11 wetlands have been added from India to the Ramsar sites of International Importance. This is in addition to the five newly added Ramsar wetlands of International Importance, earlier this year.
With the addition of 11 new sites, the total number of Ramsar sites in India has now reached 75.
The second batch of 11 newly added Ramsar sites in India 2022 are given state or union territory-wise. Previously added 5 Ramsar sites in India 2022 are listed here.
Odisha Ramsar Wetlands
Tampara Lake
Tampara lake is a fresh water lake spread over an area of 300 hectares. It is one of the largest one in the state. It is located close to Chilika Lagoon which is a Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon.
You can go for a boat ride in Tampara Lake or take a water scooter and go for a cruise. Eco Tour Nature Camps, five-star hotels, Bed-and-Breakfast (B&B), homestays, and even Swiss tents are available for you to stay.
Hirakud Reservoir (Dam Reservoir / Lake)
Hirakud Reservoir is a freshwater lake spread over 65400 hectares. This reservoir is built across the Mahanadi River, at a distance of 15 kilometers from Sambalpur. Hirakund Dam is 4.8 kilometers in length and is the longest earthen dam in the world.
Hirakud reservoir extends to a distance of 55 kilometers. The dam’s construction was started on the 12th of April 1948 and completed in 1953. The first batch of concrete was laid by the first prime minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The formal inauguration of the dam was delayed by five years and was inaugurated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on the 3rd of January 1957.
347.5 MW of power generation and agricultural irrigation to an area of 2,355 square kilometers are the main benefits of this massive dam.
Hirakud Lake is an artificial lake formed when the Dam was constructed. It has an area of 743 square kilometers.
Madhya Pradesh Ramsar Wetlands
Ansupa Lake
Ansupa Lake is a freshwater lake that is spread over an area of 231 hectares. It has the shape of a horseshoe in the Cuttack district. It is situated on the opposite side of Banki town, 40 kilometers from Cuttak.
Ansupa Lake is on the left bank of the Mahanadi River. Hirakud Lake mentioned earlier is also on the same river. This lake is home to migratory birds in the winter season.
Boating and fishing are allowed in this Ramsar site of international importance.
Yashwant Sagar (Dam Reservoir / Lake)
Yashwant Sagar Lake is a freshwater lake spread over 822.9 hectares. It is an artificial lake formed when the dam was constructed in 1939. (It is technically a dam’s reservoir.) Sarus crane birds are the main habitats of this lake. Lake is an important birding site in the Malwa region in West-Central India.
Yashwant Sagar Lake is located near Indore city, 25 kilometers west of the city of Indore. Hatod village on the Indore to Depalpur road is the access point to the Yashwant Sagar dam and lake.
Tamil Nadu Ramsar Wetlands
Tamilnadu has the maximum number of Ramsar sites in India, totaling 14. The largest state in India, Utter Pradesh, comes second with 10 Ramsar wetlands.
Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary
Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary is spread over an area of 260.47 hectares. It is a very small bird sanctuary with an area of just 0.4763 square kilometers.
Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary is known as Chitrangudi Kanmoli locally. It is in Chitrangudi village of Ramanathapuram district. This bird sanctuary has a lot of Babul trees and is a nesting site for several migratory birds, especially that of heron species.
Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary and the adjacent Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary is an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) as per BirdLife International.
Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary
Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary is spread over an area of 96.89 hectares. This is a small bird sanctuary with an area of just 1.04 square kilometers. It is adjacent to Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary, described above.
Mudukulathur village is the nearest entry point around 8 kilometers away. Tourists can stay at the PWD Rest House at Mudukalathur.
Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex
Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex is spread over 94.23 hectares near Suchindram town in Kanyakumari District. There are 2,058 freshwater wetlands in Kanyakumari district alone, thus known as the District of Ponds.
Suchindram Kulam wetlands and Theroor Kulam wetlands are together known as the Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex. (Kulam means pond.) It is a protected area, and the bird sanctuary is known as Suchindram Theroor Birds Sanctuary.
Suchindram town is on the Kanyakumari – Tirunelveli (Nellai) National Highway. Suchindram town is at a distance of 11 kilometers from Kanyakumari. Another major nearby town is Nagercoil, at 7 kilometers away.
Thanumalayan Temple at Suchindram is a famous temple among the 108 Lord Shiva temples revered by the Kerala Hindus. This temple and the district were part of Kerala until November 1. Though Thanumalayan temple is a Shiva temple, both Shaivaites and Vaishnavites (two sects of Hindus) consider this temple important.
Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary (Vaduvoor lake)
Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary is spread over an area of 112.64 hectares. The bird sanctuary is part of the Vaduvoor lake. This lake is an artificial lake constructed for irrigation purposes in 1999. Rainwater feeds the lake.
It is home to more than 40 migratory water bird species during the winter season, especially around November and December months. Tourists can stay overnight here. Bird watching is allowed here. Poaching and hunting are punishable offenses in this sanctuary.
Vaduvoor Lake is located in Mannargudi Taluk, Thiruvarur District, 25 kilometers from Thanjavur town. Mannargudi town is at 14 kilometers distance from this bird sanctuary. Thanjavur-Kodiakkarai state highway connects the bird sanctuary to the nearby towns.
Maharashtra Ramsar Wetlands
Thane Creek
Thane Creek is spread over an area of 6521.08 hectares. It is an inlet near the metropolitan city of Mumbai. Thane Creek separates Mumbai city from the suburbs, on one side.
Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary is an area along the western bank of the Thane Creek. This area is also a marine sanctuary, the state’s second marine sanctuary. Malvan Sanctuary is the first marine sanctuary in the state of Maharashtra. Dolphins were spotted here at Thane Creek in December 2020 during the COVID lock-down period due to reduced pollution levels.
Jammu and Kashmir Ramsar Wetlands
Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve
Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve is spread over an area of 801.82 hectares. It is on the floodplains of the Jhelum River. Hygam Wetlands drains into the Wular Lake, the largest freshwater lake in India..
Hygam Wetland is located in Baramulla District. It is home to many birds, fish, and aquatic plants. Migratory ducks also make this wetland their habitat during the migratory season.
It is around 30 kilometers from Srinagar city, the summer capital of the union territory.
Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve
Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve is spread over an area of 1675 hectares. It is one of the largest natural wetlands in India. Many migratory birds make this wetland their habitat during the season.
Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve is in Ganderbal district. It is located around 20 kilometers northwest of Srinagar city.
Total Area of the New Ramsar Wetlands
Total area of 11 newly added Ramsar sites is 76316 hectares.