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Birds are colourful gifts of nature that fill our hearts with joy. India is rich in biodiversity being home to many of our feathered friends like the great-Indian bustard, hornbill, adjutant, peacock, florican, cormorants, parakeets, etc.
This article lists the 20 best bird sanctuaries in India, alongside intricate details like the bird species available and how to reach them.
Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary
Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary
Kaundinya Bird Sanctuary
Kutch Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Bakhira Bird Sanctuary
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
Chilika Lake Bird Sanctuary
Mayani Bird Sanctuary
Samaspur Bird Sanctuary
Najafgarh Drain Bird Sanctuary
Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary
The 20 best bird sanctuaries in India are as follows:
Name of the Bird Sanctuary |
Area Covered |
Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary |
8,496 km2 |
Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary |
759 km2 |
Kaundinya Bird Sanctuary |
358 km2 |
Kutch Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary |
258.71 km2 |
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary |
121 km2 |
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary |
29 km2 |
Bakhira Bird Sanctuary |
29 km2 |
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary |
25.16 km2 |
Chilika Lake Bird Sanctuary |
15.53 km2 |
Mayani Bird Sanctuary |
8.67 km2 |
Samaspur Bird Sanctuary |
7.99 km2 |
Najafgarh Drain Bird Sanctuary |
6 km2 |
Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary |
2.24 km2 |
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary |
1.8 km2 |
Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary |
1.45 km2 |
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary |
0.67 km2 |
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary |
0.3 km2 |
Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary |
0.07 km2 |
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary |
0.05 km2 |
Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary |
0.05 km2 |
The list of the 20 best bird sanctuaries in India is as follows.
Located in Solapur (Maharashtra), this is the largest bird sanctuary in India. It is named after the endangered bird species, the great Indian bustard. The sanctuary boasts of the vast number of Indian bustards that it houses. Apart from this, some other species of fauna that are found here are the Indian fox, wolf, common mongoose, etc. making it a tourist hotspot.
This bird sanctuary is located in Nellore (Andhra Pradesh) and is one of the biggest bird sanctuaries in India. It is also a freshwater lake and the second largest after the Chilika Lake. It houses a rich biodiversity of wildlife, birds, worms, fishes, molluscs, etc., which can be seen all year round.
This is another top tourist destination for bird watchers and nature lovers. It is surrounded by the Horsley Hills and has a wide variety of birds and wildlife to offer. Animals like jungle cats, pumas, monitor lizards, porcupines, and sloth bears can all be seen in this sanctuary. You can even get a sight of the majestic tiger if you are lucky!
Kutch in Gujarat has a xerophytic grassland ecosystem. It is here that the sanctuary is located with numerous bird species, the most popular being the great Indian bustard. The sanctuary is also a haven for other endangered species of wildlife.
This is another bird sanctuary in Gujarat and is considered one of the most famous bird sanctuaries in India. With more than 210 species of birds found in this sanctuary, the area has a wetland ecosystem.
If one is an avid bird enthusiast, this is the place where one should be headed. Why so? This sanctuary is considered a ‘World-Heritage-Site’ by UNESCO, for its extremely rich biodiversity. In short, there are close to 366 bird species alone, and several other species of wildlife. Located in Rajasthan, it is also renowned for its avifauna species.
Located in Uttar Pradesh, this sanctuary has a wetland habitat and is situated on a natural floodplain. This reserve holds spectacular scenic beauty and has many bird species to offer. It was established in the 1980s and is named after a lake from the surrounding village.
This is one of the most famous bird sanctuaries in India, located in Kerala. It has a lowland forest habitat with lush green trees all around, flanked by the river Periyar. The ornithologist Salim Ali rightly coins this place as the ‘richest bird habitat of India’. The place has around 270 bird species and is famous for its expanding ‘cuckoo’ population.
Lake Chilika, which is located in Orissa, Asia’s largest brackish-water ecosystem and home to a multitude of birds, some native while some migratory. The boating facilities are available for tourists and the natural backdrop of the vast serene lake is a paradise for nature lovers. Some may even visit the islands via boat ride, namely, Bird Island and Beacon Island.
This bird sanctuary of Maharashtra encompasses a wetland habitat rich in diverse flora and fauna. However, the local region is drought-prone and spotted with waterbodies, which has spurred the growth of cacti and small scattered forests. This is infamous for over 400 species of migratory birds that visit the sanctuary during winter months.
This sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh houses more than 200 species of birds including some endangered species. The reserve has a natural lake that remains teeming with aquatic life all through the year. It houses not only native bird species but is a common spot for migratory species to come and brood during Indian winters.
This is one of the most famous bird sanctuaries in India and is situated in Delhi. Being one of the oldest sanctuaries, its wetland habitat attracts 5000 diverse species of birds. Its lush green flora makes it a perfect spot to visit on a weekend trip to Delhi. Nilgais, porcupines, foxes, and jackals are some common wildlife sighted here.
Formerly known as the Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, this sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh has over 250 bird species. There is a freshwater lake around which the sanctuary is built. Some of the rarest bird species can be seen here. Visitors from all around the world and even Siberia pay a visit to this sanctuary making it one of the most famous bird sanctuaries in India.
This sanctuary is situated in Goa and is famous for the mangrove forest which stretches along the estuaries of Mandovi River and Chorao Island. Named after the renowned ornithologist Salim Ali, this place offers ferry and boat services to its visitors at routine hours.
This is one of the best bird sanctuaries in India, situated in Haryana. This place is famous for migratory visits from birds across Europe, Turkey, Russia, and Siberia. The birds that can be sighted at Sultanpur Sanctuary are both native and migratory species totalling over 250 species of our feathered friends.
This sanctuary is situated near Mysore in Karnataka and is one of Karnataka’s biggest bird sanctuaries. This reserve has a total of six different islands situated along the Cauvery River. Thus, it is rich in avifauna as well. Additionally, animals like monitor lizards, crocodiles, flying foxes, and grey Indian mongooses are also sighted here.
In Tamil Nadu, the word ‘Vedanthangal’ means ‘Hamlet-of-the-Hunters’. This place is home to almost 40,000 migratory bird species in the world. Thus, this place is listed as one of the most famous bird sanctuaries in India. The birds visit this place every year mostly from October to January.
Next on our list is the Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary of West Bengal. It is located on the outskirts of Bengal’s capital, Kolkata. This is completely managed by the government and houses several local bird species of West Bengal. Siberian migratory birds are also common during the winter.
In Kerala, this sanctuary is situated along a scenic area, the Vembanad Lake that extends over lush greenery on two sides. This place attracts bird watchers in numbers, as one can spot varied resident bird species here. The heart of the sanctuary is the serene Pathiramanal Island, which acts as a perfect winter brooding spot for migratory birds from Russia and Siberia.
The sanctuary at Andhra Pradesh is home to both indigenous and migratory bird species. The number of birds flying around the place, chirping, and brooding, creates a joyful and melodious atmosphere for tourists.
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