2.24 SQ KM • Ramsar Wetland Site • Unnao, Uttar Pradesh

Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary

A tranquil 2.24 sq km Ramsar wetland oasis along the Lucknow-Kanpur highway in Unnao district, officially named Shahid Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary — hosting over 25,000 wintering migratory waterfowl, breeding Sarus Cranes, and a captive deer park.

Location / District
Unnao District, UP
Total Protected Area
2.24 sq km (224 Hectares)
Ramsar Status
Ramsar Site No. 2412 (2019)
Official Renaming
Shahid Chandra Shekhar Azad Sanctuary
Flagship Fauna
Sarus Crane • Northern Pintail • Painted Stork

Overview: The Avian Oasis on the Highway

Conveniently situated along National Highway 27 (the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway corridor) in Unnao district, approximately 45 kilometers from Kanpur and 43 kilometers from Lucknow, Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary spans 2.24 square kilometers around a shallow, perennial freshwater lake basin.

Originally established in 1984 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, the sanctuary was officially renamed the **Shahid Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary** in 2015 in tribute to the great revolutionary freedom fighter born in Badarka village of Unnao district. In September 2019, Nawabganj was formally designated as a **Ramsar Wetland of International Importance (Site No. 2412)**.

Acting as a crucial wetland stepping stone along the **Central Asian Flyway**, Nawabganj welcomes over **25,000 migratory waterfowl** every winter from Siberia, Central Asia, and the trans-Himalayan Tibetan plateau, while providing secure year-round breeding habitat for India's national and state birds, including **Sarus Cranes** (Antigone antigone), **Painted Storks**, **Asian Openbills**, and **Black-headed Ibises**.

Wetland Limnology & Plantation Buffer Zones

The shallow lake basin is encircled by carefully managed woodland plantations:

Limnological Profile of Nawabganj Sanctuary

Ecosystem Zone Vegetation / Macrophyte Structure Primary Avian Guilds
Open Central Lake Basin Submerged Hydrilla, Vallisneria, Chara, water lilies. Diving ducks (Pochards, Tufted Ducks), Great Cormorants, Little Grebes.
Littoral Reedbeds & Lotus Mats Lotus (Nelumbo), water chestnut, Cattail (Typha), sedges. Dabbling ducks (Pintails, Shovelers, Garganeys), Jacanas, Swamphens.
Fringe Heronry Plantations Semal, Kadamb, Jamun, Shisham, Babool, Neem. Canopy nesting for Asian Openbills, Painted Storks, White Ibises, Herons.
Spotted Deer (Cheetal) Enclosure Grassland paddock and shade groves within the sanctuary park. Captive breeding herd of Spotted Deer and Barking Deer for nature education.

To ensure reliable water levels during drought years, the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department operates dedicated feeder channels connected to the Sharda Canal system, maintaining optimal feeding depth for long-legged waders and surface-feeding ducks throughout winter.

Avian Spectrum & Migratory Waterfowl

Over 250 species of resident and migratory birds have been recorded at Nawabganj:

Sarus Crane
Antigone antigone • UP State Bird
Lifelong monogamous pairs nest in shallow reedbeds along the lake perimeter, performing graceful courtship dances.
Northern Pintail
Anas acuta • Elegant Winter Migrant
Graceful slender duck arriving in large flocks from Arctic Siberia, up-ending in shallow water to feed on seeds and aquatic weeds.
Painted Stork
Mycteria leucocephala • Heronry Colonial Breeder
Nests in large raucous colonies in shoreline Kadamb trees, sweeping its open bill through muddy water to snap up fish.
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufina • Winter Diving Duck
Dives in the deeper central open waters, its brilliant crimson-orange crest glowing brightly in morning sunlight.
Bronze-winged Jacana
Metopidius indicus • Lily Trotter
Walks across floating lotus pads on exceptionally long toes, feeding on insects, mollusks, and tender seeds.
Black-headed Ibis
Threskiornis melanocephalus • Near Threatened
Probes soft shoreline mud with its long curved black beak, roosting communally in tall Semal trees.

Other recorded waterfowl include the **Greylag Goose**, **Bar-headed Goose**, **Mallard**, **Gadwall**, **Northern Shoveler**, **Common Teal**, **Eurasian Wigeon**, **Purple Swamphen**, and **Great Crested Grebe**.

Chandra Shekhar Azad Memorial & Eco-Interpretation

Nawabganj pays homage to one of the most revered heroes of India's independence movement. **Chandra Shekhar Azad (1906–1931)** traces his ancestral roots to Badarka village in Unnao district. The sanctuary's modern interpretation center features an informative memorial gallery highlighting Azad's revolutionary life alongside comprehensive interactive exhibits on trans-Himalayan bird migration routes.

The sanctuary is designed as an accessible nature education campus, equipped with paved walking paths, raised observation watchtowers with mounted spotting scopes, and a specialized **deer rehabilitation park** sheltering rescued Cheetals and Barking Deer.

Active partnership between local school nature clubs from Kanpur, Unnao, and Lucknow ensures that thousands of students visit Nawabganj every winter for guided bird identification workshops, fostering lifelong environmental consciousness.

Ornithological banding and ringing stations operated by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) at Nawabganj have documented long-distance flyway returns of tagged Common Teals and Northern Pintails from as far as Lake Baikal and northern Kazakhstan, underlining the global conservation importance of this compact wetland.

Visitor Experience, Watchtowers & Practical Details

Nawabganj is the ideal half-day eco-outing from Lucknow or Kanpur:

Safari Planning & Practical Details

  • Best Visiting Months: November through March. Peak winter (December to February) brings maximum numbers of migratory ducks, geese, and waders.
  • Visiting Timings: 06:00 AM to 05:30 PM daily.
  • Watchtowers & Spotting Scopes: Four strategically located watchtowers provide panoramic viewing across the main lake body and nesting heronries.
  • Interpretation Center & Deer Park: Includes an audio-visual hall, nature library, children's park, and landscaped walking promenade.
  • Accommodation: UP Tourism Motel and Forest Guest House inside the sanctuary complex; luxury hotels available in Kanpur (45 km) and Lucknow (43 km).

How to Reach Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary

Located directly on the prime National Highway 27 (Kanpur-Lucknow Road):

Gateway Transit Routes

  • From Unnao City (District HQ): Approx. 18 km northeast via NH-27 (approx. 20 minutes by car or bus).
  • From Lucknow City (State Capital): Approx. 43 km southwest via NH-27 (approx. 45 minutes via expressway).
  • From Kanpur City: Approx. 45 km northeast via NH-27 (approx. 50 minutes).
  • By Train: Kusumbhi Railway Station (~2 km) and Unnao Junction (ON) (~18 km) connect local passenger and express trains; Kanpur Central (CNB) (~45 km) and Lucknow Charbagh (LKO) (~43 km) connect high-speed express trains.
  • Nearest Airport: Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport Lucknow (LKO) (~35 km) and Kanpur Airport (KNU) (~55 km).

Explore Unnao District — Freedom Heritage, Holy Bithoor & Leather Craft

Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary is the peaceful green jewel of Unnao. Visit the historic birthplace memorial of Chandra Shekhar Azad at Badarka, explore the holy ghats of Bithoor along the Ganga nearby, and experience the warm hospitality of central Uttar Pradesh.

View Unnao District Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary famous for?
Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary is famous as a designated Ramsar Wetland Site (2.24 sq km) hosting over 25,000 winter migratory waterfowl, breeding Sarus Cranes, a deer park, and the Shahid Chandra Shekhar Azad memorial.
Where is Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary located?
Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary is located in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, directly along National Highway 27 midway between Lucknow (43 km) and Kanpur (45 km).
When was Nawabganj designated as a Ramsar Site?
Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary was officially designated as a Ramsar Wetland Site (Site No. 2412) in September 2019.
What is the official new name of Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary?
In 2015, the sanctuary was officially renamed the Shahid Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary in honor of the legendary revolutionary freedom fighter born in Unnao.