Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is a protected bird sanctuary on six islets in the Kaveri River near Srirangapatna in Mandya District, Karnataka. Covering about 0.67 sq km, the islets were formed by an anicut built in 1648. Declared a bird sanctuary in 1940 at the instance of Dr. Salim Ali, it is Karnataka's largest bird sanctuary and a designated Ramsar wetland, noted for large colonies of painted storks, pelicans, ibises and migratory waterbirds.

Visitors can expect a riverine wetland landscape with six small wooded islets in the Kaveri River accessible by guided row-boat rides. The sanctuary offers close views of nesting and roosting waterbirds, including painted storks, spot-billed pelicans, herons and ibises, as well as marsh crocodiles and riverine vegetation. Facilities include watch towers, an interpretation centre, nature trails along the riverbank, and designated boating jetties for birdwatching and photography.

The islets were formed when an anicut (dam) was built across the Kaveri River in 1648 by Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wadiyar, ruler of Mysore. The area was declared a bird sanctuary in 1940 after ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali surveyed the site and persuaded the Maharaja of Mysore to protect it. It was later declared a Ramsar wetland in 2022.

Locally known as Pakshi Kashi, the sanctuary is culturally associated with the nearby Ranganathaswamy Temple and is regarded as an important ecological and educational site for bird conservation in Karnataka. It is a prominent destination for nature education and ecotourism.