| State/UT |
Ramsar site |
Description |
Key species / biodiversity |
| Andhra Pradesh |
Kolleru Lake |
It is a naturally eutrophic (nutrient-rich) lake between the Godavari and the Krishna River basins. Once a lagoon, it is now several kilometres inland due to coastal emergence and delta formation. |
Fauna: Grey Pelican (Spot-Billed Pelican)
Threats: Paddy cultivation, overexploitation, flooding in the monsoon season, etc. |
| Assam |
Deepor Beel |
It is a permanent freshwater lake in a former channel of the Brahmaputra, located near Guwahati |
Avifauna: Grey Pelican (Spot-billed Pelican; NT), Lesser Adjutant Stork (VU), Greater Adjutant Stork (NT), Baer’s Pochard (CR).
Threats: Overfishing, hunting, pollution from pesticides, and infestation by water hyacinth. |
| Bihar |
Gogabeel Lake |
It is a permanent oxbow lake situated between the Ganga and Mahananda rivers; Bihar’s first notified Community Reserve. |
Avifauna: Common Pochard (VU), Black-bellied Tern (EN), Lesser Adjutant Stork, and the Oriental Darter.
Significance: Acts as a vital wintering ground for the Central Asian Flyway; managed and conserved by the local community. |
| Bihar |
Gokul Reservoir |
It is a horseshoe-shaped oxbow lake located on the southern bank of the River Ganga. |
Avifauna: Hosts over 50 bird species, including various storks, kingfishers, and waterfowl. |
| Bihar |
Kanwar Taal or Kabar Taal Lake |
It lies in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Formed by the meandering of the Gandak River. |
Avifauna: Red-Headed Vulture (CR), White-Rumped Vulture (CR), Indian Vulture (CR) – and two waterbirds, the Baer’s Pochard (CR) and Sociable Lapwing (CR). |
| Bihar |
Nagi Bird Sanctuary |
It is a man-made reservoir created by the damming of the Nagi River; it features clear water and aquatic vegetation. Identified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA); it also supports over 30 species of fish. |
Avifauna: Baer’s Pochard (CR), Steppe Eagle (EN), and one of the largest congregations of Bar-headed Goose on the Indo-Gangetic plain. |
| Bihar |
Nakti Bird Sanctuary |
It is a man-made wetland developed primarily for irrigation through the construction of the Nakti Dam. Identified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) by BirdLife International Provides habitat for the Indian Elephant (EN) and the vulnerable native catfish Wallago attu. |
Avifauna: Supports over 150 bird species, notably hosting one of the largest wintering gatherings of Red-crested Pochard in the region. |
| Bihar |
Udaipur Jheel |
A semi-natural oxbow lake within the Udaipur Wildlife Sanctuary, formed by the Gandaki River. |
Avifauna: Common Pochard (VU), Bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, and Eurasian Wigeon.
Significance: Home to over 280 plant species, including the perennial herb Alysicarpus roxburghianus, which is endemic to India. |
| Goa |
Nanda Lake |
It is an intermittent freshwater marsh adjacent to one of the tributaries of the Zuari River. |
|
| Gujarat |
Chhari-Dhand |
It is situated on the edge of the arid Banni Grasslands near the Rann of Kutch; State’s first Conservation Reserve. It is a seasonal desert wetland that fills with water only during the monsoon via north-flowing rivers and hill runoff. |
Fauna: This ecosystem supports unique desert mammals such as the Chinkara, Caracal, Desert Cat, and Indian Wolf.
Significance: It provides critical habitat for the Sociable Lapwing and Common Pochard. Major wintering ground for the Common Crane and the Greater Flamingo. |
| Gujarat |
Khijadia WLS |
It is a freshwater wetland located in Jamnagar district near the Gulf of Kutch. It was formed after a bund (dike) was created to protect farmland from saltwater ingress. |
Species: Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN), Indian Skimmer (EN), Indian Bdellium-Tree (CR). |
| Gujarat |
Nalsarovar BS |
It is the largest natural freshwater lake (a relict sea) in the Thar Desert. The wetland is a lifeline for a satellite population of the endangered Indian Wild Ass (NT). |
Avifauna: Sociable Lapwing (CR), Sarus Crane (VU). |
| Gujarat |
Thol Lake |
It is a man-made reservoir essential during the dry seasons for Blackbucks (LC). |
Avifauna: White-Rumped Vulture (CR), Sociable Lapwing (CR) |
| Gujarat |
Wadhvana Wetland |
This man-made reservoir is in a semi-arid agricultural landscape. |
Avifauna: Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN), Sarus Crane (VU), Common Pochard (VU) |
| Haryana |
Bhindawas WLS |
It is a human-made freshwater wetland. It shares its border with Khaparwas WLS (Haryana). It is a crucial link for birds moving between the Himalayas and Central India. |
Avifauna: Egyptian Vultures (EN), Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN) |
| Haryana |
Sultanpur NP |
It is located just 15km away from Delhi. The Sultanpur Jeel inside the park is an IBA. |
Avifauna: Sociable Lapwing (CR), Egyptian Vultures (EN), Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN), Saker Falcon (EN), Black-Bellied Tern (EN). |
| Himachal Pradesh |
Chandra Taal |
It is a high-altitude lake on the Chandra valley, flowing to the Chandra River of the Western Himalayas near the Kunzum pass, joining the Himalayan and Pir Panjal ranges. |
Fauna: Snow Leopard (VU), Himalayan Ibex (NT), Blue Sheep (Bharal; LC).
Threats: Overgrazing by the nomadic herdsmen. |
| Himachal Pradesh |
Pong Dam Lake |
It is a reservoir on the Beas River. It is also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar. It lies on the Trans-Himalayan Flyway for migratory waterfowl. It hosts one of the largest congregations of Bar-headed Goose in the world. |
|
| Himachal Pradesh |
Renuka Lake |
It is a natural wetland with freshwater springs and inland subterranean karst formations. The lake is named after the mother of the Hindu sage Parshuram. |
|
| Jammu and Kashmir |
Hokera Wetland |
It is only 10 km from Srinagar. It is a natural wetland contiguous to the Jhelum basin. |
Avifauna: White-Eyed (Ferruginous) Pochard (NT). |
| Jammu and Kashmir |
Hygam Wetland CnR (IBA) |
It lies downstream of Wular Lake in the Baramulla district. |
Threats: High rate of siltation. |
| Jammu and Kashmir |
Shallbugh Wetland CnR |
It is located west of Anchar Lake near Hokera Wetland in the Srinagar district. It plays a major role in the natural control, amelioration, or prevention of flooding. |
Avifauna: Steppe Eagle (EN), Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN), Black-Bellied Tern (EN) |
| Jammu and Kashmir |
Surinsar-Mansar Lakes |
It is a freshwater composite lake in semi-arid Punjab Plains, adjoining the Jhelum Basin. It has many temples around owing to its mythical origin from the Mahabharata period. |
Fauna: Indian Softshell Turtle and Indian Flapshell Turtle. |
| Jammu and Kashmir |
Wular Lake |
It is the largest freshwater lake in India. It is fed by the Jhelum River in the Kashmir Valley. |
|
| Karnataka |
Aghanashini Estuary |
The Site is an estuary where the Aghanashini River flows into the Arabian Sea in Karnataka. It provides habitats to fish, birds and mangroves and mangrove-associated species. It supports activities such as fishing, agriculture, shrimp aquaculture, bivalve shell mining, and salt production. Here, farmers cultivate “kagga,” a salt-tolerant rice, using traditional farming methods. |
Fauna and Avifauna: Halavi Guitarfish (CR), Lesser Adjutant (NT), Indian River Tern (VU), Black-Headed Ibis (NT). |
| Karnataka |
Ankasamudra Bird CnR |
The Site is a human-made wetland built for storing monsoon run-off water coming from the Tungabhadra River and providing irrigation to surrounding drought-risk areas. Gum Arabic trees growing in the lake offer nesting, roosting, and breeding habitats for large waterbirds. The lake hosts nine endemic fish species, including the globally endangered Zebra Loach (EN), Aruli Barb (EN), and Nukta (EN). |
Fauna: Indian Cormorant (LC), Painted Stork (LC), Glossy Ibis (LC).
Threats: Excessive growth of invasive alligator weed, Prosopis juliflora, and African catfish. |
| Karnataka |
Magadi Kere CnR (IBA) |
It is a human-made wetland that was primarily constructed to store monsoon rainwater. Over the years after construction, the wetland’s water became increasingly alkaline, unsuitable for irrigation. It is one of the largest wintering grounds for Bar-Headed Goose (LC) in southern India. |
Avifauna: Northern Shoveler (LC), Garganey (LC), and Common Pochard (VU).; Fauna: Indian Pangolin |
| Karnataka |
Ranganathituu BS (IBA) |
It is a part of the Kaveri River in Mandya district. |
Fauna: Mugger Crocodile (VU), Smooth-Coated Otter (VU), Hump-Backed Mahseer (CR).; Avifauna: Painted Stork (LC), Grey Pelican (VU), Black-Headed Ibis (NT). |
| Kerala |
Ashtamudi Wetland |
It is a natural backwater in the Kollam district. National Waterway 3 passes through it. It is the second-largest estuarine ecosystem in Kerala. It forms an estuary with the sea at Neendakara (a famous fishing harbour in Kerala). Kallada and Pallichal Rivers drain into it. |
|
| Kerala |
Sasthamkotta Lake |
It is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala. The Kallada River had a unique replenishing system through a bar of paddy fields. The replenishing mechanism is now being destroyed. The water contains no common salts and supports no water plants. A larva called cavaborus eliminates bacteria in water, thus contributing to its exceptional purity. |
|
| Kerala |
Vembanad-Kol Wetland |
It is the largest brackish lake of Kerala, spanning across Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts. It is the second-largest Ramsar Site in India after Sundarbans. It is also the longest lake in India. The Kuttanad region here is famous for Below Sea Level Farming, which has been recognised by FAO as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS). |
|
| Ladakh |
Tso Kar |
It is a high-altitude wetland complex and IBA consisting of two waterbodies: Tso Kar (4,500 m above sea level) itself, a hypersaline lake to the north, & Startsapuk Tso, a freshwater lake to the south. It is called Tso Kar, meaning white lake, because of the white salt efflorescence found on the margins due to the evaporation of highly saline water. It is the most important breeding area of the Black-Necked Cranes (NT) in India. |
Fauna: Saker Falcon (EN), Asiatic Wild Dog (Dhole; EN), Snow Leopard (VU). |
| Ladakh |
Tsomoriri |
It is a freshwater to brackish lake lying at 4,595 m above sea level. With no outflow, evaporation in the arid steppe conditions causes varying levels of salinity. The 400-year-old Korzok monastery near the lake attracts many tourists. The barley fields at Korzok have been described as the highest cultivated land in the world. Tsomoriri is the only breeding ground outside of China for Black-Necked Cranes (NT) and the only breeding ground for Bar-Headed Geese (LC) in India. Great Tibetan Sheep (Argali; NT) and Tibetan Wild Ass (Kiang; LC) are endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, of which the Changthang Plateau of India is the westernmost part. |
|
| Madhya Pradesh |
Bhoj Wetland |
It is a human-made reservoir that consists of two lakes located in the city of Bhopal. |
Avifauna: Sarus Crane (VU) |
| Madhya Pradesh |
Sakhya Sagar |
It is a human-made reservoir located near Madhav NP. |
Fauna: Mugger (VU), Smooth-Coated Otter (VU), Hump-Backed Mahseer (CR) |
| Madhya Pradesh |
Sirpur Wetland |
It is a human-made wetland commonly named Pakshi Vihar in Indore. |
Avifauna: Common Pochard (VU), Egyptian Vulture (EN), Indian River Tern (VU) |
| Madhya Pradesh |
Tawa Reservoir |
It is a human-made wetland created primarily for irrigation through the construction of the Tawa Dam (completed in 1978). It is located within the Satpura TR in the Narmadapuram District, at the confluence of the Tawa and Denwa rivers. |
Fauna: Supports over 280 migratory birds, 57 fish species (including the Tor mahseer or “state fish”), and mammals such as the Indian giant squirrel and Spotted deer. |
| Madhya Pradesh |
Yashwant Sagar |
An IBA in the Indore region (Malwa region). |
|
| Maharashtra |
Lonar Lake |
It is an endorheic (closed basin) crater lake formed by a meteorite impact. World’s only hyper-velocity impact crater in basaltic rock. It is high in salinity and alkalinity due to the lack of an outflow. Specialised micro-organisms such as anaerobes, cyanobacteria and phytoplankton survive in this harsh chemical environment. Recently, the colour of Lonar Lake water turned pink due to a high concentration of salt-loving haloarchaea. |
|
| Maharashtra |
Nandur Madhameshwar |
Construction of the Nandur Madhameshwar Weir at the confluence of the Godavari and Kadwa Rivers helped create this wetland. The site hosts leopards and Indian Sandalwood (VU). |
Fauna: Deolali Minnow Fish (CR), Indian Vulture (CR), White-Rumped Vulture (CR) |
| Maharashtra |
Thane Creek (Flamingo Sanctuary and IBA) |
It is one of the largest creeks in Asia. It is fringed by mangroves on both banks. It falls under the Marine Ecoregions of the World (MEOW) but is fed by numerous freshwater sources, making the water brackish. Ulhas River is the largest source of freshwater. |
|
| Manipur |
Loktak Lake |
It is the largest freshwater lake in the north-eastern region. Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park in the world, floats over it. Thick, floating mats of weeds covered with soil (phumdis) are a characteristic feature. It is the only place in the world where Sangai (Brow-antlered Deer, ‘dancing deer’) is found. It was included on the Montreux Record in 1993 because of ecological problems such as deforestation in the catchment area, infestation of water hyacinth, and pollution. |
|
| Mizoram |
Pala Wetland |
Pala Tipo/Pala Lake (a component of Palak WLS) is a natural lake in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. |
Fauna: Sambar (VU), Barking Deer (Muntjac; LC), Western Hoolock Gibbon (EN). |
| Odisha |
Ansupa Lake |
It is a freshwater oxbow lake formed by the Mahanadi River. It is the largest freshwater lake in Odisha. |
Fauna: Indian Skimmer (EN), Black-Bellied Tern (EN), Wagur (EN), Indian River Tern (VU), Helicopter Catfish (Wallago attu; VU). |
| Odisha |
Bhitarkanika Mangroves |
It is part of the Bhitarkanika WLS. The core area was declared Bhitarkanika NP. Gahirmatha Marine WLS is adjacent to the Bhitarkanika WLS. It is famous for the Olive Ridley Turtle (VU) and the Saltwater Crocodile (LC) |
|
| Odisha |
Chilika Lake |
In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Nalbana BS is the core area of Chilika Lake. It is located at the mouth of the Daya River. It is a brackish water lagoon separated from the Bay of Bengal by a long sandy ridge. It is the largest coastal lagoon in India. Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea, and other parts of Asia, Ladakh and the Himalayas come here. Chilka has the only population of the Irrawaddy dolphin (EN – flagship species of the lake) in India. It was placed on the Montreux Record in 1993 due to siltation and removed from the Record in 2002 following rehabilitation efforts of the Chilika Development Authority. |
|
| Odisha |
Hirakud Reservoir |
Hirakud Reservoir is the largest earthen dam in Odisha. It provides important hydrological services by moderating floods in the Mahanadi delta. |
|
| Odisha |
Satkosia Gorge |
It is a gorge over the Mahanadi. It is a mosaic of rivers, marshes and evergreen forests at the meeting point of the Deccan Peninsula and Eastern Ghats biogeographic regions. |
Fauna: Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle (CR), Indian Narrow-Headed Softshell Turtle (EN), Tiger (EN), Black-Bellied Tern (EN). |
| Odisha |
Tampara Lake |
The use of explosives during a battle in the Ganjam district between the British East India Company and French colonists in 1766 created this large depression. The lake is now connected to the Rushikulya River and helps in flood control. |
|
| Punjab |
Beas Conservation Reserve |
It is a 185 km stretch of the Beas River meandering down from the Himalayan foothills. The stretch is dotted with islands, sand bars and braided channels. It hosts the only known population in India of the Indus River dolphin (EN). A programme was initiated to reintroduce the Gharial (CR). |
Fauna: Masheer/Himalayan Mahseer/Golden Mahseer (EN), Hog Deer (EN), Smooth-Coated Otter (VU). |
| Punjab |
Harike Wetland |
It is a shallow water reservoir at the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers. |
|
| Punjab |
Kanjli Wetland |
It is associated with the first Sikh guru, Shri Guru Nanak. |
|
| Punjab |
Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve |
The reserve is a mosaic of natural marshes, aquaculture ponds and agricultural wetlands. |
Fauna: Common Pochard (VU), Spotted Pond Turtle (EN). |
| Punjab |
Nangal WLS |
It occupies a human-made reservoir of the Bhakra-Nangal Project in the Shiwalik foothills. The site is of historical importance as the Indian and Chinese Prime Ministers formalised the “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence” there in 1954. |
Fauna: Indian Pangolin (EN), Leopard (VU), Egyptian Vulture (EN) |
| Punjab |
Ropar Wetland |
It is formed by the construction of a barrage for the diversion of water from the Sutlej River. |
Fauna: Smooth Indian Otter (VU), Hog Deer (EN), Sambar, Indian Pangolin (EN). |
| Rajasthan |
Keoladeo National Park |
It is a complex of ten artificial seasonal marshes. Vegetation is scrub and open grassland. The invasive growth of the grass Paspalum distichum has reduced its suitability for certain waterbird species, notably the Siberian Crane (CR). Placed on the Montreux Record in 1990 due to water shortage and unbalanced grazing. |
|
| Rajasthan |
Khichan Wetland |
Located in the northern Thar Desert, it consists of two main water bodies: Ratri Nadi and Vijaysagar Talab. It is world-renowned as a wintering ground for the Demoiselle Crane (LC), locally known as Kuranja, with thousands migrating here annually. |
Avifauna: Indian Vulture (CR), White-rumped Vulture (CR), and Steppe Eagle (EN). |
| Rajasthan |
Menar Wetland Complex |
Known as Rajasthan’s “Bird Village,” it is a freshwater monsoon wetland complex formed by three ponds (Braham, Dhand, and Kheroda Talab). It is a premier example of community-led conservation, where local villagers (Pakshi Mitras) have banned fishing and hunting to protect the habitat. |
Avifauna: White-rumped Vulture (CR), Long-billed Vulture (CR), and the Sarus Crane (VU), which breeds here. |
| Rajasthan |
Sambhar Lake |
It is India’s largest inland saltwater lake. It is a key wintering area for Flamingos (LC). |
|
| Rajasthan |
Siliserh Lake |
It is a human-made freshwater lake constructed in 1845 by Maharaja Vinay Singh, located in the Alwar district. Situated within the buffer zone of Sariska Tiger Reserve, it serves as a critical water source in a semi-arid landscape. |
Fauna: Supports the Tiger (EN), Black Stork (LC) (over 1% of its biogeographic population), and the River Tern (VU). |
| Tamil Nadu |
Chitrangudi BS |
It is an IBA located adjacent to Kanjirankulam BS in Ramanathapuram district. |
Avifauna: Grey Pelican (VU), Painted Stork (LC), Little Egret (LC), Grey Heron (LC) |
| Tamil Nadu |
Gulf of Mannar Marine BR |
This is the first Marine Biosphere Reserve in South Asia. The local communities are mainly Marakeyars, with fishing as their main livelihood. |
Fauna: Dugong (VU), Hawksbill Turtle (CR), Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin (VU), Green Sea Turtle (EN). |
| Tamil Nadu |
Kanjirankulam BS |
Invasive Prosopis trees have affected the growth of the indigenous babul populations. |
Avifauna: Painted Stork (LC), Oriental Darter (NT), Oriental White (Black-Headed) Ibis (NT). |
| Tamil Nadu |
Karaivetti BS |
It is one of the largest inland freshwater lakes in Tamil Nadu. It provides an important stopover and foraging ground for birds migrating along the Central Asian Flyway. Gum Arabic trees offer nesting, roosting, and breeding habitats for birds. When the water level starts receding after January, larger birds such as the Painted Stork (LC) flock to the site. It also provides breeding habitat for the Indian Flap-Shelled Turtle (VU). During the driest period (July to October), water from Mettur Dam maintains the water level of the site. |
Avifauna: Spotted Eagle (VU), Tawny Eagle (VU), and Indian Darter (NT).
Threats: Human-wildlife conflict (particularly concerning Bonnet Macaque (VU)). |
| Tamil Nadu |
Karikili BS |
It is situated in the Kanchipuram district. Karikili, along with Vedanthangal BS, are IBAs. |
Avifauna: Oriental Darter (NT), Spot-billed Pelican (NT). |
| Tamil Nadu |
Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary |
It is the second-largest brackish water lake in South India, located on the Coromandel Coast (Villupuram district). It is a critical stopover for migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. |
Avifauna: Greater Flamingo (LC), Black-headed Ibis (NT), Spot-billed Pelican (NT), and various species of ducks like the Northern Pintail. |
| Tamil Nadu |
Koonthankulam BS (IBA) |
It is a human-made wetland maintained by the local community. It is designated as IBA. |
|
| Tamil Nadu |
Longwood Shola RF |
It is adjacent to the eastern slopes of the Nilgiri mountain range. It features intermittent freshwater marshes and streams nested within a “shola” (a tropical montane forest of southern India, which is usually found in patches separated by grasslands). It has very high species endemism, supporting species endemic to the Western Ghats region. Noteworthy endemic and threatened plant species include Bourne’s Beak-Rush, Psychotria Nilgiriensis, and Wight’s Cinnamon. |
Avifauna: Black-Chinned Nilgiri Laughing Thrush (EN), Nilgiri Blue Robin (EN), and Nilgiri wood-pigeon (VU).
Threats: Encroachment, invasive species, and deforestation. |
| Tamil Nadu |
Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary |
Also known as the “Sarkar Periyapalayam Reservoir,” this human-made tank in Tiruppur was originally restored by King Nanjarayan over 400 years ago. It is fed by the Nallar River and serves as a vital groundwater recharge source for the textile hub of Tiruppur. |
Avifauna: Bar-headed Goose (LC), Northern Shoveler (LC), Spot-billed Pelican (NT), and the Indian Flapshell Turtle (VU). |
| Tamil Nadu |
Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest |
It is one of the few natural coastal aquatic habitats. The marshland is located along the Coromandel Coast south of the Adyar Estuary, serving as an aquatic buffer of the flood-prone Chennai. |
|
| Tamil Nadu |
Pichavaram Mangrove |
It is a large mangrove forest located between the estuaries of the Vellar and Coleroon Rivers. It is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a sandbar. The mangroves are revered due to the significant spiritual value associated with Excoecaria agallocha, a mangrove with toxic properties commonly known as “Tillai”. |
Fauna: Great White-Bellied Heron (CR), Spoon-Billed Sandpiper (CR), Spotted Greenshank (EN), Olive Ridley Turtle (VU). |
| Tamil Nadu |
Point Calimere WLS and BS |
It is one of the last remnants of dry evergreen forests in India (a unique kind of forest in Tamil Nadu). |
Avifauna: Spoon-Billed Sandpiper (CR), Grey Pelican (Spot-billed pelican; NT)
Threats: Prosopis chilensis (Chilean mesquite – known as “the devil with roots” because of extremely long roots to seek water from far underground). |
| Tamil Nadu |
Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary |
A man-made irrigation tank in Ramanathapuram district that receives water from the tributaries of the Vaigai River. It serves as a major feeding and breeding ground for colonial nesting birds during the monsoon. |
Avifauna: Egyptian Vulture (EN), Indian Spotted Eagle (VU), Oriental Darter (NT), and Pallid Harrier (NT). |
| Tamil Nadu |
Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex |
It is declared an IBA. It lies at the southern tip of the Central Asian flyway of migratory birds. It is a man-made, inland Tank and is perennial. |
|
| Tamil Nadu |
Therthangal Bird Sanctuary |
A small but ecologically rich mosaic wetland in Ramanathapuram, fed by the Vaigai and Gundar rivers. Like Sakkarakottai, it is a seasonal “tank” where excess water is utilised for local agriculture once the birds finish breeding. Key Breeding Species: Painted Stork (LC), Asian Openbill (LC), and Black-crowned Night Heron (LC). |
Avifauna: Supports over 2,000 individuals, including Spot-billed Pelican (NT) and Black-headed Ibis (NT). |
| Tamil Nadu |
Udhayamarthandapuram BS |
It stores floodwaters during monsoon overflows and maintains surface water flow during drier periods. |
|
| Tamil Nadu |
Vaduvur BS |
It is a large human-made irrigation tank and shelter for migratory birds. |
|
| Tamil Nadu |
Vedanthangal BS |
This freshwater wetland, an IBA, is a people-protected waterbird area. People have benefited from the manure-rich guano water from the lake, which increases the agricultural yield multifold. Guano is a bird’s excretory waste rich in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. |
|
| Tamil Nadu |
Vellode BS |
|
Avifauna: Indian River Tern (VU), Oriental Darter (NT), Painted Stork (LC) |
| Tamil Nadu |
Vembannur Wetland Complex |
It is a human-made inland tank, and an IBA site believed to have been constructed in the regime of Pandyan king Veeranarayana. |
Avifauna: Indian River Tern (VU), Spotted Greenshank (EN), Grey Pelican (Spot-billed pelican; NT). |
| Tripura |
Rudrasagar Lake |
It is a reservoir fed by three perennial streams discharging to the Gomti River. It is an ideal habitat for the Three-Striped Roof Turtle (CR). It is a buzzing tourist destination during the festival of Vijaya Dashami. |
|
| Uttar Pradesh |
Bakhira WLS |
This freshwater marsh is situated near Gorakhpur. |
Avifauna: Egyptian Vultures (EN), Greater Spotted Eagle (VU), Common Pochard (VU), Swamp Francolin (VU). |
| Uttar Pradesh |
Haiderpur Wetland |
It is a wetland in Hastinapur WLS formed by the construction of the Madhya Ganga Barrage. |
Fauna: Gharial (CR), Golden Mahseer (EN), Hog Deer (EN), Swamp Deer (VU). |
| Uttar Pradesh |
Nawabganj BS |
It is a shallow marshland near Lucknow. It was renamed Chandra Shekhar Azad BS. |
Avifauna: Egyptian Vulture (EN), Pallas’s Fish Eagle (EN), Lesser Adjutant (VU). |
| Uttar Pradesh |
Parvati Arga BS |
It is a permanent freshwater environment consisting of two oxbow lakes formed by the Saryu River. |
Avifauna: Red-Headed Vulture (CR), White-Rumped Vulture (CR), and Indian Vulture (CR). |
| Uttar Pradesh |
Patna Bird Sanctuary |
Located in the Jalesar tehsil of Etah district; smallest bird sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh. It serves as a critical stopover for migratory birds travelling along the Central Asian Flyway. It serves as a Sarus Kem (congregation zone) for resident Sarus Cranes (Antigone antigone) in the dry summer months. |
Avifauna: Northern Pintail |
| Uttar Pradesh |
Saman BS |
It is a seasonal oxbow lake on the Ganges floodplain. |
Avifauna: Sarus Crane (VU), Greater Spotted Eagle (VU) |
| Uttar Pradesh |
Samaspur BS |
It is a perennial marsh typical of the Indo-Gangetic Plains. |
Avifauna: Egyptian Vulture (EN), Pallas’s Fish Eagle (EN). |
| Uttar Pradesh |
Sandi BS |
|
Avifauna: Sarus Crane (VU) |
| Uttar Pradesh |
Sarsai Nawar Jheel (IBA) |
It is a marsh. Its name is derived from the large non-migratory Sarus Crane (VU). The nearby Hajari Mahadev temple is visited by thousands of pilgrims each year. |
Avifauna: White-Rumped Vulture (CR) |
| Uttar Pradesh |
Sur Sarovar (Keetham Lake) |
It was created to supply water to the city of Agra. |
Avifauna: Greater Spotted Eagle (VU), Catfish (Wallago attu – VU) |
| Uttar Pradesh |
Upper Ganga River |
It stretches from Brijghat to Narora. |
Fauna: Ganges River Dolphin (EN), Gharial (Fish-Eating Crocodile – CR) |
| Uttarakhand |
Asan Barrage (Asan CnR) |
It is formed by the damming of the Asan River near its confluence with the Yamuna River in Dehradun. |
Avifauna: Red-Headed Vulture (Indian Black Vulture – CR), White-Rumped Vulture (CR), Baer’s Pochard (CR) |
| West Bengal |
East Kolkata Wetlands |
It is a multiple-use wetland that serves Kolkata. It feeds one of the world’s largest wastewater-fed aquaculture. |
|
| West Bengal |
Sundarban Wetland |
It is the largest Ramsar Site in India and is located within the largest mangrove forest. The Indian Sundarbans constitutes over 60% of the country’s total mangrove forest area and includes 90% of Indian mangrove species. Endangered Fauna: Northern River Terrapin (CR), Irrawaddy Dolphin (EN), Fishing Cat (VU). |
|
| Chhattisgarh |
Kopra Reservoir (Kopra Jalashay) |
It is a human-made freshwater reservoir located in the Bilaspur district, originally built for irrigation but now functioning as a natural wetland ecosystem. It serves as a vital wintering stopover for migratory birds on the Central Asian Flyway. |
Avifauna: Egyptian Vulture (EN), Common Pochard (VU), River Tern (NT), and Woolly-necked Stork (NT). |
| Sikkim |
Khecheopalri Wetland |
It is a high-altitude temperate lake located in the Gyalshing district, part of the Buddhist pilgrimage circuit known as “Demazong” (Hidden Valley of Rice). The lake is sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus and is traditionally known as the “wish-fulfilling lake”. |
Avifauna: Baer’s Pochard (CR), Black-necked Grebe (LC), and the Common Merganser.; Fauna: Red Panda (EN) and Himalayan Black Bear (VU). |
| Jharkhand |
Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary |
It is a natural Ganga backwater wetland in the Sahibganj district, comprised of two interconnected oxbow lakes: Berhale (shallow) and Pataura (deeper). It is the only bird sanctuary in Jharkhand and serves as a critical refuge for birds migrating from Siberia and Europe. |
Avifauna: Pallas’s Fish Eagle (EN), Greater Spotted Eagle (VU), Lesser Adjutant Stork (VU), and the Oriental Darter (NT). |
