Description of Ramsar Sites in India

Notebook: My Notebook
Created: 31-03-2023 12:20
Author: KUMAR SHIVRAJ
URL: https://www.pmfias.com/ramsar-sites-india-ramsar-convention-wetlands/

Description of Ramsar Sites in India

Ramsar Site Description

Andhra Pradesh (1)

It is a naturally eutrophic (nutrient-rich) lake between
the Godavari and the Krishna river basins. It was previously a
lagoon, but now it is several kilometres inland due to the coastline
of emergence and delta formation. Two seasonal rivers directly
feed it.
Kolleru Lake
It sustains both culture and capture fisheries, agriculture and
related occupations.
Threats: paddy cultivation, overexploitation, flooding in monsoon
season, etc.
Endangered Avifauna: Grey Pelican or Spot-Billed Pelican (VU)

Assam (1)
It is a permanent freshwater lake in a former channel of
the Brahmaputra River. It is a few kilometres to the left
of Guwahati, whereas Pobitora WLS is around 35 km to the right.
Threats: over-fishing, hunting, pollution from pesticides, and
Deepor Beel
infestation by water hyacinth.
Endangered Avifauna: Grey Pelican or Spot-billed pelican
(VU), Lesser Adjutant Stork (VU), Greater Adjutant Stork
(EN), Baer’s Pochard (CR).
 Bihar (1)

It lies in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

Kanwar Taal or Kabar Endangered Avifauna: Red-Headed Vulture (CR), White-
Taal Lake Rumped Vulture (CR), Indian Vulture (CR) – and two waterbirds,
the Baer’s Pochard (CR) and Sociable Lapwing (CR).

Goa (1)
It is an intermittent freshwater marsh adjacent to one of the
Nanda Lake
tributaries of the Zuari River.

Gujarat (4)

It is a freshwater wetland located in Jamnagar District near the

coast of the Gulf of Kutch. It was formed following the creation of
Khijadia WLS a bund (dike) to protect farmland from saltwater ingress.
Endangered Species: Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN), Indian Skimmer
(EN), Indian Bdellium-Tree (CR)

It is the largest natural freshwater lake (a relict sea) in the Thar

Desert of Gujarat.
Nalsarovar BS The wetland is a lifeline for a satellite population of the
endangered Indian Wild Ass (NT).
Endangered Avifauna: Sociable Lapwing (CR), Sarus Crane (VU)

It is a human-made reservoir essential during the dry seasons

for Blackbucks (LC).
Thol Lake
Endangered Avifauna: White-Rumped Vulture (CR), Sociable
Lapwing (CR)

This human-made reservoir is located in a semi-arid agricultural

landscape.
Wadhvana Wetland
Endangered Avifauna: Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN), Sarus Crane
(VU), Common Pochard (VU)

Haryana (2)
Bhindawas WLS It is a human-made freshwater wetland. It shares its border
with Khaparwas WLS (Haryana).
 Endangered Avifauna: Egyptian Vultures (EN), Pallas’s Fish-Eagle
(EN)

It is located just 15km away from Delhi. The Sultanpur Jeel inside

the park is an IBA.
Sultanpur NP Endangered Avifauna: Sociable Lapwing (CR), Egyptian Vultures
(EN), Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN), Saker Falcon (EN), Black-Bellied Tern
(EN)

Himachal Pradesh (3)

It is a high-altitude lake near Kunzum Pass on the upper Chandra

River valley. Chandra and Bhaga rivers merge to form
the Chenab River in the Lahaul region of Himachal Pradesh.
Chandra Taal
Threats: overgrazing by the nomadic herdsmen.
Major Fauna: Snow Leopard (VU), Himalayan Ibex (NT), Blue
Sheep (Bharal – LC)

It is a reservoir on the Beas River. It is also known as Maharana

Pong Dam Lake Pratap Sagar.
It lies on the Trans-Himalayan Flyway for migratory Waterfowls

It is a natural wetland with freshwater springs and inland

Renuka Lake subterranean karst formations.
The lake is named after the mother of Hindu sage Parshuram.

Karnataka (1)
It is a part of the Kaveri River in Mandya district of Karnataka.
Fauna: Mugger Crocodile (VU), Smooth-Coated Otter
Ranganathituu BS (IBA) (VU), Hump-Backed Mahseer (CR)
Major Avifauna: Painted Stork (NT), Grey Pelican (VU), Black-
Headed Ibis (NT)

Kerala (3)

It is a natural backwater in the Kollam district. National Waterway

3 passes through it.
Ashtamudi Wetland It is the second-largest estuarine ecosystem in Kerala. It forms an
estuary with the sea at Neendakara (a famous fishing harbour in
Kerala). River Kallada and Pallichal drain into it.
Sasthamkotta Lake It is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala. River Kallada had a
unique replenishing system through a bar of paddy fields. The
replenishing mechanism is now being destroyed.
The water contains no common salts and supports no water
plants. A larva called cavaborus eliminates bacteria in the water,
thus contributing to its exceptional purity.

It is the largest brackish lake of Kerala, spanning

across Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts. It is
the second-largest Ramsar Site in India after Sundarbans. It is
Vembanad-Kol Wetland
also the longest lake in India.
It is below sea level and is famous for paddy fields that are
below sea level.

Madhya Pradesh (4)

It is a human-made reservoir that consists of two lakes located in
Bhoj Wetland the city of Bhopal.
Major Avifauna: Sarus crane (VU)

It is a human-made reservoir located near Madhav National

Park.
Sakhya Sagar
Major Fauna: Mugger (VU), Smooth-Coated Otter (VU), Hump-
Backed Mahseer (CR)

It is a human-made wetland commonly named Pakshi Vihar in

Indore.
Sirpur wetland
Major Avifauna: Common Pochard (VU), Egyptian Vulture
(EN), Indian River Tern (VU)

Yashwant Sagar It is designated as an IBA in the Indore region (Malwa region).

Maharashtra (3)
It is an endorheic (closed basin) crater lake formed by
a meteorite impact.
It is high in salinity and alkalinity due to the lack of an outflow.
Specialized micro-organisms such as anaerobes,
cyanobacteria and phytoplankton survive in this harsh chemical
Lonar Lake
environment. Recently, the colour of Lonar lake water had turned
pink due to a large presence of the salt-loving haloarchaea
microbes.
Haloarchaea or halophilic archaea is a bacteria culture that
produces pink pigment and is found in water saturated with salt.
Nandur Madhameshwar Construction of the Nandur Madhameshwar Weir at the confluence
of the Godavari and Kadwa Rivers helped create this thriving
wetland.
The site hosts leopards and Indian Sandalwood (VU).
Species: Deolali Minnow Fish (CR), Indian Vulture (CR), White-
Rumped Vulture (CR)

It is one of the largest creeks of Asia. It is fringed by mangroves on

both banks.
It falls under the Marine Ecoregions of the World (MEOW) but is
Thane Creek
fed by numerous freshwater sources, making the water
(Flamingo
brackish. Ulhas River is the largest source of freshwater.
Sanctuary and IBA)
The MEOW biogeographic classification system divides the coastal,
nearshore, and shelf areas of the world into ecoregions. Each
ecoregion is ecologically distinct from the others.

Manipur (1)
It is the largest freshwater lake in the north-eastern region.
Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park in the world,
floats over it.
Thick, floating mats of weeds covered with soil (phumids) are a
Loktak Lake
characteristic feature.
It is 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.

Mizoram (1)
Pala Tipo/Pala Lake is a natural lake in the the Indo-
Burma biodiversity hotspot.
Pala Wetland The lake is a major component of the Palak WLS.
Major Fauna: Sambar Deer (VU), Barking Deer (Muntjac –
LC), Hoolock Gibbon (EN)

Odisha (6)
Ansupa Lake It is a freshwater oxbow lake formed by the Mahanadi River.
It is the largest freshwater lake in Odisha.
Endangered species: Indian Skimmer (EN), Black-Bellied Tern
(EN), Wagur (EN), Indian River Tern (VU), Helicopter Catfish
(Wallago attu – VU)
 It is part of the Bhitarkanika WLS. The core area was
declared Bhitarkanika NP.
Gahirmatha Marine WLS (Gahirmatha beach) is adjacent to the
Bhitarkanika Mangroves
Bhitarkanika WLS.
It is famous for Olive Ridley Turtle (VU) and Saltwater Crocodile
(LC)

In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of

international importance under the Ramsar
Convention. Nalbana BS is the core area of Chilika Lake.
It is located at the mouth of the Daya River. It is a brackish water
lagoon separated from the Bay of Bengal by a long sandy ridge. It
is the largest coastal lagoon in India.
Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea and
Chilika Lake
other remote parts of Central Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas come
here.
The Irrawaddy dolphin (EN) is the flagship species of the lake.
Chilka has the only population of Irrawaddy dolphins in India.
It was placed on the Montreux Record in 1993 due to siltation and
removed from the Record in 2002 following rehabilitation efforts of
the Chilika Development Authority.

Hirakud Reservoir is the largest earthen dam in Odisha.

Hirakud
It provides important hydrological services by moderating floods
Reservoir
in the Mahanadi delta.

It is a gorge over Mahanadi. It is a mosaic of rivers, marshes and

evergreen forests at the meeting point of the Deccan Peninsula and
the Eastern Ghats biogeographic regions.
Satkosia Gorge
Major Fauna: Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle (CR), Indian
Narrowheaded Softshell Turtle (EN), Tiger (EN), Black-Bellied Tern
(EN)

The use of explosives during a battle in the Ganjam district

between the British East India Company and French colonists in
Tampara Lake 1766 created this large depression.
The lake is now connected to the Rushikulya river and helps in
flood control.

Punjab (6)
Beas CnR It is a 185 km stretch of the Beas River meandering down from the
Himalayan foothills.
The stretch is dotted with islands, sand bars and braided channels.
It hosts the only known population in India of the Indus River
dolphin (EN).
 A programme was initiated to re-introduce the Gharial (CR).
Endangered Species: Masheer/Himalayan Mahseer/Golden
Mahseer (EN), Hog Deer (EN), Smooth-Coated Otter (VU)

It is a shallow water reservoir at the confluence of the Beas and

Harike Wetland
Sutlej rivers.

Kanjli Wetland It is associated with the first guru of the Sikhs, Shri Guru Nanak.

The Reserve is a mosaic of natural marshes, aquaculture ponds and

agricultural wetlands.
Keshopur-Miani CmR
Endangered Species: Common Pochard (VU), Spotted Pond Turtle
(EN)

It occupies a human-made reservoir of Bhakra-Nangal Project in

the Shiwalik foothills.
The site is of historical importance as the Indian and Chinese Prime
Nangal WLS Ministers formalized the “Five Principles of Peaceful
Coexistence” there in 1954.
Endangered Species: Indian Pangolin (EN), Leopard (VU), Egyptian
Vulture (EN)

It is formed by the construction of a barrage for diversion of water

from the Sutlej River.
Ropar Wetland
Major Fauna: Smooth Indian Otter, Hog Deer, Sambar, Indian
Pangolin

Rajasthan (2)

It is a complex of ten artificial seasonal marshes. Vegetation is

scrub and open grassland.
The invasive growth of the grass Paspalum
Keoladeo National Park distichum has reduced its suitability for certain waterbird
species, notably the Siberian Crane (CR).
Placed on the Montreux Record in 1990 due to water shortage and
an unbalanced grazing.

It is India’s largest inland saltwater lake. It is a key wintering area

Sambhar Lake
for Flamingos (LC).

Tamil Nadu (14)

Chitrangudi BS It is an IBA located adjacent to Kanjirankulam BS in
Ramanathapuram district.
 Major Avifauna: Grey Pelican (VU), Painted Stork (NT), Little Egret
(LC), Grey Heron (LC)

This is the first Marine Biosphere Reserve in South & South -East
Asia.
Gulf of Mannar Marine The local communities are mainly Marakeyars, with fishing their
BR main livelihood.
Endangered Species: Dugong (VU), Hawksbill Turtle (CR), Indo-
Pacific Humpback Dolphin (VU), Green Sea Turtle (EN).

Invasive Prosopis trees has affected the growth of the

indigenous babul populations.
Kanjirankulam BS
Avifauna: Painted Stork (NT), Oriental Darter (NT), Oriental White
(Black-Headed) Ibis (NT)

It is situated in the Kanchipuram district. Karikili along with

Karikili BS Vedanthangal BS are IBAs.
Major Avifauna: Oriental Darter (NT), Spot-Billed Pelican (VU)

It is a human-made wetland maintained by the local community.

Koonthankulam BS (IBA)
It is designated as IBA.

It is one of the few natural coastal aquatic habitats.

Pallikaranai Marsh The marshland is located along the Coromandel Coast south of
Reserve Forest the Adyar Estuary, serving as an aquatic buffer of the flood-prone
Chennai.

It is a large mangrove forest located between the estuaries

of Vellar and Coleroon Rivers.
It is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a sand bar.
The mangroves are revered by due to the significant spiritual value
Pichavaram Mangrove associated with Excoecaria agallocha, a mangrove with toxic
properties commonly known as “Tillai”.
Endangered Species: Great White-Bellied Heron (CR), Spoon-
Billed Sandpiper (CR), Spotted Greenshank
(EN), Olive Ridley Turtle (VU)

It is one of the last remnants of dry evergreen forests.

Major Avifauna: Spoon-Billed Sandpiper (CR), Grey Pelican or
Spot-Billed Pelican (VU)
Threats: Prosopis chilensis (Chilean mesquite – known as “the
Point Calimere WLS & BS devil with roots”).
Prosopis juliflora and Prosopis chilensis are the most
invasive mesquit species (plants in genus Prosopis). They
have extremely long roots to seek water from very far under
ground.

Suchindram Theroor It is declared an IBA.

Wetland Complex It lies at the southern tip of the Central Asian flyway of migratory
birds.
 It is a man-made, inland Tank and is perennial.

Udhayamarthandapuram It stores floodwaters during monsoon overflows and maintains

BS surface water flow during drier periods.

It is a large human-made irrigation tank and shelter for migratory

Vaduvur BS
birds.

This freshwater wetland is a people-protected water bird area.

People have been benefited by the manure-rich guano
Vedanthangal BS (IBA) water from the lake that increases the agriculture yield multifold.
Guano is excretory waste of birds rich in nitrogen, potassium
and phosphorous.

Major Avifauna: Indian River Tern (VU), Oriental Darter (NT), Painted

Vellode BS
Stork (NT)

It is a human-made inland tank and IBA site. The tank is believed to

have been constructed in the regime of Pandyan king
Vembannur Wetland
Veeranarayana.
Complex
Major Avifauna: Indian River Tern (VU), Spotted Greenshank
(EN), Grey Pelican or Spot-Billed Pelican (VU)

Tripura (1)
It is a reservoir fed by three perennial streams discharging to the
River Gomti.
Rudrasagar Lake It is an ideal habitat for Three-Striped Roof Turtle (CR).
It is a buzzing tourist destination during the festival of Vijaya
Dashami.

UT of JK (5)
It is only 10 km from Srinagar. It is a natural wetland contiguous to
Hokera Wetland the Jhelum basin.
Avifauna: White-Eyed (Ferruginous) Pochard (NT)

Hygam Wetland CnR It lies downstream of Wular Lake in the Baramulla district.
(IBA) Threats: high rate of siltation.

Shallbugh Wetland CnR It is located west of Anchar Lake near Hokera Wetland in
the Srinagar district.
It plays a major role in the natural control, amelioration or
prevention of flooding.
 Endangered Avifauna: Steppe Eagle (EN), Pallas’s Fish-Eagle
(EN), Black-Bellied Tern (EN)

It is a freshwater composite lake in semi-arid Panjab Plains,

adjoining the Jhelum Basin.
Surinsar-Mansar Lakes
It has many temples around owing to its mythical origin from the
Mahabharata period.

It is the largest freshwater lake in India. It is fed by Jhelum

Wular Lake
River in the Kashmir Valley.

UT of Ladakh (2)
It is a high-altitude wetland complex consisting of two
waterbodies:
Tso Kar (4,500 m above sea level) itself, a hypersaline lake to the
north, &
Startsapuk Tso, a freshwater lake to the south.
Tso Kar It is called Tso Kar, meaning white lake, because of the white salt
(IBA) efflorescence found on the margins due to the evaporation of
highly saline water.
It is the most important breeding area of the Black-Necked Cranes
(NT) in India.
Endangered Species: Saker Falcon (EN), Asiatic Wild Dog (Dhole –
EN), Snow Leopard (VU)

It is a freshwater to brackish lake lying at 4,595 m above sea

level. With no outflow, evaporation in the arid steppe conditions
causes varying levels of salinity.
The 400-year-old Korzok monastery near the lake attracts many
tourists. The barley fields at Korzok have been described as the
highest cultivated land in the world.
Tsomoriri
Tsomoriri is the only breeding ground outside of China for Black-
Necked Cranes (NT) and the only breeding ground for Bar-
Headed Geese (LC) in India.
Great Tibetan Sheep (Argali – NT) and Tibetan Wild Ass (Kiang
– LC) are endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, of which
the Changthang Plateau of India is the westernmost part.

Uttar Pradesh (10)

This freshwater marsh is situated near Gorakhpur.
Bakhira WLS Endangered Avifauna: Egyptian Vultures (EN), Greater Spotted
Eagle (VU), Common Pochard (VU), Swamp Francolin (VU)
Haiderpur Wetland It is a wetland in Hastinapur WLS formed by the construction of
the Madhya Ganga Barrage.
Endangered Fauna: Gharial (CR), Golden Mahseer (EN), Hog Deer
(EN), Swamp Deer (VU).

It is a shallow marshland near Lucknow. It was renamed Chandra

Shekhar Azad BS.
Nawabganj BS
Endangered Avifauna: Egyptian Vulture (EN), Pallas’s Fish Eagle
(EN), Lesser Adjutant (VU)

It is a permanent freshwater environment consisting of two oxbow

lakes.
Parvati Arga BS
Avifauna: Red-Headed Vulture (CR), White-Rumped Vulture
(CR), Indian Vulture (CR)

It is a seasonal oxbow lake on the Ganges floodplain.

Saman BS
Endangered Avifauna: Sarus Crane (VU), Greater Spotted Eagle (VU)

It is a perennial lowland marsh typical of the Indo-Gangetic Plains.

Samaspur BS Endangered Avifauna: Egyptian Vulture (EN), Pallas’s Fish Eagle
(EN).

Sandi BS Endangered Avifauna: Sarus Crane (VU)

It is a marsh. Its name is derived from the large non-

migratory Sarus Crane (VU).
Sarsai Nawar Jheel
The nearby Hajari Mahadev temple is visited by thousands of
(IBA)
pilgrims each year.
Endangered Avifauna: White-Rumped Vulture (CR)

It was created to supply water to the city of Agra.

Sur Sarovar
Endangered Avifauna: Greater Spotted Eagle (VU), Catfish (Wallago
(Keetham Lake)
attu – VU)

It stretches from Brijghat to Narora.

Upper Ganga River Endangered Fauna: Ganges River Dolphin (EN), Gharial (Fish-
Eating Crocodile – CR)

Uttarakhand (1)
It is formed by the damming of the Asan River near its confluence
Asan Barrage with the Yamuna River in the Dehradun district.
(Asan CnR) Endangered Avifauna: Red-Headed Vulture (Indian Black Vulture
– CR), White-Rumped Vulture (CR), Baer’s Pochard (CR)
 West Bengal (2)

East Kolkata It is a multiple use wetland that serves the city of Kolkata. It feeds
Wetlands one of the world’s largest wastewater fed aquaculture.

It is the largest Ramsar Site in India and is located within

the largest mangrove forest.
The Indian Sundarbans constitutes over 60% of the country’s
Sundarban
total mangrove forest area and includes 90% of Indian
Wetland
mangrove species.
Endangered Fauna: Northern River Terrapin
(CR), Irrawaddy Dolphin (EN), Fishing Cat (VU)