Ramsar sites in India represent the country’s most important wetlands — designated under the international Ramsar Convention for their ecological significance.
India has 98 Ramsar sites as of 2026 — the highest number in Asia and 3rd highest globally (after UK and Mexico), covering over 13.6 lakh hectares. Questions on specific Ramsar site names, their states, year of designation, associated species, and the Ramsar Convention itself appear regularly in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, Banking, Railways, and State PSC exams — especially in Environment and Ecology. This page gives you a complete, state-wise list of all major Ramsar sites in India with key facts and exam-ready details for 2026.
⚡ Quick Facts
- India has 98 Ramsar sites (2026) — highest in Asia; 3rd highest globally (after UK with 176 and Mexico with 144).
- Ramsar Convention — signed February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. World Wetlands Day = February 2. India joined 1982.
- Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo Ghana / Bharatpur (Rajasthan) — India’s first two Ramsar sites (both 1981).
- Tamil Nadu = 20 Ramsar sites (most in any Indian state); Uttar Pradesh = 11 sites.
- Sundarbans (WB, ~4,23,000 ha) — India’s largest Ramsar site; world’s largest mangrove; holds 5 designations simultaneously.
Ramsar designation ≠ domestic legal protection — it is international recognition only; separate notification under WPA 1972 or EPA 1986 needed for Indian legal protection. India is NOT #1 in world for Ramsar sites (2026) — it is 3rd (UK: 176, Mexico: 144, India: 98); India IS #1 in Asia. Smallest Ramsar site in India = Renuka Wetland (HP, ~20 ha), NOT Nanda Lake (Goa, ~42 ha). Chilika = Asia’s largest coastal lagoon (NOT India’s largest lake — that is Wular Lake). Loktak = only floating lake (NOT highest altitude lake — that is Tso Kar/Tsomoriri). Lonar Lake = meteor impact (saline + soda ash; NOT a river/rain lake). Sambhar = largest inland salt lake; Wular = largest freshwater lake in India. Vembanad = longest lake in India (96.5 km; Nehru Trophy Boat Race). Tamil Nadu = 20 Ramsar sites (not 14 — updated 2025–26).
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💧 Ramsar Sites of India — Complete List
| # ↕ | Ramsar Site ↕ | State ↕ | Year ↕ | Area (ha) | Key Species / Feature | Key Exam Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chilika Lake | Odisha | 1981 ⭐ | 1,10,000 | Irrawaddy Dolphin, Flamingo, Migratory Birds | 🏆 First Ramsar site in India (with Keoladeo); Asia’s largest coastal lagoon |
| 2 | Keoladeo Ghana (Bharatpur) | Rajasthan | 1981 ⭐ | 2,873 | Siberian Crane (rare), Painted Stork, Migratory Birds | 🏆 First Ramsar site (with Chilika); UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| 3 | Wular Lake | J&K | 1990 | 18,900 | Common Carp, Ducks, Migratory Birds | 🏆 Largest freshwater lake in India |
| 4 | Harike Wetland | Punjab | 1990 | 4,100 | Indus River Dolphin, Migratory Waterfowl | Largest wetland in north India; Indus dolphin; Beas-Sutlej confluence |
| 5 | Loktak Lake | Manipur | 1990 | 26,600 | Sangai (Brow-antlered Deer), Burmese Python | 🏆 Only floating lake in India (phumdis); Keibul Lamjao = world’s only floating NP; Sangai deer |
| 6 | Sambhar Lake | Rajasthan | 1990 | 24,000 | Flamingo, Avocet, Lesser Florican | 🏆 Largest inland salt lake in India; flamingo breeding ground; tectonic origin |
| 7 | Kolleru Lake | Andhra Pradesh | 2002 | 90,100 | Painted Stork, Grey Pelican, Migratory Birds | Largest freshwater lake in AP; between Krishna and Godavari deltas |
| 8 | Deepor Beel | Assam | 2002 | 4,000 | Elephant, Migratory Birds, Fishing Cat | Only large wetland in Assam; near Guwahati; threatened by encroachment |
| 9 | Pong Dam Lake | Himachal Pradesh | 2002 | 15,662 | Bar-headed Goose, Common Crane, Ruddy Shelduck | Major migratory bird wintering site in HP; Maharana Pratap Sagar |
| 10 | Bhitarkanika Mangroves | Odisha | 2002 | 65,000 | Saltwater Crocodile, Olive Ridley Turtle | 🏆 Second largest mangrove in India; largest saltwater crocodile population |
| 11 | Tsomoriri Lake | Ladakh | 2002 | 12,000 | Black-necked Crane, Bar-headed Goose | 🏆 High altitude Ramsar site (~4,522 m); black-necked crane breeding |
| 12 | Point Calimere WLS | Tamil Nadu | 2002 | 38,500 | Flamingo, Blackbuck, Wading Birds | Important coastal wetland; flamingo gathering site |
| 13 | East Kolkata Wetlands | West Bengal | 2002 | 12,500 | Fish, Migratory Birds | 🏆 Only urban waste-recycling wetland in India; sewage farming + fish cultivation feeds Kolkata |
| 14 | Ashtamudi Wetland | Kerala | 2002 | 6,143 | Mudskipper, Prawns, Sea Grass | Second largest wetland in Kerala; palm-shaped estuary |
| 15 | Vembanad-Kol Wetland | Kerala | 2002 | 1,51,250 | Migratory Birds, Fish | 🏆 Largest wetland in Kerala; longest lake in India (96.5 km); Nehru Trophy Boat Race |
| 16 | Bhoj Wetland | Madhya Pradesh | 2002 | 3,201 | Migratory Birds, Fish, Turtles | Near Bhopal; Upper (Big Lake) and Lower (Small Lake) Bhopal lakes |
| 17 | Hokera Wetland | J&K | 2005 | 1,375 | Migratory Waterfowl, Wetland Birds | Kashmir Valley; important staging area for migratory birds |
| 18 | Tso Kar Wetland | Ladakh | 2020 | 19,573 | Black-necked Crane, Bar-headed Goose, Kiang | High altitude Ramsar site; black-necked crane; added 2020 |
| 19 | Haiderpur Wetland | Uttar Pradesh | 2021 | 6,908 | Gharial, Gangetic Dolphin, Migratory Birds | Created by Ganga Barrage near Muzaffarnagar; gharial and dolphin habitat |
| 20 | Bakhira WLS | Uttar Pradesh | 2020 | 2,301 | Sarus Crane, Grey Heron, Painted Stork | Largest UP Ramsar wetland; Sant Kabir Nagar |
| 21 | Kabartal Wetland (Kanwar Lake) | Bihar | 2020 | 2,620 | Migratory Waterfowl, Sarus Crane | Bihar’s first Ramsar site; Asia’s largest freshwater oxbow lake |
| 22 | Asan Conservation Reserve | Uttarakhand | 2020 | 444 | Migratory Birds, Fish Eagle, Bar-headed Goose | Uttarakhand’s first Ramsar site; on Yamuna tributary |
| 23 | Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary | Gujarat | 2012 | 12,000 | Flamingo, Spoonbill, Migratory Birds | Important flamingo gathering site near Ahmedabad |
| 24 | Lonar Lake | Maharashtra | 2020 | 327 | Flamingo, Migratory Birds | 🏆 Only saline-soda lake formed by meteor impact in world; unique alkaline chemistry |
| 25 | Nandur Madhameshwar | Maharashtra | 2019 | 1,437 | Painted Stork, Migratory Waterbirds | Maharashtra’s first Ramsar site; Nashik district |
| 26 | Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary | Maharashtra | 2022 | 1,690 | Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo | Mumbai’s Ramsar site; flamingo hub near Thane |
| 27 | Sundarbans Wetland | West Bengal | 2019 | 4,23,000 | Royal Bengal Tiger, Irrawaddy Dolphin, Estuarine Crocodile | 🏆 Largest Ramsar site in India; world’s largest mangrove; holds 5 designations (Ramsar + UNESCO WHS + NP + Tiger Reserve + BR) |
| 28 | Hirakud Reservoir | Odisha | 2021 | 74,591 | Migratory Birds, Crocodile | Created by Hirakud Dam (Mahanadi); also a Ramsar site; Odisha |
| 29 | Satkosia Gorge | Odisha | 2021 | 98,000 | Gharial, Mugger Crocodile, Tiger | On Mahanadi; also a Tiger Reserve; gharial habitat |
| 30 | Sultanpur National Park | Haryana | 2021 | 1,426 | Migratory Birds, Demoiselle Crane | Near Gurugram; easy access for birdwatchers |
| 31 | Bhindawas WLS | Haryana | 2021 | 1,074 | Migratory Birds, Painted Stork | Largest wetland in Haryana; Jhajjar district |
| 32 | Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve | Tamil Nadu | 2022 | 52,671 | Dugong (Sea Cow), Sea Turtle, Coral Reef | 🏆 India’s first marine biosphere reserve; dugong (endangered sea cow) |
| 33 | Pichavaram Mangrove | Tamil Nadu | 2022 | 1,481 | Kingfisher, Waders, Estuarine Crocodile | Second largest mangrove in India; near Cuddalore |
| 34 | Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 2022 | 40 | Painted Stork, Cormorant, Pelican | 🏆 Oldest bird sanctuary in India (~250 years); colonial nesting waterbirds |
| 35 | Pallikaranai Marsh | Tamil Nadu | 2022 | 382 | Migratory Birds, Fishing Cat | Chennai’s urban wetland; threatened by urban encroachment |
| 36 | Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary | Karnataka | 2022 | 518 | Painted Stork, Darter, Spoonbill | Karnataka’s Ramsar site; on Kaveri River near Mysuru; smallest Ramsar in Karnataka |
| 37 | Aghanashini River Estuary | Karnataka | 2022 | 4,963 | Sea Turtle, Migratory Birds | Uttara Kannada; Western Ghats coast estuary |
| 38 | Nanda Lake | Goa | 2022 | 42 | Freshwater Fish, Waterbirds | Second smallest Ramsar site in India (42 ha); smallest = Renuka Wetland, HP (~20 ha) |
| 39 | Beas Conservation Reserve | Punjab | 2019 | 6,481 | Indus River Dolphin, Migratory Birds | Critically important for Indus dolphin; Punjab |
| 40 | Ansupa Lake | Odisha | 2021 | 231 | Migratory Birds, Fish | Largest freshwater lake in Odisha |
| 41 | Kanjli Wetland | Punjab | 2002 | 183 | Migratory Waterfowl, Fish | Near Kapurthala; important Punjab wetland |
| 42 | Ropar Wetland | Punjab | 2002 | 1,365 | Migratory Birds, Fish, Otters | On Sutlej River; near Rupnagar; Punjab |
| 43 | Wadhvana Wetland | Gujarat | 2021 | 6,280 | Migratory Waterbirds | Near Vadodara; important migratory bird stopover |
| 44 | Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary | Gujarat | 2021 | 605 | Flamingo, Migratory Birds | Near Jamnagar; Ramsar wetland + WLS; Gujarat |
| 45 | Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 2022 | 72 | Painted Stork, White Ibis, Pelican | Tirunelveli; major colonial nesting site; Tamil Nadu |
| 46 | Sur Sarovar (Keetham Lake) | Uttar Pradesh | 2020 | 431 | Sarus Crane, Migratory Birds | Agra; Sarus crane habitat; UP Ramsar site |
| 47 | Saman Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh | 2019 | 53 | Sarus Crane, Bar-headed Goose | Mainpuri; one of UP’s 10 Ramsar sites |
| 48 | Mandovi-Zuari River Complex | Goa | 2022 | 8,278 | Kingfisher, Sea Eagle, Crabs | Goa’s river estuaries; Mandovi River flows past Panaji |
| 49 | Sasthamkotta Lake | Kerala | 2002 | 373 | Freshwater Fish, Migratory Birds | Largest freshwater lake in Kerala |
| 50 | Surinsar-Mansar Lakes | J&K | 2005 | 350 | Migratory Birds, Indian Softshell Turtle | Near Jammu; twin lakes of religious and ecological significance |
| # | State / UT | No. of Ramsar Sites | Notable Sites |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tamil Nadu | 20 🏆 | Vedanthangal, Point Calimere, Pichavaram, Pallikaranai, Gulf of Mannar, Koonthankulam and more |
| 2 | Uttar Pradesh | 11 | Nawabganj, Sur Sarovar, Haiderpur, Bakhira, Saman, Samaspur, Sarsai, Parvati Arga, Patna Bird Sanctuary and more |
| 3 | Odisha | 6 | Chilika, Bhitarkanika, Hirakud Reservoir, Satkosia Gorge, Ansupa, Tampara |
| 4 | Punjab | 6 | Harike, Ropar, Kanjli, Beas Conservation Reserve, Nangal, Keshopur |
| 5 | J&K | 5 | Wular, Surinsar-Mansar, Hokera, Gharana, Hygam, Shallabug |
| 6 | Gujarat | 4 | Nal Sarovar, Wadhvana, Khijadiya, Sursagar |
| 7 | Madhya Pradesh | 4 | Bhoj Wetland, Sirpur, Yashwant Sagar, Sakhya Sagar |
| 8 | Kerala | 4 | Ashtamudi, Vembanad-Kol, Sasthamkotta, Kadalundi |
| 9 | Karnataka | 4 | Ranganthittu, Aghanashini, Ankasamudra, Magadi Kere |
| 10 | Rajasthan | 3 | Keoladeo Ghana, Sambhar Lake, Parvati Arga |
| 11 | Maharashtra | 3 | Nandur Madhameshwar, Lonar Lake, Thane Creek |
| 12 | West Bengal | 2 | Sundarbans, East Kolkata Wetlands |
| 13 | Ladakh | 2 | Tsomoriri, Tso Kar |
| 14 | Haryana | 2 | Sultanpur NP, Bhindawas WLS |
| 15 | Himachal Pradesh | 2 | Pong Dam Lake, Renuka Wetland |
| 16 | Goa | 2 | Nanda Lake (2nd smallest Ramsar), Mandovi-Zuari |
| 17 | Assam | 1 | Deepor Beel |
| 18 | Bihar | 1 | Kabartal Wetland (Bihar’s first Ramsar) |
| 19 | Manipur | 1 | Loktak Lake |
| 20 | Uttarakhand | 1 | Asan Conservation Reserve |
| 21 | Andhra Pradesh | 1 | Kolleru Lake |
| Category | Ramsar Site | State | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Ramsar sites in India | Chilika Lake + Keoladeo Ghana | Odisha + Rajasthan | Both designated in 1981 |
| Largest Ramsar site in India | Sundarbans Wetland | West Bengal | ~4,23,000 ha; world’s largest mangrove; 5 designations |
| Smallest Ramsar site in India | Renuka Wetland | Himachal Pradesh | ~20 ha (0.2 sq. km); smallest Ramsar site in India; Nanda Lake (Goa, ~42 ha) is second smallest |
| Largest freshwater lake in India | Wular Lake (Ramsar) | J&K | ~18,900 ha |
| Largest inland salt lake | Sambhar Lake (Ramsar) | Rajasthan | ~24,000 ha; flamingo nesting; tectonic origin |
| Only floating lake | Loktak Lake (Ramsar) | Manipur | Phumdis; Keibul Lamjao floating NP; Sangai deer |
| Longest lake in India | Vembanad-Kol (Ramsar) | Kerala | 96.5 km; Nehru Trophy Boat Race |
| Urban waste-recycling wetland | East Kolkata Wetlands | West Bengal | Sewage farming + fish cultivation feeds Kolkata |
| Highest altitude Ramsar sites | Tso Kar / Tsomoriri | Ladakh | ~4,522 m above sea level; black-necked crane |
| Meteor impact Ramsar site | Lonar Lake | Maharashtra | Only saline lake in world formed by meteorite crater |
| Oldest bird sanctuary (Ramsar) | Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | ~250 years old; designated Ramsar 2022 |
| India’s first marine biosphere Ramsar | Gulf of Mannar | Tamil Nadu | Dugong, coral reef, sea turtle |
| Asia’s largest bird sanctuary | Chilika Lake | Odisha | 1,10,000 ha; Irrawaddy dolphin; also a coastal lagoon |
| Asia’s largest freshwater oxbow lake | Kabartal Wetland | Bihar | Bihar’s first Ramsar site (2020) |
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat |
| Date signed | February 2, 1971 |
| Location | Ramsar, Iran |
| Came into force | December 21, 1975 |
| World Wetlands Day | February 2 every year (date of signing) — directly tested in UPSC |
| India joined | 1982 |
| India’s Ramsar sites | 98 (as of 2026) — highest in Asia; 3rd highest globally (after UK: 176 and Mexico: 144) |
| Global Ramsar sites | 2,400+ sites across 170+ countries (as of 2024) |
| Legal status in India | Ramsar designation does NOT automatically give legal protection; separate notification under WPA 1972 or EPA 1986 required |
| Governing body | Ramsar Secretariat (hosted by IUCN in Gland, Switzerland) |
| Designation criteria | Must meet at least 1 of 9 criteria — internationally important habitat, threatened species support, or significant waterbird population |
| State with most Ramsar sites | Tamil Nadu (20 sites as of 2026) |
⚖️ Compare Two Ramsar Sites
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
The Ramsar Convention was signed on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran — named after the city where it was agreed. It is formally called the “Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat.” It came into force on December 21, 1975. India joined in 1982. World Wetlands Day = February 2 — observed globally every year on the date of signing. This date is directly tested in UPSC and SSC exams.
A wetland designated as a Ramsar site receives international recognition only — it does not automatically get statutory protection under Indian law. It must also be separately notified under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, or the Environment Protection Act, 1986, to have domestic legal backing. This distinction — international recognition vs domestic legal protection — is a frequently tested direct UPSC question. Students often incorrectly assume all Ramsar sites are legally protected.
Loktak Lake (Manipur, 1990) is unique in three exam-tested ways: (1) it is the only floating lake in India — it has phumdis (large floating islands of decomposing vegetation); (2) the Keibul Lamjao National Park, which floats on Loktak’s phumdis, is the world’s only floating national park; (3) the Sangai (Manipur’s State Animal — Eld’s deer / brow-antlered deer), one of India’s most critically endangered animals, lives only here.
The Sundarbans Wetland Ramsar site (~4,23,000 ha) is India’s largest Ramsar site by area and the world’s largest mangrove forest. It is shared between India (West Bengal) and Bangladesh. Critically, it is the only site in India to hold all five major designations simultaneously: Ramsar site + UNESCO World Heritage Site + Tiger Reserve (Project Tiger) + National Park + Biosphere Reserve.
Tamil Nadu has 20 Ramsar sites (2026) — the highest among all Indian states, followed by Uttar Pradesh (11). Many Tamil Nadu sites were added in 2022 and 2025 in batch designations. Notable Tamil Nadu Ramsar sites: Vedanthangal (oldest bird sanctuary), Pichavaram (2nd largest mangrove), Gulf of Mannar (first marine biosphere reserve), and Pallikaranai (Chennai’s threatened urban wetland).
“Chilika Chirps, Keoladeo Calls — both 1981, Both First”
→ Chilika Lake (Odisha) + Keoladeo Ghana (Rajasthan) — designated together in 1981
“Loktak — Floating Lake, Floating Park, Floating Sangai”
→ Floating lake (phumdis) | Keibul Lamjao = world’s only floating NP | Sangai deer lives here (Manipur’s State Animal)
“Signed Feb 2, 1971 in Ramsar Iran; India joined 1982; World Wetlands Day = Feb 2”
→ Force: December 21, 1975 | India: 1982 | India’s sites: 98 (2026) | TN = most sites (20) | India = 3rd globally (UK 176, Mexico 144)
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🧩 Practice Quiz
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India has 98 Ramsar sites as of February 2026 \u2014 the highest in Asia and 3rd highest globally (after UK with 176 and Mexico with 144). India\u2019s Ramsar sites cover over 13.6 lakh hectares. Chilika Lake and Keoladeo Ghana were the first two sites designated in 1981. Tamil Nadu has the most within India at 20 sites.
Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo Ghana (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) in Rajasthan were designated as India\u2019s first two Ramsar sites in 1981. Both remain among India\u2019s most ecologically significant wetlands. The year 1981 is significant because it is also when the Ramsar Convention began gaining momentum internationally.
Loktak Lake is India\u2019s only floating lake (due to phumdis \u2014 floating biomass islands). The Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world\u2019s only floating national park, sits on its phumdis. The critically endangered Sangai (brow-antlered deer), Manipur\u2019s State Animal, lives exclusively in Keibul Lamjao.
The Sundarbans is the only site in India that holds all five major international/national designations simultaneously: Ramsar site, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tiger Reserve (Project Tiger), National Park, and Biosphere Reserve. It is the world\u2019s largest mangrove forest (~4,23,000 ha) and is shared with Bangladesh.
The Ramsar Convention was signed on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. World Wetlands Day is observed globally on February 2 every year to commemorate this date. The Convention came into force on December 21, 1975. India acceded to the Convention in 1982. The date February 2 is directly tested in UPSC and SSC exams.
\u2705 Key Takeaways
\u2753 Frequently Asked Questions
The Ramsar Convention \u2014 formally the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat \u2014 is an international treaty signed on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. It came into force in 1975 and today covers over 2,400 wetland sites across more than 170 countries. The convention promotes the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands globally. World Wetlands Day is observed on February 2 every year. India joined in 1982 and now has 98 Ramsar sites (2026) \u2014 the highest in Asia and 3rd highest globally (after UK: 176 and Mexico: 144).
India has 98 Ramsar sites as of 2026, covering over 13.6 lakh hectares \u2014 the highest in Asia and 3rd highest globally. Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar sites among Indian states with 20 sites (many added in 2022 and 2025), followed by Uttar Pradesh with 11 sites. The first two Indian Ramsar sites \u2014 Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo Ghana (Rajasthan) \u2014 were designated in 1981. The largest Ramsar site is the Sundarbans Wetland in West Bengal (~4,23,000 ha).
No \u2014 Ramsar designation does not automatically confer legal protection under Indian law. A wetland that is designated as a Ramsar site receives international recognition, but to be legally protected under domestic law, it must be separately notified under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (as a national park, wildlife sanctuary, or conservation reserve) or under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. This distinction \u2014 international recognition vs domestic legal protection \u2014 is a frequently tested UPSC polity and environment question.
The most exam-tested Ramsar sites are: Chilika Lake and Keoladeo Ghana (first, 1981), Sundarbans (largest; all 5 designations), Loktak Lake (only floating lake; floating NP; Sangai deer), Sambhar Lake (largest inland salt lake), Wular Lake (largest freshwater lake in India), Lonar Lake (meteor impact; saline), East Kolkata Wetlands (urban waste-recycling wetland), Vembanad (Nehru Trophy Boat Race; longest lake), Harike (Indus dolphin), Bhitarkanika (saltwater crocodile), Gulf of Mannar (first marine biosphere; dugong), and Vedanthangal (oldest bird sanctuary). Also memorise: India has 98 Ramsar sites (2026) \u2014 3rd globally (UK: 176, Mexico: 144); Tamil Nadu leads with 20 sites. These cover the vast majority of Ramsar-based questions in UPSC, SSC, and Banking exams.
