India GOBirds of Chandigarh
For a planned city, Chandigarh is unusually good for birds. Sukhna Lake, a wetland on the Shivalik edge, takes ducks and geese through the winter; the forest behind it and the Siswan reservoir hold the hill birds; and the mature avenue trees keep the state bird, the Indian grey hornbill, in the middle of town. The species above are the ones to know; here is where to go and when.
Indian grey hornbill
The state bird of Chandigarh, adopted with the city's other three symbols in 2010. It needs old trees with natural hollows to nest in, which the city's mature avenue planting now provides.
Ocyceros birostris
Bar-headed goose
The rajhans of Sanskrit poetry, the swan-like bird said to separate milk from water, is usually taken to be this goose or a close relative, not a European swan.
Anser indicus
Northern pintail
To give pintails and other waterfowl somewhere to rest when Sukhna's water stands too high for mudflats, the UT forest department floated bamboo islands on the lake: a trial raft in 2019, six islands by 2021.
Anas acuta
Ruddy shelduck
The Chandigarh Bird Club counts Sukhna's waterfowl every year on 12 November, Salim Ali's birthday, and the ruddy shelduck has repeatedly come out on top: 141 of 429 birds in 2020, 32 of 232 in 2025.
Tadorna ferruginea
Indian pond heron
Its Hindi name means “blind heron”, from the way it lets people walk almost up to it before flying: patience, not blindness.
Ardeola grayii
Red-wattled Lapwing
The lapwing's habit of sleeping with its legs in the air is a stock joke in Hindi: «the titahri holding up the sky».
Vanellus indicus
Where to watch birds
Sukhna Lake
A 3 km² rain-fed lake made in 1958 by damming a seasonal stream off the Shivaliks, now a protected wetland and a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance. Over 130 bird species are recorded around it. In winter the waterfowl arrive: northern pintail, ruddy shelduck and bar-headed goose among them. When the water stands too high for mudflats, the birds rest on bamboo islands the forest department floated on the lake. Every 12 November, Salim Ali's birthday, the Chandigarh Bird Club counts the lake's waterfowl. See Sukhna Lake.
Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary
Behind the lake the city stops and Shivalik forest begins: 26 km² of woodland and scrub, a sanctuary since 1998. Two gated ranges, Nepli and Kansal, each have a 9 km walking trail past check dams, small lakes and watchtowers, rich in forest birds. Entry is by e-permit from the forest department (approx. ₹50 for Indian visitors, ₹100 for foreigners), capped at 100 people per gate per day. Go at first light and carry water.
Siswan Dam
A reservoir inside a 2,800-hectare community reserve, protected since 2007, about 20 km out past New Chandigarh. Over 150 bird species have been counted here, and local birders treat daybreak on the bank as a standing appointment. A shore trail of about 6 km; facilities are minimal, so bring water and food.
Chandigarh Bird Park
A ten-minute walk behind Sukhna Lake in the Nagar Van woodland, opened by the forest department in 2021. These are captive birds, around 550 of some 48 species (macaws, cockatoos, pheasants, black swans), in walk-through aviaries up to 58 ft high. Good with children; not a place for wild birds. Tickets and hours are in the Bird Park card.
Inside the city
The Indian grey hornbill nests in natural hollows of old trees, which the city's mature avenue planting now provides. In February and March a single flowering semal (silk-cotton tree) can hold a dozen bird species at once. The Indian pond heron and the red-wattled lapwing are on the list too; the pond heron's Hindi name means "blind heron", because it lets people walk almost up to it before it flies.
When to go
Winter (November to February) is the season for waterfowl on Sukhna; winter mornings are the time to see the migrants. December and January can bring fog.
February and March are the best months overall: the migrants are still here, the semal trees are flowering and the days are mild (around 23–28 °C).
May and June reach 44 °C and more; if you go, go at dawn and finish by mid-morning. July to September is the monsoon, with the heaviest rain in July and August, when the sanctuary is usually closed to visitors.
At any time of year, start early: the sanctuary trails are best at first light, and Siswan's birders gather at daybreak. More in best time to visit Chandigarh.
Before you go
- Permit — For the Nepli and Kansal trails, book the e-permit on the forest department site in advance: the daily cap per gate is small.
- Binoculars — Much of Sukhna's waterfowl rests on the bamboo islands out on the lake, so binoculars help.
- Getting there — Sukhna and the Bird Park are a short auto or cab ride from the centre; Siswan and the sanctuary gates need a car. See getting around.
- More wildlife — The same forest holds sambar, chital and porcupines, and leopards occasionally wander in; see animals of Chandigarh and butterflies.
FAQ
What is the state bird of Chandigarh?
The Indian grey hornbill, adopted in 2010 together with the city's other symbols. It nests in hollows of old trees along the avenues.
Where is the best bird watching in Chandigarh?
Sukhna Lake for winter waterfowl, the Nepli and Kansal trails of Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary for forest birds (permit needed), and Siswan Dam, about 20 km out, where over 150 species have been counted.
When do migratory birds come to Sukhna Lake?
In winter. The Chandigarh Bird Club counts the lake's waterfowl every 12 November, and winter mornings are the best time to see them.
Is Chandigarh Bird Park worth visiting for bird watchers?
It is a park of captive birds, around 48 species including macaws and cockatoos, in walk-through aviaries. Good with children; for wild birds go to Sukhna or Siswan.
How much is the permit for Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary?
Approx. ₹50 for Indian visitors and ₹100 for foreigners, booked online with the forest department; each gate admits up to 100 people a day.
Sources (5)
Facts checked: 15 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.
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