Harike Wetland

Harike Wetland sits at the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers, spanning roughly 4,100 hectares across Amritsar, Kapurthala, and Ferozepur districts, formed following the construction of the Harike Barrage in the 1950s. Its status as a Ramsar wetland of international importance reflects genuine ecological significance for migratory bird conservation, drawing species from as far as Siberia and Central Asia each winter, alongside a resident population of the endangered Indus River dolphin — a genuinely rare freshwater species found in very few Indian rivers. Harike suits serious birders and wildlife travelers wanting substantial sighting numbers within easy reach of Amritsar — boat rides across the wetland, timed for the November-February peak migratory season, offer close views of bar-headed geese, greylag geese, common teal, and, with patience, the elusive Indus dolphin population that calls this stretch of river home.