Uttar Pradesh is a safe haven for a variety of bird species. These sanctuaries are a paradise for bird watchers, nature enthusiasts, and ornithologists. In this article, you will explore the most famous bird sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh: Suraha Tal Bird Sanctuary, Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary, and more. Each sanctuary has its unique features and attractions that make it worth visiting.
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Top Bird Sanctuary In Uttar Pradesh For Bird Lovers
Best Bird Sanctuary In Uttar Pradesh To Explore
Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary
Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary is the largest bird sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh. It was established in 1988 to conserve its wetland and diverse bird life. Covering two lakes, Lakh and Bahosi, it spans 80 sq. km, making it one of India’s largest bird sanctuaries, hosting numerous migratory birds from November to March, and around 50,000 waterfowl annually.
Bird watching and photography are popular activities here, with a walking track around Bahosi Lake for a close-up view of birds like bronze-winged jacanas and little grebes. The sanctuary’s beauty extends to the wetlands and the Upper Ganges Canal. Visit between December and February for the best bird-watching experience.
- How to reach Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary? The nearest railway station to Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary is Kannauj railway station. It is located around 38 Km away. You can also take bus as, Sukhsenpur bus stand is the nearest bus stand located around 12 Km away from the sanctuary.
- What is Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary famous for? This sanctuary is famous for the Bahosi Lake. Besides this, visitors might also spot animals like jackals, blue bulls, mongooses, fishing cats, and monkeys in this area.
- Best time to visit Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary: The best time to visit Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary is during the winter months, specifically from December to February.
Bakhira Bird Sanctuary
Bakhira Bird Sanctuary, the largest natural floodplain wetland in India, is located in the Sant Kabir Nagar district of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Established in 1980, this expansive wetland covers 29 km2 and serves as a crucial wintering and staging area for migratory waterfowl while also supporting resident bird populations.
Connected to Bakhira Canal, the sanctuary is vital for both wildlife and local communities living within a 15 km radius. It sustains fishing, agriculture, and fuelwood collection for the villagers in the surrounding hundred and eight villages. During winter, Siberian birds travel up to 5,000 km to reach this sanctuary.
- How to reach Bakhira Bird Sanctuary? Located around 20 Km away, Khalilabad railway station is the nearest railway station. Nandaur Bus Stand is the closest bus stand around 7.5 Km away from the sanctuary.
- What is Bakhira Bird Sanctuary famous for? Bakhira Bird Sanctuary is famous for being home to the Grey-headed swamphen, also known as the Indian Purple moorhen or Purple Swamp-hen.
- Best time to visit Bakhira Bird Sanctuary: The best time to visit Bakhira Bird Sanctuary is during the winter months, from November to January. This is when migratory birds from Tibet, China, Europe, and Siberia arrive.
Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary
Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary is renamed Shahid Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary in 2015. It is located in Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh, along the Kanpur-Lucknow highway. This sanctuary features a lake and surrounding natural habitat and serves as a haven for 250 migratory bird species, mainly from CIS countries.
However, the bird numbers have decreased since the 1990s, with many moving to Himachal and Rajasthan. The sanctuary also includes a deer park, watchtowers, and boats.
- How to reach Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary? Located around 4 Km away, Kusumbhi railway station is the nearest railway station. If you are traveling by bus, Nawabganj Bus Stand is the closest bus stand around 1 Km away from sanctuary.
- What is Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary famous for? Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary is famous for migratory birds including greylag goose, pintail, cotton teal, red-crested pochard, gadwall, shoveller, coot, and mallard.
- Best time to visit Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary: The best time to visit Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary is during the winter months, from November to March when these migratory birds make this sanctuary their home.
Saman Bird Sanctuary
The sanctuary hosts around 150 nests of various heron and egret species, breeding pairs of sarus cranes, black-necked storks, and greater spotted eagles year-round. During winter, over 50,000 migratory birds visit, with a total of 187 bird species recorded.
The wetland also supports mammals like nilgai and reptiles like Bengal monitor lizards, along with diverse aquatic plant life, including mosquitofern.
- How to reach Saman Bird Sanctuary? If you opt for train, Mainpuri Junction is the nearest railway station. It is around 5 Km away from the sanctuary. Mainpuri Roadways Bus Stand is the closest bus stand, located about 27 Km away.
- What is Saman Bird Sanctuary famous for? The sanctuary is famous for being a vital habitat for migratory birds, particularly the bar-headed goose.
- Best time to visit Saman Bird Sanctuary: The best time to visit Saman Bird Sanctuary is during the winter months, from November to March. This is when the migratory birds arrive.
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Samaspur Bird Sanctuary
Samaspur Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh was established in 1987 on 780 hectares of land. It is approximately 122 km from Lucknow on the Lucknow-Varanasi highway. It is a haven for over 250 bird species, including long-distance travelers like greylag geese, pintails, common teals, Eurasian wigeons, northern shovelers, and ruddy shelducks.
Local species include knob-billed ducks, lesser whistling ducks, Indian spot-billed ducks, Eurasian spoonbills, kingfishers, and vultures. The sanctuary also features a diverse fish population in its lake.
- How to reach Samaspur Bird Sanctuary? Raebareli Junction is the nearest railway station. It is around 44 Km away from the sanctuary. For bus travelers, Raebareli Bus stand is the closest bus stand, located about 37 Km away.
- What is Samaspur Bird Sanctuary famous for? The sanctuary is popular for hosting a diverse range of birdlife. It includes local and migratory species such as pintails, kingfishers, and vultures.
- Best time to visit Samaspur Bird Sanctuary: The best time to visit Samaspur Bird Sanctuary is during the winter months, typically from November to February.
Okhla Bird Sanctuary
Okhla Bird Sanctuary is home to over 300 bird species, especially waterbirds. In 1990, it was designated as a bird sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act along the Yamuna River. The sanctuary features a large lake formed by damming the river, located between Okhla village and Gautam Budh Nagar.
This 4 square kilometer sanctuary marks the point where the Yamuna enters Uttar Pradesh. It is home to a variety of bird species, thanks to its diverse habitats. It is one of the 466 Important Bird Areas in India.
- How to reach Okhla Bird Sanctuary? Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station is the nearest railway station. It is around 10 Km from the sanctuary. The nearest bus stand is located in Dadri. It is around 1 Km away from the sanctuary.
- What is Okhla Bird Sanctuary famous for? This is when a significant number of migratory birds, such as waterfowl and waders, arrive at the sanctuary. It creates an excellent opportunity for birdwatching.
- Best time to visit Okhla Bird Sanctuary: The best time to visit Okhla Bird Sanctuary is during the winter months, from November to March.
Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary
Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary is located in the Gonda District of Uttar Pradesh. It is about 45 km from Gonda on the Mankapur-Nawabganj Road and Mankapur-Faizabad Railway Line. Covering 1084.47 ha, the sanctuary sustains resident birds year-round and hosts migratory birds during the winter season.
It was originally part of the Saryu River but became oxbow lakes when the river changed its course. Established in 1990, the sanctuary comprises two lakes, Parvati and Arga, located about 1.5 km apart.
- How to reach Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary? Located around 17 Km away, Mankapur Junction is the closest railway station. To reach the Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary, you can also follow the Lucknow-Gonda-Faizabad road. The sanctuary is situated approximately 9 km from Wazeerganj and about 10 km from Nawabganj.
- What is Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary famous for? The sanctuary is an ideal place for birdwatching and enjoying the vibrant birdlife in the natural surroundings of the sanctuary.
- Best time to visit Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary: The best time to visit Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary is during the winter months, from November to March.
Sandi Bird Sanctuary
Sandi Bird Sanctuary is located 19 km from Sandi on Hardoi-Sandi Road. Established in 1990, it safeguards natural habitats for local and migratory birds. Since September 2019, it is a designated Ramsar site. The sanctuary is also known as “Dahar Jheel” with a 309 ha lake.
River Garra flows nearby, attracting migratory birds. In the past, rare Siberian white cranes were spotted here, hinting at their potential return.
- How to reach Sandi Bird Sanctuary? The nearest railway station is Hardoi, 19 km away. The nearest bus stop is Pihani Chungli bus stop located around 23 Km away.
- What is Sandi Bird Sanctuary famous for? The sanctuary is popular for the Dahar Jheel and Siberian white crane.
- Best time to visit Sandi Bird Sanctuary: The best time to visit Sandi Bird Sanctuary is during the winter months, particularly from November to February.
Shekha Bird Sanctuary
Shekha Bird Sanctuary, near the village of Shekha in Uttar Pradesh, India, is a 25-hectare sanctuary located 17 km east of Aligarh, close to the Grand Trunk Road. This freshwater lake was formed in 1852 after the creation of the Upper Ganges Canal and is maintained by the Forest Department.
It is a renowned birding spot, especially during the winter when many birds overwinter there.
- How to reach Shekha Bird Sanctuary? Aligarh Junction is the nearest railhead located around 15 Km away from the sanctuary. Aligarh Bus Stand is the nearest bus stand located around 14 Km away.
- What is Shekha Bird Sanctuary famous for? The sanctuary is popular for birdwatching and experiencing the diverse birdlife in its natural setting.
- Best time to visit Shekha Bird Sanctuary: The best time to visit Shekha Bird Sanctuary is during the winter months, from November to March.
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Suraha Tal Bird Sanctuary
Suraha Tal Bird Sanctuary, a natural oxbow lake in Ballia District of Uttar Pradesh. It covers an area of 34.32 km². Established in 1991, it is famous for its rich avifauna, with a focus on Anatidae, Phalacrocoracidae, Jacanidae, and Ardeidae bird families. The lake also hosts a diverse fish population.
Visitors can enjoy bird watching, fishing, and boat rides. The best time to visit is winter when up to 50,000 waterfowl gather during the migratory season.
- How to reach Suraha Tal Bird Sanctuary? Ballia railhead is the nearest railway station located about 13 Km away from the sanctuary. The nearest bus stop is Tikhampur bus stop, located around 16 Km away from the sanctuary.
- What is Suraha Tal Bird Sanctuary famous for? The sanctuary is famous for birdwatching and boat rides.
- Best time to visit Suraha Tal Bird Sanctuary: The best time to visit Suraha Tal Bird Sanctuary is during the winter months, from November to March.
Patna Bird Sanctuary
Patna Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh is a compact 1.09 km² area with a lentic lake, serving as a vital wintering ground for migratory birds. Established in 1991, it is the smallest bird sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh.
The lake supports diverse avifauna, especially during the winter, and features lush vegetation like water hyacinth and Potamogeton species in the summer. Visitors can enjoy bird watching and photography amid the sanctuary’s varied ecosystems, from dense forests to serene ponds.
- How to reach Patna Bird Sanctuary? For train travelers, Jalesar railway station is the closest railway station located around 20 Km away from the sanctuary. If you prefer, Sikandra Rao Bus Station is the nearest bus stop located around 4.5 Km away.
- What is Patna Bird Sanctuary famous for? The sanctuary is famous for being home to various bird species such as Indian peafowl, Common quail, Black francolin, and more.
- Best time to visit Patna Bird Sanctuary: The best time to visit Patna Bird Sanctuary is during the winter months, from November to January.
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The Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh stands as not only a vital conservation area but also as gateway to the captivating world of birds. As the sun sets over these sanctuaries, it leaves us with a deep appreciation for the harmony between humanity and nature, reminding us of the need to protect these precious habitats for generations to come.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
The main attraction of bird sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh is the diverse avian species, including migratory and resident birds, offering excellent opportunities for birdwatching and nature enthusiasts.
Yes, most bird sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh are open year-round, but the best time to visit for birdwatching is during the winter months when migratory birds arrive.
Visitors can engage in birdwatching, photography, nature walks, and often boat rides at these sanctuaries to explore the natural beauty and wildlife.
Entry fees and specific regulations may vary from sanctuary to sanctuary. It’s advisable to check with local authorities for the most up-to-date information.
Yes, these sanctuaries are family-friendly and offer educational and recreational opportunities for visitors of all ages.
