Ramsar Sites in India

Background

Wetlands in India are not random dots on a map — they are living classrooms of geography 😊. Some lie quietly in the Himalayas, fed by glacial melt; others stretch along the coasts where rivers meet the sea; some are oxbow lakes of the Ganga plains; and many are community-managed tanks and reservoirs of peninsular India.

After joining the Ramsar Convention in 1982, India began identifying these ecologically precious landscapes as Ramsar Sites. With 90+ sites today, India stands among the top wetland-protecting nations in the world. For an aspirant, studying these sites is not just about knowing names — it is about understanding India’s hydrology, climate zones, biodiversity corridors, and human–nature relationships.

When we talk of India’s Ramsar Sites, we are not simply memorizing lakes and marshes — we are looking at a geographical mosaic of how India’s physiography, climate zones, biodiversity corridors, river systems, and community traditions have shaped wetland conservation. Ramsar Sites reveal the ecological signature of each region, and that’s exactly what you should be aware of

Spatial Variation — Why Some States Have Many Sites, Others Have Few

Tamil Nadu: “The Tank & Lagoon Culture”

The highest number of Ramsar Sites. Why? Because TN has:

Thousands of traditional irrigation tanks
Long coastline + lagoons + mangroves
Strong community conservation traditions
High IBA (Important Bird Area) density

TN’s Ramsar profile = man-made tanks + coastal wetlands + mangroves.

UPSC angle: Tank irrigation, deltaic evolution, community-managed wetlands.

Uttar Pradesh: “The Oxbow Belt of India”

Most UP wetlands are:

Oxbow lakes on the Ganga floodplain
Barrage-created wetlands
Bird sanctuaries on migratory routes

UPSC angle: Oxbow formation → Fluvial geomorphology + floodplain ecology.

Odisha & West Bengal: “The Delta Powerhouses”

The eastern coast wetlands reflect:

Lagoon systems (Chilika)
Estuaries and backwaters
World’s largest mangrove delta (Sundarbans)

UPSC angle: Coastal geomorphology → lagoons, deltas, mangroves.

Himalayan States: “Altitude Creates Rarity”

Himachal, Ladakh, J&K have:

High-altitude saline and freshwater lakes
Snow-fed marshes
Glacial systems → pristine but fragile

These sites are few but ecologically exceptional.

UPSC angle: Altitude → endemism → climate sensitivity.

Ecological Patterns — What Makes Indian Ramsar Sites Unique

The Central Asian Flyway Backbone

Most Ramsar Sites fall on the Central Asian Flyway, making India a global bird-migration hub.

UPSC angle: Flyways + migratory species protection + IBA network.

Oxbow Lakes & Floodplain Wetlands Dominate the Indo-Gangetic Plain

Bihar, UP, Bengal wetlands revolve around:

River migration
Meander cutoff
Seasonal flooding

Oxbow lakes = geomorphology + ecology + livelihoods.

Mangroves, Lagoons & Estuaries Rule the Coasts

Sundarbans, Pichavaram, Bhitarkanika, Gulf of Mannar — all are climate buffers:

Cyclone protection
Nursery for fish/prawns
High productivity zones

Man-made Wetlands Are Equally Important

Many Indian Ramsar Sites are:

Tank systems (TN)
Reservoirs (MP, Karnataka, Odisha)
Barrage-created lakes (UP)

India’s Ramsar profile blends natural + cultural hydrology.

Species Patterns — What Species Keep Reappearing?

Across states, these species repeatedly appear as flagship or threatened indicators:

Birds

Sarus Crane (VU) → Wet grasslands of UP & MP
Pallas’s Fish Eagle (EN) → North & NW India
Common Pochard (VU) → Wintering grounds
Indian Skimmer (EN) → Ganga & coastal sites
Baer’s Pochard (CR) → Bihar, UP, North India

Reptiles

Gharial (CR) → UP River Systems
Olive Ridley Turtle (VU) → Odisha
Roofed turtles → Indo-Gangetic oxbow wetlands

Mammals

Fishing Cat (VU) → Eastern wetlands
Indus River Dolphin (EN) → Beas
Red Panda (EN) → Khecheopalri (Sikkim)
Saltwater Crocodile (LC) → Bhitarkanika

Hydrological Logic — Wetlands Are Climate Infrastructure

Ramsar Sites perform India’s most crucial ecosystem services:

Flood buffering (Ganga plains, Odisha, Assam)
Groundwater recharge (UP, Bihar, TN tanks)
Salinity regulation (Sundarbans, Vembanad)
River-flow maintenance (Asan, Wullar, Hirakud)
Disaster mitigation in cyclonic/coastal regions

Each site is a hydrological safety valve.

Threat Patterns

Across the sites, threats fall into five repeating categories:

Siltation & sedimentation (Ganga basin, Kashmir valley)
Invasive species (Prosopis, hyacinth, African catfish)
Urbanisation & sewage (Pallikaranai, East Kolkata)
Hydrological alteration (dams, barrages)
Climate stress (drying of oxbow lakes, salinity shifts in lagoons)

These threats are deeply geographical — tied to terrain, rivers, climate, and human pressure.

The “Geography Connection” – Why Wetlands Appear Where They Do

Each physiographic region contributes a signature wetland type:

Region	Dominant Wetland Types	Why?
Himalayan region	Glacial lakes, snowmelt marshes	High altitude hydrology
Indo-Gangetic Plain	Oxbow lakes, floodplain marshes	River migration, flooding
Peninsular Plateau	Reservoirs, tanks, crater lakes	Hard rock geology + irrigation
Eastern coast	Lagoons, estuaries, mangroves	Deltas + tidal action
Western coast	Backwaters, estuaries	Narrow coastal plains + monsoon
Desert/Arid zone	Salt lakes, ephemeral wetlands	Interior drainage + high evaporation

High-Value Prelims Pointers

Largest Ramsar Site → Sundarbans (4230 km²)
Smallest → Renuka Lake, Vembannur (0.2 km²)
Oldest → Chilika & Keoladeo (1981)
Highest Ramsar State → Tamil Nadu
Only floating national park → Keibul Lamjao (Loktak)
CR species hotspots → Bihar oxbow lakes & UP floodplains

Now after going through the analysis upto now, I believe you are ready for the comprehensive list of Ramsar Sites and their map locations. Here you go!

List of Ramsar Sites in India

The following is the most recent and comprehensive list of India’s Ramsar Sites. Each site is hyperlinked for easy access to detailed information:

S. No.	Ramsar Site	Year	State / UT	Wetland Type	Key Feature	Area (ha)
1	Kolleru Lake	2002	Andhra Pradesh	Freshwater natural lake	Between Godavari–Krishna deltas; natural flood-balancing lake	90,100
2	Deepor Beel	2002	Assam	Freshwater lake	Only major storm-water basinof Guwahati; large stork populations	4,000
3	Kabartal Wetland (Kanwar Jheel)	2020	Bihar	Floodplain wetland	Major monsoon flood absorber; habitat for 3 critically endangered vultures	2,620
4	Nagi Bird Sanctuary	2023	Bihar	Reservoir (damming of Nagi River)	One of India’s largest bar-headed goosecongregations	206
5	Nakti Bird Sanctuary	2023	Bihar	Man-made reservoir	Hosts one of the largest red-crested pochardcongregations	333
6	Gokul Jalashay	2025	Bihar	Oxbow lake (Ganga floodplain)	>50 bird species; important buffer during monsoon floods; supports fishing, farming & traditional weed-removal festival.	448
7	Udaipur Jheel	2025	Bihar	Freshwater lake (oxbow)	Surrounded by Udaipur Wildlife Sanctuary; >280 plant species; important wintering site for ~35 migratory birds; includes endemic plant Alysicarpus roxburghianus.	319
8	Gogabeel Lake	2025	Bihar	Oxbow wetland between Ganga & Mahananda	Bihar’s first Community Reserve; major wintering ground on Central Asian Flyway; supports vulnerable speciesincl. common pochard & Wallago attu; community-managed.	87
9	Kopra Jalashay	2025	Chhattisgarh	Freshwater source	A nutrient-rich reservoir in the Mahanadi catchment that supports 60+ migratory bird species, including vulnerable and endangered raptors.	210
10	Nanda Lake	2022	Goa	Freshwater marsh	Linked to Zuari River; supports diverse migratory waterbirds	42
11	Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary	2012	Gujarat	Freshwater lake (relict sea)	Largest natural wetland in Thar Desert; stopover for Sociable Lapwing	12,000
12	Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary	2021	Gujarat	Shallow reservoir	Central Asian Flyway site with 320+ bird species	699
13	Wadhvana Wetland	2021	Gujarat	Irrigation reservoir	Important wintering ground; Dalmatian pelican & Pallas’s fish-eagle	630
14	Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary	2021	Gujarat	Freshwater–coastal wetland	Supports 310+ bird species; >20% of regional common cranepopulation	512
15	Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary	2021	Haryana	Man-made freshwater wetland	Largest wetland in Haryana; 1.7% of global greylag goose popn	412
16	Sultanpur National Park	2021	Haryana	Shallow lake system	>220 bird species; >7% global bar-headed goosepopulation	143
17	Pong Dam Lake	2002	Himachal Pradesh	Reservoir	Key trans-Himalayan flywaysite; major hydropower reservoir	15,662
18	Renuka Wetland	2005	Himachal Pradesh	Freshwater lake	Sacred lake; karst springs; diverse 103 bird species	20
19	Chandertal Wetland	2005	Himachal Pradesh	High-altitude lake	4,300+ m glacial lake; snow leopard habitat	49
20	Wular Lake	1990	Jammu & Kashmir	Freshwater lake	Largest freshwater lake in India; key fishery & wintering birds	18,900
21	Hokera Wetland	2005	Jammu & Kashmir	Freshwater marsh	Only remaining reedbeds of Kashmir; important migratory pathway	1,375
22	Surinsar–Mansar Lakes	2005	Jammu & Kashmir	Twin freshwater lakes	Hindu sacred lakes; nutrient-rich migratory waterfowl nursery	350
23	Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve	2022	Jammu & Kashmir	Marsh on Jhelum floodplain	Connected to Wular; >40,000 birds; key flood-controlwetland	802
24	Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve	2022	Jammu & Kashmir	Freshwater marsh	Extensive reedbeds; habitat for steppe eagle & Pallas’s fish eagle	1,675
25	Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary	2024	Jharkhand	Two connected lakes (Pataura & Barhel)	Habitat of band-tailed fish eagle; linked to Ganga River	936
26	Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary	2022	Karnataka	Riverine islands (Cauvery)	Breeding site for painted stork & pelican; mugger crocodile	518
27	Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve	2023	Karnataka	Human-made alkaline lake	One of South India’s largest bar-headed goosewintering sites	54
28	Aghanashini Estuary	2023	Karnataka	Estuary + mangroves	Habitat of halavi guitarfish; major Black-headed Ibispopulation	4,801
29	Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve	2023	Karnataka	Reservoir wetland	20% of regional glossy ibispopulation; major nesting colonies	99
30	Sasthamkotta Lake	2002	Kerala	Freshwater lake	Largest freshwater lake in Kerala; spring-fed drinking water source	373
31	Vembanad–Kol Wetland	2002	Kerala	Brackish estuary & backwaters	Largest wetland in SW India; fed by 10 rivers; major clam fisheries	1,51,250
32	Ashtamudi Wetland	2002	Kerala	Estuarine system	Second-largest estuary in Kerala; supports 100+ fish species	6,140
33	Tsomoriri Lake	2002	Ladakh	High-altitude freshwater–brackish	Only Indian breeding site of Black-necked crane; 4,595 m altitude	12,000
34	Tso Kar Wetland Complex	2020	Ladakh	High-altitude freshwater + hypersaline lakes	Major breeding site of Black-necked crane; 4,500 m elevation	9,577
35	Bhoj Wetland	2002	Madhya Pradesh	Human-made lake system	Historic Upper & Lower Lakesof Bhopal; rich urban biodiversity	3,201
36	Sakhya Sagar	2022	Madhya Pradesh	Human-made reservoir	Within Madhav NP; supports mugger crocodile, migratory waterfowl	248
37	Sirpur Wetland (Pakshi Vihar)	2022	Madhya Pradesh	Human-made shallow lake	Supports 130 bird species; buffer against floods; alkaline wetland	161
38	Yashwant Sagar	2022	Madhya Pradesh	Freshwater reservoir	Key IBA; habitat for Sarus crane; major birdwatching site	823
39	Tawa Reservoir	2024	Madhya Pradesh	Man-made reservoir	Inside Satpura Tiger Reserve; major fish spawning ground incl. tor mahseer	20,050
40	Nandur Madhameshwar	2019	Maharashtra	Lake–marsh–riparian mosaic	Weir-created wetland at Godavari–Kadwa confluence; vulture species	1,437
41	Lonar Lake	2020	Maharashtra	Crater lake (alkaline)	Only meteorite-impact lakein India; high salinity & microbial diversity	427
42	Thane Creek	2022	Maharashtra	Brackish creek + mangroves	Flamingo sanctuary; major MEOW mangroveecosystem	6,521
43	Loktak Lake	1990	Manipur	Freshwater lake (phumdis)	Only lake with phumdis; in Montreux Record; crucial for flood control	26,600
44	Pala Wetland	2021	Mizoram	Deep natural lake	Largest natural wetland in Mizoram; habitat for Hoolock gibbon & Phayre’s leaf monkey	1,850
45	Chilika Lake	1981	Odisha	Brackish lagoon	Asia’s largest brackish lagoon; Irrawaddy dolphins; Montreux (removed)	1,16,500
46	Bhitarkanika Mangroves	2002	Odisha	Mangrove & coastal	World’s largest Olive Ridley rookery; highest saltwater crocodile density	65,000
47	Satkosia Gorge	2021	Odisha	River + marsh + forest mosaic	Ecotone of Deccan Peninsula & Eastern Ghats; red-crowned roofed turtle	98,197
48	Ansupa Lake	2021	Odisha	Freshwater oxbow lake	Known for scenic beauty; supports Indian skimmer & black-bellied tern	231
49	Hirakud Reservoir	2021	Odisha	Large reservoir	Major hydropower source; 436,000 ha irrigated; 54 fish species	65,400
50	Tampara Lake	2021	Odisha	Freshwater lake	Battle-created depression (1766); connected to Rushikulya; supports 60 bird species	300
51	Harike Lake	1990	Punjab	Freshwater reservoir	Confluence of Beas–Sutlej; supports 200,000+ migratory Anatidae	4,100
52	Kanjli Wetland	2002	Punjab	Stream + barrage wetland	Kali Bein sacred stream; key groundwater recharge regulator	183
53	Ropar Wetland	2002	Punjab	Man-made lake + river wetland	Sutlej Barrage wetland; smooth-coated otter & pangolin	1,365
54	Beas Conservation Reserve	2019	Punjab	Riverine wetland (Beas stretch)	Only Indian population of Indus River Dolphin; braided river channels	6,429
55	Keshopur–Miani Community Reserve	2019	Punjab	Marsh + aquaculture ponds	India’s first community-managedwetland; high floral diversity	344
56	Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary	2019	Punjab	Human-made reservoir	Bhakra-Nangal reservoir; habitat of Indian pangolin & Egyptian vulture	116
57	Keoladeo National Park	1981	Rajasthan	Man-made seasonal lagoons	UNESCO WHS; famous for Siberian crane(historically)	2,873
58	Sambhar Lake	1990	Rajasthan	Saline lake	Largest inland salt lake; major flamingo habitat	24,000
59	Menar Wetland Complex	2025	Rajasthan	Freshwater monsoon wetland	Community-led conservation; wintering site for white-rumped & long-billed vultures	463
60	Khichan Wetland	2025	Rajasthan	Desert wetland (pond + river)	Famous for 22,000+ demoiselle craneswintering annually	54
61	Siliserh Lake	2025	Rajasthan	Man made freshwater lake	Human-made wetland in Sariska buffer, key water source, supports tiger, river tern & black stork.	316
62	Khachoedpalri Wetland	2024	Sikkim	High-altitude lake + peatland	Sacred Himalayan lake; habitat for red pandaand Baer’s pochard	172
63	Point Calimere Wildlife & Bird Sanctuary	2002	Tamil Nadu	Coastal & mangrove wetland	Flamingo site; mangroves; nursery for fish & prawn species	38,500
64	Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary	2021	Tamil Nadu	Irrigation-tank wetland	Largest waterbird breeding reservein South India; key CAF site	72
65	Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary	2021	Tamil Nadu	Freshwater wetland	Important heronry; breeding site for pelican & painted stork	260
66	Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve	2022	Tamil Nadu	Marine & coral–mangrove seascape	India’s first Marine Biosphere Reserve; dugong + 117 coral species	52,672
67	Vellode Bird Sanctuary	2022	Tamil Nadu	Man-made tank	Staging/breeding ground for river tern, darter, painted stork	77
68	Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary	2022	Tamil Nadu	Irrigation tank	Oldest bird sanctuary; habitat for spoonbill, ibis, night heron	40
69	Karikili Bird Sanctuary	2022	Tamil Nadu	Twin rain-fed irrigation tanks	Breeding of oriental darter & spot-billed pelican	58
70	Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary	2022	Tamil Nadu	Freshwater wetland	Important heronry with painted stork & pelicannesting	97
71	Pallikaranai Marsh	2022	Tamil Nadu	Freshwater + partly saline marsh	Chennai’s major flood-buffer; habitat for glossy ibis & jacana	1,248
72	Pichavaram Mangrove	2022	Tamil Nadu	Mangrove forest	One of India’s largest mangroves; home to Rhizophora hybrid species	1,479
73	Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary	2022	Tamil Nadu	Man-made reservoirs	118+ bird species; buffering flood-control wetland system	113
74	Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary	2022	Tamil Nadu	Irrigation-tank network	Staging/breeding site for oriental darter & ibis; Koraiyar canal fed	44
75	Suchindram–Theroors Wetland Complex	2022	Tamil Nadu	Twin man-made reservoirs	250 bird species; ancient irrigation network; key CAF staging site	94
76	Vembannur Wetland Complex	2022	Tamil Nadu	Irrigation tank	Key breeding site for Indian river tern; supports 2,000+ ha agriculture	20
77	Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary	2023	Tamil Nadu	Inland freshwater lake	One of TN’s biggest inland lakes; breeding site for 14 colonial waterbirds	454
78	Longwood Shola Reserve Forest	2023	Tamil Nadu	Shola forest + marsh	Only natural shola near Kotagiri; high endemism; Nilgiri laughing thrush habitat	116
79	Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary	2024	Tamil Nadu	Brackish lake (estuarine gradient)	Peninsular India’s 2nd largest brackish lake; habitat for spot-billed pelican	5,152
80	Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary	2024	Tamil Nadu	Freshwater lake	Historic 400-year-old reservoir; supports 191 bird species	126
81	Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary	2024	Tamil Nadu	Peri-urban freshwater wetland	Flood-buffer wetland; nesting site for spot-billed pelican	230
82	Therthangal Bird Sanctuary	2024	Tamil Nadu	Marshy lake	Habitat for Egyptian vulture& Indian spotted eagle; babul-tree nesting	29
83	Rudrasagar Lake	2005	Tripura	Lowland sedimentation reservoir	Fed by 3 streams; habitat of Three-striped Roof Turtle	240
84	Upper Ganga River (Brijghat–Narora Stretch)	2005	Uttar Pradesh	Riverine stretch	Habitat of Ganga River Dolphin, gharial, turtles; holy pilgrimage stretch	26,590
85	Saman Bird Sanctuary	2019	Uttar Pradesh	Seasonal oxbow lake	Wintering ground for >50,000 waterbirds, incl. greylag goose	526
86	Sandi Bird Sanctuary	2019	Uttar Pradesh	Freshwater marsh	>40,000 waterbirds; >1% population of common teal & ferruginous duck	309
87	Samaspur Bird Sanctuary	2019	Uttar Pradesh	Perennial marsh (6 connected lakes)	>75,000 birds annually; key site for Egyptian vulture & common pochard	799
88	Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary	2019	Uttar Pradesh	Two permanent oxbow lakes	Refuge for critically endangered vultures; >100,000 birds recorded	722
89	Sarsai Nawar Jheel	2019	Uttar Pradesh	Permanent marsh	Largest population of Sarus crane(~400); significant religious site	161
90	Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary	2019	Uttar Pradesh	Freshwater marsh	>25,000 waterbirds; habitat for Pallas’s fish eagle & woolly-necked stork	225
91	Sur Sarovar (Keetham Lake)	2020	Uttar Pradesh	Man-made reservoir	>30,000 waterbirds; site for greylag goose; tourism hotspot	431
92	Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary	2021	Uttar Pradesh	Freshwater floodplain marsh	Largest natural wetland in Eastern UP; diverse migratory birds	2,894
93	Haiderpur Wetland	2021	Uttar Pradesh	Barrage-created wetland	Important site for gharial, swamp deer, Indian skimmer	6,908
94	Asan Conservation Reserve	2020	Uttarakhand	River stretch + barrage	330 bird species; important for red-headed vulture & ruddy shelduck	444
95	East Calcutta Wetlands	2002	West Bengal	Brackish & sewage-fed wetlands	World’s largest natural wastewater-fed aquaculturesystem	12,500
96	Sundarban Wetland	2019	West Bengal	Mangrove delta	Largest mangrove forest; only mangrove habitat of Royal Bengal Tiger	4,23,000

Background