the fields towards the edge of the blue waters, I watched four youngsters rowing through the dam backwaters. The boating club stood out in the distance. A fisherman with his makeshift tube boat was busy catching fish closer to the shallow waters. The sun was finally beaming.

By 8.30 am, I was hungry and sat in the spacious dining area overlooking the blue waters. I dug into yummy poha, sabudana khichdi, dosas, papayas, and fresh grape juice. Healthy meals with local Maharashtrian fare and thirst quenchers, such as chaach, kokum sherbet, lemonade, fresh watermelon juice, marked the three days of this delightful trip.

Photography Workshop

My plan was to walk deeper into the neighbouring village to find more grassland birds, but the blazing sun made it difficult. Luckily, we had an afternoon session on nature and wildlife photography by award-winning photographer, Hiren Khatri.

A man with many degrees—civil engineering, zoology, environment studies—Khatri is the ‘Winner of Wild Clicks Season 10’, Wings in Action Category. This is an annual live photography contest. This year, it was held at Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary). He also earned a special mention by Nature in Focus organization for his remarkable photo, ‘Traditions at Odds’, captured during the Aran Festival of the Adi tribe, Arunachal Pradesh.

Khatri thrives on conservation stories, treating his camera like a paintbrush. For one hour, he gave us a capsule course on storytelling through wildlife photography. Art, emotions, narratives—his spirit speaks the language of the wild, where everything awakens a sense of wonder. From camera settings to the right equipment, the golden hour, the rule of thirds, and finally, the right moment, photography is all about patience and perspective.

We also had a practical morning session where the sunrise became an unforgettable moment. Khatri gave us tips on macro photography, turned the shimmering waters into crystals, and introduced us to the “smartness” of smartphone cameras.

Frames, compositions, marvels of Nature through your lens—photography amid serenity is where stillness becomes a beautiful moment and motion becomes art.

You can contact Hiren Khatri at 94031 40099.

Sunset Vistas

After this session, I forgot about the sun and the heat, and headed for a walk around the neighbouring Girnare village. The Pied Bushchat was everywhere. Sadly, the lack of binoculars meant that I missed many smaller birds as they flew away when I edged close. Common Mynas, House Crows, and Wagtails weren’t that scared of me, though.

I wanted to peek inside the green fields but felt a tad bit guilty about tramping through land where food was growing. Treading carefully on the narrow trails used by farmers, I went a little closer to the water’s edge to see cauliflowers, onions, and wheat plants.

Back at the tent city, I found the perfect spot to watch the sunset over the little hillocks that make up the Western Ghats. The glistening ripples of the dam kept changing their shade, from orange and yellow to sepia and finally black. I tried to capture the setting sun with its many shades and silhouettes, using my recent classroom learning.

The lights of the tent city came on. The Black Drongo couple, which had been dancing around the trees, settled on the branches. The shining full moon seemed just an arm’s length away, the twinkling stars seemed to be winking, and the breeze was cooler. I felt closer to the sky here.

Stargazing

“Can I see your registration?” In the dark of the night, the man sitting near the telescope asked me.

“I am from the media. Why do I need registration for this?” Not the right move, as I discovered a patient teacher.

Navnath P. Shingave adjusted the lens to show me the magical Venus, the twinkling yellow-orange planet in the distance. “The orange colour comes from the sun. Venus is very close to the sun,” he explained.

A professor of commerce during the day and an astronomer at night, Shingave had a knack for storytelling. He brought the magical, mysterious night sky to life with mythical stories, scientific facts, and mesmerizing close-ups.

A self-taught astronomer, he yielded to this passion, thanks to a NSS (National Service Scheme) session with some students. (It is a government of India programme that allows students to participate in community service activities. The programme is run by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.) “We had asked someone to come with a telescope for this, but he couldn’t make it. Then, I thought I should learn this. It’s slow, diligent study, and I would stay awake watching the stars. Finally, I bought my own telescope. This is a manual one; there are higher-version models too. I even take pictures of the planets, the Moon, and stars, attaching lenses.” He is also an avid birdwatcher.

From Greek astronomy, the founders of stargazing, to Indian astrology, nakshatras and constellations, Shingave’s stories continued as he turned the special laser beam to different parts of the sky. Shooting stars, red Mars, the full Moon, moving planets and their changing positions—the lens shifted often. We saw the three moons of Jupiter, Mars sitting in Gemini which stands for the twins Castor and Pollux. The full Moon hid many stars, but Shingave’s laser beam traced the patterns of constellations across the sky.

By then, I was hooked. I had gazed at stars earlier, watched the Moon often, but never felt the compulsion to ‘learn this now’. Stories would have continued, but more stargazers arrived to see the night sky.

You can contact Navnath P. Shingave at 8080338273.

I gazed at the full Moon, a crystal ball, one last time. Back in my tent, I looked up at the canvas peak over my head, hoping the Pied Bushchat would wake me with its song the next morning too.

Planning Your Green Trip to Nashik

There are different kinds of luxury tents available at the Eco Glamping festival, which is on till March 31st. You can browse through the activities and stay options here.

The festival endorses sustainable practices such as employing locals at various levels for most of the activities, not cutting any greens, maintaining the ecology, composting food waste and vegetable skins, and using glass bottles in rooms and dining areas.

There are yoga classes in the morning. Cycles are also available for those keen to explore the area.

Nature Walks: Dos & Don’ts

If you plan your trip to Nashik, be sure to carry your binoculars and camera batteries.

Never disturb nature and the many life forms you see around to get your perfect shot. See the bird or wild creature as they see you.

The region is green to the core, and you can see lots of indigenous trees, such as semal, African tulip tree, and Mexican lilacs. They were in full bloom.

It’s not a good idea to pick vegetables from the fields or pluck grapes, as this is livelihood for the farmers.

Wear good walking shoes, preferably waterproof. Carry a hat, sunshades, and sunscreen. A steel water bottle is a good idea.

Carry a garbage bag, should you have eatables with you.

Wear muted clothes to blend in with the greens.

Some sweets for the children in the village is a good way to make friends.

I downloaded the Stellarium app to keep watching the stars back in the city. The sky is so polluted and grey that nothing except the moon is visible to the naked eye.

Best Time to Visit Nashik

To experience Nashik’s pleasant climate, visit between October and March. A stay of 2–3 days is recommended.

How to Reach Nashik

• By Air: The nearest airport is Ojhar Nashik International Airport (24 km from the city center).
• By Train: Nashik Road Railway Station is about 10 km away from the city center.
• By Road: Nashik is well-connected by road, located 3 km from the central bus stand.

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.