Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Srirangapatna
During my visit to Karnataka, second day I had the privilege of visiting one such temple – Ranganathaswamy TempleSrirangapatna, Karnataka. After visiting this temple we visited Nimishambal temple and then Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Srirangapatna
Imagine yourself being surrounded by the sounds of birds chirping, cool breeze and lush greenery. That’s exactly what you can experience here. A God gifted piece of land on the bank of Kaveri is Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary. Take a stroll around the region and soak in the pristine natural beauty away from the bustling cities.
Ranganathittu is located 3 kms from the historic town of Srirangapattana and approximately 18 kms north of Mysore, in Karnataka it is a paradise for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts. As a bird watching as my hobby. I enjoyed watching different varieties of Birds.
If spotting exquisite birds and spending time amid nature is what you want to do on your next vacation, a trip to the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in Karnataka should be on your wish list. The rich biodiversity of the state has always been a crowd-puller and this sanctuary is no exception. Nestled on the banks of the Kaveri River, it is indeed a paradise for birds and bird lovers. Also, it is one of the largest sanctuaries in the state to spot colorful and rare migratory and endemic bird species, along with diverse flora and fauna.
History of the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
The Sanctuary named after the famous Hindu God Sri Ranganatha Swamy, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The bird sanctuary span over an area of 40 acres with Kaveri River flowing through the Sanctuary.
In around 1600s, a small dam across the Kaveri River led to the formation of Ranganathittu. It was because of world-renowned ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali determination and ability to convince the then Mysore Maharaja that Ranganathittu declared as a protected area. This heavenly bird place was declared as a bird sanctuary in the year of 1940.
It is the largest bird sanctuary in the state, allowing close view of birds, which migrate here from all over the world as far as Siberia as well as the domestic ones and crocodiles too, and comprises of six small islands on the banks of the river Kaveri. The local vegetation and landscape, coupled with the vibrant species of birds makes it a unique learning experience for visitors of all ages and interests.
The sanctuary’s scattered islands are rocky for the most part; some are bare while others are wooded. At the water’s edge, the riverine ecosystem comprises deciduous scrub forests with species like java plum, arjuna, screwpine thickets, bamboo, and bael. Together, they provide the ideal habitat for waterbirds, protecting them from predators. The birds are surrounded by abundant resources and the river has plenty of fish. At the river’s edge where the water ebbs and flows insects come to feed. The sanctuary has several species of resident birds so there’s something to spot throughout the year.
Out of the approximately 170 species of bird that inhabit here, the most remarkable ones are the Painted Stork, Common Spoonbill, Asian Openbill Stork, Black-headed Ibis, and Woolly-necked Stork , Kingfishers, Cormorants, Darter, Herons, River Tern, Egrets, Indian Roller, Blackheaded Ibis, Spoonbill, Great Stone Plover, and Spot-billed Pelicans.
his biodiversity hub is also the home to many small animals such as the Bonnet Macaque, Flying Fox and small mammals like common palm civet, Indian grey mongoose and the monitor lizard. Most commonly seen birds have Painted Stork.A permanent home to about 50 pelicans, most of these birds can be spotted perched on trees, dipping their beaks in the clear water, standing daintily on rocks or circling high in the sky.
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Boating:
The Bird Sanctuary offers guided boat rides during which trained staff will help visitors spot, identify, and learn about birds. The boat ride is highly recommended as most of the bird sanctuary is located on several islets and there can be no better way to experience the beauty of this destination than a ranger guided boat ride.
One you can spot a wide variety of birds flapping their wings away, may even spot marsh crocodiles during the boat ride along with some wild otters.
Go boating on the river, get a fascinating view of the various species of birds, and catch a glimpse of the marsh crocodiles in the waters. During your boat ride, you can enjoy the impressive landscape of the Sanctuary & catch glimpses of crocodiles, bats, and otters along with the migratory birds.
The island by itself is a quite a treat to the eyes and the slow caressing of the boat against the sparkling water will emit a deep sigh from you.
The sight that stretched ahead did deserve that kind of awe. We were on the Kaveri, in a boat, no other humans around but us and the boatman, and, on the trees around, on the islands, were perched, literally birds of all feathers!
So, the best time to visit the Ranganathittu bird sanctuary is from 9 to 11 AM. The Sanctuary is open for visitors from 8:30 AM to 5:45 PM (Monday to Sunday)
The Salim Ali Interpretation Centre, maintained by Forest Department, screens a 4- minute documentary to special interest groups.
Photography:
For all wildlife or nature photography lovers, this place might just be perfect for taking out those DSLRS and clicking some fabulous pictures of different kinds of birds from all over the world.
Rangnathittu Bird Santuary entrance fee
Bird Sanctuary entry fee : For Indian Adults : INR 175 , Parking fee for car : INR 30, for motorbikes : INR 15
Camera Fee : INR 500 for large cameras
Boating fee is separate. And the tickets have to be purchased at the same ticket counter where you buy the entrance fee.
Boating ticket fee per adult is INR 100 and per child is INR 35 (For children 5 years and older)
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