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The Thrill of Spotting a Hornbill in the Shivaliks

By Shashikant Jugran•October 26, 2026
An Oriental Pied Hornbill perched on a high branch against a clear blue sky, its black-and-cream casque and curved bill in profile, white belly and long tail visible among berry-laden leaves

An Oriental Pied Hornbill near Thano forest, Dehradun. Photograph by the author.

I was in Dehradun most of last week. I went Thursday for some work and stayed till Sunday. I go to Dehradun often. My family is originally from Uttarakhand, though I have lived all my life in Delhi and then Gurugram.

To be honest, the trip started off being difficult due to traffic woes and delays in the work. But the Himalayas always provide peace if we look for it. Like I found this Oriental Pied Hornbill when I stopped at Cygnus Cafe.

Cygnus Cafe and Charging Centre is a pit stop on Airport Road along the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway corridor. A modern cafe built with a shaded canopy giving way to a glass-fronted sanctuary that provides a glimpse into Thano forest, a vibrant, sub-tropical woodland ecosystem where the dense canopy of the Shivalik foothills meets rural Uttarakhand. The flora in the area comprises Sal, Sisham, Khair among a diverse range of trees, undulating streams and rivers, creating the perfect habitat for birds like plum-headed parakeet, blue-throated barbet, white-throated fantail among others. Nearby lies Lekhak Gaon, a cultural and literary settlement that attracts writers, artists and creators seeking to get away from the chaos of urban realities.

While my car was charging, I had nothing better to do so I strolled towards the forest and, as luck would have it, I spotted an Oriental Pied Hornbill, who seemed happy to pose. Thano is known for being home to the Oriental Pied Hornbill.

A close view of an Oriental Pied Hornbill peering down from between branches, its black-and-cream casque and bill framed by green leaves and berries

Photograph by the author.

Later that evening I was speaking to a friend and conversation turned to the annual Hornbill Festival that is coming up in Nagaland in December. The festival is a living heritage of India and is a 10-day journey into ancient traditions, food, music, and culture with all recognised Naga tribes participating.

A pit stop can often become the centre-stage of a journey. Or at the very least, lift a day into better spirits. Motivation works in mysterious ways. I now have hornbills to look forward to on my next trip.

Editor's Note: Photographs by the author.

(Shashikant Jugran is a specialist in business process reengineering, an orator, mentor, and travel industry leader with three decades of experience. A multi-disciplinary professional, Shashikant is a civil engineer who transitioned into management through an MBA in Marketing with a Minor in Human Resources. His illustrious career has spanned leadership roles in Amadeus, Bird Group, RezNext, Yatra, and he currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at BirdRes Technologies Private Limited, based in Gurgaon.)