AyushAmar at 23:58, 22 February 2026

2026-02-22T23:58:27Z

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{{Short description|Bird sanctuary in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2017}}
{{cleanup reorganize|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Karnala Bird Sanctuary
| alt_name =
| iucn_category = IV
| image = Karnala 006.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = The Karnala fort pinnacle, around which the sanctuary is located
| image_size =
| map = India Maharashtra#India
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| map_width =
| relief = 1
| mapframe = Yes
| location = [[Panvel]] taluka, [[Raigad District]], Maharashtra, India
| nearest_city = [[Panvel]] and [[Khopoli]]
| coordinates = {{coord|18|54|31|N|73|6|9|E|display=inline, title}}
| area_km2 = 446
| established =
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = Maharashtra State Forest Department
| url =
}}
The '''Karnala Bird Sanctuary''' is located in [[Panvel]] Taluka of [[Raigad District]], outside [[Mumbai]], [[India]] near [[Matheran]] and [[Karjat]].It is the first bird sanctuary in Maharashtra.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Quick Getaways: Visit the Karnala Bird Sanctuary in Maharashtra for an exotic experience |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/travel/quick-getaways-visit-the-karnala-bird-sanctuary-in-maharashtra-for-an-exotic-experience/articleshow/52760065.cms |access-date=2022-12-13}}</ref> The sanctuary is quite small with an area of 12.11 square kilometres but is, along with the [[Sanjay Gandhi National Park]] and [[Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary]], one of the few sanctuaries to be within reach of the city of [[Mumbai]].

==Location==
The sanctuary is centered on the historic [[Karnala Fort]] and lies just off the [[Mumbai]]-[[Pune]] national highway to [[Goa]]. It is located 12 km from [[Panvel]]. The nearest railhead is [[Panvel]]. Regular buses at an interval of 30 minutes are available from Panvel Bus Stand from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm. The sanctuary is open for visitors from 7am to 3pm. There are many hotels and resorts located near the sanctuary. There are two government rest houses inside the sanctuary area.

==About==
The bird sanctuary is a popular destination for bird-watchers and [[hikers]] in the Mumbai area.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |last2= |date=2019-04-24 |title=Visiting Karnala Bird Sanctuary - Headlines of Today |url=https://www.headlinesoftoday.com/topic/visiting-karnala-bird-sanctuary.html |access-date=2022-12-13 |language=en-US |archive-date=19 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119081846/https://www.headlinesoftoday.com/topic/visiting-karnala-bird-sanctuary.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The sanctuary is home to over 222 species birds of which 161 are resident species, 46 are winter [[Migratory bird|migrant species]], three are breeding migrants, seven species are passage migrants and five species are vagrant.<ref name="auto">[[:File:Birds of Karnala Bird Sanctuary, District Raigad, Maharashtra.pdf|Checklist of birds of Karnala Bird Sanctuary, District Raigad, Maharashtra published in Newsletter for Birdwatchers]]</ref> Following eight species endemic to [[Western Ghats]] has been found in Karnala: [[Grey-fronted Green-pigeon]] (Treron affinis), [[Nilgiri Woodpigeon]] (Columba elphinstonii), [[Blue-winged parakeet|Malabar (Blue-winged) Parakeet]] (Psittacula columboides), [[Malabar Grey Hornbill]] (Ocyceros griseus), [[White-cheeked Barbet]] (Megalaima viridis), [[Malabar Lark]] (Galerida malabarica), Small Sunbird ([[Leptocoma minima]]) and Vigor's Sunbird ([[Aethopyga vigorsii]]).<ref name="auto"/>
Five rare birds, the [[ashy minivet]], [[three-toed kingfisher]], [[Malabar trogon]], [[Slaty-legged Crake (Rallina eurizonoides)]], and [[Rufous-bellied Eagle (Lophotriorchis kienerii)]] have been sighted here.<ref name="auto"/> The Sanctuary is also an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) satisfying A1 (Globally threatened species) and A2 (Restricted-range species) criteria.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas in India Priority sites for conservation. Vol 1 & 2|publisher=Bombay Natural History Society, BirdLife International & RSPB, UK|year=2016|isbn=978-93-84678-02-9|pages=1284–1287}}</ref> The sanctuary is also home to 114 species of butterflies.<ref>[[:File:Butterflies of Karnala Bird Sanctuary Kasambe BIONOTES 2016.pdf|thumb|Butterflies of Karnala Bird Sanctuary Kasambe BIONOTES 2016]]</ref>

The [[Karnala fort]] is located on the top of the hill in the sanctuary. It is about 1hr. medium hard trek to Karnala fort.

There was a sighting of a [[leopard]] at Karnala.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-leopard-sighted-at-karnala-sanctuary-2195616|title=Leopard sighted at Karnala sanctuary|first=Virat A.|last=Singh|date=30 March 2016|website=DNA India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/trekkers-villagers-on-alert-due-to-leopard-sighting-near-karnala-sanctuary/articleshow/51622133.cms|title=Trekkers, villagers on alert due to leopard sighting near Karnala sanctuary | Mumbai News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=30 March 2016 }}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
File:Karnala bird santuary 1.jpg|Sanctuary
File:Karnala bird santuary 2.jpg|Bird view tower
File:KarnalaWS.jpg|Forest from the top of fort
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage|Karnala Bird Sanctuary}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140419070750/http://www.thanewildlife.org/ www.thanewildlife.org] - Official website of Maharashtra Government

[[Category:North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests]]
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries of the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Bird sanctuaries of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Raigad district]]
[[Category:Protected areas with year of establishment missing]]

Karnala Bird Sanctuary - Revision history

AyushAmar at 23:58, 22 February 2026