Photo: Hilfiger28 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
📍 Jamui, South Bihar, Bihar
A pair of man-made reservoir wetlands in the Jhajha hills of Jamui, together recognised as Ramsar sites in 2024. In winter they draw over 20,000 birds, including one of the Indo-Gangetic plain's largest gatherings of bar-headed geese and red-crested pochard. Rare visitors such as the critically endangered Baer's pochard make this a prized destination for serious birdwatchers.
The Nagi and Nakti Bird Sanctuaries are twin wetlands created around irrigation dams (the Nagi and Nakti reservoirs) in the Jhajha forest range of Jamui district. In 2024 both were designated Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance), adding to Bihar's growing list of protected wetlands.
These reservoirs are important wintering habitats on migratory routes. Highlights include:
The surrounding low hills and forest add to the scenery, making the area rewarding for birdwatching and quiet nature walks.
November to February, the peak season for migratory waterbirds. Mornings are best for large congregations.
A large wildlife sanctuary in the hills of southern Munger district, famous for its cluster of natural hot springs — among the hottest in Bihar at 52–65 °C. Dense forest shelters leopards, deer, wild boar and rich birdlife. The remote, unspoilt setting makes it a rewarding destination for wildlife and nature enthusiasts.
Nature & Waterfalls One of Bihar's most famous and highest waterfalls, plunging about 150–160 feet from the Ektara hills into a natural pool below. A hugely popular picnic and bathing spot, it draws large crowds during the summer and monsoon. Legend links it to a curse laid on a king who was reborn as a serpent here, freed only by the touch of the Pandavas' waters.
Hindu Temples An ancient Lord Shiva temple perched dramatically on a rock island in the middle of the Ganga at Sultanganj. It is the starting point of the famous Shravani Mela, when saffronclad Kanwariyas collect holy Ganga water here and carry it on foot to Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar, about 100 km away. The rock is carved with ancient sculptures and inscriptions.
A rugged forest sanctuary in the hills of southern Gaya district, straddling the Bihar–Jharkhand border. Its sal woodlands and thorn forests shelter leopards, sloth bears, nilgai, deer, wolves and a wealth of birdlife. Established in 1976, it is a quiet, offbeat retreat for nature lovers exploring beyond Bodh Gaya.
