Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary: Entry Fee, Timings, Facts (2024)

Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary in Gujarat is one of the largest bird sanctuaries in India and one of the best places for one day picnic near Ahmedabad. The port of Nal Sarovar has the largest number of waterfowl in the country and is also home to both resident and migratory species of birds.

In this post, I’m gonna show to you the complete information about Nal Sarovar lake and Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.

Here, you will know about,

• History of Nal Sarovar 
• Things to do at Nal Sarovar Bird sanctuary
• Best time to visit the Bird Sanctuary
• Many more

Let’s get started.

About Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary

Nal Sarovar literally means ‘Tap Lake’. The similarity is that this famous tourist attraction has a variety of bird species that are attracted to this lake. Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is located about 64 km west of Ahmedabad near Sanand village in Gujarat. The Place covers an area of 120 sq km, and more than 200 species of birds land here to survive the winter habitat.

On weekends, Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is one of the busiest tourist attractions in Ahmedabad, especially for Nature Lover. Hundreds of people visit this place to break from their busy life and relieve their stress levels and feel Nature Vibes.

About 200 different species of Migrate birds can be identified and enjoyed which are came from Siberia, Oman, UAE, etc. In addition to these common species like a duck pelican, heron, and stork are also found. There are also various native bird species. For those who want to enjoy the land with flying birds and the scenery of long Meadow, there is also a Picnic spot available there. Thus, even travelers who are looking for a quiet place to spend their vacation are welcome here.

There is an information center available where people will know information about many Species of Birds where they came from, What are their Eating Habits and much more basic information. In addition, People will enjoy the local street food and handicraft items with Horse Riding, Boating, and Bird Watching.

History of Nal Sarovar bird sanctuary

The Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary was a low-lying area that made a sea connection. Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary was declared a sanctuary in April 1969. This Sanctuary was proposed as “Ramsar Convention Site-Wetlands of International Importance”. On 24 September 2012, Nalsarobar was declared a Ramsar site. Since 2005, Nal Sarovar Lake is the only is that has been declared a Ramsar site in India.

By the way, It is said that in the past it was connected to Rann in the north and Khambat Bay in the south. However, this two-sea connection does not currently exist.

Things to do at Nal Sarovar Bird sanctuary

There are many activities that have to do in Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary. From Watching Birds to Boating on the lake. Some of the activities include: 

1. You can take a Horse Ride in Nal Sarovar National Park by the lake. The Charges are only Rs.50. The visitor will be assigned a horse with the groom, that is, the person who will maintain the horse. Usually, at this price, you can take a ride for 20 Minutes, also, it will extend by paying some extra money. 
2. Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary Authority has made an information center for those people who want to know more information about the birds. It contains models of different species of birds – their history, origin, eating habits, unique characteristics, etc. The center also provides a map so that a tourist can easily locate his favorite bird. 
3. Visitors can take a boat trip on the Nal Sarovar. Riding on this boat allows deep exploration of the Nal Sarovar bird sanctuary and has a much better chance of finding a rare species of bird. On the Dhrabal Island of the Sarovar, the Boat ride starts, on a certain island, the Watch Tower has been built to enjoy the view of the lake.
4. On the Sanctuary, there is also Picnic Spot there for Casual Travellers. These spots allow children to set Football, Volleyball, and other games on the Huge Ground. In addition, the Sarovar authority provides a Live Barbecue set if anyone wants to cook there. Picnic areas are clean and surprisingly, there are no problems like mosquito or insect bites.
5. For foodies, there is a small tent on the island that offers you authentic Gujarati food which is served by local vendors of three different types of vegetables, Indian Ruti aka Bajra Ki Roti, Gur, butter, and chutney.  All the vendors sell food at the same rate of around Rs 150 per plate. Gatha, a classic Gujarati snack, is also available at almost all vendors.

Birds in Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary

It is recommended to go to Nal Sarivar Burd Sanctuary in the Morning. In Winter, Some Birds are found including kingfisher, roller crack, Brahmani duck, pelican, grape, and many more. On weekends, this place is very crowded and I strongly recommend that if you really want to see these birds, avoid the weekend.

Nal Sarovar Entry Fees, Boating, and Camera charges

 Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary Timing

 Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary Entry Fees (Indian Tourists)

 Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary Entry Fees (Foreign Tourists)

The Entry fee for Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is Rs. 75 for Indian visitors on weekdays and Rs. 85 on weekends. For foreigners, the Entry fee is $10 on weekdays and $12.50 on weekends.

 Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary Boating Charges

Camera Usage Charge

Vehicle Parking Charge at Nal Sarovar

Best Time to Visit Nal Sarovar

According to my and visited people’s review, The Best time to Visit Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary Lake is in Spring and Winter. During this season, there are thousands of migratory birds as well as native species that flock to the shores of the lake. Thus, you should choose these reasons for visiting Nal Sarovar Sanctuary. You can plan a trip to the sanctuary in late February and March or even visit the sanctuary between October and February.

Be sure to stay on the lake in the morning or evening to capture a glimpse of all the rare bird species. Even if you are not most like Watching Birds, you should also visit the natural bamboo-powered boat ride in this shallow water. 

Interesting facts about Nal Sarovar bird sanctuary

These are some interesting facts about this Destination.

1. There are approx 210 species of birds in winter, of which 140 are water birds and the remaining 70 are migratory birds. Only 25 or 30 of these 70 are easily observable and the rest require deep forest exploration.
2. Migratory birds are also seen in Nal Sarovar in October and stay till April.  However, from November to January, Mifraroty Birds are seen in most. At the end of March, a huge swarm of flamingos arrives.
3. In the past, tourists had to carry their own drinking water, visitors did not have access to pure drinking water. But now a reverse osmosis plant has been set up to supply pure drinking water to visitors.

Places to visit near Nal Sarovar bird sanctuary

These are some Places near Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary to visit for its unique and amazing experience.

1. Indroda Nature Park: Indroda Nature Park is one of the fascinating destinations in Gandhinagar, near Ahmedabad which will give you the best nature experience. Among tourists, it is also known as the Jurassic Park of India. The park covers a total geographical area of ​​428 hectares, covered by dense forests and rich vegetation. Indroda Nature Park has a zoo, botanical garden, and dinosaur museum suitable for discovering various plants and flowers.
2. Utelia: Utelia is a small village which is located 42 km from Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary. It has a famous traditional hotel and Lothal excavations of the Indus Valley Civilization which are found about 6 km away from Utelia.
3. Zanzari Waterfall: Zanzari Waterfall is located on the banks of the Vatrak River near Dehgam in the Aravalli district of Gujarat, one of the best and most beautiful places for a day picnic near Ahmedabad. The distance is about 137 km and 72.7 km from Ahmedabad.

How To Reach Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary

The Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary near Sanand village is accessible by private car or taxi from Ahmedabad. In addition, if you take the Train, Viramgam is the closest railway station with frequent trains within the state. After reaching the station, you need to take the local car to reach the exact spot. Buses are scarce and there is no specific accommodation to be found anywhere nearby, so it is advisable to book a hotel near Ahmedabad City.

Location in Google Map:

FAQs

Conclusion

In conclusion, In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is one of the best places for those who love to watch Migratory birds. Honestly, there are still some areas to be developed in this beautiful place near Ahmedabad. There is no provision for Online Ticket Booking and this leads to unnecessary clutter in the ticket window. So, I hope you got all the necessary information about the Nal Sarovar bird sanctuary from this article.

Now, I’d like to know from you:

Are you really planning to visit Nal Sarovar lake?

Or, have you already visited Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary before?

Let me know in the comment Right now.

You will also visit:

• Purbasthali Bird Sanctuary
• Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary

Somraj Mondal

Somraj Mondal is an Extensive experience in SEO and Travel, Lifestyle, and Bird Enthusiast expert of Indianchacha. A professional Blogger who loves to explore new places, and new cultures.