Nature and animal lovers are always in search of locations that can keep them closer to nature. However, when you are living within a city it is a little tough to get too close to nature. But at present Kolkata still boasts few locations that are perfect places to visit for nature lovers. Also for birdwatchers this can be like visiting a treasure trove. I am talking about the Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary in Kolkata. This is a rich bird sanctuary that houses over 150 varieties of birds here. And for birdwatchers visiting this sanctuary will be the ultimate form of exploration. However, even for regular tourists and locals spotting so many varieties of birds at a single place can be equally interesting.
So if you are searching for a place where you can stay close to nature then you can surely visit the Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary. Located very much within the city this sanctuary promises a lot of fun for people who love birds, animals and plants. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you probably need to know about this bird sanctuary in Kolkata. It would definitely be a helpful read for you if you are planning a visit to this sanctuary soon.
Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary
Location: Ramchandrapur, Hogulkuria Rajpur Road, Narendrapur, Kolkata, West Bengal
Location on Google Map
Timings: The timings for winters are from 7 am to 5 pm and for summers it is 6 am to 5 pm on all days of the week
Entry fee: Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary ticket price is Rs. 50 per person
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport to reach the sanctuary is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. From the airport the sanctuary is located at a distance of 29.8 km and it would take around an hour to reach there from the airport. You can take buses or mini buses going towards Garia from the airport. Or else you can also take a yellow taxi or hire a cab to reach the bird Sanctuary from the airport as well.
By train
The nearest railway station to reach the bird sanctuary is the Sealdah station which is a major railway station. From the station the bird sanctuary is 18.6 km away and you can reach there in about 42 minutes. Another major railway station is the Howrah railway station. From the Howrah station the bird sanctuary is 26.8 km away. It would take you around 1 hour and 10 minutes to reach there from the railway station. From the railway stations you can get buses or mini buses going towards Garia or Rathtala. Or else you can also take a yellow taxi or hire a cab to reach there.
For local trains the nearest railway station is the Sonarpur railway station. You can take a train at the Sealdah Diamond Harbour line to reach Sonarpur station. From the station you will get auto rickshaws to reach the sanctuary. Or else you can take a cab or a taxi as well.
By road
The city buses are a convenient and cost effective way to reach the Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary. There are multiple buses and mini buses from different parts of the city to reach there. However you need to board a bus going towards Baruipur, Garia or Rathtala. From Rathtala the sanctuary is only 6.4 km away. You can get down at the Garia stop as well. From there the sanctuary is 4.7 km away and you can reach there in about 10 minutes.
By metro
If you are travelling by metro then the nearest metro station to reach the sanctuary would be Kavi Subhash Metro Station. The metro station is 6.4 km away from the sanctuary and it would take you around 14 minutes to reach there from the metro station. You can easily get auto rickshaws from the metro station to reach the sanctuary.
Best time to visit
The ideal time to visit this sanctuary would be either the winter time or the springtime. This is basically the birding season and if you are visiting here during this time you would get to see the maximum variety of birds here. Especially if you are visiting here during March to April you can see the birds sitting on top of the trees. Also many migratory birds also visit here during these periods as well. Some of the popular varieties are Cotton Teal, Tiny Long Legged Pheasant Tailed Jacana, Quacking Gadwall and more.
Moreover you should completely avoid your visit here during the monsoon. If you are visiting here during monsoon bird spotting will be an issue. So plan your trip accordingly to enjoy the best experience here.
Overview of Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary
Named after renowned sculptor Chinatamani Kar, the Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary is a popular bird sanctuary located in the heart of Kolkata. Also popular as the Kayaler Bagan this sanctuary is one of the richest sanctuaries with rich avifaunal variety along with insects, butterflies, mammals and reptiles. However not just that the sanctuary also houses a rich floral variety as well. With trees like mango, jackfruit, tamarind, bamboo, guava, dumur etc the variety is huge. And due to the presence of so many trees here the location boosts a rich biodiversity as well.
Located in the Rathtala area, this is a sanctuary spreading across 17 acres. In 1982 this sanctuary was declared as a sanctuary and from then it has been a popular site for visitors in the city as well. With over 150 species of birds here the location is a treasure trove for birdwatchers as well. So if you are a nature and animal lover then this will be a wonderful location for you to explore.
History of Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary
Before becoming a bird sanctuary this area was basically a huge abandoned mango orchard. There were huge mango trees here and around them there was only wasteland. Many of the trees here are even more than 100 years old. Previously however the area was even bigger spreading across 27 acres. But later when the government acquired the area they reduced it to 17 acres which is the current area of the sanctuary as well. In 1982 however the area got the recognition as a bird sanctuary.
Later in 2005 the West Bengal government acquired the sanctuary from private owners. The government also took an initiative to make the sanctuary accessible to the general public. In 2004, 8th September the sanctuary was named as the Narendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary. Later in 21st October 2005 it got its name as the Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary. This name was given to the sanctuary to honour the efforts of Chintamani Kar who was a famous artist and sculptor who struggled to get the status of Kayaler Bagan to this sanctuary.
Bird species in Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary
Almost about 150 bird species are present in this bird sanctuary and therefore it is a popular spot for the visitors as well. From the exotic birds to rare birds and even common birds the variety here is huge. Some of the birds here are Rufous Woodpecker, Asian Koel, Shikra, White Throated Kingfisher etc. Also you will find Stork Billed Kingfisher, Black Kite, Common Kingfisher etc. And Spotted Dove, Emerald Dove, Asian Palm Swift, Common iora, Rock Pigeon are seen here as well. Furthermore there are Sunbird, Indian Pond Heron, Munia, and Ashy Wood Swallow. The variety certainly doesn’t end here. You will also find Brown Fish Owl, Hawk Cuckoo, Lineated Barbet, Orange Breasted Green Pigeon, Large Tailed Nightjar etc. And there are Bulbul, Crested Serpent Eagle, Green Bee Eater, Jungle Babbler, and Greater Flameback also.
However these were all about the common birds. But other than that there are some rare birds here also. These include Tickell’s Thrush, Blue Throated Flycatcher, Scarlet Backed Flowerpecker, Chestnut Trained Sterling, Eurasian Woodcock, Oriental Magpie Robin, Little Spiderhunter etc. Also you will find Lineated Barbet, Blue Throated Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Black Hooded Oriole etc.
Other species in Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary
Other than birds the sanctuary is also popular for different species of butterflies. You can find varieties of peacock pansies, red jezebels etc. Furthermore you will find varieties of animals here as well. These include monitor lizards, Civet Cats, Jungle Cats, Mongoose, Snakes, Jackals etc.
Things to remember before visiting
1. It would be ideal to visit here early in the morning or late in the evening. This is basically the ideal time to spot most of the birds. So try to visit during that time.
2. You should carry your binoculars for a better experience. Furthermore you must carry your cameras here as well if you wish to capture the various birds through your lens. So do not forget to carry these things when you are visiting this sanctuary.
3. Since this is like a forest area with a lot of trees, shrubs and bushes there can be insects or mosquitoes here. So it would be recommended to carry your own mosquito repellants and wear dresses that cover major portions of your body.
4. You should keep your phones on silent mode and avoid any sort of loud noise here as it might distract the birds. So maintain silence so that the animals and birds don’t get scared.
5. You should not carry any sorts of food inside the sanctuary as it is not allowed here. Moreover, this is followed to keep the sanctuary plastic free.
6. Do not go near the birds and animals and click photographs from a distance.
7. You must stick to the trail here and not venture deep inside the forest, otherwise you might get lost.
8. Refrain from playing any musical instruments here.
9. Follow the rules and decorum of the location.
10. Do not indulge in any such activity that might harm the peace of the birds and animals here.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about the Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary and now you should plan a visit to this location as soon as you can. These days it is rare to find a place like this where you can remain so close to nature. Moreover, since the sanctuary is located within the city itself, you can visit here without any hassle. So when are you planning a visit to this bird sanctuary? Also do let me know if this article is helpful for you in planning a trip to this sanctuary in Kolkata.
