Ramsar Sites in India

Date Modified: 23 April 2026

What are Ramsar sites?

Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty signed on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran. The convention aims to conserve and sustainably use wetlands, recognizing their critical role in maintaining biodiversity, supporting livelihoods, and regulating water cycles.

A wetland earns Ramsar designation when it meets at least one of nine ecological criteria supporting rare species, serving as a habitat for waterbirds, sustaining fish populations, or playing a vital hydrological role in its region.

India became a signatory to the Ramsar Convention in 1982 and has since grown into one of the most active participating nations in Asia.

How many Ramsar sites are there in India?

As of 22 April 2026, India has 99 Ramsar sites the highest number in Asia. United Kingdom has hihgest number of Ramsar sites (175 sites) in the world followed by Mexico (142).

The most recent addition is Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, designated by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav. With this, Uttar Pradesh’s count rose to 12 Ramsar sites, making it one of the leading states in wetland conservation in the country.

India’s Ramsar sites cover over 13 lakh hectares of wetland area, reflecting the country’s immense ecological diversity from Himalayan lakes to coastal lagoons and floodplain marshes.

Complete List of Ramsar Sites in India

Ramsar Sites in Tamilnadu

1. Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary
2. Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary
3. Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary
4. Karikili Bird Sanctuary
5. Pichavaram Mangrove
6. Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest
7. Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve
8. Vembannur Wetland Complex
9. Vellode Bird Sanctuary
10. Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary
11. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
12. Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex
13. Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary
14. Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary
15. Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary
16. Longwood Shola Reserve Forest
17. Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary
18. Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary
19. Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary
20. Therthangal Bird Sanctuary

Ramsar Sites in Uttar Pradesh

1. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary
2. Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary
3. Samaan Bird Sanctuary
4. Samaspur Bird Sanctuary
5. Sandi Bird Sanctuary
6. Sarsai Nawar Jheel
7. Sur Sarovar (Keetham Lake)
8. Upper Ganga River
9. Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary
10. Haiderpur Wetland
11. Turtle Wildlife Sanctuary
12. Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary (22 April 2026)

Ramsar Sites in Bihar

1. Kabartal Wetland
2. Nagi Bird Sanctuary
3. Nakti Bird Sanctuary
4. Gokul Jalashay
5. Udaipur Jheel
6. Gogabil Lake

Ramsar Sites in Odisha

1. Chilika Lake
2. Bhitarkanika Mangroves
3. Satkosia Gorge
4. Tampara Lake
5. Hirakud Reservoir
6. Ansupa Lake

Ramsar Sites in Punjab

1. Harike Lake
2. Kanjli Lake
3. Ropar Lake
4. Beas Conservation Reserve
5. Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve
6. Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary

Ramsar Sites in Gujarat

1. Nalsarovar
2. Wadhvana Wetland
3. Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary
5. Chhari Dhand

Ramsar Sites in Jammu & kashmir

1. Wular Lake
2. Surinsar-Mansar Lakes
3. Hokera Wetland
4. Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve
5. Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve

Ramsar Sites in Madhya Pradesh

1. Bhoj Wetlands
2. Sirpur Wetland
3. Sakhya Sagar
4. Yashwant Sagar
5. Tawa Reservoir

Ramsar Sites in Rajasthan

1. Keoladeo Ghana National Park
2. Sambhar Lake
3. Menar Wetland Complex
4. Khichan Wetland
5. Siliserh Lake

Ramsar Sites in Karnataka

1. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
2. Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve
3. Aghanashini Estuary
4. Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve

Ramsar Sites in Himachal Pradesh

1. Pong Dam Lake
2. Chandertal Wetland
3. Renuka Wetland

Ramsar Sites in Kerala

1. Ashtamudi Wetland
2. Sasthamkotta Lake
3. Vembanad-Kol Wetland

Ramsar Sites in Maharashtra

1. Nandur Madhameshwar
2. Lonar Lake
3. Thane Creek

Ramsar Sites in Haryana

1. Sultanpur National Park
2. Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary

Ramsar Sites in Ladakh

1. Tso Kar Wetland Complex
2. Tsomoriri Lake

Ramsar Sites in West Bengal

1. East Calcutta Wetlands
2. Sundarban Wetland

Ramsar Sites in Andhra Pradesh

1. Kolleru Lake

Ramsar Sites in Assam

1. Deepor Beel

Ramsar Sites in Chattisgarh

1. Kopra Jalashay

Ramsar Sites in Goa

1. Nanda Lake

Ramsar Sites in Jharkhand

1. Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary

Ramsar Sites in Manipur

1. Loktak Lake

Ramsar Sites in Mizoram

1. Pala Wetland

Ramsar Sites in Sikkim

1. Khachoedpalri Wetland

Ramsar Sites in Tripura

1. Rudrasagar Lake

Ramsar Sites in Uttarakhand

1. Asan Conservation Reserve

Why Are Ramsar Sites Important?

Ramsar sites are not just environmental designations, they deliver real, measurable benefits:

• Biodiversity conservation — Wetlands support more than 40% of the world’s species despite covering only 6% of Earth’s land surface
• Water purification — Natural wetlands filter pollutants from water bodies
• Flood control — Wetland vegetation absorbs and slows floodwaters
• Carbon storage — Peatlands and mangroves store vast amounts of carbon, helping combat climate change
• Livelihoods — Millions of Indians depend on wetlands for fishing, agriculture, and tourism
• Cultural significance — Many Ramsar sites in India are tied to local traditions, festivals, and community identities

Our Country’s Journey to 99 Ramsar Sites

India’s progress in Ramsar designations has been remarkable, especially in recent years:

• 1981 — Chilika Lake and Keoladeo National Park become India’s first Ramsar sites
• 2014–2019 — Slow but steady additions bring the count to 27
• 2019–2022 — Rapid expansion; India adds over 50 new sites in just three years
• 2023–2024 — Several new sites added, including wetlands in Mizoram, Goa, and Tripura
• 2026 — Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary designated, taking the total to 99

India is now targeting its 100th Ramsar site, a milestone that would further enhance its global leadership in wetland conservation.

Threats to Ramsar Sites in India

Despite their protected status, many Ramsar sites in India face serious threats:

• Encroachment and urbanization — Wetlands near cities face illegal construction
• Agricultural runoff — Fertilizers and pesticides pollute water bodies
• Invasive species — Water hyacinth chokes lakes and disrupts ecosystems
• Climate change — Altered rainfall patterns and rising temperatures reduce wetland extent
• Pollution — Industrial effluents and plastic waste degrade water quality
• Over-exploitation — Unsustainable fishing and sand mining harm wetland ecology

Conservation Efforts by the Indian Government

The Indian government has undertaken several initiatives to protect Ramsar sites:

• National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) — Provides funds for wetland restoration and management
• Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 — A legal framework to regulate activities in and around wetlands
• Amrit Dharohar Scheme — Launched in 2023 to promote eco-tourism and community participation at Ramsar sites
• Montreux Record — Chilika Lake and Keoladeo were once on this record of threatened Ramsar sites; both have since been removed after successful restoration

FAQs on Ramsar Sites in India

Protecting these Ramsar sites is not just a government responsibility it is a our collective duty. Sustainable tourism, reduced pollution, and community-led conservation will determine whether these irreplaceable ecosystems thrive for generations to come.