In the world of urbanisation, we do not spot birds in our human-territory that easily, do we? In the midst of high-towers and smog, we are losing our nature. However, unknown it may seem, India has more than 1300 species of birds. Be it terrestrial birds or migratory birds, India is considered as a heaven of bird-watcher. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, there exist hundreds of such bird sanctuaries where you can view the marvel of nature, singing and dancing in their natural habitat.

And it does not matter whether you are an avid bird-specialist or not, these bird sanctuaries and their surprises will always amuse you. So, if you still have not visited any of such bird sanctuaries in India, it is about time to do so. Let us have a peek.

Top 10 Famous Bird Sanctuaries in India

1. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan

Also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the famous sanctuaries in India. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage protected site. This sanctuary carefully preserves more than 350 bird species. Pelicans, cranes, ducks, eagles, wagtails, shanks, hawks are the mostly seen birds in here. This sanctuary’s visit time is from 8 am to 5 pm.

2. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Goa

I bet, everyone in their 7th or 8th grade has read about Salim Ali, the greatest bird-specialist of India. Named after this famous ornithologist, this bird sanctuary is situated at western edge of Chorao Island in Goa. Unlike any regular bird sanctuary, this sanctuary is accessible by a regular ferry service. From woodpeckers to white egrets, the variety of birds in this area will surely amaze you. You can always visit this place in between the time range of 6 am to 6 pm.

3. Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, Haryana

Are you craving the site of thousands of migratory birds playing around? If so, Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary might be the right place for you. Situated in Haryana, this bird sanctuary has more than 250 species of birds and welcomes more than thousands of migratory birds from different foreign countries such as Russia, Siberia, Turkey, Europe during the season of winter. From great egrets to red collared dove, this bird sanctuary is an abode of surprises.

4. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Kerala

Located in the bank of Vembanad Lake, this bird sanctuary is one of the many attractions of Kerala. It is a noted bird sanctuary of Kerala and it almost covers 14 acres area. It has more than 200 species of birds accompanied by many seasonal birds as well. The little Island in the middle of this sanctuary is the ideal place to spot migratory birds from mostly Russia and Eastern Europe.

5. Kaundinya Bird Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh

If you are a serious bird enthusiast, Kaundinya Bird sanctuary might be the ideal place to quench your thirst. Along with its rich biodiversity, this sanctuary has more than 250 bird species. It is only 86 kilometres away from Horsley hill and this sanctuary covers more than 358 square kilometres area. You can visit this place anytime in between 7 am to 5 pm.

6. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu

Being one of the oldest bird sanctuaries of India, this sanctuary is home to more than 50,000 migratory birds every year. Vedanthangal or ‘hamlet of hunters’ is situated in Kanchipuram and one can visit this place anytime in between 6 am to 6 pm. From Pintails to Common Sandpipers, you can easily spot birds from a high watch tower in this sanctuary.

7. Chilka Bird Sanctuary, Orissa

Chilka, the largest brackish water lake of Asia, is home to thousands of birds that turns this place into an opera stage. This sanctuary has more than 160 species of birds and also thousands of migratory birds from different regions of Central Asia and Russia visit this place. One can rent a boat and visit this sanctuary. From flamingos to eagles and ospreys, Chilka has a wide range of birds available. From 6 am to 7 pm, you can visit this place.

8.Kutch Sanctuary, Gujarat

The Great Indian Bustards! If you have ever wondered where you can find this type of birds, we have the answer. The Kutch sanctuary of Gujarat is the abode of the Great Indian Bustard– almost pinkish, ground-dwelling birds with legs of ostriches. And apart from the Indian Bustards, one can find Florican Bustards, Macqueen’s Bustards and Houbara Bustards as well. Also, you can find different migratory birds in this region as well. The best time to visit this place is between from October to February.

9. Mayani Bird Sanctuary, Maharashtra

Situated near the Vaduj Town of Maharashtra, Mayani Bird Sanctuary is one of the eminent bird sanctuaries in India. The whole sanctuary is based on a wetland ecosystem with small bush like forest and cactus. The ideal time to visit this place is from November to February. Ducks are the specialty of this sanctuary. Painted storks, black ibis, kingfishers are mostly seen in this region. Also, this sanctuary welcomes almost 400 migratory birds from different parts of Russia and Siberia every year as well.

10. Bakhira Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh

Among many other historical attractions of Uttar Pradesh, almost no one keeps track of this amazing bird sanctuary in there. This wetland is home to thousands of different birds that includes almost 150 species. It is one of the oldest sanctuaries of India. One can easily find purple moorhen, Kaima and Swamphen birds in this sanctuary. Also, if you can visit this place during winter, the sight of hundreds migratory birds can be an eye-pleasing scene. This place is open to visitors from 6 am to 6 pm every day.

These are some of the famous bird sanctuaries of India. But the list of bird sanctuary does not begin or end with this. The bird sanctuary is not everyone’s cup of tea because patience and silence are the two things that you have to maintain if you want to see any birds. And if you are one of those fellas, it is time to visit these sanctuaries before these birds become extinct.