Ramsar Sites (Wetlands of International Importance) of India:

There are a total of 75 Ramsar sites in India covering 1,326,677 ha in area.

Below the table some important wetlands have been discussed in little detail.

S. No. State Location Name of Site Area

1 Andhra Pradesh Kolleru Lake 901.00
2 Assam Deepor Beel 40.00
3 Bihar Kabartal Wetland 26.20
4 Goa Nanda Lake 0.42
5 Gujarat Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary 5.12
6 Gujarat Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary 120.00
7 Gujarat Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary 6.99
8 Gujarat Wadhvana Wetland 6.30
9 Haryana Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary 4.12
10 Haryana Sultanpur National Park 1.43
11 Himachal Chandertal Wetland 0.49
Pradesh
12 Himachal Pong Dam Lake 156.62
Pradesh
13 Himachal Renuka Wetland 0.20
Pradesh
14 Jammu and Hokera Wetland 13.75
Kashmir
15 Jammu and Hygam Wetland Conservation 8.02
Kashmir Reserve
16 Jammu and Shallbugh Wetland Conservation 16.75
Kashmir Reserve
17 Jammu and Surinsar-Mansar Lakes 3.50
Kashmir
18 Jammu and Wular Lake 189.00
Kashmir
19 Karnataka Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary 5.18
20 Kerala Asthamudi Wetland 61.40
21 Kerala Sasthamkotta Lake 3.73
22 Kerala Vembanad Kol Wetland 1512.50
23 Ladakh Tso Kar Wetland Complex 95.77
24 Ladakh Tsomoriri Lake 120.00
25 Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Wetlands 32.01
26 Madhya Pradesh Sakhya Sagar 2.48
27 Madhya Pradesh Sirpur Wetland 1.61
28 Madhya Pradesh Yashwant Sagar 8.23
29 Maharashtra Lonar Lake 4.27
30 Maharashtra Nandur Madhameshwar 14.37
31 Maharashtra Thane Creek 65.21
32 Manipur Loktak Lake 266.00
33 Mizoram Pala Wetland 18.50
 34 Odisha Ansupa Lake 2.31
35 Odisha Bhitarkanika Mangroves 650.00
36 Odisha Chilka Lake 1165.00
37 Odisha Hirakud Reservoir 654.00
38 Odisha Satkosia Gorge 981.97
39 Odisha Tampara Lake 3.00
40 Punjab Beas Conservation Reserve 64.29
41 Punjab Harike Lake 41.00
42 Punjab Kanjli Lake 1.83
43 Punjab Keshopur-Miani Community 3.44
Reserve
44 Punjab Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary 1.16
45 Punjab Ropar Lake 13.65
46 Rajasthan Keoladeo Ghana NP 28.73
47 Rajasthan Sambhar Lake 240.00
48 Tamil Nadu Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary 2.60
49 Tamil Nadu Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere 526.72
Reserve
50 Tamil Nadu Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary 0.97
51 Tamil Nadu Karikili Bird Sanctuary 0.58
52 Tamil Nadu Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary 0.72
53 Tamil Nadu Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest 12.48
54 Tamil Nadu Pichavaram Mangrove 14.79
55 Tamil Nadu Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird 385.00
Sanctuary
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56 Tamil Nadu Suchindram Theroor Wetland 0.94

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57 Tamil Nadu Udhayamarthandapuram Bird 0.44

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Sanctuary
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58 Tamil Nadu Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary 1.13

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59 Tamil Nadu Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary 0.40

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60 Tamil Nadu Vellode Bird Sanctuary 0.77

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61 Tamil Nadu Vembannur Wetland Complex 0.20

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62 Tripura Rudrasagar Lake 2.40

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63 Uttar Pradesh Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary 28.94

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64 Uttar Pradesh Haiderpur Wetland 69.08

65 Uttar Pradesh Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary 2.25
66 Uttar Pradesh Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary 7.22
67 Uttar Pradesh Saman Bird Sanctuary 5.26
68 Uttar Pradesh Samaspur Bird Sanctuary 7.99
69 Uttar Pradesh Sandi Bird Sanctuary 3.09
70 Uttar Pradesh Sarsai Nawar Jheel 1.61
71 Uttar Pradesh Sur Sarovar 4.31
72 Uttar Pradesh Upper Ganga River 265.90
73 Uttarakhand Asan Conservation Reserve 4.44
74 West Bengal East Kolkata Wetlands 125.00
75 West Bengal Sunderbans Wetland 4230.00
Source: http://www.wiienvis.nic.in/Database/ramsar_wetland_sites_8224.aspx
Details of some of the important sites:

1. Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh

• A natural eutrophic lake, situated between the two major river basins
of the Godavari and the Krishna,
• It functions as a natural flood balancing reservoir between the deltas
of the two rivers.
• It provides habitat for a number of resident and migratory birds,
including declining numbers of the vulnerable Grey Pelican (Pelecanus
philippensis).

2. Deepor Beel, Assam

• A permanent freshwater lake in a former channel of the Brahmaputra river,
near the city of Guwahati.
• Some globally threatened birds are supported, including Spotbilled Pelican
(Pelicanus philippensis), Lesser and Greater Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos
javanicus and dubius), and Baer's Pochard (Aythya baeri).

3. Kabartal wetland, Bihar

• Aka Kanwar Jheel
• The Wetland is an important stopover along the Central Asian Flyway, with
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58 migratory waterbirds using it to rest and refuel.

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• Five critically endangered species inhabit the site, including three vultures
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o the red-headed vulture

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o white-rumped vulture and

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o Indian vulture
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• and two waterbirds,

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o the sociable lapwing and

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4. Nanda Lake, Goa

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• freshwater marshes that lie adjacent to one of the major tributaries of

the Zuari River.
• Notable bird species include black-headed ibis, common kingfisher
wire-tailed swallow, bronze-winged jacana brahminy kite

5. Nalsarovar Bird sanctuary, Gujarat

• A natural freshwater lake that is the largest natural wetland in the
Thar Desert.
• It is an important stopover site within the Central Asia Flyway, with
globally threatened species such as the critically endangered Sociable
Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) and the vulnerable Marbled Teal
(Marmaronetta angustirostris) stopping over at the site during
 migration
• the vulnerable Sarus Crane (Grus antigone) takes refuge there during
summer.
• The wetland is also a lifeline for a satellite population of the
endangered Indian Wild Ass which uses this area in the dry season.

6. Sultnapur National Park, Haryana

• Known for critically endangered sociable lapwing, and the endangered

Egyptian vulture, saker falcon, Pallas’s fish eagle and black-bellied
tern.

7. Pong Dam Lake, Himachal Pradesh

• A water storage reservoir created in 1975 on the Beas River

• Hydrological values include monsoon-season flood prevention,
groundwater recharge, prevention of soil erosion; electricity is generated
for this and neighboring states, and irrigation water is being channeled to
fertile areas of the Punjab and Rajasthan deserts

8. Wular Lake, J&K

• The largest freshwater lake in India

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• extensive marshes of emergent and floating vegetation, particularly water

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chestnut, that provide an important source of revenue for the State

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Government and fodder for domestic livestock.

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9. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka

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• a part of the Kaveri River

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• It supports populations of mugger crocodile, smooth-coated otter and

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hump-backed mahseer.
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• It is classified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA).

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• The Site is classified as an Eco- Sensitive Zone

10. Vembanad Kol Wetland, Kerala

• largest brackish, humid tropical wetland ecosystem on the southwest

coast of India, fed by 10 rivers and typical of large estuarine systems
on the western coast,
• renowned for its clams and supporting the third largest waterfowl
population in India during the winter months.

10.Asthamudi Wetland, Kerala

 • The site supports a number of mangrove species

11.Tso Kar Wetland Complex, Ladakh

• This high-altitude wetland complex - the freshwater Startsapuk Tso
and the larger hypersaline Tso Kar;
• Known for endangered saker falcon and Asiatic wild dog or dhole and
the vulnerable snow leopard (Panthera uncia). The Site also acts as
an important stopover ground for migratory birds along the Central
Asian Flyway and is one of the most important breeding areas in India
for the black-necked crane

12.Tsomoriri Lake, Ladkah

• A freshwater to brackish lake lying at 4,595m above sea level, with wet
meadows.
• only breeding ground outside of China for one of the most endangered
cranes, the Black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis), and the only breeding
ground for Bar- headed geese in India.
• The Great Tibetan Sheep or Argali (Ovis ammon hodgsoni) and Tibetan
Wild Ass (Equus kiang) are endemic to the Tibetan plateau, of which the
Changthang is the westernmost part.
• The barley fields at Korzok have been described as the highest cultivated
land in the world.
• Ancient trade routes and now major trekking routes pass the site.
• The 400-year-old Korzok monastery attracts many tourists, and the
wetland is considered sacred by local Buddhist communities and the water
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is not used by them.

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• The local community dedicated Tsomoriri as a WWF Sacred Gift for the
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Living Planet in recognition of WWF-India's project work there.

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13.Bhoj Wetlands, Madhya Pradesh

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• Two contiguous human-made reservoirs - the "Upper Lake" was created in

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• It is surrounded by the city of Bhopal. The lakes are very rich in

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biodiversity,
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14.Thane Creek, Maharashtra

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• The Site is one of the largest creeks of Asia and hosts many birds
migrating on the Central Asian Flyway.
• As a sanctuary for flamingos and other important bird species, it is in
the list of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs).
• Thane Creek falls under the Marine Ecoregions of the World (MEOW)
but is fed by numerous freshwater sources, making the water
brackish.
• Its mangrove forests provide nurseries for several fish species,
sustaining the local fisheries, and also act as a natural buffer against
floods, cyclones and seawater intrusions, enhancing the resilience of
surrounding areas to such climate-related hazards.
 • Known for vulnerable Sulawesi fruit bat, Mozambique tilapia and river
tern and the endangered great knot .

15.Loktak Lake, Manipur

• A large, but shrinking freshwater lake and associated swamplands supplied
by several streams.
• Thick, floating mats of weeds covered with soil (phumids') are a
characteristic feature.
• 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.
• The construction of a dam for hydroelectric power generation and irrigation
purposes has caused the local extinction of several native fish species.

16.Bhitarkanika Mangroves, Odisha

• Also a National Park.

• One of the finest remaining patches of mangrove forests along the Indian
coast
• The site's Gahirmatha beach is said to host the largest known Olive Ridley
sea turtle nesting beach in the world, with half a million nesting annually,
• It is a major breeding and wintering place for many resident and migratory
waterbirds and is the east coast's major nursery for brackish water and
estuarine fish fauna.
17.Chilka Lake, Odisha

• Was part of Montreux Record, but removed in 2002.

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• Brackish lake separated from the Bay of Bengal by a long sandy ridge and
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subject to sea water exchange, resulting in extreme seasonal fluctuations

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in salinity in different sections of the lake.

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• Saline areas support aquatic algae.

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18.Hirakud Reservoir, Odisha

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• It is one of the largest man-made reservoirs in India, built across the

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Mahanadi River.
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• The reservoir helps regulate the water level of the river and
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moderates the impact of floods in the Mahanadi Delta.

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• The reservoir also produces around 350 megawatts of hydropower

and irrigates 436,000 hectares of land.

19.Satkosia Gorge, Odisha

• Satkosia Gorge is a mosaic of rivers, marshes and evergreen forests

at the meeting point of two biogeographic regions, the Deccan
Peninsula and the Eastern Ghats.
• These wetland habitats support a variety of plant and animal
communities. Notable plant species include asan, dhaura, simal,
Indian thorny bamboo and Calcutta bamboo, while animal species
include red-crowned roofed turtle Indian narrow- headed softshell
turtle, tiger and black-bellied tern.
20.Harike Lake, Punjab

• A Bird Sanctuary.
• A shallow water reservoir with thirteen islands, at the confluence of two
rivers Beas and Sutlej.
21.Keoladeo Ghana NP, Rajasthan

• Placed on the Montreux Record in 1990 due to "water shortage and an

unbalanced grazing regime".
• Additionally, the invasive growth of the grass Paspalum distichum has
changed the ecological character of large areas of the site, reducing its
suitability for certain waterbird species, notably the Siberian crane.
22.Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan

• A large saline lake

• It is surrounded by sand flats and dry thorn scrub and fed by seasonal
rivers and streams.
• The site is important for a variety of wintering waterbirds, including large
numbers of flamingos.

23.Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu

• Located at the south-eastern tip of India, the Gulf of Mannar Marine

Biosphere Reserve is the first Marine Biosphere Reserve in South and
South-East Asia.
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• The Gulf is where the southward extension of the Bay of Bengal

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meets the Indian Ocean.

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• Globally threatened species include the dugong, whale shark, green

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sea turtle, hawksbill turtle and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin.

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• The local communities are mainly Marakeyars, with fishing their

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main livelihood.
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• classified as a Marine National Park and recognized as a World

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Heritage Site.
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24.Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu

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• A coastal area consisting of shallow waters,

• the vulnerable species Spoonbill Sandpiper and Grey Pelican and some
Greater and Lesser Flamingos.
• Visitors come to the site both for recreation and for pilgrimage, as it is
associated with Lord Rama.
25.Rudrasagar Lake, Tripura
• A lowland sedimentation reservoir in the northeast hills, fed by three
perennial streams discharging to the River Gomti. T
• It is an ideal habitat for IUCN Redlisted Three-striped Roof Turtle Kachuga
dhongka.
• Vijaya Dashami, and various sports events, attracts at least 50,000
tourists and devotees every year.
26.Haiderpur Wetland, Uttar Pradesh
• This human-made wetland was formed by the construction of the
Madhya Ganga Barrage on a floodplain of the River Ganga.
• It is located within the boundaries of Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary.
• This diverse habitat supports more than 15 globally threatened
species, such as the critically endangered gharial and the
endangered hog deer, black- bellied tern , steppe eagle, Indian
skimmer and gold mahseer.
• It serves as a breeding site for the near-threatened Indian grassbird
and provides refuge to the northern subspecies population of the
vulnerable swamp deer during its seasonal flood- driven migration.

27.Upper Ganga River, Uttar Pradesh

• A shallow river stretch of the great Ganges with intermittent small

stretches of deep-water pools and reservoirs upstream from barrages.
• The river provides habitat for IUCN Red listed Ganges River Dolphin,
Gharial, Crocodile, 6 species of turtles, otters, 82 species of fish and more
than hundred species of birds.
• Major plant species, some of which have high medicinal values, include
Dalbergia sissoo, Saraca indica, Eucalyptus globulus, Ficus bengalensis,
Dendrocalamus strictus, Tectona grandis, Azadirachta indica and aquatic
Eichhorina.
• This river stretch has high Hindu religious importance for thousands of
pilgrims and is used for cremation and holy baths for spiritual purification.
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28.East Kolkata Wetlands, West Bengal

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• World-renowned as a model of a multiple use wetland.

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• The wetland forms an urban facility for treating the city's waste water and
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utilizing the treated water for pisciculture and agriculture, through the
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recovery of nutrients in an efficient manner - the water flows through fish

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ponds covering about 4,000 ha, and the ponds act as solar reactors and
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complete most of their bio-chemical reactions with the help of solar energy.
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• Thus the system is described as "one of the rare examples of

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environmental protection and development management

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29.Sunderbans Wetland, West Bengal

• Sundarban Wetland is located within the largest mangrove forest in the
world,
• in the delta of the Rivers Ganges and Brahmaputra on the Bay of Bengal
in India and Bangladesh.
• The Sundarban Tiger Reserve is situated within the Site and part of it
has been declared a “critical tiger habitat” under national law and also a
“Tiger Conservation Landscape” of global importance.
• The Sundarbans are the only mangrove habitat which supports a
significant population of tigers, and they have unique aquatic hunting
skills.
• The Site is also home to a large number of rare and globally threatened
species such as the critically endangered northern river terrapin, the
endangered Irrawaddy dolphin, and the vulnerable fishing cat.
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