5 most iconic wetlands in India and the wildlife treasures they hold

India’s wetlands are far more than tranquil stretches of water and reeds, they are living ecosystems that quietly sustain some of the richest biodiversity on the planet. Spread across floodplains, deltas, high-altitude plateaus and coastal fringes, these watery landscapes act as nurseries for fish, winter homes for migratory birds, and safe havens for endangered species. For travellers, wetlands offer a rare chance to witness wildlife at its most intimate: flocks rising at dawn, otters slipping through channels, and birds nesting just metres away from still waters. From internationally recognised Ramsar sites to legendary bird sanctuaries, here are five of India’s most iconic wetlands and the extraordinary wildlife treasures they protect.

Once a royal duck-hunting reserve, Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur is today one of the most celebrated bird sanctuaries in the world. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this compact wetland mosaic of marshes, shallow lakes, grasslands and woodlands becomes a seasonal home to thousands of birds arriving from Central Asia, Siberia and Europe. During winter, the park turns into a living aviary. Painted storks, bar-headed geese, pelicans, northern pintails and hundreds of other waterfowl crowd the wetlands. Keoladeo was historically famous as a wintering ground for the Siberian crane, now sadly absent but remembered as part of its conservation legacy. Beyond birds, the wetlands shelter pythons, monitor lizards, jackals, nilgai and spotted deer.

Stretching along Odisha’s coastline, Chilika Lake is a vast and ever-changing lagoon where the sea meets freshwater rivers. As Asia’s largest brackish water wetland, Chilika supports an astonishing diversity of life and plays a critical role in the migration routes of birds flying along the Central Asian Flyway. Every winter, millions of migratory birds descend on Chilika’s shallow waters and islands. Flamingos, grey and purple herons, black-tailed godwits, spoonbills and innumerable ducks create spectacular gatherings, especially around Nalabana Bird Sanctuary. Chilika is also famous for its resident population of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, often seen surfacing near Satapada.

Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater wetland in Northeast India, is unlike any other lake in the world. Its defining feature is the presence of “phumdis”, floating islands of vegetation, soil and organic matter that drift across the surface, forming a constantly shifting landscape. Within this floating maze lies Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world’s only floating national park and the last natural refuge of the endangered sangai, or brow-antlered deer, Manipur’s state animal. Loktak is also rich in birdlife, fish species and aquatic plants, sustaining both wildlife and local livelihoods.

Sprawling across several districts of Kerala, the Vembanad-Kol wetland system forms the heart of the state’s famous backwaters. It is India’s longest lake and one of its most productive wetland ecosystems. These calm waterways support a thriving network of mangroves, paddy fields and canals that shelter otters, turtles, frogs and countless fish species. For bird lovers, the region is a seasonal paradise. Migratory birds such as terns, sandpipers and egrets arrive in large numbers, while resident species nest along reed beds and coconut-lined banks. Houseboat journeys through Vembanad offer travellers a front-row view of how human life and wetland ecology have coexisted here for centuries.

Nestled against the backdrop of the Dhauladhar range, Pong Dam Lake, officially known as Maharana Pratap Sagar, is one of North India’s most important high-altitude wetlands. Created by a reservoir on the Beas River, the lake has evolved into a vital wintering ground for migratory birds escaping the freezing temperatures of Central Asia and Tibet. Each year, tens of thousands of birds arrive here, including bar-headed geese, ruddy shelducks, common coots, pochards and grebes. The surrounding marshes and mudflats also shelter jackals, leopards, sambar deer and wild boar. It is also an important Ramsar site.