Harike Wetland and Bird Sanctuary

Wildlife

Punjab

30°C / Clear

History
Places to visit
How to reach

This bird sanctuary is all about traversing and exploring the wild side of the mighty nature. Spreading over a geographical boundary of three districts of Kapurthala, Ferozepur, and Amritsar; Harike Wetland and Bird Sanctuary is a must-visit for any travel buff. It is simply a delight to witness a large number of birds flocking here. Such sites are no less than a heaven for wildlife photographers to click timeless snaps of their careers.

Home to a great number of migratory birds, this sanctuary sees around 20,000 migratory ducks and 200 species of birds on an annual basis. Talking about migratory birds, many unheard varieties of birds can be found here. These include the grass bird, sulphur- bellied warbler, great crested grebe, white-browed fantail, yellow-legged gull, brown shrike, common wood shrike, white-tailed stonechat, yellow-eyed pigeon, tufted duck, and yellow-crowned woodpecker. Not just birds, if you are lucky then you might just be able to spot several wild animals too like a jungle cat, smooth Indian otter, mongoose, and Indian wild boar.

The winter season is the best time to visit the Harike Wetland And Bird Sanctuary. This is the time when unlike any other season the region is frequented by a lot of migratory birds and that is simply a delight to watch.

History of Harike Wetland and Bird Sanctuary

This wetland and bird sanctuary was built in 1953 after the construction of barrage near the confluence of rivers Sutlej and Beas. However, it was only in 1982 that it was fully given the status of a wildlife sanctuary.

Later on, it was also recognized as a significant ecological body by the International Body of Wetlands under the United Nations Development Programme in 1990. This recognition was soon followed by another recognition from the National Committee on Wetlands, Mangroves, and Coral Reefs. After this, in 1992, a WWF publication made a documentary series on the Ramasar sites.

Major Attractions in and Around Harike Wetland and Bird Sanctuary

1. Jallianwalan Bagh

The Jallianwalan Bagh is one of the public gardens in Punjab housing a memorial of national importance. It is considered as one of the historic gems, letting people know about the courage and sacrifices made by Indians in the pre-independence era.

2. Akal Takht

The literal meaning of the word Akal Takht is the throne of the timeless one. Located in the Harmandir Sahib Punjab, Akal Takht is one of the five takhts of the Sikhs. It signifies justice and a place for sorting out every kind of temporal issues. Founded by the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind Sahib, it carries a great spiritual significance and is a must-visit for people seeking meaning in life.

3. Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum

A palace turned into a museum, it is a very beautiful building storing archives of the Maharaja. This museum displays all the imperative remnants of that historical era such as armours, paintings and historical objects. Visiting here will leave you with a craving to know more about the long-gone past.

4. Bathinda Fort

Also known as Quila Mubarak, this century-old fort is of national importance. Thus, it is being looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India itself. A trip to Bathinda Fort will surely take you down the memory lane.

How to Reach Harike Wetland And Bird Sanctuary

Harike Wetland and Bird Sanctuary is a wildlife area spread in about 4000 hectares spanning the cities of Kapurthala, Amritsar, and Ferozepur in Punjab. You will need to cover a total distance of about 414, 1,687, 1,917, 2,530 km from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively to reach here. Check out the travel details on how you can reach here by the following means of public transportation.

By Air

The nearest airport is the Amritsar Airport aka Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport (ATQ) situated 100-110 km away. Named after the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das Ji, this airport has good flight connectivity with nearby regions with major carriers operating to and fro at a good frequency. Once you deboard at the airport, consider booking a taxi or board a private bus to reach here.

From Delhi - Board Vistara, Air India, IndiGo flights from Delhi Airport. The airfares are starting from INR 2,000 - INR 3,000
From Jaipur - Board Air India, IndiGo, Spicejet flights from Jaipur Airport. The airfares start from INR 4,000 - INR 5,000
From Ahmedabad - Board IndiGo, Vistara, Air India flights from Ahmedabad Airport. The airfares start from INR 4,000-INR 5,000

By Train

Travelling via train to Harike Wetland and Bird Sanctuary is also a good option. For this, you will need to reach Jalandhar and deboard at Jalandhar City Junction (JUC). Jalandhar has good connectivity along with other Indian cities and towns and is located 50-60 km away from the sanctuary. After your deboard your train, you would need to hire a cab or some other means of transportation to reach your destination.

From Delhi - Board Sachkhand Spl from Nizamuddin Station and deboard at Jalandhar City
From Bhopal - Board Sachkhand Spl from Bhopal Junction and deboard at Jalandhar City

By Road

You can easily travel to Harike Wetland and Bird Sanctuary via road as well. The roadways towards Amritsar, Punjab are quite well-maintained easily accessible by all. Depending upon your comfort and budget, you can easily book state-run or private buses at affordable prices. Otherwise, you can also book a taxi or self-drive here depending upon your location.