Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Andhra Pradesh, India, where the Godavari River meets the sea and wide mangrove forests line the shore. The ground shifts between muddy shallows and sandy banks, crossed by narrow channels that change with the tides.

The government established the sanctuary in 1978 to protect the mangroves and wildlife along the river mouth. A lighthouse from 1759 still stands on the coast, reminding visitors that ships have sought guidance here for centuries.

The name comes from a nearby fishing village, where locals still use small boats to move between waterways. Visitors often notice woven fish traps and dried nets at the edge of the mangroves, showing how life here follows the rhythm of the tides.

A wooden walkway about 2.3 kilometers long runs through the mangroves, raised about 1.2 meters above ground so visitors can see the roots and water below. Most guests arrive in the morning when the sun is gentler and birds are more active.

The area shelters 24 different kinds of mangrove trees, more than most other Indian coasts. Olive Ridley turtles come ashore between January and March to lay their eggs in the sand before returning to the water.