Ramsar Sites in India 2025: Names, List, Map

As of November 2025, India has 94 Ramsar sites. These sites are recognized internationally for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. They include various wetlands, such as coral reefs and mangroves. These ecosystems support a diverse range of plant and animal species. They also provide essential services to local communities, such as water purification and flood control. Overall, these protected areas are vital ecosystems teeming with biodiversity.

In this blog, we will look into the list of Ramsar sites 2025. We will also add a map of the Ramsar sites in India 2025.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The Ramsar Convention is an international agreement. It focuses on the preservation and responsible use of wetlands. The agreement was signed on February 2, 1971. This signing took place in the Iranian city of Ramsar. The same date is celebrated annually as World Wetlands Day.

Wetlands are places where water covers the soil or is present at or near the soil’s surface. This can happen year-round or during different parts of the year, including the growing season. The Ramsar Convention categorises various natural and human-made water bodies and habitats as wetlands.

• Natural: Oases, estuaries, deltas, mangroves, coastal areas, coral reefs
• Human: Fishponds, rice paddies, and reservoirs.

Ramsar Sites in India 2025: Overview
Parameter	Details
Total Number of Ramsar Sites	94 (as of November 2025)
First Ramsar Sites	Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) – designated in 1981
State with the Highest Sites	Tamil Nadu (currently has the highest number of Ramsar Sites in India)
Total Area Covered	Approx. 13,26,677 hectares.
Governing Authority	Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India.
Ramsar Convention	The International Treaty for Wetland Conservation was signed in 1971 (India ratified in 1982).
Criteria for Designation	Based on ecological, botanical, zoological, limnological, or hydrological importance.
Benefits of Designation	International recognition, conservation funding, and protection of biodiversity.
India’s Ramsar Mission	Promote the wise use of all wetlands through local, regional, and national-level actions.

List of Ramsar Sites 2025: State-wise Names

India has increased its tally of Ramsar sites to 93 from the existing 85 as of September 2025. Below is the list and names of all the Ramsar sites:

S.No.	Ramsar Site	State	Designated Year	Area (km2)
1	Kolleru Lake	Andhra Pradesh	2002	901
2	Deepor Beel	Assam	2002	40
3	Kanwar (Kabar) Taal	Bihar	2020	26.2
4	Nagi Bird Sanctuary	Bihar	2023	2
5	Nakti Bird Sanctuary	Bihar	2023	3.3
6	Nanda Lake	Goa	2022	0.42
7	Khijadia WLS	Gujarat	2021	6
8	Nalsarovar BS	Gujarat	2012	123
9	Thol Lake	Gujarat	2021	6.99
10	Wadhvana Wetland	Gujarat	2021	10.38
11	Bhindawas WLS	Haryana	2021	4.11
12	Sultanpur NP	Haryana	2021	142.5
13	Chandra Taal	Himachal Pradesh	2005	0.49
14	Pong Dam Lake	Himachal Pradesh	2002	156.62
15	Renuka Lake	Himachal Pradesh	2005	0.2
16	Ranganathituu BS	Karnataka	2022	5.18
17	Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve	Karnataka	2024	0.5
18	Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve	Karnataka	2024	0.98
19	Aghanashini Estuary	Karnataka	2024	4.8
20	Ashtamudi Wetland	Kerala	2002	614
21	Sasthamkotta Lake	Kerala	2002	3.73
22	Vembanad-Kol Wetland (Longest Lake in India)	Kerala	1905	1,512.5
23	Bhoj Wetland	Madhya Pradesh	2002	32
24	Sakhya Sagar	Madhya Pradesh	2022	2.48
25	Sirpur wetland	Madhya Pradesh	2022	1.61
26	Yashwant Sagar	Madhya Pradesh	2022	8.22
27	Tawa Reservoir	Madhya Pradesh	2024	200
28	Lonar Lake (Impact Crater Lake)	Maharashtra	2020	4.27
29	Nandur Madhameshwar	Maharashtra	2019	14
30	Thane Creek	Maharashtra	2022	65.21
31	Loktak Lake	Manipur	1990	266
32	Pala Wetland	Mizoram	2021	18.5
33	Ansupa Lake	Odisha	2021	2.31
34	Bhitarkanika Mangroves	Odisha	2002	650
35	Chilika Lake (Oldest Ramsar Site in India)	Odisha	1981	1,165
36	Hirakud Reservoir	Odisha	2021	654
37	Satkosia Gorge	Odisha	2021	981.97
38	Tampara Lake	Odisha	2021	3
39	Beas CnR	Punjab	2019	64
40	Harike Wetland	Punjab	1990	41
41	Kanjli Wetland	Punjab	2002	1.83
42	Keshopur-Miani CmR	Punjab	2019	34
43	Nangal WLS	Punjab	2019	1
44	Ropar Wetland	Punjab	2002	13.65
45	Keoladeo National Park	Rajasthan	1981	28.73
46	Sambhar Lake	Rajasthan	1990	240
47	Chitrangudi BS	Tamil Nadu	2021	2.6
48	Gulf of Mannar Marine BR	Tamil Nadu	2022	526.72
49	Kanjirankulam BS	Tamil Nadu	2022	0.96
50	Karikili BS	Tamil Nadu	2022	0.584
51	Koonthankulam BS	Tamil Nadu	2021	0.72
52	Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest	Tamil Nadu	2022	12.475
53	Pichavaram Mangrove	Tamil Nadu	2022	14.786
54	Point Calimere WLS & BS	Tamil Nadu	2002	389
55	Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex	Tamil Nadu	2022	0.94
56	Udhayamarthandapuram BS	Tamil Nadu	2022	0.44
57	Vaduvur BS	Tamil Nadu	2022	1.12
58	Vedanthangal BS	Tamil Nadu	2022	0.4
59	Vellode BS	Tamil Nadu	2022	0.77
60	Vembannur Wetland Complex	Tamil Nadu	2022	0.2
61	Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary	Tamil Nadu	2024	4.5
62	Longwood Shola Reserve Forest	Tamil Nadu	2024	1.16
63	Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary	Tamil Nadu	2024	1.3
64	Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary	Tamil Nadu	2024	1,513
65	Rudrasagar Lake	Tripura	2005	2.4
66	Hokera Wetland	UT of JK	2005	13.75
67	Hygam Wetland CnR	UT of JK	2022	8.02
68	Shallbugh Wetland CnR	UT of JK	2022	16.75
69	Surinsar-Mansar Lakes	UT of JK	2005	3.5
70	Wular Lake	UT of JK	1990	189
71	Tso Kar (High Altitude Ramsar Site)	UT of Ladakh	2020	95.77
72	Tsomoriri (High Altitude Ramsar Site)	UT of Ladakh	2002	120
73	Bakhira WLS	Uttar Pradesh	2021	28.94
74	Haiderpur Wetland	Uttar Pradesh	2021	69
75	Nawabganj BS	Uttar Pradesh	2019	2
76	Parvati Arga BS	Uttar Pradesh	2019	7
77	Saman BS	Uttar Pradesh	2019	5
78	Samaspur BS	Uttar Pradesh	2019	8
79	Sandi BS	Uttar Pradesh	2019	3
80	Sarsai Nawar Jheel	Uttar Pradesh	2019	2
81	Sur Sarovar (Keetham Lake)	Uttar Pradesh	2020	4.31
82	Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora)	Uttar Pradesh	2005	265.9
83	Asan Barrage	Uttarakhand	2020	4.44
84	East Kolkata Wetlands	West Bengal	2002	125
85	Sundarban Wetland (Largest Ramsar Site in India)	West Bengal	2019	4,230
Newly Added Ramsar Sites (2025)86. Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)87. Therthangal Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)88. Khecheopalri Wetland (Sikkim)89. Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand)90. Khichan (Phalodi, Rajasthan)91. Menar (Udaipur, Rajasthan)92. Gokul Jalashay (Bihar)93. Udaipur Jheel (Bihar)94. Gogabeel Lake (Bihar)

• BS: Bird Sanctuary
• WLS: Wildlife Sanctuary
• BR: Biosphere Reserve
• CnR: Conservation Reserve
• CmR: Community Reserve
• IBA: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (designated by Birdlife International)

Which was the First Ramsar Site in India?

The Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo Park in Rajasthan were the first two Ramsar Sites in India. They both were designated in 1981. Hence, they were recognized simultaneously as Wetlands of International Importance. 

1. Chilika Lake: Odisha

• In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Nalbana BS is the core area of Chilika Lake.
• It is located at the mouth of the Daya River. It is a brackish water lagoon separated from the Bay of Bengal by a long sandy ridge. It is the largest coastal lagoon in India.
• Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea and other remote parts of Central Asia, Ladakh and the Himalayas come here.
• The Irrawaddy dolphin (EN) is the flagship species of the lake. Chilka has the only population of Irrawaddy dolphins in India.
• It was placed on the Montreux Record in 1993 due to siltation and removed from the Record in 2002 following rehabilitation efforts of the Chilika Development Authority.

2. Keoladeo Park: Rajasthan

• It is a complex of ten artificial seasonal marshes. Vegetation is scrub and open grassland.
• The invasive growth of the grass Paspalum distichum has reduced its suitability for certain waterbird species, notably the Siberian Crane (CR).
• Placed on the Montreux Record in 1990 due to water shortage and unbalanced grazing.

List of Ramsar Sites 2025: North-East

Below is the list of the Ramsar Sites in North-East India:

1. Assam (1)

Deepor Beel

It is a permanent freshwater lake in a former channel of the Brahmaputra River. It is located a few kilometres to the left of Guwahati, whereas Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is approximately 35 km to the right.Threats: over-fishing, hunting, pollution from pesticides, and infestation by water hyacinth.Endangered Avifauna: Grey Pelican or Spot-billed Pelican (VU), Lesser Adjutant Stork (VU), Greater Adjutant Stork (EN), Baer’s Pochard (CR).

2. Manipur (1)

Loktak Lake

It is the largest freshwater lake in the north-eastern region.Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park in the world, floats over it.Thick, floating mats of weeds covered with soil (phumids) are a characteristic feature.It was included on the Montreux Record in 1993 due to ecological problems, including deforestation in the catchment area, water hyacinth infestation, and pollution.

3. Mizoram (1)

Pala Wetland

Pala Tipo/Pala Lake is a natural lake in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.The lake is a significant component of the Palak WLS.Major Fauna: Sambar Deer (VU), Barking Deer (Muntjac – LC), Hoolock Gibbon (EN)

4. Sikkim (1)

Khecheopalri Wetland

It is a sacred lake located in the Demazong valley.Both Buddhists and Hindus revere it.The majestic Kanchenjunga peak serves as a stunning backdrop.

5. Tripura (1)

Rudrasagar Lake

It is a reservoir fed by three perennial streams that discharge into the River Gomti.It is an ideal habitat for the Three-Striped Roof Turtle (CR).It is a buzzing tourist destination during the festival of Vijaya Dashami.

Latest Ramsar Site in India 2025

Gogabeel Lake in Bihar becomes the 94th Ramsar site: Gogabeel Lake, located in Katihar district of Bihar, has become another wetland of India to be designated as a Ramsar site of international importance. With this, the total number of such protected sites in the country has reached 94.

Ramsar Sites in India 2025: Map

Below is the Ramsar Sites 2025 map:

Conclusion

India’s commitment to wetland conservation is evident with the addition of four new Ramsar Sites in India 2025, which are Menar Wetland Complex, Khichan Wetland, Gokul Jalashay and the Udaipur Jheel, making the diverse ecological importance and community-led efforts of India toward the conservation of natural ecosystems, which are significantly contributing to global wetland protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many Ramsar sites are there in India?

Currently (2025), 85 sites in India are recognised as Ramsar Sites or Wetlands of International Importance. In South Asia, this is the highest.

2. Which is the smallest Ramsar Site in India?

Renuka Wetland, Himachal Pradesh, holds the distinction of being India’s smallest Ramsar site, covering a mere 0.2 km². It was designated as a Ramsar Site in 2012.

3. Which are the largest Ramsar Sites in India?

The largest Ramsar sites in India are the Sundarban Wetland (West Bengal), Vembanad-Kol Wetland (Kerala), Chilika Lake (Odisha), and Satkosia Gorge (Odisha).

4. Which were the first Ramsar sites in India?

The first Ramsar sites designated in India were Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan.

5. Which state has the highest Ramsar sites in India?

Tamil Nadu has the maximum number of Ramsar Sites (16 sites), followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites)