The Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is situated at 4 Kms. from Srirangapatna and 19 Kms. from Mysore.

The Bird Sanctuary is named after Sri Ranganatha Swamy, an incarnation of Hindu God Vishnu. It is an island on the river Cauvery and it is spread on an area of 40 acres.

The Sanctuary includes six islands and was declared a bird sanctuary in 1940.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary: A God gifted piece of land on the bank of Kaveri is Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is a destination perfect for a day trip from Bangalore.

Plenty of migratory birds circle the sky above you as a boat takes you on a wonderful tour. The bird sanctuary is near to Mysore and in the Mandya District of the Karnataka state.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is the largest bird sanctuary in the state and should be on the list for every bird lover, children, and wildlife & nature lovers.

Ranganathittu is a bird sanctuary that can be visited throughout the year by bird lovers. Easily accessible from Bangalore, en-route to Mysore Ranganathittu bird sanctuary, visiting this place is a great option for both children and adults.

Best time to visit Ranganathittu bird sanctuary early in the morning and hire a boat. November heralds in the winter migrants who stay put until March, adding to the already numerous varieties of birds you can see here.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary Information

The Sanctuary is named after the famous Hindu God Sri Ranganatha Swamy, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The bird sanctuary spans over an area of 40 acres with the Kaveri River flowing through the Sanctuary.

In around the 1600s, a small dam across the Kaveri River led to the formation of Ranganathittu. It was because of world-renowned ornithologist Dr Salim Ali’s determination and ability to convince the then Mysore Maharaja that Ranganathittu declared as a protected area. This heavenly bird place was declared as a bird sanctuary in the year of 1940.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary has 13 islands and it is home to 219 bird and water species.

Best Time To Visit Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary:

The best time to visit the Ranganathittu bird sanctuary timings is from 9 to 11 AM. The Sanctuary is open for visitors from 8:30 AM to 5:45 PM (Monday to Sunday). Lucky to visit the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in January, which as per the park guard is also the best season to visit the migratory bird’s paradise.

From June to September marks the monsoon season & another great season as these are the nesting month for the birds. However, do note that due to water rise in the Kaveri River, the boating facility would not be there.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary Boating Timings:

Ranganathittu Sanctuary Boating Timings – When at the Sanctuary, you must go for a boat ride at the river, and the islets as guided boat trips are the best facilities available at the sanctuary.

The boat ride offers you not just with a breath-taking scenic beauty but also with glimpses of a wide variety of beautiful birds as well.

During your boat ride, you can enjoy the impressive landscape of the Sanctuary & catch glimpses of crocodiles, bats, and otters along with the migratory birds.

The bank of Cauvery River is also popular as picnic spots. Boating charges for Indians are Rs.50 per person in share while for foreigners it is Rs.300 per person. 

The exclusive private boat can be available for Rs 1,000/- which you can enjoy a private safari. It is best to take a boat ride in the morning to witness the natural & fresh beauty of the area. The boat ride lasts for 30 mins or so. We recommend taking morning boat rides to avoid the crowd during the day and prevent the noon heat.

The lake is a prime spot for bird watching and you will observe bountiful views of birds in their natural habitat. You opt for a private boat if you want to spend some more time trying to capture the perfect shot of a bird, crocodile, or habitat. We opted for the common boat as the private boat was not available for us.

Food & Accommodation at Ranganathittu Bird  Sanctuary

You won’t find the facility of lodging in around Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, so tourists are required to either stay at Mysore, Vrindavan, or Srirangapatna which are nearby to the Sanctuary. There is a facility of a small canteen near the lake.

We would suggest eating in the cafeteria unless you are hungry as the prices are high with limited availability. You may try fresh sugarcane juice at the entrance area (Rs 20/-). 

You can have your excellent lunch at Poojari’s Fish land, which you will locate using Google maps on the way towards Mysore and is roughly 5 Km from the Sanctuary.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is no ordinary place and is worth visiting if you are-

• Nature Lover
• Have respect and curiosity for different species of native and migratory birds
• Looking for an offbeat destination in around Bangalore with kids
• Only admire God’s gift to the people of Karnataka
• Lazy Crocodile sitting or swimming in the Kaveri

Bird Sanctuary Distance from Bangalore & Mysore

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is at a distance of 19 km from historical Mysore city, and about 128 km from the garden city of Bangalore.

The bird sanctuary is at a distance of just 5km from the Srirangapatna. When coming from Bangalore to Mysore, take the sharp right after the  Srirangapatna town and follow the road towards Vrindavan garden.

After 3 Km take the right turn (signage of Ranganathittu Sanctuary). Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is easily accessible via road. As it is only 19 km away from Mysore, you can either hire a taxi to the sanctuary or travel by bus.

There are regular government as well as private buses that run between Mysore and Srirangapatna. In Srirangapatna you can hire an auto-rickshaw and reach the bird sanctuary.

One can go travel via train to the Srirangapatna railway station. From Bangalore city, it is at a distance of about 129 km.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary Entry & Parking Fee

The visitor can enter the Ranganathittu Bird sanctuary by paying the entry fee for Indians is Rs.60 per person while for visitors with a nationality other than Indian, it is Rs.300 per person (updated Jan -2017). Car parking is Rs 30/-

The entry timings of Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary are from 8.30 am.. to 5.45 p.m. 

 Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Mysore Timings                                    

• Monday  9:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Tuesday  9:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Wednesday  9:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Thursday  9:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Friday  9:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Saturday  9:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Sunday  9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Entry Fee:

Indians Adult: Rs.50/-   Child: Rs.25/-                                                                                             

Foreigners Adult: Rs.300/-                                                                  

Boating Charges

Indians Adult: Rs.50/-   Child: Rs.25/-                                                                                             

Foreigners Adult: Rs.300/-  

Parking Fees

Bus: Rs.125/-  Car: Rs.30/-  MotorCycle: Rs.15/-   Bicycle: Rs.5/-

LCV: Rs.75/-

Camera Charges

Large Video Camera: Rs.500/-

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary Famous Flora & fauna 

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is an important nesting and breeding ground for the thousands of bird species. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary witnesses the arrival of a large number of migratory birds of different flocks from as far as Siberia, North America, and Australia.

The migratory birds start arriving at the Ranganathittu Bird sanctuary in December and the breeding season starts during the winter months and they finally migrate back with their nestlings in August.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary islands host numerous mammals and migratory birds. Some of them are Bonnet Macaque, colonies of Flying Fox, and common small mammals like Indian Gray Mongoose, the monitor lizard, and Civet.

The Marsh Crocodile also called the Mugger Crocodile is a common inhabitant of the riverine reed beds. Migratory waterbirds include Painted Stork, Asian Openbill Stork, Common Spoonbill, Woolly-necked Stork, Black-headed Ibis, White Ibis, Lesser Whistling Duck, Indian Shag, Stork-billed Kingfisher and other common birds like egrets, cormorants, Oriental Darter, and herons.

The Great Stone Plover and River Tern also nest here. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is home to a large flock of Streak-throated Swallows.

Ranger-guided boat tours of the islands are available throughout the day and are a good way to watch birds, crocodiles, otters, and bats.

The seasons for visiting the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary park are June – November (during the nesting season of the water birds).

Alluring Flora and Fauna at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

Flora at this place is comprised of deciduous forests, bamboo, figs, Jamun, karanji and eucalyptus, etc. This Ranganathittu bird sanctuary also offers a picturesque setting.

As you enter the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary area, you will find a huge spread of bamboo trees. Throughout the path, you can see various boards with pictures and names of the birds that can be spotted here.

There is also a facility of a small canteen near the lake. However, there is no facility of accommodation here, so tourists are required to either stay at Mysore or Srirangapatna.

In 1940, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary becomes a protected reserve. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary scenic beauty and rich avian fauna are worth experiencing.

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