Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary: Paradise for Nature Lovers

Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary is a delightful bird sanctuary located amidst the bustle of the crowded city of Kolkata. It is located on Hogulkuria Rajpur Road at Narendrapur in Kolkata. The government of West Bengal took initiative to turn the privately-owned sanctuary into a public one. It was successfully opened in October 2005.

It is an urban green space that cherishes a huge variety of Flora and Fauna species. The place upholds strong biodiversity along with the cultural values associated with the area. The sanctuary covered a huge area of 25 acres but with moving urbanisation it shrunk to 17 acres. It contains different trees mainly mango, coconut, guava, tamarind, jackfruit, and many more. It became a lovely home for a great variety of butterflies and birds.

History of Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary

Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary which is also known as Kayal-r-Bagan was initially a huge mango garden. Later it was declared a sanctuary in 1982. The Government of West Bengal took measures to develop it. On 8th September 2004, it was named “Narendra Wildlife Sanctuary”. The sanctuary was renamed on 21st October 2005 in the honour of renowned Indian sculptor “Chintamani Kar”, who received civilian awards from the Indian as well as French governments. He fought constantly to give this place the tag of being a sanctuary.

Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary is home to a variety of birds 

The sanctuary is one of the blissful places in Kolkata. As per the records, over 150 species of birds are found in this pleasing sanctuary. Large-billed Reed Warbler bird is the centre of attraction as it has been rediscovered in India almost after a century. The commonly seen species of birds are:

Fulvous breasted Woodpecker              

Rufous Woodpecker

Streak-throated Woodpecker

Black-rumped Flameback

Greater Flameback

Lineated Barbet

Blue-throated barbet

Coppersmith Barbet

White-throated Kingfisher 

Common Kingfisher

Common Hoopoe

Green Bee-eater

Common Hawk Cuckoo

Asian Koel

Greater Coucal

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Asian Palm Swift

Brown Fish Owl

Spotted Dove

Emerald Dove

White-breasted White hen

Black Kite

Crested Serpent Eagle

Shikra 

Little Egret

Cattle Egret 

Indian Pond Heron

Asian Openbill

Brown Shrike

Rufous Treepie

Scaly-breasted Munia

Baya Weaver

White Wagtail

Forest Wagtail

House Sparrow

Purple Sunbird 

Purple rumped Sunbird

Pale-billed Flowerpecker

Jungle Babbler

Common Tailorbird

Blyth's Reed Warbler

Oriental white-eye

Plain Prinia

Red-vented Bulbul

Red-whiskered Bulbul

Great tit

Jungle Myna

Common Myna

Asian Pied Starling

Chestnut-tailed Starling

Oriental Magpie Robin

Red-throated Flycatcher

Orange-headed Thrush

Common Lora

Asian Paradise flycatcher

Black-naped Monarch

House Crow

Large-billed Crow

Ashy Woodswallow

Eurasian Golden Oriole

White hooded Oriole

White-throated Fantail

Black Drongo 

Ashy Drongo

Bronzed Drongo

Butterflies: adding colours to the sanctuary 

The sanctuary gratifies the nature lover and the green panthers. The colourful flapping wings uplift the beauty of the place. The charming species of butterfly species consists of Peacock Pansies, Striped Tigers, Common Leopards, Red base Jezebels and many more species of butterflies.

Fascinating wildlife 

People can also enjoy a glimpse of small wildlife namely Jackal, monitor lizard, Civet cat, Jungle Cat, Tree-striped palm Squirrel, Vine Snake, water Monitor Lizard, Buff striped Keelback, and many more.

Entry fee and timing 

The sanctuary remains open from 7a.m to 5p. everyday. The time may vary during winter.

The entry fee is 50 rupees.

The best time to visit the place 

The best time to visit the sanctuary is the spring and winter months as these are the birding season. In March and April, people may have a pleasant experience of watching birds nesting on treetops. During Winter, the sanctuary becomes a migratory spot for many birds such as long-legged pheasant-tailed jacana, tiny cotton teal, and quacking gadwall. The place is crowded mainly on Thursdays and Fridays. The busiest hour is from 7a.m to 8 a.m. 

How to reach the amazing Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary

Train 

The sanctuary is situated almost 9 miles away from Kolkata’s city centre in the district of South 24 Parganas. Sonarpur is the closest train station on the Sealdah-Diamond Harbour line. It takes around 20 minutes to reach the sanctuary from the station via taxi or auto-rickshaw.

People can also take the metro to Kabi Nazrul station, in the Garia Bazar area of the city. Then people can take a taxi ride of 10 minutes to Ranthata. From Ranthala, the sanctuary is 5 minutes walking distance.

Bus 

 Rathtala, Ranthola, and Rajpur Kalitala bus stops are near the sanctuary. A direct bus from Howrah is easily available. Take Howrah –Harinavi bus and disembark at Rathtala bus stop.

Cab 

Ola and Uber are easily available in the streets of Kolkata. It is an affordable and accessible ride. People can book a cab and have a comfortable ride to this amazing place.

The main concern is related to parking as the parking space is limited. Street parking is available as well but people have to cover a small distance by walking to reach the sanctuary.

Tips for the visitors 

The area is quite dense, thus people should keep trails and avoid going deeper into the dense areas.

People should not disturb the green surrounding 

The visitors should not disturb the wildlife or birds under any circumstances. People should not harm the trees as well. They should be careful enough while taking photos of birds or nests. 

People should not litter the place

No food items are allowed in the sanctuary, people may carry water bottles. People should not litter the place as it may badly affect the plants and animals.

Mobile phones should be kept in silent mode

To maintain the tranquillity of the surroundings, people should keep their phones in silent mode. 

Monsoon season 

The climate of Kolkata during the monsoon is highly humid. People should be aware of severe rainfall in the monsoon season while visiting the sanctuary.

Review of the visitors

People shared their loving experiences of visiting the place. It is not only bliss to the eyes but it also brings mental peace. The place provides an aesthetic view with a collection of pretty colourful butterflies. The area is a wonderful blend of gentle water bodies and greenery.