Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary also known as Pakshi Kashi of Karnataka is a bird sanctuary in the Mandya District of Karnataka in India. It is the largest bird sanctuary in the state. The Sanctuary includes six islands on the banks of river Kaveri and was declared a bird sanctuary in 1940. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is an important nesting and breeding ground for the thousands of bird species

Painted Stork, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

The construction of the KRS Dam across the Kaveri River by the Mysore king Kantirava Narasimharaja Wadiyar resulted in the formation of these islands in 1648. It was Salim Ali, the famous Ornithologist who observed that these islands forms an important nesting ground for birds and asked the Wodeyar King of Mysore to declare the area as a wild life sanctuary for birds. Thus the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary came into existence in 1940.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is a nesting and breeding center of birds like cormorants, white ibis, spoon-billed storks, open-billed storks, painted storks, white-necked storks, herons, terns, etc. Ranganathittu is also home to other species like bonnet macaques, palm civets, common mongoose, marsh crocodiles etc Ranganathittu has largest fresh water crocodile population in Karnataka state

The Bird Sanctuary witnesses the arrival of a large number of migratory birds from Siberia, North America and Australia. The migratory birds start arriving at the Ranganathittu Bird sanctuary in December and the breeding season starts during the winter months and they finally migrate back with their nestlings in August.
Migratory birds include Painted Stork, Asian Open bill Stork, Common Spoonbill, Woolly-necked Stork, Black-headed Ibis, White Ibis, Lesser Whistling Duck, Indian Shag, Stork-billed Kingfisher and other common birds like egrets, cormorants, Oriental Darter, and herons. The Great Stone Plover and River Tern also nest here. It is home to a large flock of Streak-throated Swallows.

Open Billed Stork

Spot Billed Pelican

Open Billed Stork

Crocodile

What to Do

A spot of bird watching combined with a picnic on the river bank is an ideal way to have fun at the sanctuary. A boat ride along the river bank is also a great experience. The boats are manual ones and people are taken around the sanctuary in batch of 10-12. The ride ranges from 30-40 minutes and takes you close to the islets, where you can see crocodile resting and birds of various species, sizes and ages chirping and hooting around. As you drift along the six main islets that comprise the sanctuary, you can catch a glimpse of several rare species of birds. One can see Storks, Cranes and many other birds flying, feeding, nesting attending to their young ones.

Boating, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

Garden, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

Best Time To Visit Ranganathittu

The best time to visit Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuaryis from June to November which is the nesting season of the Water birds

How to Reach Ranganathittu

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is located in Mandya District of Karnataka. It is 3km from the temple town Srirangapattana, 19km from Mysore and 130km from the state capital Bangalore.
Nearest Railway Station is Srirangapatana and Nearest Airport is Mysore Airport.