Ramsar Sites of India (75 Ramsar Sites in India in 2023)

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Ramsar Sites in India

  • As of May 2023, there are 75 Ramsar Sites in India.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

  • The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an international treaty for “the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands”. It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands.
  • It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran where it was signed on 2nd of February 1971.
  • The 2nd of February each year is World Wetlands Day.
  • The number of parties to the convention (COP) is 171 (as of Jan 2023).
  • At the centre of the Ramsar philosophy is the “wise use” of wetlands.
  • Wise use: maintenance of ecological character within the context of sustainable development.

Ramsar Site

  • When a country accedes to the Convention, it must designate at least one wetland as a Wetland of International Importance.
  • The inclusion of a “Ramsar Site” in the List embodies the government’s commitment to take the steps necessary to ensure that its ecological character is maintained.
  • There are over 2,400 Ramsar Sites covering 2.5 million sq km on the territories of 171 Ramsar Contracting Parties across the world.
  • The world’s first Site was the Cobourg Peninsula in Australia, designated in 1974.
  • The countries with the most Ramsar Sites are the United Kingdom with 175 and Mexico with 142.
  • Bolivia has the largest area under Ramsar protection.

Global Distribution of Ramsar Sites (Source)

India Ramsar Sites 2023 Ramsar Sites in India Ramsar Sites of India

List of Ramsar Sites of India [75 Ramsar Sites in India as of May 2023]

Ramsar Site

State

Designated Year

Area (km2)

1

Kolleru Lake

Andhra Pradesh

2002

901

2

Deepor Beel

Assam

2002 40
3 Kanwar (Kabar) Taal Bihar 2020 26.2
4 Nanda Lake Goa 2022 0.42
5 Khijadia WLS Gujarat 2021 6
6

Nalsarovar BS

Gujarat

2012 123
7 Thol Lake Gujarat 2021 6.99
8 Wadhvana Wetland Gujarat 2021 10.38
9 Bhindawas WLS Haryana 2021 4.11
10

Sultanpur NP

Haryana

2021 142.5
11

Chandra Taal

Himachal Pradesh

2005 0.49
12

Pong Dam Lake

Himachal Pradesh

2002 156.62
13 Renuka Lake Himachal Pradesh 2005 0.2
14

Ranganathituu BS

Karnataka

2022 5.18
15

Ashtamudi Wetland

Kerala

2002 614
16

Sasthamkotta Lake

Kerala

2002 3.73
17

Vembanad-Kol Wetland (Longest Lake in India)

Kerala

1905

1512.5

18 Bhoj Wetland Madhya Pradesh 2002 32
19 Sakhya Sagar Madhya Pradesh 2022 2.48
20 Sirpur wetland Madhya Pradesh 2022 1.61
21 Yashwant Sagar Madhya Pradesh 2022 8.22
22

Lonar Lake (Impact Crater Lake)

Maharashtra

2020 4.27
23

Nandur Madhameshwar

Maharashtra

2019 14
24

Thane Creek

Maharashtra

2022 65.21
25

Loktak Lake

Manipur

1990 266
26 Pala Wetland Mizoram 2021 18.5
27 Ansupa Lake Odisha 2021 2.31
28

Bhitarkanika Mangroves

Odisha

2002

650

29

Chilika Lake (Oldest Ramsar Site in India)

Odisha

1981

1165

30

Hirakud Reservoir

Odisha

2021 654
31

Satkosia Gorge

Odisha

2021 981.97
32 Tampara Lake Odisha 2021 3
33

Beas CnR

Punjab

2019 64
34

Harike Wetland

Punjab

1990 41
35 Kanjli Wetland Punjab 2002 1.83
36 Keshopur-Miani CmR Punjab 2019 34
37

Nangal WLS

Punjab

2019 1
38 Ropar Wetland Punjab 2002 13.65
39

Keoladeo National Park

Rajasthan

1981

28.73
40

Sambhar Lake

Rajasthan

1990 240
41 Chitrangudi BS Tamil Nadu 2021 2.6
42

Gulf of Mannar Marine BR

Tamil Nadu

2022 526.72
43 Kanjirankulam BS Tamil Nadu 2022 0.96
44 Karikili BS Tamil Nadu 2022 0.584
45 Koonthankulam BS Tamil Nadu 2021 0.72
46 Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest Tamil Nadu 2022 12.475
47

Pichavaram Mangrove

Tamil Nadu

2022 14.786
48 Point Calimere WLS & BS Tamil Nadu 2002 385
49 Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex Tamil Nadu 2022 0.94
50 Udhayamarthandapuram BS Tamil Nadu 2022 0.44
51 Vaduvur BS Tamil Nadu 2022 1.12
52 Vedanthangal BS Tamil Nadu 2022 0.4
53 Vellode BS Tamil Nadu 2022 0.77
54 Vembannur Wetland Complex Tamil Nadu 2022 0.2
55 Rudrasagar Lake Tripura 2005 2.4
56

Hokera Wetland

UT of JK

2005 13.75
57 Hygam Wetland CnR UT of JK 2022 8.02
58 Shallbugh Wetland CnR UT of JK 2022 16.75
59 Surinsar-Mansar Lakes UT of JK 2005 3.5
60

Wular Lake

UT of JK

1990 189
61

Tso Kar (High Altitude Ramsar Site)

UT of Ladakh

2020 95.77
62

Tsomoriri (High Altitude Ramsar Site)

UT of Ladakh

2002 120
63 Bakhira WLS Uttar Pradesh 2021 28.94
64 Haiderpur Wetland Uttar Pradesh 2021 69
65 Nawabganj BS Uttar Pradesh 2019 2
66 Parvati Arga BS Uttar Pradesh 2019 7
67 Saman BS Uttar Pradesh 2019 5
68 Samaspur BS Uttar Pradesh 2019 8
69 Sandi BS Uttar Pradesh 2019 3
70 Sarsai Nawar Jheel Uttar Pradesh 2019 2
71 Sur Sarovar (Keetham Lake) Uttar Pradesh 2020 4.31
72 Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora) Uttar Pradesh 2005 265.9
73 Asan Barrage Uttarakhand 2020 4.44
74 East Kolkata Wetlands West Bengal 2002 125
75

Sundarban Wetland (Largest Ramsar Site in India)

West Bengal

2019

4230

  • BS: Bird Sanctuary | WLS: Wildlife Sanctuary | BR: Biosphere Reserve | CnR: Conservation Reserve | CmR: Community Reserve | IBA: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (designated by Birdlife International)
  • Most Indian Ramsar Sites lie on the Central Asian Flyway for migratory avian species.

Statewise Number and Area of Ramsar Sites

Rank

State

No. of Ramsar Sites

Rank

State

Area Under Ramsar Sites (km2)

1

Tamil Nadu

14

1

West Bengal

4355

2

Uttar Pradesh

10

2

Odisha

3456

3

Odisha

6

3

Kerala

2130

4

Punjab

6

4

Tamil Nadu

948

5

UT of JK

5

5

Andhra Pradesh

901

6 Gujarat 4 6 Uttar Pradesh 395
7 Madhya Pradesh 4 7 Rajasthan 269
8 Kerala 3 8 Manipur 266
9 Himachal Pradesh 3 9 UT of JK 231
10 Maharashtra 3 10 UT of Ladakh 216
11 West Bengal 2 11 Himachal Pradesh 157
12 Rajasthan 2 12 Punjab 156
13 UT of Ladakh 2 13 Haryana 147
14 Haryana 2 14 Gujarat 146
15 Andhra Pradesh 1 15 Maharashtra 84
16 Manipur 1 16 Madhya Pradesh 44
17 Assam 1 17 Assam 40
18 Bihar 1 18 Bihar 26
19 Mizoram 1 19 Mizoram 19
20 Karnataka 1 20 Karnataka 5.2
21 Uttarakhand 1 21 Uttarakhand 4.4
22 Tripura 1 22 Tripura 2.4
23 Goa 1 23 Goa 0.42

75 Ramsar Sites (as of Apr 2023)

~14,000 km2 (as of Apr 2023)

Largest, Smallest and Oldest Ramsar Sites in India

Largest Ramsar Sites in India

Ramsar Site

State

Area (km2)

1

Sundarban Wetland

West Bengal

4230

2

Vembanad-Kol Wetland

Kerala

1512.5

3

Chilika Lake

Odisha

1165

4

Satkosia Gorge

Odisha

981.97

5

Kolleru Lake

Andhra Pradesh

901

Smallest Ramsar Sites in India

1 Renuka Lake Himachal Pradesh 0.2
2 Vembannur Wetland Complex Tamil Nadu 0.2
3 Vedanthangal BS Tamil Nadu 0.4
4 Nanda Lake Goa 0.42
5 Udhayamarthandapuram BS Tamil Nadu 0.44

Oldest Ramsar Sites in India

1

Chilka Lake – 1981

2

Keoladeo Ghana NP – 1981

Description of Ramsar Sites in India

Ramsar Site

Description

Andhra Pradesh (1)

Kolleru Lake

  • It is a naturally eutrophic (nutrient-rich) lake between the Godavari and the Krishna river basins. It was previously a lagoon, but now it is several kilometres inland due to the coastline of emergence and delta formation. Two seasonal rivers directly feed it.
  • It sustains both culture and capture fisheries, agriculture and related occupations.
  • Threats: paddy cultivation, overexploitation, flooding in monsoon season, etc.
  • Endangered Avifauna: Grey Pelican or Spot-Billed Pelican (VU)

Assam (1)

Deepor Beel

Bihar (1)

Kanwar Taal or Kabar Taal Lake

Goa (1)

Nanda Lake
  • It is an intermittent freshwater marsh adjacent to one of the tributaries of the Zuari River.

Gujarat (4)

Khijadia WLS
Nalsarovar BS
Thol Lake
Wadhvana Wetland

Haryana (2)

Bhindawas WLS
Sultanpur NP

Himachal Pradesh (3)

Chandra Taal
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 Waterfowls
Renuka Lake
  • It is a natural wetland with freshwater springs and inland subterranean karst formations.
  • The lake is named after the mother of Hindu sage Parshuram.

Karnataka (1)

Ranganathituu BS (IBA)

Kerala (3)

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). River Kallada and Pallichal drain into it.
Sasthamkotta Lake
  • It is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala. River Kallada 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 the water, thus contributing to its exceptional purity.
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.
  • It is below sea level and is famous for paddy fields that are below sea level.

Madhya Pradesh (4)

Bhoj Wetland
  • It is a human-made reservoir that consists of two lakes located in the city of Bhopal.
  • Major Avifauna: Sarus crane (VU)
Sakhya Sagar
Sirpur wetland
Yashwant Sagar
  • It is designated as an IBA in the Indore region (Malwa region).

Maharashtra (3)

Lonar Lake
  • It is an endorheic (closed basin) crater lake formed by a meteorite impact.
  • It is high in salinity and alkalinity due to the lack of an outflow.
  • Specialized micro-organisms such as anaerobes, cyanobacteria and phytoplankton survive in this harsh chemical environment. Recently, the colour of Lonar lake water had turned pink due to a large presence of the salt-loving haloarchaea microbes.
  • Haloarchaea or halophilic archaea is a bacteria culture that produces pink pigment and is found in water saturated with salt.
Nandur Madhameshwar
Thane Creek

(Flamingo

Sanctuary and IBA)

  • It is one of the largest creeks of 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.
  • The MEOW biogeographic classification system divides the coastal, nearshore, and shelf areas of the world into ecoregions. Each ecoregion is ecologically distinct from the others.

Manipur (1)

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 (phumids) are a characteristic feature.
  • It is included on the Montreux Record in 1993 as a result of ecological problems such as deforestation in the catchment area, infestation of water hyacinth, and pollution.

Mizoram (1)

Pala Wetland

Odisha (6)

Ansupa Lake
Bhitarkanika Mangroves
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 remote parts of Central Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas come here.
  • The Irrawaddy dolphin (EN) is the flagship species of the lake. Chilka has the only population of Irrawaddy dolphins 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.
Hirakud

Reservoir

  • Hirakud Reservoir is the largest earthen dam in Odisha.
  • It provides important hydrological services by moderating floods in the Mahanadi delta.
Satkosia Gorge
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 (6)

Beas CnR
Harike Wetland
  • It is a shallow water reservoir at the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers.
Kanjli Wetland
  • It is associated with the first guru of the Sikhs, Shri Guru Nanak.
Keshopur-Miani CmR
Nangal WLS
  • It occupies a human-made reservoir of Bhakra-Nangal Project in the Shiwalik foothills.
  • The site is of historical importance as the Indian and Chinese Prime Ministers formalized the “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence” there in 1954.
  • Endangered Species: Indian Pangolin (EN), Leopard (VU), Egyptian Vulture (EN)
Ropar Wetland
  • It is formed by the construction of a barrage for diversion of water from the Sutlej River.
  • Major Fauna: Smooth Indian Otter, Hog Deer, Sambar, Indian Pangolin

Rajasthan (2)

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 an unbalanced grazing.
Sambhar Lake
  • It is India’s largest inland saltwater lake. It is a key wintering area for Flamingos (LC).

Tamil Nadu (14)

Chitrangudi BS
Gulf of Mannar Marine BR
Kanjirankulam BS
Karikili BS
Koonthankulam BS (IBA)
  • It is a human-made wetland maintained by the local community.
  • It is designated as IBA.
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.
Pichavaram Mangrove
Point Calimere WLS & BS
  • It is one of the last remnants of dry evergreen forests.
  • Major Avifauna: Spoon-Billed Sandpiper (CR), Grey Pelican or Spot-Billed Pelican (VU)
  • Threats: Prosopis chilensis (Chilean mesquite – known as “the devil with roots”).
  • Prosopis juliflora and Prosopis chilensis are the most invasive mesquit species (plants in genus Prosopis). They have extremely long roots to seek water from very far under ground.
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.
Udhayamarthandapuram BS
  • It stores floodwaters during monsoon overflows and maintains surface water flow during drier periods.
Vaduvur BS
  • It is a large human-made irrigation tank and shelter for migratory birds.
Vedanthangal BS (IBA)
  • This freshwater wetland is a people-protected water bird area. People have been benefited by the manure-rich guano water from the lake that increases the agriculture yield multifold.
  • Guano is excretory waste of birds rich in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous.
Vellode BS
Vembannur Wetland

Complex

Tripura (1)

Rudrasagar Lake
  • It is a reservoir fed by three perennial streams discharging to the River Gomti.
  • It is an ideal habitat for Three-Striped Roof Turtle (CR).
  • It is a buzzing tourist destination during the festival of Vijaya Dashami.

UT of JK (5)

Hokera Wetland
Hygam Wetland CnR (IBA)
  • It lies downstream of Wular Lake in the Baramulla district.
  • Threats: high rate of siltation.
Shallbugh Wetland CnR
Surinsar-Mansar Lakes
  • It is a freshwater composite lake in semi-arid Panjab Plains, adjoining the Jhelum Basin.
  • It has many temples around owing to its mythical origin from the Mahabharata period.

Wular Lake

  • It is the largest freshwater lake in India. It is fed by Jhelum River in the Kashmir Valley.

UT of Ladakh (2)

Tso Kar

(IBA)

  • It is a high-altitude wetland complex 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.
  • Endangered Species: Saker Falcon (EN), Asiatic Wild Dog (Dhole – EN), Snow Leopard (VU)
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.

Uttar Pradesh (10)

Bakhira WLS
Haiderpur Wetland
Nawabganj BS
Parvati Arga BS
Saman BS
Samaspur BS
Sandi BS
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.
  • Endangered Avifauna: White-Rumped Vulture (CR)
Sur Sarovar

(Keetham Lake)

Upper Ganga River

Uttarakhand (1)

Asan Barrage

(Asan CnR)

West Bengal (2)

East Kolkata

Wetlands

  • It is a multiple use wetland that serves the city of Kolkata. It feeds one of the world’s largest wastewater fed aquaculture.

Sundarban

Wetland

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12 Comments

  1. Worst maps. totally unclear and very vague. either put a political map and mention wetlands or put a river map with wetlands. cant able to find the state border properly and too many rivers and wetland names.

    please change the map.

  2. Lok tak lake area is much more of aulad,both are fresh water lake,then how wular is biggest fresh water lake in india,as you mention,plz tell.

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