We Saw Quails and a Golden Pheasant Family Today at Shri Shankaracharya Temple – A Magical Wildlife Moment in Srinagar (2025)

We Saw Quails and a Golden Pheasant Family Today at Shri Shankaracharya Temple – A Magical Wildlife Moment in Srinagar (2025)
Today we spotted quails and a golden pheasant family near Shri Shankaracharya Temple, Srinagar. A beautiful wildlife experience with nature and birds
A visit to the sacred Shri Shankaracharya Temple always feels spiritual, but today’s experience turned into something even more special.
On the peaceful forest path, we witnessed a beautiful group of quails and an elegant golden pheasant family walking freely among the trees.

It felt like nature opened a secret doorway for us—
a quiet, magical moment right in the heart of Srinagar.


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🌲 A Calm Morning Climb Filled With Nature

We started our climb early.
The air was cool, the sky was clear, and the tall pine trees around the temple hill were glowing softly in the morning light.

The forest felt alive, but peaceful.
Birds were calling from different directions, echoing through the valley.

While climbing a quiet turn of the stone steps, something small moved in the bushes.

We stopped…
and then the magic began.


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🕊 Our First Sight — A Group of Quails Crossing the Path

From inside the shrubs, a tiny group of brown mountain quails stepped out, one after another. Their round little bodies, quick steps, and soft chirping instantly caught our attention.

They weren’t afraid.
They simply walked in a line—like a little parade—crossing the temple pathway in the most adorable way.

One quail turned around, looked directly at us, and continued walking calmly.

It felt like nature was saying:
“Slow down… look around… there is beauty everywhere.”


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🐦✨ The Most Unexpected Moment — A Golden Pheasant Family Appears

Just as the quails disappeared into the grass, we saw something even more incredible.

From between the tall deodar trees, a golden pheasant family stepped into the open.

The male golden pheasant was shining like a moving rainbow—
golden crest, red body, and bright blue wings reflecting the sun.

Beside him walked the female pheasant and two small chicks, following gently behind.

Seeing golden pheasants in the wild is rare.
Seeing an entire family…
that’s a blessing.

We stood silently, barely breathing, watching this royal-looking bird family move through the forest.


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🌿 How We Reacted — Quietness, Wonder, Awe

We didn’t move quickly.
We didn’t make noise.

We simply watched from a respectful distance as the quails and pheasants searched for insects, pecked at the ground, and moved gracefully among the trees.

Even the wind felt still.

It was one of those moments where spirituality and nature meet—
where the forest becomes a temple itself.


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🍃 Why These Birds Appear Near Shankaracharya Temple

The hill surrounding the temple is rich in forest cover and pure wildlife habitat.
You can often find:

Mountain quails

Jungle bush quails

Golden pheasants

Himalayan monals

Partridges

Small mammals

Many forest birds


Since the area is less disturbed early morning, birds come out freely during sunrise.

We were lucky.
Very lucky.


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🛑 Safety & Respect Tips for Visitors

If you ever spot wildlife near the temple:

✔ Keep distance

Do not go close to any birds or animals.

✔ Do not feed them

Human food harms wildlife.

✔ Avoid loud sounds

It can scare them or disturb their natural behaviour.

✔ Stay on the official path

Respect the forest area.

✔ Early morning = best sightings

But always stay alert.


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🕉 A Spiritual Visit Turned into a Rare Wildlife Gift

We reached the temple with a fresh sense of gratitude.
This wasn’t just a morning walk or a religious climb.
It turned into a memory filled with wildlife beauty — quails, golden pheasants, and the quiet magic of Kashmir’s forests.

Some moments stay forever.
Today was one of them.

Shri Shankaracharya Temple gave us spirituality…
and nature gave us joy.

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