Kilbury Bird Sanctuary

Located in the pristine reserve forests of Pangot at an elevation of 2,000 meters in Nainital district, Kilbury Bird Sanctuary (Naina Devi Himalayan Bird Conservation Reserve) is one of India's richest birding destinations in Uttarakhand. Situated roughly 15 kilometers north of Nainital and 32 kilometers from Jeolikot, the sanctuary encompasses over 11,000 hectares of old growth oak, rhododendron, and Himalayan cypress woodlands.

Over 580 species of resident and migratory Himalayan birds have been recorded across its quiet forest canopy. Serious birdwatchers and ornithologists frequently spot the endangered cheer pheasant, koklass pheasant, khalij pheasant, lammergeier bearded vulture, brown wood owl, and rufous bellied woodpecker.

A British era heritage forest rest house built in 1890 sits at the heart of the reserve, surrounded by tranquil nature trails offering views of the snow ranges. The gentle winding road from Kilbury to Pangot provides some of the finest roadside birding in Asia.