About the Event

Ranganathittu sits on a series of rocky islets in the Cauvery river, 130 km from Bengaluru. Declared a bird sanctuary in 1940, it hosts tens of thousands of birds from June through November, with significant resident populations year-round.

Our guided visit includes a coracle boat ride through the islets — the best way to observe nesting colonies at close range — followed by a walkthrough of the riverbank trail.

What You May See

Waterbirds

  • Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala)
  • Asian open-bill stork (Anastomus oscitans)
  • Little cormorant and Indian cormorant
  • Black-crowned night heron
  • Purple heron

Raptors

  • Brahminy kite
  • White-bellied sea eagle (occasional)

Other Wildlife

  • Mugger crocodile (commonly seen on the islets)
  • Indian flying fox (large fruit bat colonies)
  • Smooth-coated otter (early morning)

Schedule

  • 6:00 AM — Meet at sanctuary entrance. Entry tickets and briefing.
  • 6:30 AM — First boat ride (45 minutes)
  • 7:30 AM — Riverbank trail walk with guide (1.5 km)
  • 9:00 AM — Second boat ride (optional, for those who want more time)
  • 10:00 AM — Open time for independent photography
  • 11:00 AM — Event ends

What to Bring

  • Binoculars (essential — even basic 8×42 will greatly improve the experience)
  • Camera with a telephoto lens if you have one
  • Field guide (we recommend Birds of Karnataka or the eBird app)
  • Muted clothing — avoid white
  • Sun hat and sunscreen
  • Water and light snacks

Getting There

By car: take the Mysuru Road (NH275), exit at Srirangapatna. The sanctuary is 3 km from the town centre. Parking available at the entrance.

By train: Srirangapatna railway station is 4 km from the sanctuary. Auto-rickshaws available.

Group Size

Maximum 16 participants per boat. Two boats will be arranged for larger groups.