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21 Aug,26

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23 Aug,26

7 Seats Left

Location

Bhigvan

Duration

3D/2N

25,750 28,750

25,750₹ 28,750

Overview

Embark on a 2 nights, 3 days Bird & Grassland Photography Expedition to Bhigwan, one of India’s finest destinations for grassland birds during the monsoon season. While Bhigwan is widely celebrated for its winter migratory birds, the monsoon transforms the surrounding grasslands into a breeding paradise for some of India’s most elusive resident species. This expedition is specially curated for photographers seeking unique behavioral images, breeding plumage, and dramatic monsoon landscapes.

Explore the wetlands around the Ujani Dam backwaters and the expansive grasslands of Bhigwan and Saswad, photographing an incredible diversity of quails, francolins, buttonquails, raptors, lapwings, and other grassland specialists. Guided by a senior DCP photography mentor and an experienced local naturalist, this expedition combines outstanding photographic opportunities with hands-on learning in one of Maharashtra’s richest bird habitats.

DCP Experts

DCP Safety

Entry fees

Meals

Rent Lens

Stay

Transport

About The Tour

Join DCP Expeditions for a 2 nights, 3 days Bird & Grassland Photography Expedition to Bhigwan, a destination that comes alive during the monsoon with vibrant breeding activity and spectacular birdlife. Unlike the winter months that are dominated by migratory waterbirds, August offers photographers a rare chance to document India’s resident grassland birds in breeding plumage, displaying courtship behavior, territorial interactions, and nesting activities.

The expedition covers two distinct ecosystems. The first is the vast Ujani Dam backwaters, where wetlands and agricultural landscapes support storks, ibises, lapwings, kingfishers, raptors, and numerous wetland birds. The second is the extensive grasslands around Bhigwan and Saswad, considered among Maharashtra’s finest habitats for grassland specialists including Painted Francolin, Rain Quail, Buttonquails, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Indian Courser, and numerous birds of prey.

Throughout the expedition, participants will travel in dedicated photography vehicles that allow quick access to multiple birding locations while maintaining flexibility for photography. A senior DCP photography mentor will provide continuous guidance on fieldcraft, composition, behavior-based photography, camera settings, and ethical wildlife photography, helping participants create powerful images while understanding the ecology of these remarkable habitats.

Whether you are new to bird photography or an experienced wildlife photographer, this expedition offers an excellent opportunity to improve your skills while exploring one of India’s most productive monsoon birding destinations.

Quick Information

Route:

Navi Mumbai - Pune - Bhigwan - Saswad - Pune - Navi Mumbai

Start Point:

Navi Mumbai

Duration:

2 nights 3 days

End Point:

Navi Mumbai

Inclusions

  • Photograph Bhigwan’s spectacular monsoon birdlife and grassland ecosystems
  • Dedicated exploration of the Ujani Dam backwaters
  • Full-day grassland photography across Bhigwan and Saswad
  • Excellent opportunities to photograph breeding grassland birds
  • Small photography groups for better shooting opportunities
  • Continuous on-field mentoring by a senior DCP photography expert
  • Guidance from an experienced local naturalist
  • Comfortable stay with all meals included

Experts

How To Reach

Nearest airport is Pune. We can pick you on our way via Solapur highway. It is around 105 km from Pune.

One can reach Daund and hire a local taxi to Bhigwan.

We will be travelling in a tempo traveller via Solapur highway. It is around 105 km from Pune.

Getting Ready

Things to carry:

  • Telephoto lenses – preferably above 400 mm for birds
  • Carry fully charged batteries for your camera / flash.
  • Carry battery charger. Carry extra pack of camera batteries
  • Carry backup memory cards / HDD storage drives, Laptop
  • Carry a bean bag to stabilize your gears while shooting from boat
  • It is advisable to carry basic first aid along with you.
  • Please carry Odomos to keep you protected from mosquito bites.
  • Carry a pair of good binoculars

Equipment available on rental - please mail us at rentals@dcpexpeditions.com.

Itinerary

The expedition begins early in the morning from Navi Mumbai as we travel towards Bhigwan through the scenic countryside of Maharashtra. We expect to reach Kumbhargaon around lunchtime, followed by check-in and lunch at our accommodation.

After a short break, we begin our first bird photography session exploring the extensive wetlands and agricultural landscapes around the Ujani Dam backwaters. Unlike the winter boat-based expeditions, this monsoon tour involves travelling by dedicated photography vehicles across multiple villages surrounding Kumbhargaon, allowing us to cover a much larger area in search of grassland birds, wetland species, raptors, and monsoon specialties.

Our photography mentor and local naturalist will provide continuous guidance on bird behaviour, composition, fieldcraft, and camera settings throughout the session.

Return to the accommodation in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

An early morning departure takes us on a full-day exploration of the renowned Bhigwan and Saswad grasslands, among Maharashtra’s finest habitats for resident grassland birds during the breeding season.

Travelling in dedicated photography vehicles, we will cover multiple carefully selected locations in search of species such as Painted Francolin, Rain Quail, Buttonquails, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Indian Courser, and a variety of raptors and larks. The flexible itinerary allows us to spend quality time with subjects and maximise photographic opportunities based on bird activity.

Throughout the day, participants will receive continuous guidance on behaviour-based photography, environmental compositions, bird-in-flight techniques, and ethical wildlife photography.

Return to Bhigwan for dinner and overnight stay.

We begin the day before sunrise with another extensive bird photography session around the Ujani Dam backwaters. From approximately 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM, we will travel through multiple villages around Kumbhargaon, exploring different wetland and grassland habitats by vehicle to maximise sightings and photographic opportunities.

After the morning session, we return for breakfast and some time to freshen up before enjoying lunch at the property. Following lunch, we check out at around 1:00 PM and begin our return journey to Navi Mumbai.

With the new Missing Link route significantly reducing travel time, we expect to reach Navi Mumbai by the early evening, concluding the expedition with wonderful memories, enhanced bird photography skills, and an impressive collection of monsoon wildlife images.


Field Learnings

  • Understanding grassland bird behavior and breeding ecology
  • Techniques for photographing birds in natural habitats
  • Working with monsoon light and changing weather conditions
  • Camera settings for birds in flight and fast-moving subjects
  • Composition techniques for environmental bird portraits
  • Ethical bird photography and fieldcraft
  • Understanding bird habitats and species identification
  • Building a stronger bird photography portfolio

Package Cost

Indian nationals: 
Twin sharing: INR 25,750 per person inclusive of all taxes 
Single occupancy: INR 28,750 per person inclusive of all taxes

Foreign nationals: 
Twin sharing: US$ 430 per person inclusive of all taxes
Single occupancy: US$ 480 per person inclusive of all taxes

Gold members - Upto 5% off
Silver members - Upto 3% off

WhatsApp to ask for a payment link / QR code to pay.

[Save upto 2.5% of tour cost by opting to pay via NEFT / RTGS / UPI]

Cost includes

  1. Transport from and to Mumbai in Tempo Traveller
  2. Stay for two nights at a homestay in Bhigwan
  3. All meals as mentioned in itinerary
  4. Vehicles for all internal transport
  5. All guide and instructor fees
  6. All taxes and service charges

Cost does not include:

  1. Mineral Water, Soft Drinks, Laundry Charges, Phone Calls, Tips etc.
  2. Any kind of insurance, Medical or/and Emergency Charges.
  3. Any extra meals not included in the above itinerary

Map

Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary


Policies

Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellations 30 days or more prior to departure – 20% cancellation fee.
  • Cancellations within 30 days of departure – non-refundable.

FAQ's

Yes. Please write to info@dcpexpeditions.com as it is subject to availability.

Yes you can. However, the charges remain the same.

No. Due to the monsoon season, this expedition does not include boat rides.

This expedition primarily focuses on resident grassland and wetland birds that are active during the monsoon breeding season.



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