Binsar’s cooler climes make it ideal for a quiet trek in the lap of the Kumaon hills. You can soak in the soothing sights and sounds of the forests through nature walks led by guides familiar with the mountain’s flora and fauna. The wildlife sanctuary is also a visual treat for those keen on watching its winged visitors – birding and butterfly walks are two of the main activities in this park. A trip to Zero Point, the highest viewing point in the sanctuary, for a breath-taking view of the chain of snow-capped peaks, is worthwhile but gets crowded with trippers.

Binsar is a glorious slice of Himalayan flora and fauna, that has survive the ravages of Himalayan deforestation and development. Its broadleaf temperate forests are home to 200 species of resident and migratory birds; including Griffon vultures, laughing thrushes, sibias, jays, forktails, Kalij pheasants, and tits; making it one of the best birding destinations in the Kumaon. There are 25 varieties of trees, 24 types of bushes and seven kinds of grasses in the sanctuary; its higher altitudes are covered in oak and in winter a carpet of red from the rhododendron trees. If it’s your lucky day, you may get to spot gorals effortlessly climbing up oak-lined slopes or Indian porcupines peeking out of their rocky hideouts. These misty tree-clothed foothills are also known to shelter leopards, red foxes, common langurs, yellow-throated martens, barking deer, jungle cats, and the Himalayan black bear. With open patches of greenery frequented by hill jezebels, painted ladies, Indian tortoiseshells and red admirals, Binsar’s forests will certainly pique one’s interest in butterfly watching as you trek along the steep paths. If you plan a trip soon after the monsoons, you can also find reptiles such as the Himalayan trinkets, Kashmir agamas and white-lipped pit vipers lurking around the moss-covered forest floors and layers of fallen oak leaves.

If you have a day to spare, consider a trek to the Jageshwar temple. Tourist lodges also arrange day-trips to nearby NGOs such as Panchachuli Women Weavers of Kumaon that focus on generating sustainable employment opportunities for the region’s villagers by helping them market local produce and handicrafts like jams, pickles, shawls, and preserves.

A proactive village based cooperative, Forest department and private sector have played key roles in encouraging the local populace to depend on sustainable sources of livelihood, turning their attention away from the forests’ depleting resources and instead look to preservation of both their natural and cultural heritage through the advent of nature and trekking tourism. Though signs of logging and forest fires are visible, extensive damage to Binsar’s fragile ecosystem has so far been avoided and quintessentially beautiful Kumaon villages, with their unique architectural heritage remained largely unscathed by ugly development seen now in many parts on the drive to Binsar. Furthermore a noticeable increase in birdlife and animal life is now visible, without the hunting pressures of yester year. Long may this continue.