List of Ramsar Sites in India

As per the Ramsar Convention, “Wetlands are the areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres”. 

Linking land and water, wetlands serve an important function: they store fresh water, recharge groundwater, buffer floods, and sustain fisheries and farming.

They also shelter migratory birds and rich biodiversity, placing them among the most productive ecosystems on Earth.

Globally, the Convention on Wetlands, or the Ramsar Convention, protects these habitats as an intergovernmental treaty. It was adopted at Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971 and entered into force in 1975.

Ramsar Sites in India

On 1 October 1981, Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan became India’s first Ramsar Sites.

Then a few months later, on 1 February 1982, India became a Party to the Convention. Since then, it has steadily expanded its network.

Growth has picked up rapidly in the last decade; in 2025 alone, 11 wetlands were added, bringing the national total to 96.

The country now has more than 100 Ramsar Sites, nearly four times the 26 sites it had in 2014.

Tamil Nadu has the most Ramsar sites in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh, which includes Surha Tal, the 100th site, designated in June 2026. 

Sundarban Wetland in West Bengal, designated on 30 January 2019, is the largest Ramsar Site in India at 4,23,000 hectares.

Sundarbans, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds over 60 per cent of India’s mangrove area and a tiger population with unique aquatic hunting skills.

India’s network ranks first in Asia and third in the world by number of sites. Collectively, these sites cover more than 13.87 lakh hectares across 28 States and Union Territories.

In India, the process begins with the State Government or Union Territory administration identifying a suitable wetland.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change then coordinates approval and forwards the proposal to the Ramsar Secretariat.

Designation commits the State or Union Territory to the wise use of the wetland and its resources.

The site is deemed notified under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, and the guidelines also recommend that it be formally notified under these rules with an Integrated Management Plan.

The Ramsar Information Sheet must be updated every six years, and the site’s ecological character monitored regularly.

Guided by these criteria and commitments, India has built a large and remarkably diverse network of Ramsar Sites.

India’s Ramsar Sites span high-altitude lakes, river floodplains, mangroves, coral reefs, village tanks and urban marshes. 

How Ramsar Sites Aid in Conservation

Ramsar status brings global recognition, scientific guidance and access to expert advice for designated wetlands.

It also places clear duties on States to protect each site’s ecological character through planning and monitoring.

Restoring Ecosystems: Chilika Lake shows how sustained restoration can revive a wetland and the communities that depend on it.

Today, the lagoon supports 118 fish species and serves as a breeding, wintering and staging ground for waterbirds.

Sustaining Livelihoods: The East Kolkata Wetlands treat the city’s wastewater naturally through about 4,000 hectares of fish ponds.

They yield about 10,500 tonnes of fish a year and directly support about 50,000 people.

Building Climate Resilience: The Sundarban mangroves shield inland areas from storms, cyclones, tidal surges and saltwater intrusion.

They also serve as nurseries for fish and shellfish, sustaining fisheries along India’s entire eastern coast.

Reviving Threatened Species: The Beas Conservation Reserve in Punjab holds India’s only known population of the endangered Indus River dolphin.

A reintroduction programme launched in 2017 released 47 gharials, nearly three decades after they vanished from the river.

The 185-kilometre river stretch also supports more than 500 bird species and over 90 fish species.

Community Stewardship: Khichan Wetland in Rajasthan hosts more than 22,000 wintering demoiselle cranes each year on just 54 hectares.

Residents of the adjoining village actively protect the birds from power line collisions and stray dog attacks.

State-wise List of Ramsar Sites

The table below lists all Ramsar Sites in India by State and Union Territory, with their key conservation value.

Government Initiatives for Wetland Conservation

India’s Ramsar network is backed by a strong framework of laws, schemes and people’s participation.

Notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, these Rules provide the regulatory framework for wetland conservation.

They establish State/UT Wetlands Authorities and prohibit activities such as encroachment, waste dumping and untreated effluent discharge.

NPCA merged the national programmes for lake and wetland conservation into one scheme.  

Updated NPCA Guidelines issued in 2024 give States an integrated and scientific framework for managing wetlands.

Amrit Dharohar promotes the unique conservation values of Ramsar Sites in India. It covers species and habitat conservation, nature tourism, wetland livelihoods and wetland carbon assessment.

Under this, the Botanical Survey of India and the Zoological Survey of India have conducted studies to inventory the flora and fauna of 75 Ramsar Sites.

A ‘Standard Operating Procedure for Assessment of Carbon Stock in Wetlands’ was released and has been utilised to assess the Carbon stock of 39 Ramsar Sites across the country.

Mission Sahbhagita promotes participatory conservation; its Save Wetlands Campaign began in Goa on 4 February 2023. Over 2 million citizen volunteers have since helped map more than 1.7 lakh wetlands across the country.

MISHTI targets mangrove restoration across more than 540 square kilometres in nine States and four UTs.

By October 2026, ₹88.44 crore has been released to restore 9,949.5 hectares of degraded mangroves.

Inaugurated on 2 October 2021, the portal serves as a dynamic knowledge repository on India’s wetlands. It offers single-point access to information on sites, projects, initiatives and training for managers and citizens.

Indore and Udaipur became India’s first Ramsar-accredited Wetland Cities in January 2025, joining the global network of Ramsar-accredited Wetland Cities.

Wrapping Up

India’s expanding Ramsar network offers an opportunity to strengthen wetland conservation through science, effective management and community participation.

The focus ahead must be on translating international recognition into lasting ecological outcomes.

Regular monitoring, evidence-based planning, and coordination among governments, institutions, and local communities can help maintain the ecological character of Ramsar sites in India and wetlands in general.

Sustained efforts will be essential to ensure that wetlands continue to support biodiversity, water security, climate resilience and livelihoods for future generations.

Equally important is integrating wetland conservation into broader development planning.

Strengthening local stewardship, improving data and knowledge sharing, and promoting sustainable livelihood opportunities can deepen conservation efforts.

By combining ecological priorities with community needs, India can build a more inclusive and resilient approach to wetland management, ensuring these ecosystems remain productive and protected over the long term.