Haryana National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries & Ramsar Sites

Haryana National Parks

Kalesar National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary

• Kalesar National Park and adjacent Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary are protected areas in Yamunanagar district of Haryana. It is located on the Siwalik foothills.
• It is contiguous to Rajaji National Park (Uttarakhand) and Simbalbara National Park (Himachal Pradesh).
• It is bounded by Yamuna River to the east. Morni Hills lies to the west.
• The park was named after a temple (known as Kalesar Mahadev temple) located inside the premise of the park.
• In earlier times, rulers under the Mughal and British Raj used the now park as hunting grounds.
• The park is also famous for its Dak bungalows – the administrative architectural bungalows built in colonial times.
• Vegetation: tropical moist deciduous forest.
• Major Fauna: Panthers, rusty-spotted cat, chital, goral, nilgai, porcupine, small Indian civet, rhesus macaque.

Sultanpur National Park

• It is situated in Gurgaon district of Haryana. Distance of the park is around 50 Km from Delhi and 15km from Gurgaon.
• It was notified as a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance, in 2021.
• Sultanpur National Park is a bird paradise for bird watchers. It is famous for its migratory as well as resident birds.
  • Migratory birds start arriving in the park in September. Birds use the park as a resting place till the following March-April.
  • During summer and monsoon months the park is inhabited by many local bird species.
• In April 1971, the Sultanpur Jheel inside the park (an area of 1.21 sq. Km.) was accorded Sanctuary status under section 8 of the Punjab Wildlife Preservation Act of 1959.
• The status of the park was upgraded to National Park under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in July 1991.
• Major Migratory Avifauna: Siberian crane, greater flamingo, spot-billed pelican, wood sandpiper, grey heron.
• Mammals: Blackbuck, Nilgai, Hog deer, Sambar, Leopard etc.

Wildlife Sanctuaries of Haryana

Morni Hills (Khol-Hi-Raitan) Wildlife Sanctuary

• Khol Hi-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Panchkula district of Haryana.
• Located in the Shivalik hills of Haryana.
• The wild species include Indian leopard, Asiatic elephant, Chital (spotted deer), Sambar deer, Gray langur, Striped hyena, Indian jackal, Indian gray mongoose, etc.

Bir Shikargarh Wildlife Sanctuary

• Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Panchkula district of Haryana
• Located in the Shivalik hills of Haryana.
• It also houses Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre, Pinjore.
• Declared as Eco-sensitive Zone (ESZ).

Chhilchhila Lake Wildlife Sanctuary (Seonthi Reserve Forest)

• Located near Kurukshetra University in Kurukshetra district of Haryana.
• Baba Rodanath Dera temple is on the periphery of the Chhilchhila Sanctuary.
• Crocodile Breeding Centre, Kurukshetra is located at Bhor Saidan on Pehowa-Kurukshetra Road.

Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary (BS)

• Khaparwas Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary in Jhajjar district.
• This is an important part of ecological corridor along the route of Sahibi River.

Ramsar Sites of Haryana

Bhindawas WLS

• Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Jhajjar district.
• It is a human-made freshwater wetland. It shares its border with Khaparwas WLS (Haryana).
• Endangered Avifauna: Egyptian Vultures (EN), Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN).

Sultanpur NP

• It is located just 15km away from Delhi. The Sultanpur Jeel inside the park is an IBA.
• Endangered Avifauna: Sociable Lapwing (CR), Egyptian Vultures (EN), Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (EN), Saker Falcon (EN), Black-Bellied Tern (EN).