8 Best Wildlife Sanctuaries In Haryana, India

1. Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary

Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary, or Seonthi Reserve Forest, is one of the most popular sanctuaries in Haryana. Found near Kurukshetra University, this sanctuary spreads over an area of 29 hectares (about 72 acres). The specialty of this sanctuary is that it is located near a small lake that has been created by the embankment. The best time to visit the sanctuary is during the winter months, when it witnesses wetland birds from 37 genera and over 16 families. It is a bird sanctuary and a radius of 5 km (3.1 miles) around it has been declared as an eco-sensitive zone. Visiting the place will be a worthy one because it is filled with bushes and shrubs of different varieties.

Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: Bhainsi Majra, Haryana 136119

2. Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated just at a mere distance of 0.5 km (about 0.3 mile) in Panchkula, Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary spreads across an area of over 767 hectares (1895 acres). The main center of attraction is its Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre. Apart from this, the sanctuary is home to a number of different wild species like Rhesus macaque, Gray langur, Indian Jackal, Gray Mongoose, Sambar deer, striped hyena, jungle cat. This sanctuary is also called as Khol Hi-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary.

Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: Pinjore, Haryana 134102

3. Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

If you are in Haryana, don’t miss out on a trip to Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is situated in Rewari district, approximately 37 km (23 miles) from Rewari. Spread over an area of 211 hectares (521 acres), this wildlife sanctuary is home to blackbucks. The government of Haryana utilizes a stretch of the plot for campaign drives that include the promotion of education. Earlier an old pasture land of Nawab of Dujana, currently it is a popular tourist spot.

Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: Kohard -N, Haryana 123302

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

4. Kalesar National Park

Situated in the district of Yamunanagar, Haryana Kalesar National Park lies just adjacent to Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is 122 km (75.80 miles) from UT Chandigarh and is spread across an area of 5345 hectares (13,210 acres). A popular tourist spot, Kalesar National Park is home to a dense forest, medicinal plants and rich flora and fauna. It has an Indian leopard, elephant, rusty-spotted cat, chital, sambar, barking deer, nilgai, small Indian civet, goral and many more. Another interesting thing that one must know about the thick forest of this national park is the natural resources that surround it. It is home to vermilion or sindoor. The park remains closed from July to September. It can be visited at any other time of the year. Do check the timing accordingly when planning a trip.

Kalesar National Park

Address: Yamuna Nagar, Haryana 135106

5. Deer Park, Hisar

With an area of approximately 19 hectares (46.9 acres), the Deer Park is one of the major tourist spots. It is located just next to Hisar Airport. It is one of the oldest zoos of the state and one where you can spot different species of deer: 16 species of Chital spotted deer, 20 variants of Blackbuck, and 6 species of Sambar. The best thing about this park is that it has a dedicated 2.4 hectare (6 acres) plot for the production of fodder for the deer.

Deer Park, Hisar

Address: Hisar, Haryana 560022

Website: Deer Park, Hisar

Opening hours: 7:30am - 8pm (daily)

6. Sultanpur National Park

Situated at a distance of 15 km (9.32 miles) from Gurugram and 50 km (31 miles) from the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Sultanpur National Park, or popularly known as Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, is a favorite spot for birdwatchers. This place is believed to have 9 different species of migratory birds and 175 different species of long-distance migratory birds that reach the spot by crossing the Central Asian Flyway. Some of the species of migratory birds that can be spotted are Egyptian vultures, ducks, ibises, storks, plovers, flamingos, pochards, and jacanas. The common resident birds of the park are; little cormorant, paddy field pipit, common hoopoe, painted stork, white-throated kingfisher, Indian roller, little egret and many more. The best time to visit is in winter, when a large number of migratory birds can be spotted.

Sultanpur National Park

Address: Gurgaon Farukh Nagar Rd, Sultanpur, Gurugram, Haryana 12200

Website: Sultanpur National Park

Opening hours: Wed - Mon: 7:30am - 4:30pm (closed on Tue)

7. Khol Hi-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

With an area coverage of approximately 4880 hectares (12058 acres), Khol Hi-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary is the best place to spot the Asiatic elephant, the Indian leopard, Wild boar, Rhesus macaque, Striped hyena, the Indian grey mongoose, and many more. It is situated on the foothills of the Shivalik Hills.

Khol Hi-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: Panchkula District, Haryana

8. Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary

Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary is spread over an area of approximately 412 hectares (1018 acres) and is situated at a distance of 15 km (9.32 miles) Jhajjar. This bird sanctuary is located at a distance of less than 100 km (about 62 miles) from New Delhi, which means you can reach here in less than 2 hours and 30 minutes from the Indian capital. The place is considered a paradise for birdwatchers. Some of the popular species that can be found here are the small blackbird, Saxicoloides fulicatus, etc.

Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary

Address: Bhindawas, Haryana 124103

Website: Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Explore the wildlife of Haryana

Haryana has many wildlife sanctuaries preserving flora and fauna in their natural habitat. Visiting at least one of these sanctuaries should be on the bucket list for nature lovers. If you visit Haryana in your next winter vacation, do visit these national parks and sanctuaries.