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Punjab

Eastern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis ©Norbert Kenntner - Wikimedia Commons
Birding Punjab

Punjab is a state in northwest India. The Indian state borders the Pakistani province of Punjab to the west, Jammu and Kashmir to the north, Himachal Pradesh to the northeast, Haryana to the south and southeast, Chandigarh to the southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest. The total area of the state is 50,362 square kilometres (19,445 square miles). The population is 24,289,296 (2000). Punjab’s capital is Chandigarh, which is administered separately as a Union Territory since it is also the capital of neighbouring Haryana. Other major cities of Punjab include Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala and Jalandhar. The Indus Valley Civilisation was one of the world’s first and oldest civilisations centred around Punjab.The Indian Punjab historically forms a part of the larger Punjab region, which includes some parts of Afghanistan, the Pakistani province of Punjab and the North-West Frontier Province, the Indian states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, parts of J&K and Delhi and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Indian Punjab was trifurcated in the year 1966 leading to the formation of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

Agriculture is the largest industry in Punjab, it is the largest single provider of wheat to India. Others major industries include the manufacture of scientific instruments, electrical goods, financial services, machine tools, textiles, sewing machines, sports goods, starch, tourism, fertilisers, bicycles, garments, and the processing of pine oil and sugar. Punjab is considered to have the best infrastructure in India, this includes road, rail, air and river transport links that are extensive throughout the region. Punjab also has the lowest poverty rate in India at 6.16% (1999-2000 figures), and has won the best state performance award, based on statistical data compiled by the Indian Government. According to the Global Hunger Index 2008, Punjab has the lowest level of hunger in India.

Most of the Punjab is an alluvial plain, bounded by mountains to the North. Despite its dry conditions, it is a rich agricultural area due to the extensive irrigation made possible by the great river system traversing it. Punjab region temperature range from -2° to 40°C (MIN/MAX), but can reach 47°C (117°F) in summer and can touch down to -5°C in winter. The people that live in the state of Punjab are known as Punjabi.

Contributors
Number of Species

  • Number of bird species: 653

    (As at December 2018)

    State Bird: Eastern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis

Endemics

  • Number of endemics: 1 Breeding Endemic

    Tytler's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus tytleri
Useful Reading

  • * Field Guides & Bird Song

    For a comprehensive list of recommended titles covering India as a whole - please see the main India page of Fatbirder ISBN: Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Birds of Northern India

    by Richard Grimmett & Tim Inskipp | Christopher Helm | 2003 | Paperback | 304 pages, 120 plates with colour illustrations | ISBN: 9780713651676 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Organisations

  • Chandigarh Bird Club

    Facebook Page
    A unique group for city Bird watchers, Bird photographer, Ornithologist - to promote birding-bird watching - share information regarding birds of city and nearby areas - create awareness in citizens about importance of birds in overall environment - to identify different species of birds with help of this group
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • BS WII Harike Lake & Wetland Sanctuary

    InformationSatellite View
    Harike Bird Sanctuary, in Punjab is a large wetland created on the River Sutlej. This shallow water body attracts large numbers of wintering waterfowl (c.200 species) and is home to many specialties. Birds like the White-crowned Penduline Tit, Indian Skimmer, Yellow-eyed Pigeon, Rufous-vented Prinia and Sind Sparrow can be found here. Harike was designated as a Ramsar site in March 1990 and has been identified as one of the sites for conservation under the Indian National Wetland Programme…

  • BS WII IBA Sukhna Lake - Chandigarh

    InformationSatellite View
    Sukhna is a sanctuary for many exotic migratory birds like the Siberian duck, storks and cranes, during the winter months. The lake has been declared as a protected national wetland by the Government of India.

  • WS Bir Gurdialpura

    WebpageSatellite View
    Just like the diverse flora of the Bir Gurdialpura Sanctuary there is a rich fauna of this place as well. Some of the species of the fauna of Bir Gurdialpura Sanctuary are also endangered. Animals that form a part of the fauna at the Bir Gurdialpura Wildlife Sanctuary are jungle cat, hare, blue bull, peafowl, jackal, parakeets, black buck, etc. Some of the endangered animals that are found in this sanctuary include otter, pangolin, python and river dolphin. There is also a zoo and a deer park in this region which provides shelter to various kinds of animals. Hog deer, red jungle fowl, spotted owl, etc are some of the other members of the fauna at Bir Gurdialpura Sanctuary

  • WS Jhajjar Bachauli

    InformationSatellite View
    This Sanctuary is situated 15 Km. from Anandpur Sahib city in the Government forest area of District Rupnagar. It has an area of 116.00 ha (i.e. 289 acres of which 218 acres area belongs to Village Jhajjar, 55 acres to village Bachauli and 16 acres to village Lamlehri).

  • WS Takhani Rehmanpur

    ReviewSatellite View
    Cool place for a short trip, Takhni-Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary offers wide array of animals...
Forums & Mailing Lists

  • DelhiBird

    The Northern India Bird network
Places to Stay


Click on WAND to see Fatbirder’s Trip Report Repository…

  • Ritz Plaza Hotel Amritsar

    Accommodation
    The hotel's 50 rooms and suites are spread over an aristocratic 2 acres on Mall Road, Amritsar's very elite locale. Ritz Plaza has many firsts to its credit - being the first centrally air-conditioned hotel in Punjab. In its own history it has hosted a galaxy of who's who, including a visit by the Queen of England
Other Links

  • Status of Punjab Wetlands

    Article
    Wetlands provide habitat for a wide variety of plants, invertebrates, fish, and larger animals, including many rare, threatened, or endangered species. The plants and animals found in wetlands include both those that are able to live on dry land or in the water and those that can live only in a wet environment…
Blogs

  • Birds of Chandigarh

    BLOG
    Last updated 2010 - Sightings of birds posted on birds-chandigarh google group will be uploaded on this blog for future reference. Others items will include trip reports, list of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, birding hotspots, conservation measures being taken etc.

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