Ramsar Sites in India as of 2026, Check the State-wise List

Ramsar Sites are wetlands of international importance recognized under the Ramsar Convention. These sites help protect water, wildlife and ecosystems. India, with its rich natural diversity, has 96 Ramsar Sites as of 2026. These wetlands are spread across various states and are vital for conserving biodiversity, controlling floods and supporting local communities. Each site holds environmental, cultural and economic importance for the country.

Ramsar Sites in India 2026

India now has 96 Ramsar Sites, showing the country’s strong effort to protect wetlands and nature. These wetlands are recognised under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for conservation of important water ecosystems. Recently, Siliserh Lake (Rajasthan) and Kopra Reservoir (Chhattisgarh) were added to the list. Wetlands help in storing water, preventing floods, supporting birds and animals, and keeping the environment balanced. India is now the third country in the world after the United Kingdom and Mexico in total Ramsar sites.

What is a Ramsar Site?

A Ramsar Site is a wetland that is considered internationally important for ecology, biodiversity, and human survival. These areas may include lakes, rivers, marshes, mangroves, reservoirs, or coastal regions. They help in:

• Protecting wildlife and migratory birds
• Maintaining groundwater and drinking water supply
• Controlling floods
• Supporting fishing and local livelihoods

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation of wetlands and their sustainable use. It was signed on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran. This day is celebrated every year as World Wetlands Day. Wetlands include areas where water covers the soil, either permanently or seasonally, such as lakes, rivers, estuaries and coral reefs.

Types of Wetlands

• Natural Wetlands: These include oases, estuaries, mangroves, coastal areas, coral reefs and deltas.
• Human-Made Wetlands: These include rice paddies, fishponds and reservoirs.

List of Ramsar Sites in India as of 2026

India has 85 Ramsar Sites as of 2026, recognized globally for their rich biodiversity. These wetlands provide vital ecological benefits, including water purification, flood control and habitat for diverse species.

Here is the list of Ramsar Sites in India as of 2026:

Indian States	No. of Ramsar Sites	Ramsar Sites
Andhra Pradesh	1	Kolleru Lake
Tamil Nadu	20	Vellode Bird Sanctuary Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary Longwood Shola Reserve Forest Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary Vembhur Wetland Complex Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary Karikili Bird Sanctuary Pichavaram Mangrove Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest Point Calimere Wildlife Bird Sanctuary Kazhuveli Sanctuary Nanjarayan Bird Santuary Therthangal Sakkarakottai
Kerala	3	Vembanad Kol Wetland Sasthamkotta Lake Ashtamudi Wetland
Karnataka	4	Aghanashini Estuary Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve Ranganathittu BS Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve
Maharashtra	3	Nandur Madhameshwar Lonar Lake Thane Creek
Goa	1	Nanda Lake
Gujarat	4	Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary Vadhvana Wetland Khijadiya Wildlife Sanctuary
Rajasthan	5	Sambhar Lake Keoladeo National Park Siliserh LakeMenar Wetland Complex Khichan Wetland
Uttar Pradesh	10	Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary Haiderpur Wetland Upper-Ganga River Sandi Bird Sanctuary Paravai Agra Bird Sanctuary Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary
Haryana	2	Sultanpur National Park Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary
Madhya Pradesh	5	Yashwant Sagar Sakhya Sagar Sirpur Wetland Bhoj Wetland Tawa Reservior
Bihar	6	Kanwar Lake Nagi Bird Sanctuary Nakti Bird Sanctuary Udaypur Lake Gokul Reservoir Gogabeel Lake
Odisha	6	Ansupa Lake Hirakud Reservior Tampara Lake Chilka Lake Satkosia Gorge Bhitarkanika Magrove
West Bengal	2	East Kolkata Wetlands Sunderban Wetland
Punjab	6	Harike Lake Beas Conservation Reserve Kanjli Lake Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary Ropar Wetland
Himachal Pradesh	3	Chandra Taal Pong Dam Lake Renuka Lake
Jammu and Kashmir	5	Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve Hygam Wetland Surinsar-Mansar Lakes Wular Lake
UT of Ladakh	2	Tso Kar Wetland Complex Tsomoriri Lake
Uttarakhand	1	Asan Conservation Reserve
Mizoram	1	Pala Wetland
Manipur	1	Loktak Lake
Assam	1	Deepor Beel
Tripura	1	Rudrasagar Lake
Sikkim	1	Khecheopalli Lake
Jharkhand	1	Udhwa Lake
Chhattisgarh	1	Kopra Jalashay