What to Know Before You Go Okhla Bird Sanctuary




Distance: 35 kms from Meerut, 15 kms from Delhi
Timings: 7 am to 5 pm
Entry fee: Rs 30
Vehicle fee: Rs 100
Major birds: Northern shoveller, gadwall, pintail and ruddy shelduck
Situated in Gautam Budh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, Okhla Bird Sanctuary is easily reached from Delhi, and is a mere 3 kms from Noida.
Covering an area of 4 sq kms, the Sanctuary came into existence with the establishment of the Okhla Barrage over the Yamuna in 1984. Having become a popular spot for bird watching with experts and enthusiasts, the barrage and the surrounding marshland was protected and declared a Sanctuary in 1990.
Though not far from the heavily urbanized Noida, a hush descends over the environs as soon as one enters the Sanctuary, the thrum of the wild cancelling out the noise of the city. A motor able road inside the Sanctuary goes on for a little over a kilometer, before turning into a narrow walking trail. A large lake, created by damming the Yamuna, is the heart of the Sanctuary housing a great variety of birds. Watchtowers have been strategically placed in open fields that not only help spotting the avifauna but also offer great views of the Sanctuary.
Over 300 species of birds have been recorded here, with more than 50 per cent of these being migratory. The migratory species of birds here includes northern shoveller, gadwall, pintail, ruddy shelduck, garganey teal, common shelduck and comb duck. Needless to say, if you want to view the stunning diversity of avifauna in the Sanctuary, the best time to visit would be from the months of November to March, when the bulk of the exciting avian population roosts here.
However, Okhla Sanctuary is bustling with birds through the year, and the resident species of mynas, drongos, babblers, francolins, peafowl’s and bee-eaters would keep any nature lover busy and happy, at any given time of the year.


 The Sanctuary used to play host fairly regularly to the critically endangered species of white rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) and Indian vulture (Gyps indicus). Both these birds used to be regular visitors till 1992, have but have not been spotted here since. 
According to a news report in The Pioneer, the black-bellied tern was spotted at Okhla for the first time in August 2012, and the Indian River tern, last spotted here in 2004, also made a return, much too all birders' enthusiasm.
The barrage also supports a rich aquatic population and is abundant in various species of carp (katla, rohu, mrigal). The vegetation in the Sanctuary largely comprises acacia trees and varied shrubs. The lake also supports varied aquatic flora like hydrilla, water lettuce, water lilies and species of algae. Other animals in Okhla include spotted deer, nilgai, mongoose, monitor lizards and water snakes.
For more information on what to know before you go Okhla Bird Sanctuary contact Swan Tours one of the leading travel agents in India.

Comments

  1. Anonymous22 November 2018 at 22:27

    I got here much interesting stuff. The post is great! Thanks for sharing it! Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary timing

    ReplyDelete
  2. Infomatica Educations1 January 2019 at 04:20

    It is a very informative and useful post thanks it is good material to read this post increases my knowledge. NEET Preparation in Mumbai

    ReplyDelete
  3. Season21 Detective Agency3 January 2024 at 01:33

    This is certainly the best article. Very well constructed about blog commenting. Detective Agency in Delhi

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Famous Arts and Craft of Jaisalmer Rajasthan | Handicraft Items

Image
Art and craft, Jaisalmer Rajasthan In a harsh and barren land, Jaisalmer gets its vibrancy from colour. Brilliant reds, blues, yellows and oranges contrasted with startling greens, purples and pinks are worn by men and women, changing the monotony of sand into a riot of colours. The rulers and wealthy merchants of Jaisalmer employed a good number of artisans and craftsmen in various karkhanas and workshops in medieval times. Stone carving, textiles, printing, silverware and wood and metalwork of a sophisticated quality were all produced for the pleasure of the elite. The patrons have long vanished and today the craft survives mostly linked to the rural needs but also because some of it has found its place in the urban market. In Jaisalmer, crafts remain closely linked with the ecology of the desert. Creativity has touched even the simplest and most functional objects. Two things strike you in Jaisalmer, the colour and richness of garments worn both by men and women and th
Read more

Places to visit in Dehradun - Uttarakhand

Image
Dehradun city is extremely important as a Gateway to Uttarakhand , in regards to the tourists coming from all over the country . The travellers flock this city because of the air and railway connectivity to the rest of the country . With the Himalayan foothills to the north and the Shivalik range to the south, the charming town of Dehradun is nestled in the Doon Valley. When the state of Uttarakhand was hewn out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000, Dehradun became its capital. So swift was its development that Dehradun soon turned from a charming little town hidden among the folds of the Himalayas into a chaotic urban space. But despite its frenetic pace, its reputation as a sylvan retreat for the retired remains intact so far. Indeed, some parts of Dehradun have resisted the building boom. Dehradun is the gateway to the 'Queen of the Hills', Mussoorie, a mere 36-km climb from the Doon Valley. The holy city of Haridwar is 52 kms away. Legend has it that the name De
Read more

The most interesting things about Gulmarg Kashmir - Tourism

Image
Gulmarg was originally called 'Gaurimarg' (Gauri, the Fair One, is another name for Parvati). It was renamed Gulmarg, meaning meadow of flowers, by Sultan Yusuf Shah in the 16th century. As the name suggests, Gulmarg is characterized by Rolling Meadows emblazoned with wild flowers through spring and summer; while thick, powder-fine snow covers it in winters. Located 56 kms southwest of Srinagar, Gulmarg was a favourite haunt of the Mughal emperor, Jahangir, who came here to collect plants for his gardens. Gulmarg - Kashmir In the 19th century, British civil servants and soldiers began frequenting it to escape the summer heat of the plains of north India, to hunt and to play golf on its open meadows. By the early 20th century Gulmarg had three golf courses, including one exclusively for women! In summers, the almost two-hours' drive from Srinagar to Gulmarg takes one through fields of maize and rice, gently rising towards the lower slopes of the Pir Panjal rang
Read more