A symphony of avian life

A haven for birdwatchers, the Harike Bird Sanctuary, located on the confluence of the rivers Beas and Sutlej in Punjab, is a paradise for migratory birds visiting from as far as the Arctic and Siberia. Harike is home to one of North India’s foremost wetlands, a vast shallow lake created by the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers. The 285.1 sq-km Harike wetland ecosystem stretches across the districts of Amritsar, Ferozepur, Kapurthala, and Jalandhar in the state of Punjab.

The importance of the wetlands

About 198.6 sq km of the wetland is used for agriculture, and much of the area is covered by grasses such as munj, kahi, batter, kabbala, dab, and khas. Stands of shisham and acacia, along with other varieties of trees, line the embankments. Dense floating beds of water hyacinths cover approximately 70% of the lake, wreaking havoc on its ecosystem. In view of the numerous species and large congregation of water birds, both migratory and domiciled, attracted to the wetlands, a considerable part of the area was declared a bird sanctuary in 1982 by the Punjab government authorities.

Meet feathered friends

Today, the Harike Wetlands ecosystem, with its rich aqua flora as well as fauna, is a vital conservation site for Punjab. With over 368 recorded species, the rich and varied birdlife at Harike has increased further after the massive effort by the army along with the Punjab Wildlife and Forests Department to rid the wetlands of the deadly water hyacinth weed. The sanctuary is one of the six Wetlands of International Importance designated by India under the Ramsar Convention in 1990.

Timings

Opening time - 09:30 AM

Closing time - 05:00 PM

Rare species you may chance upon

The Harike Wetlands also support other rare and endangered species, some of which are listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Redlist of Threatened Animals. It is home to the smooth Indian otter, jackal, Indian wild boar, mongoose, and jungle cat, along with several important medicinal and decorative plants and trees.

For tourists, there is only one main entry point into Harike Wetlands, from the Nanaksar Gurudwara across the barrage at the southern end on the Ferozepur side of Harike. While boating requires special permission, plenty of trails offer rich birdlife sightings. Birdwatchers can explore the sanctuary on foot along the Left Bund passage, where they can spot a variety of bird species, including coots, common pochard, red-crested pochard, tufted duck, widgeon, gadwal, shoveller, ferruginous duck, Pallas’s fishing eagle, greater spotted eagle, imperial eagle, black-bellied tern, pale-backed pigeon, and Syke’s nightjar.

A visit to the Harike Wetlands and Bird Sanctuary is a must for nature lovers looking to reconnect with the beauty of Punjab’s diverse wildlife. With its rich avian diversity and stunning natural setting, Harike offers a unique opportunity to witness the wonders of the natural world up close. So pack your binoculars, grab your camera, and embark on a journey to discover the beauty of this hidden treasure in Punjab.