Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary

Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary is a protected wetland bird sanctuary in Gonda district, Uttar Pradesh, near Wazirganj. Comprising two oxbow lakes, Parvati and Arga, formed by the Saryu River, it covers about 10.84 sq km. Declared a bird sanctuary in 1990 and designated a Ramsar Site in 2019, it is notable for resident and migratory waterbirds, wetland ecosystem and biodiversity conservation in the Terai region.

Visitors can expect a tranquil wetland landscape with two large shallow oxbow lakes surrounded by agricultural fields and marsh vegetation. The sanctuary offers open water, reed beds and mudflats where resident and winter migratory birds can be observed. Facilities are basic with earthen trails, watchtowers and viewpoints for birdwatching and photography. The setting is natural and rural with minimal built structures, best explored on foot during daylight hours.

Parvati Arga was notified as a Bird Sanctuary by the Government of Uttar Pradesh on 23 May 1990 under the Wildlife Protection Act. The wetland system consists of two oxbow lakes left by the shifting course of the Saryu River. On 2 December 2019 it was designated as a Ramsar Site, recognizing its international importance as a wetland ecosystem.