Bird Sanctuary in India – List of Famous and Largest Bird Sanctuaries
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: November 14th, 2023
Bird sanctuary in India is a naturally protected area responsible for conserving and protecting native bird species in the country. Famous bird sanctuaries in India preserve different species by providing them with natural habitats to stimulate adequate survival and boost breeding. Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) stated that roughly 72 bird sanctuaries in India contain approximately 1210 bird species.
The list of bird sanctuaries in India remains under legal protection so that human involvement does not impact the wildlife there. Along with the bird sanctuary in India, the wildlife sanctuary serves to be a prominent tourist destination. Bird sanctuaries are well-known due to weather change influence and the tourism industry. For illustration, the first bird sanctuary of Kerela, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in India, faced a lot of tourism-brought crises. In this article, walk through the famous bird sanctuary in India state-wise, and learn in-depth information about the 5 largest bird sanctuaries in India.
Table of content
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1.
Major Bird Sanctuaries in India
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2.
List of Bird Sanctuaries in India (State-Wise)
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3.
5 Important Bird Sanctuaries in India
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4.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary – Largest Bird Sanctuary in India
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5.
Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary – Famous Bird Sanctuary in India
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6.
Chilika Lake Bird Sanctuary in India
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7.
Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary in India
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8.
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in India
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9.
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary UPSC
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10.
Bird Sanctuary in India UPSC
Major Bird Sanctuaries in India
Almost all the bird sanctuaries in India remain open from morning to evening throughout the year. The best time to explore any bird sanctuary in India is during the winter, though the breeding season for most species varies between June and September. The season lets visitors perceive colorful, lively, and rare migratory birds. Here is the list of the best bird sanctuaries in India state-wise, comprising mixed species of birds who migrate from junctions of the world.
List of Bird Sanctuaries in India (State-Wise)
Look at the list of states and their bird sanctuaries discovered in India. An interesting thing to note is: The biggest bird sanctuary in India is the Bharatpur bird sanctuary, whereas the first bird sanctuary in India is Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.
| State | Bird Sanctuary of India |
| Andhra Pradesh | Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary |
| Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Kondakarla Ava Bird Sanctuary | |
| Manjira Bird Sanctuary | |
| Sri Penusila Narasimha Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary | |
| Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary | |
| Kolleru Bird Sanctuary | |
| Atapaka Bird Sanctuary | |
| Rollapadu Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary | |
| Bihar | Nagi Dam Bird Sanctuary |
| Delhi | Okhla Bird Sanctuary |
| Najafgarh drain bird sanctuary | |
| Goa | Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary |
| Gujarat | Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary |
| Wachana Bird Sanctuary | |
| Porbandar Bird Sanctuary | |
| Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary | |
| Kutch Bustard Sanctuary | |
| Haryana | Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary | |
| Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Himachal Pradesh | Kais Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Gamgul | |
| Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Pong Dam Lake WLS (declared as a Bird Sanctuary In 1983) | |
| Jharkhand | Udhuwa Lake Bird Sanctuary |
| Karnataka | Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary |
| Bankapura | |
| Adichanchunagiri Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Gudavi Bird Sanctuary | |
| Bonal Bird Sanctuary | |
| Ghataprabha Bird Sanctuary | |
| Magadi Bird Sanctuary | |
| Attiveri Bird Sanctuary | |
| Bankapur Peacock Conservation Reserve (Bird) | |
| Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary | |
| Kaggaladu Bird Sanctuary | |
| Kokkare Bellur Community Reserve (Bird) | |
| Kerala | Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary |
| Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary | |
| Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary | |
| Pathiramanal | |
| Thattekad Bird Sanctuary | |
| Madhya Pradesh | Karera Bustard Sanctuary |
| Ghatigaon Bustard Sanctuary | |
| Sardarpur Kharmor (Lesser Florican) Sanctuary | |
| Sailana Kharmor (Lesser Florican) Sanctuary | |
| Maharashtra | Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary | |
| Karnala Bird Sanctuary | |
| Mayani Bird Sanctuary | |
| Jaikwadi Bird Sanctuary | |
| Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary | |
| Mizoram | Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Nagaland | Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary |
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Odisha |
Chilika Lake Bird Sanctuary |
| Nalabana Bird Sanctuary | |
| Punjab | Harike Lake Bird Sanctuary |
| Rajasthan | Keoladeo National Park/Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary |
| Tal Chhapar Sanctuary | |
| Desert National Park | |
| Tamil Nadu | Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary |
| Thiruppudai- Maruthur Conservation Reserve (Bird) | |
| Ariyakulam Bird Sanctuary | |
| Vaduvoor Lake Bird Sanctuary | |
| Point Calimere Bird Sanctuary | |
| Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary | |
| Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary | |
| Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary | |
| Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary | |
| Vellode Birds Sanctuary | |
| Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary | |
| Suchindram Theroor Birds Sanctuary | |
| Sikkim | Kitam Bird Sanctuary |
| Uttar Pradesh | Sandi Bird Sanctuary |
| Samaspur Sanctuary | |
| Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary | |
| Saman Sanctuary | |
| Okhla Sanctuary | |
| Lakh Bahosi Sanctuary | |
| Bakhira Sanctuary | |
| Patna Bird Sanctuary | |
| Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary | |
| Uttarakhand | Asan Barrage Bird Sanctuary |
| Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve (Bird) | |
| Uttar Pradesh | Thasrana Bird Sanctuary (Dhanauri Wetlands) |
| West Bengal | Rasikbill Bird Sanctuary |
| Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary | |
| Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary/Kulik Bird Sanctuary | |
| Kulik Bird Sanctuary (Raiganj WLS) |
5 Important Bird Sanctuaries in India
Listed below is the basic information about the top bird sanctuaries in India, the best months to visit them, their location, bird species found there, and their timings. Get the complete details of the largest bird sanctuary, the most famous bird sanctuary in India, and other details related to the bird sanctuaries. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is attributed to be the largest bird sanctuary in India. Here is the list of bird sanctuaries in India-
- Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
- Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary
- Chilika Bird Sanctuary
- Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary
- Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary – Largest Bird Sanctuary in India
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is also referred to as Keoladeo National Park or Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur bird sanctuary is among the largest bird sanctuaries in India. This avifauna sanctuary in Rajasthan, containing similar kinds of birds of a region or environment, is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a protected sanctuary.
- This bird sanctuary is a dwelling of more than 360 bird species.
- The largest sanctuary in India also contains other animal species like Boar, Sambar, Nilgai, and Chital.
- It is a delightful site for nature enthusiasts and wildlife fans.
| About the Largest Bird Sanctuary in India | |
| Visiting Timings | 8 am – 5 pm |
| Location | Bharatpur, Rajasthan |
| Birds Species Found | Cranes, shanks, stints, larks, wagtails, hawks, warblers, wheatears, flycatchers, pelicans, geese, ducks, eagles, buntings, and pipits |
| Best Visiting Months | August, October, November, and February |
| Ticket Price | INR 50 per person for Indians
INR 100 for rickshaw rides INR 400 per person for foreigners |
Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary – Famous Bird Sanctuary in India
One of the most famous bird sanctuaries in India is Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary, found near Solapur and possesses a vast population of Indian bustards. The exotic birds that stop here in this sanctuary for a break make the place a famous bird sanctuary.
- The months from August to January are known as the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, as these are the best months to visit this place.
- Other fauna species found in this sanctuary are wolves, common mongoose, and Indian foxes.
| About the Famous Bird Sanctuary in India – Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary | |
| Visiting Timings | 6 am – 6 pm |
| Location | Nannaj, Maharashtra |
| Birds Species Found | Indian bustard, laughing love, shikra, spot-billed duck, grey francolin, and snake eagle |
| Best Visiting Months | October – January |
Chilika Lake Bird Sanctuary in India
The biggest brackish water lake in India, Chilika Lake Bird Sanctuary in India, contains more than 260 migratory species of birds that move from Ladakh, the Himalayas, the Caspian Sea, the Aral Sea, Russia, Mongolia, etc., to this sanctuary every year.
- Several birds arrive at this bird sanctuary for breeding and stay for months.
- Chilika Lake is utilized as a fishing zone, and saltpans are discovered near the coasts.
- The area has many other fauna species, including crabs, crustaceans, limbless lizards, prawns, and Irrawaddy dolphins.
| About Chilika Bird Sanctuary | |
| Visiting Timings | 08:00 A.M. to 05:00 P.M. |
| Location | Nalaban, Odisha |
| Birds Species Found | Flamingos, Geese, Eagles |
| Best Visiting Months | October to March |
| Ticket Price | Free entry |
Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary in India
One of the most famous bird sanctuaries in India, covering an area of 1.43 sq. km., is Sultanpur bird sanctuary in Haryana. During winters, many migratory birds fly from Siberia, Eastern Europe, Turkey, and Russia to here. More than 250 species of regional birds are seen here, and more than 100 species emigrate during various times of the year.
| About Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary | |
| Visiting Timings | 6 am – 4:30 pm |
| Location | Gurgaon Farukh Nagar Rd, Sultanpur, Gurugram, Haryana |
| Birds Species Found | Black-necked stork, white-throated kingfisher, rock pigeon, rose-ringed parakeet, great egret, red-collared dove, cattle egret, laughing dove Indian roller, red-wattled lapwing, common mynah, etc. |
| Best Visiting Months | October to February |
| Ticket Price |
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Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in India
Thattekad is the first bird sanctuary in Kerala, India. It constitutes an evergreen lowland forest by the banks of the Periyar River. One of the renowned ornithologists, Salim Ali, described the sanctuary as the “richest bird habitat in the Indian peninsula,” consisting of vibrant bird varieties.
| About Thattekad Bird Sanctuary | |
| Visiting Timings | 6 am – 6 pm |
| Location | Kothamangalam-Pooyamkutty Road, Nyayapally PO, Thattekad, Kerala |
| Birds Species Found | Indian pitta, cormorant, Indian cuckoo, Jordan’s nightjar, Orange-headed thrush, large-billed leaf warbler, and oriental darter |
| Best Visiting Months | November – February |
| Ticket Price | INR 10 per person |
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary UPSC
The Ranganthittu bird sanctuary is also renowned to be the Pakshi Kashi of Karnataka. It is located in the Mandya district of Karnataka. It witnesses floods during heavy rainfall in the monsoon season. Approximately 170 bird species have been marked to be existing in the Ranganathittu bird sanctuary in Karnataka. It was accredited as the Ramsar site in 2022. There are numerous flora and fauna that are present in the sanctuary. This holds immense global importance.
Bird Sanctuary in India UPSC
The bird sanctuary in India is an essential topic for the UPSC syllabus. Complete knowledge of the topic is important for answering the related questions in the exam. The aspirants must practise the previous year’s papers and the related topics for efficient preparation for the exam. The candidates must also refer to the recommended books for covering the topics efficiently. It is essential for you to develop a methodical strategy for covering the syllabus and solving the exam. You can also refer to the strategy utilized by UPSC toppers.
