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

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 2^nd of February 1971.
• The 2^nd 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)

Ramsar Site

State

Designated Year

Area (km²)

Kolleru Lake

Andhra Pradesh

901

Deepor Beel

Assam

Nalsarovar BS

Gujarat

Sultanpur NP

Haryana

Chandra Taal

Himachal Pradesh

Pong Dam Lake

Himachal Pradesh

Ranganathituu BS

Karnataka

Ashtamudi Wetland

Kerala

Sasthamkotta Lake

Kerala

Vembanad-Kol Wetland (Longest Lake in India)

Kerala

1512.5

Lonar Lake (Impact Crater Lake)

Maharashtra

Nandur Madhameshwar

Maharashtra

Thane Creek

Maharashtra

Loktak Lake

Manipur

Bhitarkanika Mangroves

Odisha

650

Chilika Lake (Oldest Ramsar Site in India)

Odisha

1981

1165

Hirakud Reservoir

Odisha

Satkosia Gorge

Odisha

Beas CnR

Punjab

Harike Wetland

Punjab

Nangal WLS

Punjab

Keoladeo National Park

Rajasthan

1981

Sambhar Lake

Rajasthan

Gulf of Mannar Marine BR

Tamil Nadu

Pichavaram Mangrove

Tamil Nadu

Hokera Wetland

UT of JK

Wular Lake

UT of JK

Tso Kar (High Altitude Ramsar Site)

UT of Ladakh

Tsomoriri (High Altitude Ramsar Site)

UT of Ladakh

Sundarban Wetland (Largest Ramsar Site in India)

West Bengal

2019

4230

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

75 Ramsar Sites (as of Apr 2023)

~14,000 km² (as of Apr 2023)

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

Oldest Ramsar Sites in India

1

Chilka Lake – 1981

2

Keoladeo Ghana NP – 1981

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

• It is a permanent freshwater lake in a former channel of the Brahmaputra River. It is a few kilometres to the left of Guwahati, whereas Pobitora WLS is around 35 km to the right.
• Threats: over-fishing, hunting, pollution from pesticides, and infestation by water hyacinth.
• Endangered Avifauna: Grey Pelican or Spot-billed pelican (VU), Lesser Adjutant Stork (VU), Greater Adjutant Stork (EN), Baer’s Pochard (CR).

Bihar (1)

• It lies in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
• Endangered Avifauna: Red-Headed Vulture (CR), White-Rumped Vulture (CR), Indian Vulture (CR) – and two waterbirds, the Baer’s Pochard (CR) and Sociable Lapwing (CR).

Goa (1)

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

Gujarat (4)

• It is a freshwater wetland located in Jamnagar District near the coast of the Gulf of Kutch. It was formed following the creation of a bund (dike) to protect farmland from saltwater ingress.
• Endangered Species: Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN), Indian Skimmer (EN), Indian Bdellium-Tree (CR)

• It is the largest natural freshwater lake (a relict sea) in the Thar Desert of Gujarat.
• The wetland is a lifeline for a satellite population of the endangered Indian Wild Ass (NT).
• Endangered Avifauna: Sociable Lapwing (CR), Sarus Crane (VU)

• It is a human-made reservoir essential during the dry seasons for Blackbucks (LC).
• Endangered Avifauna: White-Rumped Vulture (CR), Sociable Lapwing (CR)

• This human-made reservoir is located in a semi-arid agricultural landscape.
• Endangered Avifauna: Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN), Sarus Crane (VU), Common Pochard (VU)

Haryana (2)

• It is a human-made freshwater wetland. It shares its border with Khaparwas WLS (Haryana).
• Endangered Avifauna: Egyptian Vultures (EN), Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN)

• It is located just 15km away from Delhi. The Sultanpur Jeel inside the park is an IBA.
• Endangered Avifauna: Sociable Lapwing (CR), Egyptian Vultures (EN), Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN), Saker Falcon (EN), Black-Bellied Tern (EN)

Himachal Pradesh (3)

• It is a high-altitude lake near Kunzum Pass on the upper Chandra River valley. Chandra and Bhaga rivers merge to form the Chenab River in the Lahaul region of Himachal Pradesh.
• Threats: overgrazing by the nomadic herdsmen.
• Major Fauna: Snow Leopard (VU), Himalayan Ibex (NT), Blue Sheep (Bharal – LC)

• 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

• 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)

• It is a part of the Kaveri River in Mandya district of Karnataka.
• Fauna: Mugger Crocodile (VU), Smooth-Coated Otter (VU), Hump-Backed Mahseer (CR)
• Major Avifauna: Painted Stork (NT), Grey Pelican (VU), Black-Headed Ibis (NT)

Kerala (3)

• 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.

• 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.

• 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)

• It is a human-made reservoir that consists of two lakes located in the city of Bhopal.
• Major Avifauna: Sarus crane (VU)

• It is a human-made reservoir located near Madhav National Park.
• Major Fauna: Mugger (VU), Smooth-Coated Otter (VU), Hump-Backed Mahseer (CR)

• It is a human-made wetland commonly named Pakshi Vihar in Indore.
• Major Avifauna: Common Pochard (VU), Egyptian Vulture (EN), Indian River Tern (VU)

• It is designated as an IBA in the Indore region (Malwa region).

Maharashtra (3)

• 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.

• Construction of the Nandur Madhameshwar Weir at the confluence of the Godavari and Kadwa Rivers helped create this thriving wetland.
• The site hosts leopards and Indian Sandalwood (VU).
• Species: Deolali Minnow Fish (CR), Indian Vulture (CR), White-Rumped Vulture (CR)

(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)

• 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 Tipo/Pala Lake is a natural lake in the the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.
• The lake is a major component of the Palak WLS.
• Major Fauna: Sambar Deer (VU), Barking Deer (Muntjac – LC), Hoolock Gibbon (EN)

Odisha (6)

• It is a freshwater oxbow lake formed by the Mahanadi River.
• It is the largest freshwater lake in Odisha.
• Endangered species: Indian Skimmer (EN), Black-Bellied Tern (EN), Wagur (EN), Indian River Tern (VU), Helicopter Catfish (Wallago attu – VU)

• It is part of the Bhitarkanika WLS. The core area was declared Bhitarkanika NP.
• Gahirmatha Marine WLS (Gahirmatha beach) is adjacent to the Bhitarkanika WLS.
• It is famous for Olive Ridley Turtle (VU) and Saltwater Crocodile (LC)

• 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.

Reservoir

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

• It is a gorge over Mahanadi. It is a mosaic of rivers, marshes and evergreen forests at the meeting point of the Deccan Peninsula and the Eastern Ghats biogeographic regions.
• Major Fauna: Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle (CR), Indian Narrowheaded Softshell Turtle (EN), Tiger (EN), Black-Bellied Tern (EN)

• 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)

• 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 re-introduce the Gharial (CR).
• Endangered Species: Masheer/Himalayan Mahseer/Golden Mahseer (EN), Hog Deer (EN), Smooth-Coated Otter (VU)

• It is a shallow water reservoir at the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers.

• It is associated with the first guru of the Sikhs, Shri Guru Nanak.

• The Reserve is a mosaic of natural marshes, aquaculture ponds and agricultural wetlands.
• Endangered Species: Common Pochard (VU), Spotted Pond Turtle (EN)

• 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)

• 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)

• 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.

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

Tamil Nadu (14)

• It is an IBA located adjacent to Kanjirankulam BS in Ramanathapuram district.
• Major Avifauna: Grey Pelican (VU), Painted Stork (NT), Little Egret (LC), Grey Heron (LC)

• This is the first Marine Biosphere Reserve in South & South -East Asia.
• The local communities are mainly Marakeyars, with fishing their main livelihood.
• Endangered Species: Dugong (VU), Hawksbill Turtle (CR), Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin (VU), Green Sea Turtle (EN).

• Invasive Prosopis trees has affected the growth of the indigenous babul populations.
• Avifauna: Painted Stork (NT), Oriental Darter (NT), Oriental White (Black-Headed) Ibis (NT)

• It is situated in the Kanchipuram district. Karikili along with Vedanthangal BS are IBAs.
• Major Avifauna: Oriental Darter (NT), Spot-Billed Pelican (VU)

• It is a human-made wetland maintained by the local community.
• It is designated as IBA.

• 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.

• It is a large mangrove forest located between the estuaries of Vellar and Coleroon Rivers.
• It is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a sand bar.
• The mangroves are revered by due to the significant spiritual value associated with Excoecaria agallocha, a mangrove with toxic properties commonly known as “Tillai”.
• Endangered Species: Great White-Bellied Heron (CR), Spoon-Billed Sandpiper (CR), Spotted Greenshank (EN), Olive Ridley Turtle (VU)

• 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.

• 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.

• It stores floodwaters during monsoon overflows and maintains surface water flow during drier periods.

• It is a large human-made irrigation tank and shelter for migratory birds.

• 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.

• Major Avifauna: Indian River Tern (VU), Oriental Darter (NT), Painted Stork (NT)

Complex

• It is a human-made inland tank and IBA site. The tank is believed to have been constructed in the regime of Pandyan king Veeranarayana.
• Major Avifauna: Indian River Tern (VU), Spotted Greenshank (EN), Grey Pelican or Spot-Billed Pelican (VU)

Tripura (1)

• 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)

• It is only 10 km from Srinagar. It is a natural wetland contiguous to the Jhelum basin.
• Avifauna: White-Eyed (Ferruginous) Pochard (NT)

• It lies downstream of Wular Lake in the Baramulla district.
• Threats: high rate of siltation.

• 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.
• Endangered Avifauna: Steppe Eagle (EN), Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN), Black-Bellied Tern (EN)

• 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)

(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)

• 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)

• This freshwater marsh is situated near Gorakhpur.
• Endangered Avifauna: Egyptian Vultures (EN), Greater Spotted Eagle (VU), Common Pochard (VU), Swamp Francolin (VU)

• It is a wetland in Hastinapur WLS formed by the construction of the Madhya Ganga Barrage.
• Endangered Fauna: Gharial (CR), Golden Mahseer (EN), Hog Deer (EN), Swamp Deer (VU).

• It is a shallow marshland near Lucknow. It was renamed Chandra Shekhar Azad BS.
• Endangered Avifauna: Egyptian Vulture (EN), Pallas’s Fish Eagle (EN), Lesser Adjutant (VU)

• It is a permanent freshwater environment consisting of two oxbow lakes.
• Avifauna: Red-Headed Vulture (CR), White-Rumped Vulture (CR), Indian Vulture (CR)

• It is a seasonal oxbow lake on the Ganges floodplain.
• Endangered Avifauna: Sarus Crane (VU), Greater Spotted Eagle (VU)

• It is a perennial lowland marsh typical of the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
• Endangered Avifauna: Egyptian Vulture (EN), Pallas’s Fish Eagle (EN).

• Endangered Avifauna: Sarus Crane (VU)

(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)

(Keetham Lake)

• It was created to supply water to the city of Agra.
• Endangered Avifauna: Greater Spotted Eagle (VU), Catfish (Wallago attu – VU)

• It stretches from Brijghat to Narora.
• Endangered Fauna: Ganges River Dolphin (EN), Gharial (Fish-Eating Crocodile – CR)

Uttarakhand (1)

(Asan CnR)

• It is formed by the damming of the Asan River near its confluence with the Yamuna River in the Dehradun district.
• Endangered Avifauna: Red-Headed Vulture (Indian Black Vulture – CR), White-Rumped Vulture (CR), Baer’s Pochard (CR)

West Bengal (2)

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

• 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)