Sandi Bird Sanctuary, located in Bilgram tehsil of Hardoi district in the heartland of Uttar Pradesh, is a unique example of the Gangetic Plain ecosystem. Earlier, Sandi Lake was known as Dahar Lake. During the British rule this place was famous for "duck shooting". Till the Second World War, there was a railway line here and the Viceroy used to come for hunting. After independence, hunting was banned here and in 1990 it was declared a bird sanctuary under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The lake of the bird sanctuary is in the shape of the sole of a human foot, whose area is 308.5432 hectares. Garra (Garuna Ganga) river flows near the bird sanctuary in the north-west of the lake.

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Sandi Bird Sanctuary is a shelter for millions of migratory birds. Till now 199 species of birds have been identified here, the details of which are as follows:-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Among the globally endangered bird species, Sarus Crane, Ferruginous Duck, Painted Stork, Oriental Darter, Black Necked Stork, Black Headed Ibis etc. can be commonly seen here. Due to the diversity and density of birds, Sandi Bird Sanctuary has a place among the special bird sanctuaries of India. It has been declared an Important Bird Area by the Bombay Natural History Society. Sandi Bird Sanctuary is a unique example of the rich biodiversity of the state.

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This IBA is home to a resident flock of around 200 Sarus Crane (Gopi Sundar pers. comm. 2003). It receives thousands of waterfowl in winter, primarily Brahminy Duck Tadorna ferruginea, Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina, Northern Pintail Anas acuta, Northern Shoveller A.clypeata and Cotton Teal or Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus. Other resident water birds include Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus, Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus, Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala and Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus. Except for the records by amateur birdwatchers and Forest officials, no long-term study has been done here.Click here to know about these birds.

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This Sanctuary has been designated as an IBA on the basis of the presence of up to 200 Sarus in summer, globally threatened species (BirdLife International 2001. As very large numbers of waterfowl are seen, the site would also qualify A4i criteria (presence of ≥1% biogeographic population).

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Apart from birds, the diversity of different types of butterflies, amphibians, reptiles and mammals increases the thrill of tourism. A bird interpretation center equipped with information about birds, wetlands and aquatic vegetation has also been established to provide tourists with information. Overall, Sandi Bird Sanctuary is a center of unique knowledge for tourists, school children and research students.

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Contact and Accessibility:- 

Sandi Bird Sanctuary is situated 19 km away from Hardoi city on Hardoi-Farrukhabad road in Hardoi district, at a distance of 120 km from Lucknow and 400 km from Delhi. There are access routes to this bird sanctuary from all sides. To reach here, one can come from Lucknow to Hardoi by rail or road and from Hardoi by road. This bird sanctuary is just 200 meters away from the main road, about one kilometer away from Sandi town on Hardoi-Farrukhabad road.

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Fees payable for entry into the sanctuary: 

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NOTE:- DO'S AND DONT'S IN SANCTUARY. Click here.

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