Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, India
Bhaskar, Abhishek and Rama boating at Ranganathittu
Location: Karnataka, India Nearest City: Mysore, India
Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary is a Bird Sanctuary in the Mysore District of the state of Karnataka in India. It comprises six islets on the banks of the Kaveri River. Ranganthittu is located on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway, close to the historic town of Srirangapatna.
The islets came into being when a dam across the Kaveri river was built in the 1700s. The ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali observed that the isles formed an important nesting ground for birds, and persuaded the Wodeyar kings of Mysore to declare the area a wildlife sanctuary in 1940.
The islands are host to numerous small mammals, including Bonnet Macaque, colonies of Flying Fox and common small mammals like Common Palm Civet and Indian Gray Mongoose and the monitor lizard.
Cauvery
Crocodile basking in the sun
The Mugger Crocodile or Marsh Crocodile is a common inhabitant of the riverine reed beds. Breeding water birds include Painted Stork, Asian Openbill Stork, Common Spoonbill, Woolly-necked Stork, Black-headed Ibis, White Ibis, Lesser Whistling Duck, Indian Shag, Stork-billed Kingfisher and other common birds like egrets, cormorants, Oriental Darter, and herons. The Great Stone Plover, and River Tern also nest here. The park is home to a large flock of Streak-throated Swallows
Pictures of Ranganthittu.
Crocodile
Open billed storks
Painted stork colony
Meal partners, Painted storks aiding each other
Snowy egret pair
Snowy egret pair
colony of White Ibis
White Ibis pair
Cormorants
Birds
Ranger-guided boat tours of the isles are available throughout the day, and are a good way to watch birds, crocodiles, otters and bats. There is no lodging at the tiny sanctuary, so visitors typically have to stay over at Mysore or Srirangapatna. The seasons for visiting the park are: June - November (during the nesting season of the water birds). The best time to watch migratory birds is in December. Nearest Town: Srirangapatna (3 km) Nearest City: Mysore (19 km)
Nearest Railhead: Srirangapatna Nearest Airport: Bangalore Nearest Highway: Bangalore - Mysore highway