📍 Darbhanga, North Bihar, Bihar
A seasonally flooded wetland in Darbhanga's Kusheshwar Asthan block, fed by overflow from the Kamla river. Each winter it becomes a refuge for thousands of migratory birds flying in from Mongolia and Siberia, including several threatened species. Notified in 1994, it is one of North Bihar's important havens for waterfowl.
Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary is a protected wetland spread over roughly 29 sq km across several villages of the Kusheshwar Asthan block in Darbhanga district. Lying in the northern Gangetic plains, its shallow marshes and grasslands are sustained by monsoon rains and overflow from the Kamla river. It was notified as a bird sanctuary in 1994.
The sanctuary is best known as a winter haven for migratory birds travelling from as far as Mongolia and Siberia. Species recorded here include the bar-headed goose and a range of ducks, storks, egrets and waders, with several globally threatened birds among the visitors. Note that agricultural pressure and water diversion have shrunk parts of the wetland in recent years.
The nearby Kusheshwar Nath (Kusheshwar Sthan) temple, a well-known Shiva shrine, gives the area its name and draws pilgrims through the year.
November to February, when migratory birds are most numerous. Early morning gives the best viewing.
Forts & Palaces The grand, nowruined royal palace of the Darbhanga Raj at Rajnagar, near Madhubani, built by Maharaja Rameshwar Singh in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Spread over a huge estate with palaces and temples, it once rivalled the finest architecture of its time. Devastated by the 1934 Bihar–Nepal earthquake, its majestic ruins still evoke Mithila's royal grandeur.
Fairs & Festivals The heartland of Madhubani (Mithila) painting, a centuriesold folk art tradition of the Mithila region carried on largely by women. Recognised with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2007, the art comes alive in villages like Jitwarpur and Ranti, where you can meet artists, watch them work and buy authentic paintings direct from their makers.
Forts & Palaces The historic fort and palace complex of the Darbhanga Raj — one of the largest zamindari estates of British India. Set within walled grounds, it includes the old Ram Bagh Palace along with Anand Bagh and Nargona palaces. A symbol of Mithila's royal heritage, its grand architecture reflects the wealth and cultural patronage of the Maharajas of Darbhanga.
Wildlife & Sanctuaries Asia's largest freshwater oxbow lake and Bihar's first Ramsar site, a shimmering wetland near Manjhaul in Begusarai. In winter it hosts tens of thousands of migratory waterbirds along the Central Asian Flyway, with over 200 bird species recorded. A paradise for birdwatchers and photographers, best explored by boat at dawn.
