Harike Wetland and Bird Sanctuary, Amritsar, Punjab India

It is the largest wetland in Northern India, covering an area of 4100 hectares and spreads into Amritsar, Kapurthala and Taran Taran Districts of Punjab State. The Wetland and the Lake were formed in the Year 1953 when a Harike barrage was constructed downstream of the confluence of Rivers Beas and Sutlej to supply water to Southern parts of Punjab and the State of Rajasthan. The Lake is located in the deeper part of the Sanctuary. It was declared as Harike Pattan Bird Sanctuary in the year 1982 when an area of 4500 hectares was added to it.

The birds commonly found in the Sanctuary are Hen Harrier, Yellow-eyed Pigeon, Pallas\'s Gull, Cotton Pygmy Goose, White-winged Tern, Tufted Duck, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Watercock, Brown-headed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, White-browed Fantail, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Indian Skimmer, White-rumped Vulture, Eurasian Sparrow hawk, Eurasian Hobby, Horned Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Brown Shrike, Common Wood shrike, White-tailed Stonechat, White-crowned Penduline Tit, Rufous-vented Prinia, Striated Grass bird, Cetti\'s Bush Warbler and the sulphur - bellied Warbler. Besides birds, there are also animals like Jungle cat, Smooth Indian Otter, Mongoose, Jackal and Indian wild Boar.