OKHLA BIRD SANCTUARY
Okhla Bird Sanctuary is situated at Gautam Budh Nagar district of Noida in the state of Uttar
Pradesh. It is nestled on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh state border and is formed as a result of the
creation of the Okhla Barrage. The sanctuary is now recognized as one of the 466 Important Bird
Areas (IBAs) in India.
Notification: Wildlife Sanctuary in 1990
Flora
Trees: Babool, Keekar, Ficus, Sheesham, Subabool, etc.
Aquatic plants: water lettuce, water hyacinth, Hydrilla verticillata, etc.
Fauna
Indian Mongoose, Nilgai, Jackals, Black-naped Hare and others.
Avian Fauna
Black-bellied Tern, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Indian Vulture, Baer’s Pochard, Baikal Teal, Sociable
Lapwing, Indian Skimmer, etc.
Getting there
Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, about 21km away, is the nearest airport to Okhla
Bird Sanctuary. Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station is the closest railhead, about 10km away. Jasola
Apollo metro station and Sarita Vihar are the nearby metro stations to the sanctuary. DTC, UPRSTC
and private buses connect Okhla Sanctuary to different parts of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
Tourist Information
Several accommodation facilities are available in and around the sanctuary. Both budget and luxury
hotels and resorts are available in Noida and the nearby towns.
The prime attraction of Okhla Sanctuary is a large lake, where several rare and colourful birds can be
easily spotted. Bird watching and trekking is the main activity here. Always carry a binocular and
field guide book to spot and identify the different birds.
Additional Information
Location: Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Sector 95, Noida, Delhi
Area: 3.5 sq km
Best time to visit: November to March
Timings: 8.00 am to 5 pm (Weekdays); and 9.00 am to 4 pm (Weekends)
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