Ramsar Sites in India 2024 List State wise and Map

• India joined the Ramsar Convention on February 1, 1982.
• The Convention has 172 member countries and protects over 2466 wetlands covering about 255 million hectares.
• It designates important wetlands as “Wetlands of International Importance” and encourages countries to work together on shared wetlands and species.
• The Convention also promotes the wise use of wetlands focusing on conservation and sustainable use for the benefit of both people and nature.

–Himachal Pradesh

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Situated in Spiti area of Lahaul & Spiti at Samudra Tapu Plateau, upper Chandra valley near the Kunzam Pass
• It is the source of Chandra River

–Himachal Pradesh

• Type: Freshwater Manmade reservoir
• created on the Beas River in the low foothills of the Himalaya.

-Himachal Pradesh

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Has springs and inland subterranean karst formations, fed by a small stream flowing from the lower Himalayan to the Giri river.

-Odisha

• Type: Natural Lagoon, Brackish Water
• One of the only two lagoons with a population of Irrawaddy dolphins

-Odisha

• Type: Natural mangrove swamps
• Gahirmatha beach is said to host the largest known Olive Ridley Sea turtle nesting beach in the world.
• Also has highest density of saltwater crocodiles in the country.

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Located on former channel of the Brahmaputra River.
• Only major stormwater storage basin for the city of Guwahati.
• It is a staging site on migratory flyways.

–West Bengal

• Type: Natural
• World-renowned as a model of a multiple-use wetland.
• The wetland forms an urban facility for treating the city’s wastewater & utilizing the treated water for pisciculture and agriculture.

–West Bengal

• Type: Natural
• Located in the delta of Rivers Ganges and Brahmaputra on Bay of Bengal in India & Bangladesh.
  Largest mangrove forest in the world.
  Sundarbans Tiger Reserve is situated within the Site
  Important species: Critically endangered northern river terrapin (Batagurbaska), endangered Irrawaddy dolphin, and vulnerable fishing cat.
• Listed as World Heritage Site
• UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• Harike Lake is a shallow water reservoir with thirteen islands, at the confluence of two rivers, i.e., Beas and Sutlej.
• Indira Gandhi Canal starts from this place.

–Punjab

• Type: Manmade Freshwater Reservoir
• A man-made wetland with a permanent stream, the Kali Bein, a tributary of the Beas River.
• Streamàassociated with the first Sikh guru, Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

-Punjab

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• A wetland formed by a 1952 barrage on the Sutlej River for water diversion.
• An important breeding site for Smooth Indian Otter, Hog Deer, Sambar, and various reptiles.

–Rajasthan

• Type: Manmade Freshwater Swamps
• Listed in the Montreux Record (since 1990) due to “water shortage and unbalanced grazing regimes.”
• Invasive grass Paspalum distichum has altered the site’s ecology.
• A World Heritage Site known for hosting the Siberian Crane.

• Type: Natural Saline
• A large lake fed by four streams in a shallow wetland with seasonal fluctuations.
• India’s second-largest breeding ground for flamingos and a crucial wintering site for waterbirds.

–Andhra Pradesh

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• A eutrophic lake between the Godavari and Krishna River basins.
• Known for sightings of the spot-billed pelican.

-Manipur

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Added to Montreux Record (1993) due to ecological issues like deforestation, water hyacinths, and pollution.
• Known for phumdis—thick, floating mats of weeds covered with soil.

-Gujarat

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• The largest natural wetland in the Thar Desert Biogeographic Province.
• A vital site on the Central Asia Flyway, hosting species like the critically endangered Sociable Lapwing and Indian Wild Ass.

–Tamil Nadu

• Type: Coastal Swamps & Saltpans
• Threatened by Prosopis chilensis (Chilean mesquite), brackish groundwater, and reduced freshwater inflows.
• Popular for pilgrimage, linked to Lord Rama.

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Kerala’s largest freshwater lake with water free of salts or minerals.
• Houses “cavaborus” larvae that eliminate bacteria, ensuring water purity.

–Kerala

• Type: Natural Brackish Water
• India’s longest lake and the largest brackish, humid tropical wetland on the southwest coast.

–Kerala

• Type: Natural Brackish
• Kerala’s second-largest estuarine system, rich in mangrove species.

-Jammu and Kashmir

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Composite lake in the semi-arid Punjab Plains, adjoining the Jhelum Basin.

–Jammu and Kashmir

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• India’s largest freshwater lake with extensive marshes of emergent and floating vegetation.
• Fed by the Jhelum River.

-Jammu and Kashmir

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Located in the northwest Himalayan biogeographic province, with the snow-draped Pir Panjal in the background.

– Ladakh

• Type: Natural Freshwater to Brackish
• High-altitude lake at 4,595m above sea level.
• Only breeding ground outside China for the Black-necked Crane and the Bar-headed Goose in India.

–Madhya Pradesh

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• Two reservoirs: the “Upper Lake” created in the 11th century across the Kolans River, and the “Lower Lake” constructed about 200 years ago.
• Surrounded by Bhopal city.

• Type: River Stretch Freshwater
• Shallow river stretches of the Ganges with deep-water pools and reservoirs upstream of barrages.
• Habitat for the Ganges River Dolphin, Gharial, and Crocodile.

-Tripura

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Lowland sedimentation reservoir in the northeast hills.
• Fed by three perennial streams discharging into the River Gomti.

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• created by constructing a low dam at the confluence of the Godavari and Kadwa Rivers.
• Habitat for critically endangered species like Deolali Minnow, Indian Vulture, and White-rumped Vulture.

–Uttar Pradesh

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Seasonal oxbow lake on the Ganges floodplain.
• Hosts over 1% of the South Asian Graylag Goose population during winter.

–Uttar Pradesh

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Shallow wetland fed by monsoon rain and the Sarda Canal.
• Known for hosting Siberian Cranes during winter.

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Perennial lowland marsh in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
• Home to Egyptian Vulture and vulnerable Common Pochard.

–Uttar Pradesh

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Freshwater marsh near the River Garra.
• Hosts species like the Common Teal, Red-crested Pochard, and vulnerable Sarus Crane.

-Uttar Pradesh

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Permanent freshwater environment with two oxbow lakes.
• Habitat for critically endangered White-rumped Vultures and endangered Egyptian Vultures.

-Uttar Pradesh

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Seasonal wetland fed by monsoon run-off.
• Important Bird Area hosting species like the Sarus Crane and Woolly-necked Stork.

-Punjab

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• 185-kilometre stretch of the Beas River in Punjab.
• Hosts India’s only population of the endangered Indus River Dolphin.

-Punjab

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• Human-made reservoir part of the Bhakra-Nangal Project on Sutlej River (constructed in 1961).
• Historic siteà the “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence” between India & China were formalized in 1954.

-Punjab

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Mosaic of natural marshes, aquaculture ponds, and agricultural wetlands.
• Habitat for vulnerable species like the Common Pochard and Spotted Pond Turtle.

–Ladakh

• Type: Natural (One Saline Lake & One Freshwater Lake)
• Consists of Startsapuk Tso (438-hectare freshwater lake) and Tso Kar (1,800-hectare hypersaline lake).
• Important breeding ground for Black-necked Cranes in India.

–Maharashtra

• Type: Natural (Meteorite Impact, Saline)
• Formed 35,000–50,000 years ago by a meteorite impact.
• Only known “fresh” impact structure in basalt on Earth.

–Uttar Pradesh

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• Also known as Keetham Lake, created by the British to supply water to Agra city.
• Habitat for Greater Spotted Eagle and Sarus Crane.

-Uttarakhand

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Stretch of Asan River running down to its confluence with Yamuna River in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand.
  Birds spotted: Red-headed vulture, White-rumped vulture, Baer’s pochard, Red crested pochard, ruddy shelduck and Putitor mahseer

-Bihar

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Also known as Kanwar Jheel, located in Indo-Gangetic plains.
  Five critically endangered species inhabit the site, including three vultures – the red-headed vulture, white-rumped vulture and Indian vulture – and two waterbirds, the sociable lapwing and Baer’s pochard.

-Gujarat

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• Created in 1910 by former Baroda State (King Gaikwad).
  River Orsang (which joins with Narmada River at Chandod) flows into the lake.

-Gujarat

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• It is a shallow freshwater reservoir and a predominantly open water area.
• originally constructed for irrigation in 1912.

–Haryana

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• Largest wetland in Haryana.

-Haryana

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Located in Gurgaon district of Haryana close to National capital and Aravalli range.

–Gujarat

• Type: Man-made; formed following the creation of a bund (dike) in 1920 to protect farmland from saltwater ingress.
• Supports the critically endangered Guggal Tree.
• Fauna: Endangered Pallas’s fish-eagle, Endangered Indian skimmer, vulnerable common pochard, Dalmatian pelican, Greylag goose.

–Uttar Pradesh

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• Formed in 1984 due to construction of Madhya Ganga Barrage on a floodplain of the Ganga River.

–Uttar Pradesh

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Largest natural flood plain (river connected wetland) of India
• A prominent waterbird found in the lake is Indian Purple moorhen or Purple Swamphen & Sarus Crane.
• Receives water from Ami River; discharge from its flows into Rapti River.
• It is rich in perennial reed grasses called Phragmites which attracts many species of the Central Asian Flyway.

–Odisha

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Important habitat for vulnerable species such as Cyprinus carpio, common pochard, and river tern (Sterna aurantia).

–Odisha

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• Largest earthen dam in Odisha on Mahanadi River.

–Odisha

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Largest freshwater lake in Odisha
• It is an oxbow lake formed by River Mahanadi.
• Provides a safe habitat to at least three threatened bird species- Indian Skimmer, Black Bellied Tern and Wagur (fish).

–Madhya Pradesh

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• Important Bird Areas (IBA); one of the most
• important birding sites in Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh.
• Famous for Sarus Crane

-Tamil Nadu

• Type: Manmade Freshwater  
• Locally known as “Chitrangda Kanmoli”
• Notable waterbirds: Spot-billed pelican, little egret, grey heron, large egret, open billed stork, purple, and pond herons.

–Tamil Nadu

• Type: Manmade Freshwater; perennial inland tank
• Part of Suchindrum-Theroor Manakudi Conservation Reserve
  The Wetland Complex lies at the point of the Kodaiyar river drainage system.

-Tamil Nadu

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• Composed of small man-made reservoirs interconnected by an ancient network of canals and fed by Mettur reservoir.

-Tamil Nadu

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• Notable as a nesting site for several migratory heron species.
• Important Bird Area, Spot-billed Pelican breeds here.·
• Supports IUCN Red List vulnerable avian species like River Tern.

–Maharashtra

• Type: Natural Brackish
• Falls under Marine Ecoregions of the World (MEOW).
• Declared as Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.
  An important part of the wetland complex of the Central Asian Flyway of the birds
• Important Bird Area (IBA).

–Jammu and Kashmir

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Falls within the River Jhelum basin
• It lies downstream of Wular Lake

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Located on floodplains of River Jhelum.
• Lies close to another Ramsar Site, Hokera Wetland.

–Madhya Pradesh

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Human-made wetland that has stabilized and acquired near-natural characteristics in the last two centuries.

–Madhya Pradesh

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• Located on the outskirts of Shivpuri town within Madhav National Park, Madhya Pradesh.

–Karnataka

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Part of Kaveri River on Southern Deccan Plateau.
  Supports healthy populations of mugger crocodile, smooth-coated otter and hump-backed mahseer.

–Goa

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Comprises intermittent freshwater marshes that lie adjacent to one of the major tributaries of Zuari River.

–Mizoram

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Largest natural wetland in Mizoram.
• Various species of primate inhabit the wetland, such endangered Hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) and Phayre’s leaf monkey.

–Odisha

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• created by Mahanadi River as it passes through the Eastern Ghats in Angul district of Odisha.
• Part of the Satkosia Tiger Reserve.
• It is a mosaic of rivers, marshes and evergreen forests at the meeting point of two biogeographic regions, the Deccan Peninsula and the Eastern Ghats.

–Tamil Nadu

• Type: Coastal Natural Saline  
• Located at the south-eastern tip of India.
• First Marine Biosphere Reserve in South and South-East Asia.
  Also recognized as a World Heritage Site.
  Globally threatened species include the dugong whale shark, green sea turtle, hawksbill turtle and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin.

–Tamil Nadu

• Type: Natural Brackish
• One of the largest mangrove ecosystems in India, located between the estuaries of Vellar and Coleroon Rivers.
• Supports great white-bellied heron and spoon-billed sandpiper, spotted greenshank and olive ridley turtle.

-Tamil Nadu

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• Comprises of two rain-fed non-perennial irrigation tanks.

• Type: Natural Brackish
• Serves as an aquatic buffer of the flood-prone Chennai and Chengalpattu districts.
• Supports notable species such as Russell’s viper and birds such as the glossy ibis.

–Tamil Nadu

• Type: Man made Freshwater
• Consists of human-made irrigation tanks, interconnected by an ancient network of canals
• Fed by Mettur dam through the Koraiyar canal.

–Tamil Nadu

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• A small irrigation tank by rocky plains and low-ridged, denuded hillocks

-Tamil Nadu

• Type: Manmade Freshwater  
• It is an important staging and breeding ground for migratory birds on the Central Asian Flyway.

• Type: Manmade Freshwater  
• irrigation tank situated near the southernmost point of mainland India.
• An Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA).

• Type: Manmade Freshwater  
• Consists of irrigation tanks
• the largest reserve for breeding resident and migratory waterbirds in South India.
• Notable waterbird species include Indian pond heron, Eurasian wigeon, spot-billed pelican, oriental darter and Northern pintail.

–Tamil Nadu

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• During the driest period, water from the Mettur dam on Cauvery River is used to maintain water level of this site.
• Provides important stopover and foraging ground for bird migrating along the Central Asian Flyway.
  Gum Arabic tree provides roosting and nesting grounds for threatened species such as spotted eagle, tawny eagle and Indian darter.
  Breeding habitat for vulnerable Indian flap-shelled turtle.

-Karnataka

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• Water in the wetland have overtime become increasingly alkaline and unsuitable for irrigation.
  Species: two vulnerable species, namely Common pochard and River tern and four near-threatened species, namely Oriental Darter, Black-headed Ibis, Wooly-necked Stork, Northern Shoveler and Painted Stork.
• One of the largest wintering grounds for Bar-headed goose in South India.
• Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBBA).

–Tamil Nadu

• Type: Natural Freshwater
• Intermittent freshwater marshes and streams nested within a ‘shola’, tropical montane forest located on the eastern slope of Nilgiri mountain range.
• Noteworthy plant species at the site include Bourne’s beak-rusk and Wight’s cinnamon.
  Globally endangered Black-chinned Nilgiri Laughing thrush, Nilgiri Blue Robin and vulnerable Nilgiri wood-pigeon also found.
• 14 out of 26 endemic bird species of Western Ghats are found in these wetlands.

-Karnataka

• Type: Manmade Freshwater
• A manmade village irrigation tank built for storing monsoon run-off water coming from the Tungabhadra River near Hampi in Karnataka.
• Several thousands of Gum Arabic trees (locally known as Karijali) are found growing from the lakebed.
• Species: Birst such as Painted Stork and Black-headed Ibis; Nine endemic fish species. Ex. Tiger loach, Aruli barb and Nukta etc.
• Excessive growth of invasive alligator weed, shrub Prosopis juliflora and African Catfish threaten the native fish and waterbirds.

-Karnataka

• Type: Natural Brackish
• Estuary built at the confluence of Aghanashini River & Arabian Sea.
  Brackish water from the estuary provides diverse
• Traditional fish farming in the estuarine rice fields (locally known as Gazni rice fields).
• Species: Including River tern, Oriental darter, Lesser black-backed gull, Wooly necked stork, Eurasian oystercatcher etc.

-Bihar

• Type: Man-made freshwater
• Formed after the construction of Nakti Dam on the Nakti River (tributary of Koel River)
• Important Bird and Biodiversity Area
• Important species: Baer’s pochard  and Steppe Eagle, and also hosts the largest congregations of bar-headed goose on the Indo-Gangetic Plains.

-Bihar

• Type: Man-made freshwater
• Formed after the construction of Nagi Dam on the Nagi River.
  Important species: Indian Elephant, Native Catfish, and largest congregations of red-crested pochard on the Indo-Gangetic plains.

-Tamil Nadu

• Type: Man-made freshwater
• Also known as Sarkar Periyapalayam Reservoir.
• The lake is named after King Nanjarayan, who repaired and restored it when he ruled over the region many centuries ago.
• Acts as feeding ground for migratory birds like Bar headed goose, Northern Shoveler, Spot billed Pelican etc.

-Tamil Nadu

• Type: Natural Brackish
• Connected to the Bay of Bengal by the brackish Uppukalli creek and Edayanthittu estuary.·        It lies on the Central Asian Flyway
• Serves as an important stopover site for migratory birds and breeding grounds for resident species of birds, fishes. Ex. Eurasian Coot, Painted Stork, Greater Flamingo, Black-headed Ibis.

-Madhya Pradesh

• Type: Man-made Freshwater
• Constructed on the confluence of Tawa and Denwa Rivers
• Rivers Malani, Sonbhadra and Nagdwari are important tributaries of Tawa reservoir.
  Located inside the Satpura Tiger Reserve and forms the western boundary of Satpura National Park and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Kolleru Lake

• Deepor Beel

• Kanwar Lake
• Nagi Bird Sanctuary
• Nakti Bird Sanctuary

• Nanda Lake

• Khijadiya
• Nalsarovar
• Thol Lake
• Wadhvana Wetland

• Sultanpur National Park,
• Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary

• Chandra Taal
• , Pong Dam Lake,
• Renuka Lake

• Hokersar Wetland,
•  Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve,
• Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve,
• Surinsar-Mansar Lakes,
• Wular Lake

• Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

• Ashtamudi Wetland,
• Sasthamkotta Lake,
• Vembanad-Kol Wetland

• Tso Kar,
• Tsomoriri Lake

• Bhoj Wetland,
• Sakhya Sagar,
• Sirpur Lake,
• Yashwant Sagar
• Tawa River

• Lonar Lake,
• Nandur Madhameshwar,
• Thane Creek

• Loktak Lake

• Pala Wetland

• Ansupa Lake,
•  Bhitarkanika Mangroves,
• Chilika Lake,
•  Hirakud Reservoir,
• Satkosia Gorge,
• Tampara Lake

• Beas Conservation Reserve,
•  Harike Wetland,
•  Kanjli Wetland,
• Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve,
•  Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary,
• Ropar Wetland

• Keoladeo National Park,
•  Sambhar Lake

• Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary,
• Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve,
• Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary,
•  Karikili Bird Sanctuary,
• Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary,
• Pallikarnai Marsh Reserve Forest,
• Pichavaram Mangrove,
• Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary
• , Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex
• Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary,
• Vadavur Bird Sanctuary,
• Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary,
• Vellode Bird Sanctuary,
• Vembannur Wetland Complex
• Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary
• Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary

• Rudrasagar Lake

• Bakhira Sanctuary,
• Haiderpur Wetland,
• Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary,
• Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary,
• Saman Bird Sanctuary,
• Samaspur Bird Sanctuary,
• Sandi Bird Sanctuary,
• Sarsai Nawar Jheel,
• Sur Sarovar,
• Upper Ganga River

• Asan Barrage

• East Kolkata Wetlands,
• Sundarban Wetland