India is nothing less than a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts all over the world. If you’re an avid bird watcher, you’ll be amazed to know there are several bird sanctuaries of India which you can explore on your visit to the country. The favorable climate, topography, and several other factors make India the ideal home to various bird species. Winter is generally considered the best time to visit some of the remarkable bird sanctuaries of India. Endemic as well as migratory bird species can be found in plain sight during this time.
While you can visit any of the popular bird sanctuaries India is home to, it’s the lesser-explored ones we’d like to highlight here.
Uncharted Bird Sanctuaries of India:
The incredible importance of bird sanctuary cannot be undermined. Scan our below list of bird sanctuaries and find one you’d like to visit first. Board last minute flights in case you cannot book flights ahead of your trip. Explore some of the best bird sanctuaries of India this vacation!
- Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in Karnataka
Many consider this to be the largest bird sanctuary in India and not just the state. The sanctuary is sprawled across 40 acres of land and houses over 170 remarkable bird species. But this isn’t a great place just for watching birds. Ranganathittu has small islets that are home to some amazing and exotic animals such as Flying Fox, Palm Civet, and Bonnet Macaque among others. It is also famed for being home to the largest freshwater crocodile population in the state.
- Samaspur Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh
Home to more than 250 species of birds, this is one of the lesser-known but amazing bird sanctuaries of India to visit. Established sometime in the late 1980’s, the Samaspur Bird Sanctuary is also home to about 11 different species of fish. Replete with lush vegetation, you can spot popular flora such as Mahua, Mango, and Sheesham. Top migratory birds such as Pintail, Greylag Goose, Common Teal, and Northern Shoveler fly all the way to Samaspur during the winter time of November – March.
- Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu
This is possibly the smallest bird sanctuary in India to visit when arriving on business class flights. However, the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is reportedly home to around 40,000 beautiful birds. Of these, there are about 26 rare species. The landscape of the sanctuary is spectacular as well. Popular species to spot at Vedanthangal, one of the best offbeat bird sanctuaries of India, include Pond Heron, Grebes, Sandpiper, Moorhen, Painted Storks, Egrets, and White Ibis among others.
- Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary in West Bengal
Known not just for beautiful birds but also for orchids, butterflies, and ferns, this is one of the top bird sanctuaries of India to visit. Placed about 20 km from the capital city Kolkata, the Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary forests are home to stunning and rare bird species such as the Streak-throated Woodpecker, Blue-throated Fly Catcher, and Grey-headed Fish Eagle among others. You will also find that the forests are replete with lush green trees of Tamarind, Ficus, Guava, and Jackfruit to name a few.
- Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary in Gujarat
The Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is situated about 65 km from the spectacular city of Ahmedabad. It has more than 200 species of migratory birds flocking to it between every November – February. You can spot beautiful birds such as Flamingos, White stork, Rosy Pelican, and Ruddy Shelduck among others. The sanctuary is also home to endangered species such as the Blackbuck and Wild ass. Among the best bird sanctuaries of India, it also has a stunning lake and offers bird watching via boating option.
- Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in Kerala
With its name literally meaning flat forest, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is among the most beautiful ones to explore in India. Nestled comfortably amidst the spectacular Periyar River tributaries, Thattekad is a small sanctuary sprawled across a mere 25 sq km of area. It is home to more than 500 bird species some of which are Emerald-green Pigeons, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Orange-threaded Thrush, and Brown-cheeked Fulvetta among others. By paying the minimal entry fee, you can enjoy spotting all of the above stunning bird species and countless more.
- Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh
One of the largest lagoons in the country, Pulicat Lake is settled calmly on the border of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh states. If you love Flamingos, this is one of the best bird sanctuaries of India to visit. Nearly over 15,000 of these beautiful birds crowd Pulicat Lake each year. However, other fantastic bird species can be spotted here as well such as Grey Pelicans, Reef Herons, Open-billed Storks, and Black-tailed Godwits to name a few.
The above-mentioned are just some of the many lesser-known but amazing bird sanctuaries of India to explore when you next book a ticket from USA to India for a visit. Take a bit of time to explore as many of these awesome bird sanctuaries as you can. Don’t forget to get your camera along to take stunning pictures of breathtakingly beautiful and colorful birds!
