9 Best Bird Sanctuaries In West Bengal, India

1. Narendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary

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

2. Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary

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

3. Purbasthali Bird Sanctuary

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

4. Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary

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 they hike along earthen trails lined with towering teak, hair, and sissoo trees accented by tall grasses, they 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

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

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

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

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.

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

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)

Seeking adventure in West Bengal, India

As visitors journey through India’s West Bengal region, they will discover stunningly beautiful bird preserves where they can have their own Jungle Book experience. These vast exotic landscapes offer nature lovers the chance to come face-to-face with flocks of migratory birds, tigers, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and more. Following hours of admiring the exotic flora and fauna of these jungle environments, travellers will leave with a newfound appreciation for nature’s amazing habitats and the wildlife residents.