Wavage786 at 04:35, 22 February 2026

2026-02-22T04:35:05Z

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{{Short description|Protected wetland in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Bakhira Sanctuary
| alt_name =
| iucn_category = IV
| image = Bakhira Bird Sanctury.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Bakhira lake
| image_size =
| map = India Uttar Pradesh#India
| relief = 1
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| map_width =
| coordinates = {{coords|26.9063589|83.104282|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Sant Kabir Nagar district]] of Eastern [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| nearest_city = [[sant Kabir nagar district]]
| region =
| area =
| established = 1980
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = [[Government of India]]
| world_heritage_site =
| url =
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 10
| mapframe-marker = waterbody
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
| module = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_offname = Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary
| designation1_date = 29 June 2021
| designation1_number = 2465<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2465|access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref>}}
}}

The '''Bakhira Bird Sanctuary''' is the largest natural flood plain wetland of [[India]] in [[Sant Kabir Nagar district]] of Eastern [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The sanctuary was established in 1980. It is situated 44 km west of [[Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh|Gorakhpur]] city 18 km away from khalilabad and 55 km away from basti. It is a vast stretch of water body expanding over an area of 29 km<sup>2</sup>.
This is an important lake of eastern UP, which provides a wintering and staging ground for a number of migratory waterfowls and a breeding ground for resident birds. This is also used for farming activities as it is connected to Bakhira Canal which covers the people of 15 km from its origin. The sanctuary is named after the village Bakhira located adjacent to the lake along with as many as hundred and eight villages surrounding the lake within the 5 km radius. The villagers from the surrounding villages depend on the wetland for their livelihood in the form of fishing, agricultural activities and fuelwood collection from it. The Siberians birds travel across 5000 km to get to these wetlands at the time of winter's.

It was designated as a [[Ramsar site|Ramsar Site]] on [[World Wetlands Day]] (2 February 2022).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://easternuptourism.com/Bakhira-Bird-Sanctuary-G.jsp |title=Bakhira Bird Sanctuary |access-date=2012-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002123906/http://easternuptourism.com/Bakhira-Bird-Sanctuary-G.jsp |archive-date=2013-10-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Bird migrations ==
Best time to visit to bakhira lake is in winters Nov–Jan. During this time [[migratory birds]] from [[Tibet]], [[China]], [[Europe]] & [[Siberia]] come here, covering about 5000 km.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://easternuptourism.com/Bakhira-Bird-Sanctuary-G.jsp |title=Bakhira Bird Sanctuary |access-date=2012-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002123906/http://easternuptourism.com/Bakhira-Bird-Sanctuary-G.jsp |archive-date=2013-10-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Tourism==
By Road-1. Can be accessed via Gorakhpur-Khalilabad (35 km), through NH-28, then 17 km on Khalilabad-Bansi road
2. From Gorakhpur to Sahjanwa (20 km) on NH-28, then 23 km from Sahjanwa to Jaswal Bharwaliya & 3 km from Jaswal Bharwaliya village
By Rail-Nearest railhead Khalilabad on Gorakhpur-Lucknow NER Railway Line
By Air-Gorakhpur Airport 49 km <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://easternuptourism.com/Bakhira-Bird-Sanctuary-G.jsp |title=Bakhira Bird Sanctuary |access-date=2012-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002123906/http://easternuptourism.com/Bakhira-Bird-Sanctuary-G.jsp |archive-date=2013-10-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Attraction==
The [[Grey-headed swamphen]] ''(Porphyrio poliocephalus)'' also called the '''Indian Purple moorhen''' or '''Purple Swamp-hen''' is one of the beautiful common water birds found in India. A handsome but clumsy purplish blue bird with long red legs and toes, bald red forehead and size resembling the village hen. This bird is a common breeding resident of this sanctuary and is locally coined with the name "'''Kaima'''".

[[File:Migratory Birds in bakhira.JPG|thumb|Types of birds coming to bakhira, Poster of forest department office in bakhira]]

[[File:Grass lands.JPG|thumb|Farm lands near lake]]

[[File:Local children.JPG|thumb|Local children]]

There are more than 30 species of fish found in the lake. However the dominant species are [[Rohu|Labeo rohita]] and Chana sp.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Bakhira Sanctuary}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Bakhira Sanctuary}}
*[https://archive.today/20070813104425/http://www.wii.gov.in/publications/newsletter/annual2002/article9.htm https://archive.today/20070813104425/http://www.wii.gov.in/publications/newsletter/annual2002/article9.htm]
*[http://www.india9.com/i9show/Bakhira-Wildlife-Sanctuary-46427.htm http://www.india9.com/i9show/Bakhira-Wildlife-Sanctuary-46427.htm]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131002123906/http://easternuptourism.com/Bakhira-Bird-Sanctuary-G.jsp]

{{Protected areas in Uttar Pradesh}}
{{Ramsar sites in India}}

[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Bird sanctuaries of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Sant Kabir Nagar district]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of India]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in India]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1980]]

{{SantKabirNagar-geo-stub}}

Bakhira Sanctuary - Revision history

Wavage786 at 04:35, 22 February 2026