India’s top bird sanctuaries you must visit once in a lifetime!

If you live in a city, then all you must be listening to traffic noise, and crowd. Do you even remember the last time you heard the voice of a bird, any bird? Or when was the last time you woke up to the sound of birds? For sure you have no memory. So to refresh your memory and to be among these pretty creatures, there’s no better option than visiting them in their natural habitats and India fortunately is a paradise for birdwatchers! There are several amazing bird sanctuaries where one can witness and experience the sound of hundreds of birds singing together. Here, checkout this list to know some of the topmost bird sanctuaries in India that you must visit once in a lifetime.

Spread over an area of 29 sq km, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary or Keoladeo Ghana National Park is one of the topmost bird sanctuaries in India. There is a perfect mix of dry grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands making the region favourable for migratory birds. The sanctuary can be explored on foot, or those who like to take a rickshaw can do so. The place remains open throughout the year, however, those who wish to witness the best of it must visit between August and November. Some of the birds commonly sighted here would be woodpecker, grey francolin, kingfisher, barbets and jungle bush quail, among others. Also when the season comes, migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia visit the place. During that time one can easily spot cranes, pelicans, eagles and hawks, and several varieties of bird.

Spread across 25 sq km, Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary in Kerala is set on the banks of the Periyar River. The region is populated with over 300 species of migratory and resident birds living inside the forest. To witness them in their natural habitat, people need to go on a two to three hour trek. Indian cuckoo, Oriental darter, cormorants, orange-headed thrush, jerdon’s nightjar, whiskered terns and bulbuls are some of the prime highlights of the sanctuary. You can also witness a number of beautiful and colourful butterflies in the region.

Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary in Haryana is a perfect escape for those looking for a natural respite from their day-to-day life. The place is a favourite of ornithologists, birdwatchers, or just anyone searching for a place to enjoy their weekend. This whole region is home to over 250 species of birds, including purple sunbird, Eurasian thick-knee, gray francolin, black francolin, kingfisher, spot billed duck, ibis, little egret and India crested lark, among others. Here’s a pretty lake too where people can picnic with family. The region around Sultanpur Lake became a water-bird reserve in the year 1972. A small museum and a library are also inside the sanctuary.

Best time to visit: December to February

Namdapha National Park is for those who like off the beaten track kind of adventures. This bird paradise in Arunachal Pradesh is too beautiful to be real. Being a biodiversity hotspot, the region is frequented by a number of bird lovers every year. The park covers 1985 sq km of land and is home to around 500 species of birds and a wide range of wildlife too. Those interested can also enjoy camping inside the forest as there is a forest rest house and various campsites inside the sanctuary.

Mangalajodi in Odisha is a birdwatcher’s true paradise. The region is a major flyway destination for migratory water birds. Not only this, the entire site is also an ecotourism destination which has gained quite some popularity over the time. Villagers here are bird experts who once used to practice bird hunting for a living. But after understanding the value of the region, the hunters now have become the protectors, they now use their knowledge to guide visitors and birdwatcher on birdwatching trips.

Best time to visit: December to February

Binsar in Uttarakhand is too scenic and too full of natures. The place is spread across the top of the Jhandi Dhar hills, and this mid-altitude wildlife sanctuary is visited by a number of birdwatchers every year. From wild animals to a wide variety of pretty birds can be spotted in the region. The region is home to nearly 200 species of birds which includes forktail, blackbirds, parakeets, magpies, kalij pheasant, koklass pheasant, eagles, laughingthrush and woodpeckers, among others. From here, people can also enjoy some breathtaking views of the Himalayan ranges such as Nanda Kot, Trishul, Chaukhamba and Panchchuli from the local hills here.