Harike Bird sanctuary - Bird watching area in Maujgarh - Firozepur, India

Harike is one of the most important Wild Life Sanctuaries of not Only Punjab but also of India being recognized throughout the world. Situated on the confluence of the river Beas and Sutlez at the Ferozepur and Amritsar border the sanctuary encompass an area of approximately 86 sq km. The area was declared as a Wild Life Sanctuary in 1999 and because of its importance as a wetland of international stature, it was declared a Ramsar site by the International Body of Wetlands under the UNDP in 1990. The sanctuary is a bird watchers paradise and attracts thousands of migratory birds during winter, some from as far off as Siberia and the Arctic. It is a refuge for a large number of resident and migratory birds. Some 45,000 ducks have been recorded here during the peak migratory season. The wigeon, common teal, pintail, shoveller and brahminy ducks are commonly seen during the winter. The lake is particularly famous for diving ducks, such as the crested pochard, common pochard and tufted ducks which occur in very large numbers. Around 375 bird species have been recorded; 40 species were long distance migrants which pass through or winter at Harike lake. Apart from avifauna, some 7 species of turtle and 26 species of fish have been recorded. The mammals found at Harike include the smooth Indian otter, the jungle cat, jackal, Indian wild boar and the common mongoose. The major problems facing the Sanctuary are encroachments on the wetland habitat, widespread infestation of water hyacinth weed which is slowly chocking the system and reducing the available surface area, siltation and the resultant fall in the volume of water, drainage of untreated and toxic industrial effluents into the system from big cities like Ludhiana , Jallandhar and Kapurthala, illegal fishing and poaching of birds etc.

Be there by 3pm if you want to enjoy the place in full. Or the best time will be 9am if you donot want any disturbance from co-tourists. Wonderful place. Thousands of birds. Can also see the birds nests.

Clean well maintained place. Many water birds to watch. Appreciated the sheer size of the water body.

We reached the area via Gurudwara Nanaksar Sahib. There is some parking space outside, and I recommend walking down the paved path from there till the entry of the sanctuary, where there is a large water body. We walked a bit in the sanctuary and then left. Will explore more next time. We saw some nice birds right from the paved pathway.

Very nice place for day out... For picnic spot it is a best place.... Must go... And visit

Good place for a family picnic. Electric rickshaws are available for going to destination or you can hire cycle from there. Boating is also there. Best time to visit Nov to Feb Better to hire a cycle as in e-rickshaw there is a time slot issue

Couldn't go inside the jungle but just standing by the water and hear the birds chirping was relaxing. Quite and serene place I would say

It is a amazing place for people who love nature it is just wonderful. You can enjoy the beauty of nature.