Bir Mehas Wildlife Sanctuary

Bir Mehas Wildlife Sanctuary is a small protected forest area located near Nabha town in Patiala district, Punjab, India. Covering about 1.23 square kilometres, it was once a hunting reserve of the former Nabha princely state and was notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 1952. The sanctuary features dry deciduous scrub forest and supports species such as nilgai, wild boar, jackal, jungle cat and peafowl, serving as an important green habitat in the agricultural plains of Punjab.

Visitors can expect a compact, fenced scrub forest with unpaved nature trails and open scrubland interspersed with eucalyptus, acacia and other dry deciduous trees. Wildlife sightings are modest and may include nilgai, wild boar, jackals, rhesus macaque, jungle cat and Indian peafowl, with seasonal bird activity. The setting is quiet and semi-arid, typical of Punjab's bir forests. There are no safari vehicles or large visitor complexes; exploration is on foot along forest paths, suitable for short nature walks, birdwatching and photography in a tranquil rural environment near Nabha.

Bir Mehas was formerly a hunting reserve (bir) maintained by the rulers of the princely state of Nabha. After independence, it was notified as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1952 under Punjab wildlife protection measures, making it one of the older protected areas in Punjab. It preserves a remnant patch of natural scrub forest in the intensively cultivated plains of Malwa region.