Top 12 Largest Ramsar Sites Wetlands in India

Ramsar sites are related to wetlands ecosystems, famous for fishing,marine wildlife and bird sanctuary. These sites are recognized as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention of India.

Ramsar Sites in India also includes Pong Dam Lake, Lake Tsomoriri,East Kolkata Wetlands,Sasthamcotta Lake,Mangroves of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mangroves in Mumbai and Pulicat Lake.

Largest Wetlands in India

Wetlands are permanently or seasonally ecosystem and home to a wide range of plant and animal life. The main wetland types include swamps, marshes and mangrove.

Vembanad Wetland

Vembanad Lake Wetland is the largest lake ecosystem of Kerala and home to several groups of small islands. The Vembanad wetland system is the largest wetland system in India and home to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and one of the three Ramsar Sites in Kerala.

Chilika Lake

Chilika-lake-Dolphin

Chilika Lake is the second largest coastal lagoon in the world and largest wintering ground for migratory birds coming to India. The lake and ecosystem of Chilika is the first wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in India and home to endangered dugongs, green sea turtle,Irrawaddy dolphin and flamingos.

Kolleru Lake

Kolleru_Lake

Kolleru Lake is located between Krishna and Godavari river deltas and a major tourist attractions in Andhra Pradesh for bird watching. Kolleru Lake Wetland and Ramsar site is an important habitat for birds like Siberian crane, painted storks and best place to see spot billed pelican birds in India.

Ashtamudi Wetland

Ashtamudi-backwaters

Ashtamudi Wetland created by Ashtamudi Lake in the Kollam district of Kerala and listed as wetlands of international importance in India. The unique wetland ecosystem of Kerala is also the most visited backwater destination in Kerala.

Point Calimere

Point Calimere on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu is a Cauvery River delta, designated as Ramsar Convention. The site is home to Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary and also holds large wintering populations of greater flamingos in India.

Loktak Lake

loktak lake Manipur

Loktak Lake is a freshwater lake and home to only floating national park in the world,Keibul Lamjao National Park. The lake and park plays an important role in the economy of Manipur and last natural home of endangered Sangai deer in India.

Wular Lake

Wular Lake of Jammu and Kashmir is one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia, fed by the Jhelum River and one of the 26 Indian wetlands designated as a Ramsar site.

Sambhar Salt Lake

Sambhar_salt_lake

Sambhar Salt Lake is the largest inland salt lake in India, surrounded by the Aravali hills on all sides. The saline wetland has been designated as a Ramsar site and best place to spot pink flamingos in India.

East Kolkata Wetlands

East Kolkata Wetland is listed under the Ramsar Convention and home to about 100 plant species. The natural and human made wetlands are home to marsh mongoose, Small Indian Civet and 20 different species of snakes found in the East Calcutta Wetland.

Dipor Bil

Dipor Bil Wetland in Assam is a permanent freshwater lake and largest beels in the Brahmaputra valley of Lower Assam. The beel is habitat to many varieties of birds,wild animals as well as largest congregations of aquatic birds in India.

Bhoj Wetland

Upper_Lake_bhopal

Bhoj Wetland is created by two lakes of Bhopal, The Upper Lake and Lower Lake are home to a diverse flora and fauna and designated a wetland of international importance.

Harike Wetland

Harike Wetland is the largest wetland in northern India, located near the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers in Punjab. The riverine wetland declared a bird sanctuary with the name of Harike Pattan Bird Sanctuary and home to several species of birds.

Ropar Wetland

Ropar Wetland is a riverine and lacustrine wetland, located in the Shivalik foothills of the Lower Himalayas. The wetland is one of the most popular tourist attraction for bird watching in India.

Largest Mangroves Forest in India

Mangroves are small tree that grows in coastal saline water and occur in muddy swampy islands around marine shorelines, estuaries and river delta.

Sundarbans Mangroves

Sundarbans-National-Park

Sundarbans Mangroves forest is created by delta region of Padma, Meghna and Brahmaputra river basins in West Bengal State. The mangrove forest of Sundarban National Park is home to swamp tiger,saltwater crocodile and Gangetic dolphin.

Sundarbans provides a unique wetland ecosystem and very rich wildlife habitat, especially endangered Bengal tiger. There are over 100 Bengal tigers in mangroves forest of Sundarbans and tiger attacks are frequent in the Sundarbans.

Bhitarkanika Mangroves

Bhitarkanika-Mangroves-Orissa

Bhitarkanika Mangroves wetland in Odisha state is river delta created by Brahmani and Baitarani rivers. The Mangroves were designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and home to Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary.

The sanctuary is home to India’s largest populations of saltwater crocodiles and important nesting ground for olive ridley sea turtles in India. Bhitarkanika sanctuary is the second largest mangrove ecosystem in India and has a very rich historical and cultural past.

Pichavaram Mangroves

Pichavaram_Mangrove

Pichavaram Mangrove Forest near Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu is third largest mangrove forest in India and a must see natural place in India. The Pichavaram forest offers backwater cruises and home to rare species of local migrants and true migrant birds.

Godavari Krishna Mangroves

Godavari Krishna Mangroves lies in the delta of the Godavari and Krishna rivers in Andhra Pradesh and an important coastal habitat for saltwater crocodiles. The site is also host second largest brackish water eco system in India, Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary.

Baratang Island Mangroves

Baratang Island Mangroves forest is a swamp, situated between Middle and South Andamans. The island has largest mangroves in Andamans and the near by Barren Island has the only active volcano in India.

Ramsar Sites Wetlands Sanctuaries in India

Kumbhargaon-Bird-Sanctuary

Ramsar Sites Wetlands are favourite haunt of local birds and migratory birds in India, Major attractions are Siberian crane, brahminy kite,darter, waterfowl,egret and heron.

Keoladeo National Park
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary
Kolleru Bird Sanctuary
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary
Nalbana Bird Sanctuary
Chilika Lake Bird Sanctuary
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
Keibul Lamjao National Park
Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary

Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary is very popular tourist attraction of Odisha state and known as nesting beach for olive ridley sea turtles. The sanctuary is part of the Bhitarkanika National Park which is home to largest Saltwater Crocodiles,White Crocodiles, Indian Rock Python and King Cobra.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary of Andhra Pradesh second largest stretch of mangrove forests in India and also home to the critically endangered white backed vulture and the long billed vulture.

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