Chambal
Rajasthan
Best time to visit: November to March
Peak winter: December–February – when migratory birds (e.g., ducks, geese, terns) arrive in numbers, weather is cool/pleasant (10–30°C), visibility is excellent on boat safaris, and bird activity peaks. November–February maximizes sightings of overwintering species and breeding residents like skimmers.
Summer: April–June – is hot/dry with fewer migrants
Monsoon: July–October – closes most areas due to high water/rain—avoid for birding.
Visible Species
✔ Indian Skimmer.
✔ Black-bellied Tern.
✔ River Tern.
✔ Sarus Crane.
✔ Bar-headed Goose.
✔ Ruddy Shelduck.
✔ Great Thick-knee (Great Stone-curlew).
✔ Small Pratincole.
✔ Pallas’s Fish Eagle.
✔ Grey-headed Lapwing.
✔ River Lapwing.
✔ Red-wattled Lapwing.
✔ Woolly-necked Stork.
✔ Black-necked Stork (Jabiru).
✔ Lesser Whistling Duck.
National Chambal Sanctuary (also known as National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary) is a unique tri-state protected area spanning ~5,400 sq km across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh along the pristine Chambal River in northern/central India. Established in 1978–1979 primarily to conserve the critically endangered gharial, it also protects endangered Ganges river dolphins, marsh crocodiles, rare turtles, smooth-coated otters, and other wildlife. The riverine ecosystem features clean waters, sandbanks, ravines, scrub forests, and grasslands—ideal for river safaris by boat. It supports over 320–340 bird species (resident and migratory), including many river specialists, waders, raptors, and threatened species. Famous as one of the best spots for the rare Indian Skimmer (often breeding in colonies), it’s an Important Bird Area (IBA) and proposed Ramsar site. Boat trips from bases like Bah (UP), Pinahat, or Pali Ghat offer prime viewing of avian and aquatic life amid dramatic scenery—perfect for birders combining with gharial/dolphin sightings.