14 Best Bird Sanctuaries In West Bengal, India - Updated 2024

1. Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary, Raiganj

Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary is home to nearly 100,000 birds including many migratory birds passing through the West Bengal region. The lovely forested wildlife sanctuary is located in West Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district and is India’s second-largest bird sanctuary. Visitors strolling through the dense greenery will be able to encounter herons, egrets, storks, and cormorants to name a few. As they wander through the dense preserve, they can experience the Kulik River and exotic flora throughout the garden.

Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: NH12, Raiganj, West Bengal 733134, India

Website: Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary

Opening hours: Sun, Tue - Sat: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon)

Price: Free

2. Purbasthali Bird Sanctuary, Purbasthali

The tranquil West Bengal Purbasthali Bird Sanctuary is a safe haven for bird species living along the crystal clear waters of Oxbow Lake. Birdwatchers will delight in the chance to view and listen to calls of over 70 species of migratory and local birds during their visit. Visitors to the area will be able to experience travelling along the lake with local boatmen who are eager to help them spot each bird species. This rainforested area is fed by the powerful flowing waters of the Ganges River creating a lush agricultural area for fruits and vegetables.

Purbasthali Bird Sanctuary

Address: Purbasthali, West Bengal 741302, India

Opening hours: 6am - 6pm (daily)

Price: 2 USD/hour

3. Narendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Narendrapur

Narendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary, is located in Calcutta in India’s West Bengal region. The large paradisaic preserve is home to a wide variety of the area’s tropical flora and local fauna. It was converted from an ancient fruit orchard to a wildlife refuge where birds, butterflies, and other species could live in seclusion from the bustling metropolis of Calcutta. As hikers walk along the earthen trails, they can find mango trees, the regal coconut palm, lush ferns, exotic orchards, and fruit trees.

Narendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: Hogulkuria Rajpur Road, Ramchandrapur, Narendrapur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700103, India

Website: Nardrapur Wildlife Sanctuary

Opening hours: 6am - 5pm (daily)

Price: 0.2 USD

4. Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary, Bethuadahari

The phenomenally striking Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary is located in West Bengal’s Nadia district. Those visiting the Edenesque preserve will be overcome by the picturesque beauty of the adjacent Deer Park. As you hike along earthen trails lined with towering teak, hair, and sissoo trees accented by tall grasses, you can hope to encounter around 50 bird species. In addition to cuckoos, parakeets, and small birds, keep a lookout for giant pythons, monitor lizards, jungle cats, and snakes.

Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: Segun Bagan Road, Bethuadahari Rajendranagar, Bethuadahari, West Bengal 741138, India

Opening hours: Sun - Tue, Thu - Sat: 10am - 3pm (closed on Wed)

Price: 0.70 USD

5. Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Bolpur

The scenic beauty of Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary can be experienced while visiting the subdivision of Birbhum district in the West Bengal region. Upon arriving, visitors will encounter hundreds of resident spotted deer and blackbuck deer as they meander through the thick woodland biosphere. The diversity of the environment includes cackling jackals, sly foxes, and a wide array of migratory birds. While walking through the dense jungle, explorers will pass by ancient monasteries and peaceful monks as they try to catch glimpses of the native deer.

Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary

Website: Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary

Opening hours: Sun - Tue, Thu - Sat: 10am - 4pm (closed on Wed)

Price: 0.14 USD

6. Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Sevoke

Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary provides visitors with the unique opportunity to take an elephant safari through a lush jungle oasis in West Bengal. Located in Darjeeling district, the massive sanctuary provides a jungle habitat full of lush flora where peacocks, hornbills, woodpeckers, and macaques can be spotted by hikers. While traversing the rugged jungle trails, adventurers may spot an elusive Royal Bengal riger hidden in the thick brush. During their journey, they also may come face-to-face with Himalayan black bears, leopards, mountain goats, spotted deer, bison, monkeys, and wild boars.

Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: Sevoke Road, NH 31C, Sevoke, West Bengal 734005, India

Opening hours: 8am - 4pm (daily)

Price: 2 USD

7. Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, Jalpaiguri District

While wandering through Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, visitors will get to experience the snowcapped peaks of the towering, majestic, Himalayan mountain range. As they stroll through the lush garden environment, they will be enthralled by the great biodiversity found throughout the stunning bird sanctuary. They may encounter exotic residents such as Indian elephants, leopards, spotted deer, wild boar, and even rhinos on occasion. While travelling along the mighty Ganges riverbank, they can expect to come across storks, kingfishers, magpies, egrets, cormorants, and other migratory feathered friends.

Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: Upper Tendu Forest M, West Bengal 735223, India

Website: Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary

Opening hours: 6am - 6pm (daily)

Price: 1 USD

8. Jore Pokhri Wildlife Sanctuary, Dalkajhar Forest

Jore Pokhri Wildlife Sanctuary is located in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district outside the small hilltop village of Jore Pokhari. The pristine alpine habitat provides a verdant green home to the nearly extinct Himalayan salamander, numerous bird species, and monkeys. As visitors trek along the pristine lakes, they can expect to encounter swans gliding along the placid lake surface. The lake’s five-cobra fountain centrepiece can be found en route to the area’s ornate temples hidden amongst the exotic jungle foliage. Ideally, we recommend you to visit the sanctuary during the months of June to August. People who wish to travel by air can get down at Bagdogra Airport while the New Jalpaiguri railway station is the nearest train station from Jore Pokhri Wildlife Sanctuary.

Jore Pokhri Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: Dalkajhar Forest, West Bengal 734431, India

Website: Jore Pokhri Wildlife Sanctuary

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 5pm (closed on Sun)

9. Santragachi Jheel Pakhiralay, Howrah

Santragachi Jheel Pakhiralay can be found in the district of Howrah along the Santragachi Jheel Pakhiralay ancient railway tracks. To reach the bird sanctuary, visitors should take the train out of Calcutta to the Rabindra Sadan metro station. Once at the station, they can access a bus or taxi to transport them to the sprawling bird preserve to delight in nature’s wonders. The winter months provide the best sightings of migratory birds including kingfishers, Siberian ducks, wild sparrows, and a variety of other species.

Santragachi Jheel Pakhiralay

Address: Santragachi Jheel Par Road, Santragachi, Howrah, West Bengal 711111, India

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Other wildlife sanctuaries in West Bengal

Do you want to see more than just the pretty birds? Then, check out the following wildlife sanctuaries where you can witness many wild animals, from the famous Royal Bengal Tiger to formidable one-horned rhinos!

10. Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary, Bardhaman

Located in the district of Burdwan, West Bengal, Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for spotted deers or chital. Today, the sanctuary has emerged as one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions for ecologists and wildlife enthusiasts. It also houses different types of reptiles, birds, leopards, and more. Reaching here is easy from Burdwan, which is well-connected to the rest of the state. The nearest railway station is in Burdwan and is only 4 km (2.48 mi) from Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary.

Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: Golapbag, Mouza, Baburbag, Bardhaman, West Bengal 713104

Website: Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary

Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)

11. Sundarban National Park, Gosaba

Sundarban National Park is undoubtedly one of the top national parks in the country. It comprises as many as 56 tiny islands. The national park is also famous for being the world’s biggest mangrove forest. It boasts an incredible collection of Royal Bengal Tiger, crocodiles, monkeys, etc., and has an impressive variety of migratory birds. You can reach here easily from Kolkata, the state capital and enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Ganges while exploring this stunning forest. Evenings are delightful too as you can enjoy tribal dances and relax with your dear ones. This world-famous tiger reserve located in the district of 24 Parganas. It is a part of the largest delta of the world and has been formed by three rivers. Apart from the Ganges, the other two rivers are Meghna and Brahmaputra.

Sundarban National Park

Address: West Bengal 743370

Website: Sundarban National Park

12. Bibhutibhushan Wildlife Sanctuary, Parmadan

The locals call it Parmadan Sanctuary and the park is only a few hours’ drive from the state capital of Kolkata (101.7 km/63.19 mi). Famous for different types of birds, deer, and reptiles such as snakes, Bibhutibhushan Wildlife Sanctuary is perched near Ichamati River. Enjoy a relaxed boat ride to explore this forest or you can simply take a leisurely stroll and admire the rich wildlife on your way. It was set up in 1980 and was named after a famous local author called Bibhutibhusan Bandhyopadhay. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata is the nearest airport from this beautiful wildlife sanctuary.

Bibhutibhushan Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: Parmadan, West Bengal 741238

Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)

13. Jaldapara National Park, Jaldapara

Jaldapara National Park is another fabulous national park in the state, which is synonymous with the one-horned rhinoceros. Also home to elephants, the park is situated in proximity to the Torsa River. If you are a bird watcher, a visit to this national park should definitely feature on your bucket list. You may also spot reptiles such as cobras and pythons here, as well as animals such as deer and bison among others. Madarihat is the nearest train station but a majority of trains do not halt here. So, it is recommended to get down at Hasimara, which is about 10.5 km (6.52 mi) from the park. Take a cab from the station to reach here. The Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri is the nearest airport from Jaldapara National Park.

Jaldapara National Park

Address: Jaldapara, Uttar Madarihat, West Bengal 735220

Website: Jaldapara National Park

14. Buxa Tiger Reserve, Buxa

A beautiful tiger reserve located in North Bengal, Buxa Tiger Reserve is set in proximity to Bhutan and the northeastern Indian state of Assam. The reserve was created in the year 1983 and is one of India’s finest tiger reserves. Buxa Tiger Reserve was recognized as a national park a few years later. It is interesting to note that it is home to the largest population of elephants along with plenty of other wild animals, reptiles, as well as different types of birds. Just about 20.2 km (12.55 mi) from Alipurduar in North Bengal, Bagdogra Airport is the nearest airport from here.

Buxa Tiger Reserve

Address: Buxa Forest, Buxa, West Bengal 735226

Website: Buxa Tiger Reserve

Seeking adventure in West Bengal, India

West Bengal’s dense forests are rich in flora and fauna that every nature lover and wildlife enthusiast will appreciate. You have the chance to come face-to-face with flocks of migratory birds, tigers, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and more. Following hours of admiring these animals and birds, travelers will leave with a newfound appreciation for nature’s amazing habitats and the wildlife residents!