Okhla Bird Sanctuary 2026: Timings, Entry Fee, Best Time to Visit and Birding Tips

Okhla Bird Sanctuary timings are 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM in winter (October–March) and 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM in summer (April–September), and it is closed every Monday. The best time to visit is November to March, when migratory ducks and waders arrive, ideally in the first two hours after the gates open. Entry costs ₹30 for Indian visitors, and the nearest metro is Okhla Bird Sanctuary station on the Magenta Line.

Fees and hours are set by the forest department and can change. The latest details are on the official Okhla Bird Sanctuary website, or you can call the DFO office at 0120-2425989 before visiting.

About Okhla Bird Sanctuary

The sanctuary grew around the lake formed behind the Okhla Barrage, completed in 1986, where the Yamuna enters Uttar Pradesh from Delhi. The mix of open water, reed beds, marsh and scrub attracts both waterbirds and woodland birds. The Uttar Pradesh government declared it a bird sanctuary in 1990.

According to the UP Eco-Tourism page, more than 320 bird species have been recorded here, roughly half of them migratory. The same page lists around 10 mammal species (including nilgai, mongoose and jackal), 87 fish species and about 30 butterfly species. Around 188 plant species grow within the sanctuary.

Timings and Ticket Price (as of September 2026)

Item	Indian visitors	Foreign visitors
Entry (per person, per day)	₹30	₹350
Still camera (per visit)	₹500	₹1,000
Video / movie camera (per visit)	₹5,000	₹10,000
Winter hours (October–March)	7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Summer hours (April–September)	7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Weekly closure	Monday

Some travel sites list a lower child ticket (around ₹10) or smaller camera charges; these do not appear on the official fee page, so be ready to pay the amounts above. Documentary and feature film shoots have separate, much higher daily charges and need permission. Carry cash, as digital payment at the counter is not always reliable. Prices can change, so check before you go.

Best Time to Visit Okhla Bird Sanctuary

Best months

Period	What to expect
November–March	Main migratory season. Ducks, geese and waders arrive from Central Asia and further north. Highest variety.
December–January	Usually the peak for waterfowl numbers, but mornings can be foggy.
April–June	Hot; mainly resident birds such as egrets, herons, cormorants and kingfishers.
July–September	Monsoon; green and quiet, with resident and breeding birds; paths can be muddy.

Best time of day

Birds are most active in the early morning, so aim to be at the gate when it opens (7:30 AM in winter, 7:00 AM in summer) and spend the first two to three hours inside. Late afternoon, before closing, is the second-best window. Around midday, especially in summer, activity drops sharply.

Birds You May See

Sightings vary a lot from year to year and day to day, so treat this as a list of species recorded here, not a guarantee.

• Winter visitors: northern shoveler, bar-headed goose, great white pelican and other migratory ducks and waders
• Common residents: little and great egrets, grey and purple herons, cormorants, kingfishers, purple swamphen, and many woodland birds in the scrub
• Threatened species recorded: white-rumped and Indian vultures (critically endangered), and vulnerable species such as Baikal teal, sarus crane, Indian skimmer and Pallas’s fish eagle

The sanctuary is also home to nilgai, jackals, butterflies and reptiles, which are often easier to spot than rare birds.

A Sanctuary Under Pressure: What to Know Before You Go

Set your expectations realistically. A July 2025 ground report by ThePrint, citing Asian Waterbird Census data, reported that waterbird counts fell from about 12,211 birds of 63 species in 2019 to about 3,380 birds of 32 species in 2024. The report pointed to spreading water hyacinth, siltation, fluctuating water levels linked to barrage operations, and construction around the sanctuary. The forest department, meanwhile, reported a sharp rise in visitors, to over 1.1 lakh in 2024–25.

What this means for you: on some days, especially outside peak winter, you may see fewer birds than older blogs suggest. A good pair of binoculars and patience make a big difference. For a second wetland in the region, see our guide to Surajpur Bird Sanctuary in Greater Noida.

How to Reach Okhla Bird Sanctuary

By metro

• Okhla Bird Sanctuary station (Magenta Line): the closest station; the sanctuary is within walking distance, though many visitors take a short auto ride to reach the correct gate.
• Botanical Garden station (Blue and Magenta Lines): about 3 km away; take an auto or cab. Useful if you are coming from Noida city or the Aqua Line (change at Noida Sector 51 / 52).

By road

The sanctuary lies near the Kalindi Kunj–Noida road, close to Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal (Sector 95) and the Mahamaya Flyover. No vehicles are allowed inside, so you will walk the trails. Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station is roughly 10 km away.

Which gate?

Visitor guides mention more than one gate and suggest that Gate 2 is closer to the main birding areas than Gate 1. Gate arrangements can change, so ask the ticket counter staff which trail leads to the watchtowers and the water’s edge.

What to Carry: A Short Checklist

• Binoculars (8×42 or 10×42 are good all-rounders)
• Cash for tickets and camera fees
• A photo ID, in case it is asked for
• Drinking water, a light snack and a cap or hat
• Mosquito repellent, especially during and after the monsoon
• A warm layer for winter mornings, which can be cold and damp near the water
• A field guide or a bird-identification app, so you can note what you see

A Simple Three-Hour Visit Plan

1. At opening time: buy tickets and walk straight to the water’s edge and watchtowers while the light is soft and the birds are feeding.
2. First 90 minutes: scan open water for ducks, geese and pelicans, then the reed edges for herons, swamphens and kingfishers.
3. Next hour: move slowly along the scrub and tree-lined trails for woodland birds, butterflies and nilgai.
4. Last half hour: return to a spot where you saw activity earlier; birds often come back to the same feeding areas.

If you are a first-time birder, joining a group walk organised by local birding clubs or nature groups in Delhi-NCR during winter weekends is a good way to learn identification quickly. Check their social media pages for current schedules.

Photography and Birding Etiquette

Keep a respectful distance from nesting or roosting birds, and never throw stones or make noises to make birds fly for a photo. Playing recorded bird calls to attract birds disturbs them and is best avoided in a protected area. Drones need special permission and should not be flown without it.

Tips and Mistakes to Avoid

• Do not go on a Monday. The sanctuary is closed every Monday.
• Do not arrive at noon. Birds rest in the heat; come at opening time.
• Bring binoculars. Most waterbirds stay far from the paths. 8x or 10x binoculars are ideal; a zoom lens helps photographers.
• Budget for the camera fee. The official still-camera fee is ₹500 for Indians; phone cameras are commonly used without it, but check at the counter.
• Wear dull colours and closed shoes. Bright clothes and loud voices scare birds; some trails are unpaved.
• Carry water and snacks. Facilities inside are limited, and visitors have reported non-working toilets.
• Do not feed birds or animals and do not leave plastic behind.
• Check the fog forecast in winter. Dense fog in December and January can cut visibility to a few metres until mid-morning.
• Stay on marked paths. Marshy edges can be deeper than they look.

Combine Your Visit

The sanctuary is close to several other Noida attractions. The Botanic Garden of Indian Republic (weekdays only) is about 3 km away, and Jungle Trail in Sector 94, a sculpture park made from scrap metal, is near the Mahamaya Flyover. For more ideas, see our list of the best parks in Noida.

Okhla Bird Sanctuary is still the easiest place in Delhi-NCR to watch wild waterbirds without leaving the city, but it rewards planning. Visit between November and March, arrive at opening time on any day except Monday, bring binoculars and cash, and check the official website for any change in fees or hours.