15 BIRD SANCTUARIES IN INDIA: AVIAN WATCHER’S PARADISE!

Bird Sanctuaries are awe-striking wetlands or natural habitats where birds are free to dwell and nest in their comfort zone. Away from the hustle and bustle of our everyday life, we can visit these winged friends and answer their chirping with a ‘hello’ of our own.

Bird Sanctuaries in India are crucial environments ideal for mating, feeding, and proliferation of bird species, especially endangered ones. You will see several migratory ones flapping their wings to visit the Indian terrain during the winter and monsoon seasons.

If you are someone who loves ornithology and adores how the birds seem to fit in so perfectly amidst the lush greenery, you should visit these 15 bird sanctuaries in India that we have listed for you. Moreover, you will find the Treebo Hotels in all these popular locations at a very affordable price.

Let us explore some of the popular bird sanctuaries in India in this post, along with information on their entry fees, opening hours, and the types of birds you will encounter here.

 15 Best Bird Sanctuaries in India

1) Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary – Gujarat 

Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, the largest wetland bird sanctuary in Gujarat, India, is located around 64 km to the west of Ahmedabad, close to Sanand Village. In 1969, the government deemed it a bird sanctuary and several migratory birds visit these lands during the summer and spring months. Thousands of migrating ducks arrive at this sanctuary right after the monsoon showers and about 250 species call this place their abode. If you plan on seeing the most exotic ornitho wonders in one place, the Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is the ideal place for you!  

Entry Ticket: Rs. 40/- per person (Monday To Friday)
                  Rs. 50/- (Weekend)
Timings: 6.00 am to 5.30 pm
Birds you can see: Purple Moorhen, Pelicans, White Storks, Cormorants, Cranes, lesser Flamingos, and greater Flamingos, and Herons. 

2) Chintamani Bird Sanctuary – West Bengal

Chintamani is a bird park that was given sanctuary status in 1982. It is situated in the Indian state of West Bengal, south of Kolkata. It is one of the bird sanctuaries renowned for the vast diversity of birds, butterflies, ferns, and orchids that it supports. Prior to receiving the designation of a bird sanctuary, it was a sizable mango orchard with enormous trees with juicy delights. Originally it was popular as the Narendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary, and later it was renamed to Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary in October 2005. It was done in honor of renowned sculptor Chintamani Kar.

Entry Ticket: Rs. 50/- per person
Timings: 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Summer) and 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Winter)
Birds you can see: Braodbill, Asian Koel, Brown Fish Owl, Black Drongo, Shikra, Indian Pond Heron, Bronzed Drongo, White Wagtail, and House Crow.

3) Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary – Karnataka

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is situated in the Mandya District in the Indian state of Karnataka and is also referred to as Pakshi Kashi of Karnataka. The Kaveri River’s shores are home to six islets that come under this sanctuary, making it the largest bird wonderland in Karnataka. The Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, which has been a protected Ramsar site since 2022, is situated 16 kilometers north of Mysore and 3 km from the ancient Srirangapattana town. You can book your stay in Mysore, or hire a car/taxi or bike to get to Ranganathittu. 

Entry Ticket: Rs. 50/- per person
Timings: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Birds you can see: Grey pelicans, Woolly-Necked Stork, Common Spoonbill, Black-Headed Ibis, Indian Shag, Lesser Whistling Duck, and Egret among others.

4) Najafgarh Drain Bird Sanctuary – Delhi

Najafgarh Drain Bird Sanctuary is the closest wetland ecology that is closer to the capital city of India. It runs through the rural lands in the south region of Delhi, and the undisturbed natural beauty provides the perfect backdrop to spot the aerial life. The place is home to migratory birds that stop by the Najafgarh Jheel and also other native endangered species. Along with the birds, you can see exotic flora and fauna on these lands. Though there are other bird sanctuaries that stretch from Haryana to Delhi, this small bird park boasts more species than any of them.

Entry Ticket: Free
Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Birds you can see: Indian Pond Herons, Egrets, Spoonbills, Pelicans, Vultures, and Whistling Ducks.

5) Mayani Bird Sanctuary – Maharashtra

Mayani Bird Sanctuary is a drought-prone land that has some of the best desert plants and flora growing in the region. There are long stretches of barren grounds and occasional trees adorn the place. Migratory birds move from middle-east to India and settle here in the Winter season. It is one of the must visit bird sancturies in the country. From October to Early February, you can see about 400 different species of birds that are a combination of native ones and visiting guests.

Entry Ticket: Free
Timings: 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Birds you can see: Flamingos, Kingfisher birds, Storks, Brahminy Ducks, and Black Ibis. 

6) Chilika Lake Bird Sanctuary – Orissa

The Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary, known as a prime location for ornithologists to observe birds in their natural habitat, is one of the largest flamingo breeding grounds in the world. Since the entire area draws a large number of aquatic birds, preferably in the winter for the migratory counts, Chilka Lake is regarded as a true paradise for those who are planning to study the feathery friends. 

Entry Ticket: Free
Timings: 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Birds you can see: Purple Swamphens, Irrawaddy Dolphins, Crabs, Flamingos, and prawns

If you are planning to visit Odisha soon, you might also want to check out these other tourist places in Odisha: walk the path of its history and nature.

7) Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is a protected area situated in the Madurantakam taluk of the Chengalpattu District in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is very popular as one of the oldest water bird sanctuaries in the nation. Located on National Highway 45, the sanctuary is around 75 kilometers from Chennai. Every year during the migratory season, more than 40,000 birds from different areas of the world come to the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.

Entry Ticket: Rs 25/- per adult and Rs 5/- per child
Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Birds you can see: Painted Stocks,Cormorant, Pintail, Grey Wagtail Garganey, Blue-Winged Teal, and Common Sandpiper among others.

8) Thattekad Bird Sanctuary – Kerala

Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary is the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, and it is situated around 12 kilometers from Kothamangalam in the Indian state of Kerala. Numerous species of birds, including water and forest variants, frequent the sanctuary. The vast diversity of resident aerial life makes this place the most sought-after tourist attraction in the Southern State. After the monsoon showers, the entire place lights up, and the green trees stand out beautifully against the subtle sun rays.

Entry Ticket: Rs. 20/- per person
Timings: 7:00 AM to  5:00 PM
Birds you can see: Drongo Cuckoo, Indian pitta, Orange-Headed Thrush, Jerdon’s Nightjar, Oriental Darter, Cormorants, and Yellow-Browed Bulbuls.

 9) Bakhira Bird Sanctuary – Uttar Pradesh

The Bakhira Bird Sanctuary is a large body of water that spans a distance of 29 sq. km and is situated in the Sant Kabir Nagar district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Bakhira Bird Sanctuary was founded in 1980 and became a Ramsar Site in February 2022. It serves as a staging and wintering area for a variety of migrating waterfowl, as well as a nesting land for local species.

Entry Ticket: Rs. 30/- per person
Timings: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Birds you can see: Grey-Headed Swamphen, European Carp, and Purple Swamp-Hen.

 10) Kaundinya Bird Sanctuary – Andhra Pradesh

Want both the feathered delights and fauna in one place? Then you must visit Kaundinya Bird Sanctuary!  It is renowned as a wonderful paradise for professional photographers who click candid pictures of wildlife. You can do the same with your smartphones too! Located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, the perfect holiday getaway is closer to other tourist hotspots like Horsley Hills and Tirupati.  Within the boundaries of the Kaundinya Bird Sanctuary, there are two rivers that flow: the Kaigal and Kaundinya Rivers – both of which serve as the primary water source for the sanctuary and surrounding villages. 

Entry Ticket: Free
Timings: 5:30 AM to 7:00 PM
Birds you can see: Grey Pelicans, Cockatiels, Painted Storks, Budgerigars, Love Birds, and Rosy Pelicans. 

11) Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary – Kerala

This 14 hectare enchanting land of birds is spread on the banks of Vembanad Lake. Kerala is known for its green canopies and emerald lands. Imagine having this background with birds chirping, cooing, and flying around the wide-open skies. That is what you will find in Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. It is one of the famous tourist spots in Kumarakom and hosts diverse species of native and migratory birds. You can expect to see here birdies that fly all the way from Russia!

Entry Ticket: Rs. 50/- (Indian citizens); Rs. 100/- (Foreigners)
Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Birds you can see: Waterfowl, Owl, Koel, Darter, Moorhen, and Brahminy Kite.

12) Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary – Goa

All of us must have come across the name ‘Salim Ali’ in our textbooks during school days. His name is the first thing that comes to our minds on the mention of Ornithology. This beautiful bird sanctuary is named after him. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is an offshore mangrove ecosystem and is situated on the island of Chorao on the Mandovi River. The island housing the sanctuary is connected by a ferry service that runs between Ribander and Chorao. Visitors take pleasure in regularly spotting white egrets, purple herons, and mynahs.

Entry Ticket: Rs. 10/- per person
Timings: 7.00 AM to 5.00 PM
Birds you can see: Western Reef Heron, Little Bittern, Black Bittern, Jack Snipe, and Red Knot

13) Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary – Haryana

Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary makes watching the swift-winged delights much easier and more convenient. It has four watch towers that give you a better view of the land, as well as the birds that occupy the skies. Every year, hundreds of different migrating bird species come to this area in search of wintering grounds and sources of food. 

Entry Ticket: Rs. 5/- (Indian citizens); Rs. 40/- (Foreigners)
Timings: 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Birds you can see: Hoopoe, Purple Sunbird, Gray Francolin, Black Francolin, and White-Throated Kingfisher 

14) Keoladeo Ghana National Park – Rajasthan

The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park attracts a large number of birds, particularly in the winter months. Most of the winged friends arrive from extremely cold countries like Siberia and Russia. It is also a significant tourist destination and also invites a large number of ornithologists during the hibernation season. It is a delight to see such species in one of the bird sanctuaries in India.

Entry Ticket: Rs. 75/- per person
Timings: 6.00 am – 5.00 pm
Birds you can see: Gadwall, Common Teal, Tufted Duck, Little Cormorant, and Indian Shag.

15) Atapaka Bird Sanctuary – Andhra Pradesh

Also called Kolleru Bird Sanctuary, this is one of the less explored Bird parks in India owing to the fact that not many know about this natural beauty. It is a mesmerizing breeding space for birds near Kolleru Lake. It is a safe haven for namely two birds – grey pelicans, and White Stocks. Tourists can see the birds up close and enjoy the gentle breeze that moves rhythmically around this place.

Entry Ticket: Rs. 10/- (Indian Citizens); Rs. 100/- camera charges
Timings: Open 24 Hours
Birds you can see: OPen Billed Stocks, Pintails, Glossy Ibies, and some Eagles.

Bird Sanctuaries give you an opportunity to witness rich diversity of bird species amidst the lush emerald greens and tranquil lakes. The peaceful and therapeutic environment coupled with the soothing chirping, cooing, and singing of the avians adds to the ethereal experience. These 15 bird parks are the best in India. If you’ve been to any of these places, share your memories with us in the comments section.