Khijadia Bird Sanctuary
Khijadia Bird Sanctuary is a wetland near Jamnagar in Gujarat with a mix of freshwater lakes and saltwater marshes that create diverse habitats for wildlife. The landscape is mostly flat with shallow water, patches of grass, reeds, and bushes, along with simple trails and wooden watchtowers positioned for viewing birds.
A dam was built on the Ruparel River long before India's independence to retain water, creating a unique landscape with both fresh and saltwater. The area was officially designated a protected sanctuary in 1981 and received international Ramsar wetland status in February 2022.
The sanctuary takes its name from the nearby Khijadia village and serves as a focal point for nature enthusiasts in the region. Local communities actively participate in protecting the area and have developed it as a center for eco-tourism that connects visitors with the natural environment.
Register at the Forest Office in Jamnagar, which closes at 2 PM, before entering the sanctuary that operates from 6:30 AM to 5 PM. The site is located 16 kilometers from Jamnagar and accessible via well-maintained roads or by train from Jamnagar Junction station.
The sanctuary was created by a historic convergence of freshwater and saltwater at the Ruparel dam, forming an unusual landscape where two water types coexist naturally. This rare combination attracts bird species that typically inhabit separate regions, making it a destination where you can observe animals not usually found together.
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