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Guda Bishnoi Lake- A Magnet for Demoiselle Cranes

Posted on February 2, 2016January 7, 2021

I stood by the Guda Bishnoi Lake completely charmed. As far as eyes could see it was full of Demoiselle Cranes, only at that point people told me they were Siberian Cranes. I had my doubts but a lake full of cranes by any name is a delightful thing!

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A Large Flock of Demoiselle Cranes at Guda Bishnoi Lake

Guda Bishnoi is about 25 kilometers from Jodhpur. It is as of now not so frequented by tourists. That also means you have to find a transport of your own to reach there. When I was visited, we were about 20 people by the lakeside, out of which many were locals!

Guda Bishnoi has a fascinating history. Bishnoi Sect was started by Guru Jambheshwar. He was born in 1451. His gave 29 principles but his main teaching was to protect the wildlife and trees, which Bishnois practice ardently even today. It is said that the guru was reincarnated as a black buck, hence the reverence of the animal within the community.

Bishnois are also known for the Khejarli Massacre which took place in 1730. 363 Bishnois died while trying to protect the trees which the King’s troops had orders to chop off! Even to this date Bishnois bury their dead as cutting trees is completely banned! To know more about the fascinating story of the Bishnois, do watch the two part documentary made by B.V.P. Rao.

Back in the present there is an elevated platform near the lake from where tourists can watch the birds. There are two rooms as well but my driver for the day, Gyan Singh ji told me they were with the forest department. I turned my back to the world and got engrossed in watching the birds.

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Demoiselle Cranes are Migratory Birds!

Various parts of the lake were claimed by different different flocks as their own. However, it was not a rigid division. The birds happily kept visiting each-other. Demoiselle Cranes would rise like clouds and go settle at another bank! They loudly cawed all the time and yet it was pleasant to the ears!

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A Black Buck at the Far End of the Guda Bishnoi Lake

Gyan Singh ji got me a pair of binoculars to see the black bucks drinking water at the far side of the lake! From the binoculars I switched to the telephoto lens but the binoculars were more powerful!

After being engrossed for a long time with my camera I turned back to see Gyan Singh ji grinning at me. He probably didn’t anticipate my happiness at seeing the birds. I asked him if it was possible to have our lunch there? The hotel kindly had given us packed lunches. Gyan Singh ji and I enjoyed our kathi rolls, fruits and juice under a tree in the compound.

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Demoiselle Cranes Walking in a Line, Guda Bishnoi Lake

I went back to stand by the lake after lunch. The birds now decided to walk in a line along the closest bank of the lake! I am sure the antics would go on but for me it was time to back to the hotel as I wanted to go to the Mehrangarh Fort in the evening.

On a more practical note there is a washroom for ladies in the premises but when I used it there was no water to flush. The wash basin outside had water. What to do, practical notes are almost always jarring!

But then for a nature lover Guda Bishnoi Lake is a birder’s paradise. It is also in the ‘not so discovered’ category as of now.

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36 thoughts on “Guda Bishnoi Lake- A Magnet for Demoiselle Cranes”

  1. Prasad Np says:
    February 2, 2016 at 3:35 pm

    This is one fascinating place.. never seen so many of Demoiselle cranes together in one place

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:35 pm

      Me too Prasad, I hope I will go back one day!

      Reply
  2. Shrikant L. says:
    February 2, 2016 at 8:43 pm

    Stunning photographs !! Awesome….

    Cheers

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:25 pm

      Thank you Shrikant.

      Reply
  3. Manjulika Pramod says:
    February 2, 2016 at 10:24 pm

    Wow, so many Demoiselle cranes. Great captures. Honestly, I have never heard of this place Guda Bishnoi too.

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:26 pm

      I too heard of it from Anil sir’s blog. He went there a few years back! 😀

      Reply
  4. Purba Chakraborty says:
    February 3, 2016 at 2:14 am

    Wow! The Demoiselle cranes look wonderful together.
    Beautifully captured 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:20 pm

      Thank you Purba.

      Reply
  5. Arun says:
    February 3, 2016 at 9:33 am

    So many of them. Nice pics.

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:21 pm

      Thank you Arun.

      Reply
  6. Indrani says:
    February 3, 2016 at 9:53 am

    Seems so much like Khichaan.
    I love to see such places.

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:21 pm

      Read of Khichaan but let us see when I go there.

      Reply
  7. Archana Kapoor says:
    February 3, 2016 at 10:29 am

    The pictures are stunning and so are the cranes 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:22 pm

      Thank you Archana.

      Reply
  8. Arun says:
    February 3, 2016 at 11:33 am

    Whoa! So many cranes together!
    Bishnois seem to be quite interesting.

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:22 pm

      Yes Arun, the Bishnoi philosophy impressed me too!

      Reply
  9. Mahesh Semwal says:
    February 3, 2016 at 12:15 pm

    Have been to many Bird sanctuaries but never saw so many cranes together.

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:23 pm

      A first for me too Mahesh for Cranes but I have seen a cloud of Black tailed Godwits at Mangala Jodi!

      Reply
  10. Amit Agarwal says:
    February 3, 2016 at 12:54 pm

    Lovely pictures, Mridula! The cranes look magnificent..
    We need more communities like the Bishnois..I salute them!

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:12 pm

      I agree Amit, watching the videos left in awe of the Bishnoi community.

      Reply
  11. Chaitali Patel says:
    February 3, 2016 at 7:48 pm

    Beautiful! Such gorgeous birds! Particularly the last picture. Love the Bishnoi tribe philosophy.

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:18 pm

      Thank you Chaitali. I am also in awe of the Bishnoi philosophy!

      Reply
  12. Chaitali says:
    February 3, 2016 at 7:59 pm

    How magnificent they look and must be thrilling for bird watchers.

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:11 pm

      Yes Chatali thy kept me enthralled for many hours!

      Reply
  13. Ravish Mani says:
    February 3, 2016 at 9:05 pm

    Very delight sight. Great captures, Mridula 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:05 pm

      Thank you so much Ravish!

      Reply
  14. rupam { xhobdo } says:
    February 3, 2016 at 11:14 pm

    Amazing, Beautiful photos.

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:04 pm

      Thank you so much Rupam.

      Reply
  15. harshita says:
    February 4, 2016 at 12:34 pm

    wow……..what a place

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:04 pm

      Thank you Harshita!

      Reply
  16. Ami says:
    February 4, 2016 at 1:38 pm

    Lovely pics…missed this on my visit to Jodhpur. Must do this the next time on

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:02 pm

      Yes Ami, Guda Bishnoi is a beautiful place! You will like it.

      Reply
  17. My Alwar says:
    February 5, 2016 at 5:35 pm

    Thank’s Mridula for sharing your amazing pics and journey with us. This is high time actually when one can see these migratory birds in Rajasthan. As a local to Alwar city, I want to tell you that Alwar is also witnessing some rare migratory bird species in Sariska National Park and in Siliserh Lake. When World Wetlands Day Celebrated in Alwar as Alwar Bird Fair 2016 at Siliserh Lake, people and birds specialists saw some rare migratory birds species in Alwar. And for the first time in alwar, European Griffon Vulture was also seen in Sariska Tiger Reserve & National Park, reported by park authority.

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      February 7, 2016 at 7:01 pm

      We have visited Sariska numerous times, it is our favorite weekend getaway! 😀

      Reply
  18. SGD says:
    March 13, 2016 at 2:53 pm

    I came to know of this unique place where animal and human coexist in such a harmony. Would love to visit there sometime. Extraordinary pictures.

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      March 14, 2016 at 9:17 am

      I am sure you will like it a lot when you go! And thank you for your kind words about my pictures!

      Reply

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About Me

I am Mridula Dwivedi and I started this blog in 2005. It has been an amazing ride. I have visited 32 countries till date! I have worked with many tourism boards and prominent travel companies. My blog was featured on the BBC and the Guardian.

I did my Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur. I worked full time in academics till 2015! I quit my job as a professor, thinking I will take a break for one year, which turned into five.

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